Smart IV Bag with Optical IV Drug Identification Tag

• US 20140098366A1
• Filed: 10/07/2013
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metrohm Spectro Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BWT Property, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Sean Xiaolu
• Granted Patent: US 9,370,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/12 with means for holding samples of contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/20 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/42 Absorption spectrometry; Double beam spectrometry; Flicker spectrometry; Reflection spectrometry beam switching arrangements G01J3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/44 Raman spectrometry; Scattering spectrometry ; Fluorescence spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/4406 Fluorescence spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/552 Attenuated total reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/65 Raman scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/658 enhancement Raman, e.g. surface plasmons
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/77 by observing the effect on a chemical indicator

Abstract

This invention relates to a smart IV bag with a structurally integrated optical tag for IV drug identification and monitoring. The optical tag comprises a flow cell with a fluid channel in communication with the IV bag to sample a portion of the IV fluid onto an optical surface embedded in the flow cell. The optical surface causes a light beam to interact with the sampled IV fluid to produce a spectroscopic signal. The spectroscopic signal is then analyzed to obtain the content and concentration information of the IV fluid. Unlike traditional IV bag labels, the optical tag provides real-time, in-situ monitoring of IV fluid content and concentration, which greatly reduces the risk of mislabeling induced IV error.

Claims

1. An intravenous (IV) fluid container with pre-filled IV fluid for IV therapy, said IV fluid container comprising a structurally integrated optical IV drug identification tag, said optical IV drug identification tag comprising:

a flow cell with a fluid channel in communication with said IV fluid container to sample a portion of the IV fluid; and

an optical surface embedded in said flow cell, said optical surface is configured to receive said portion of the IV fluid and cause a light beam to interact with said portion of the IV fluid to produce a spectroscopic signal containing a content and concentration information of the IV fluid.

2. The IV fluid container of claim 1, wherein said optical surface is a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) active surface and said spectroscopic signal is a Raman scattering signal.

3. The IV fluid container of claim 1, wherein said optical surface is a fluorescence active surface and said spectroscopic signal is a fluorescence signal.

4. The IV fluid container of claim 1, wherein said optical surface is an attenuated total reflection (ATR) surface and said spectroscopic signal is an absorption signal.

5. The IV fluid container of claim 1, wherein said optical IV drug identification tag further comprising a transparent window for transmitting said light beam to said optical surface.

6. The IV fluid container of claim 1, wherein said optical IV drug identification tag further comprising a breakable valve embedded in said fluid channel, wherein said breakable valve seals the IV fluid from entering said flow cell.

7. A method for identifying and monitoring the content and concentration of intravenous (IV) fluid in an IV fluid container, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an optical IV drug identification tag structurally integrated with the IV fluid container, said optical IV drug identification tag comprising a flow cell with a fluid channel in communication with said IV fluid container to sample a portion of the IV fluid, and an optical surface embedded in said flow cell to receive said portion of the IV fluid;

causing a light beam to interact with said portion of the IV fluid in proximity to said optical surface to produce a spectroscopic signal; and

measuring said spectroscopic signal to obtain a content and concentration information of the IV fluid.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said optical surface is a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) active surface and said spectroscopic signal is a Raman scattering signal.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said optical surface is a fluorescence active surface and said spectroscopic signal is a fluorescence signal.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said optical surface is an attenuated total reflection (ATR) surface and said spectroscopic signal is an absorption signal.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said optical IV drug identification tag further comprising a transparent window for transmitting said light beam to said optical surface.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said optical IV drug identification tag further comprising a breakable valve embedded in said fluid channel, wherein said breakable valve seals the IV fluid from entering said flow cell.