INFUSION TUBING TRACING SYSTEM USING VIBRATION GENERATOR AND VIBRATION SENSOR
First Claim
1. A system for tracing tubing which forms a conduit from a source of infusion liquid to a patient by way of an infusion pump, the system comprising:
- a vibration generator manually operable by a user to generate vibrations at an origin location along the tubing, wherein the vibrations are propagated by the tubing and have a vibration signature;
a vibration sensor arranged at a destination location along the tubing for receiving the propagated vibrations and generating a digital vibration signal representative of the received vibrations;
signal processing circuitry connected to the vibration sensor, wherein the signal processing circuitry is configured to process and evaluate the digital vibration signal to determine a trace status of the tubing between the vibration generator and the vibration sensor; and
an indicator connected to the signal processing circuitry, wherein the indicator is configured to provide an audible or visual indication of the determined trace status.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for tracing tubing which forms a conduit from a source of infusion liquid to a patient by way of an infusion pump has a vibration generator manually operable by a user to generate vibrations at an origin location along the tubing, wherein the vibrations are propagated by the tubing and have a vibration signature. A vibration sensor arranged at a destination location along the tubing receives the vibrations and generates a digital vibration signal. Signal processing circuitry connected to the vibration sensor processes and evaluates the digital vibration signal to determine a trace status of the tubing between the vibration generator and the vibration sensor. An indicator connected to the signal processing circuitry provides an indication of the determined trace status. Trace status possibilities include clear, cross-over, and null. A likely number of cross-overs may also be indicated.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for tracing tubing which forms a conduit from a source of infusion liquid to a patient by way of an infusion pump, the system comprising:
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a vibration generator manually operable by a user to generate vibrations at an origin location along the tubing, wherein the vibrations are propagated by the tubing and have a vibration signature; a vibration sensor arranged at a destination location along the tubing for receiving the propagated vibrations and generating a digital vibration signal representative of the received vibrations; signal processing circuitry connected to the vibration sensor, wherein the signal processing circuitry is configured to process and evaluate the digital vibration signal to determine a trace status of the tubing between the vibration generator and the vibration sensor; and an indicator connected to the signal processing circuitry, wherein the indicator is configured to provide an audible or visual indication of the determined trace status. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for tracing first tubing which forms a conduit from a first source of infusion liquid to a patient by way of a first infusion pump and second tubing which forms a conduit from a second source of infusion liquid to the patient or to another patient by way of a second infusion pump, the system comprising:
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a vibration generator manually operable by a user to generate vibrations at an origin location along the first tubing, wherein the vibrations are propagated by the first tubing and have a vibration signature; a vibration sensor arranged at a location along the second tubing, wherein the vibrations are also propagated by the second tubing if there is a cross-over between of the first tubing with the second tubing, the vibration sensor receiving the vibrations propagated by the second tubing and generating a digital vibration signal representative of the received vibrations; an indicator connected to the vibration sensor, the indicator being configured to provide an audible or visual indication in response to the digital vibration signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method of tracing first tubing which forms a conduit from a source of infusion liquid to a patient by way of a first infusion pump, the method comprising the steps of:
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arranging a vibration generator in engagement with the first tubing at an origin location along the first tubing; arranging a vibration sensor in engagement with the first tubing at a destination location along the first tubing; activating the vibration generator to cause the vibration generator to generate vibrations at the origin location, wherein the vibrations are propagated by the first tubing and have a vibration signature; receiving the propagated vibrations at the vibration sensor; generating a digital vibration signal representative of the received vibrations; and determining a trace status of the first tubing between the vibration generator and the vibration sensor based on the digital vibration signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification