SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICAL FLUID

• US 20150335819A1
• Filed: 07/31/2015
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: DEWEY, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,463,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0288 Electro-rheological or magneto-rheological materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0294 Piezoelectric materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14224 Diaphragm type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16809 by repeated filling and emptying of an intermediate volume pressure infusion using positive displacement pumps A61M5/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16886 for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence

Abstract

A system for controlling administration of medical fluid includes a fluid passageway to which is attached a first flow regulator, a second flow regulator, and a flow detector. The system also includes a controller for controlling the first and second flow regulators in response to a measurement taken by the flow detector of fluid movement in the fluid passageway. The first flow regulator, such as a pump, is configured to maintain fluid movement at flow values greater than an unrestricted flow value. The second flow regulator, such as a variable adjustable valve, is configured to maintain fluid movement at a flow value less than the unrestricted flow value. A method of controlling administration of medical fluid includes obtaining a target flow value, moving fluid through the disposable assembly, taking a measurement of fluid movement in the disposable assembly, and actuating a flow regulating apparatus.

Claims

1. A fluid assembly comprising:

a fluid passageway comprising a primary inlet, a secondary inlet, and an outlet, wherein unrestricted movement of fluid through the fluid passageway corresponds to an unrestricted flow value;

a pump, connected between the primary inlet and the outlet, configured to permit a fluid movement through the fluid passageway and to operate when connected to a power source;

a valve connected between the pump and the outlet and configured to restrict the fluid movement through the fluid passageway; and

a flow detector connected between the pump and the valve and configured to measure the fluid movement.

2. The fluid assembly of claim 1, wherein the pump comprises:

a pump chamber, the pump chamber disposed in the fluid passageway and configured for one-way fluid flow in a direction from the inlet to the outlet of the fluid passageway;

a moveable wall; and

a pump driver coupled to the moveable wall, the pump driver comprising a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm, the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm coupled together by a clamp such that the first and second diaphragms exert a biasing force on the other, the first diaphragm configured to expand and move the clamp away from the moveable wall in response to a first applied voltage, the second diaphragm configured to expand and move the clamp towards the moveable wall in response to a second applied voltage.

3. The fluid assembly of claim 2, wherein the first diaphragm comprises a first elastomeric dielectric film having a first side and a second side, the first side of the first elastomeric dielectric film coated with a first expandable conductive film connected to a first electrode, the second side of the first elastomeric dielectric film coated with a second expandable conductive film connected to a second electrode, and wherein the second diaphragm comprises a second elastomeric dielectric film having a first side and a second side, the first side of the second elastomeric dielectric film coated with a third expandable conductive film connected to a third electrode, the second side of the second elastomeric dielectric film coated with a fourth expandable conductive film connected to a fourth electrode.

4. The fluid assembly of claim 2, wherein the pump chamber includes a first check valve configured to allow the fluid movement into the pump chamber and a second check valve configured to allow the fluid movement out of the pump chamber.

5. The fluid assembly of claim 2, wherein moving the clamp away from the moveable wall increases a volume of the pump chamber, and moving the clamp towards the moveable wall decreases the volume of the pump chamber.

6. The fluid assembly of claim 1, wherein the flow detector comprises:

a heat source disposed outside the internal volume of the fluid passageway and adapted to heat fluid located at a heating region in the fluid passageway;

a light source disposed outside the internal volume of the fluid passageway and adapted to produce an interrogating light directed toward fluid located at an interrogating region in the fluid passageway;

a light detector disposed outside the internal volume of the fluid passageway and adapted to detect optical characteristics of the fluid in the interrogating region, and to detect changes in the optical characteristics when the heated fluid from the heating region enters the interrogating region.

7. A system comprising:

a first assembly comprising;

a fluid passageway comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein unrestricted movement of fluid through the fluid passageway corresponds to an unrestricted flow value;

a pump connected between the inlet and the outlet and configured to permit a fluid movement through the fluid passageway;

a valve connected between the pump and the outlet and configured to restrict the fluid movement through the fluid passageway; and

a flow detector connected between the pump and the valve and configured to measure the fluid movement; and

a second assembly comprising;

a controller coupled to the pump and the flow detector; and

a display.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the valve further comprises a manual adjustment device configured to adjust the valve.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second assembly further comprises a knob configured to couple to the manual adjustment device.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the second assembly further comprises a knob coupled to the controller and configured to adjust the valve.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the second assembly further comprises a power source.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the power source is coupled to the pump.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the second assembly further comprises a wireless communication device coupled to the controller.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the second assembly is configured to detach from the first assembly.

15. A method comprising:

obtaining a target flow value;

moving fluid through a disposable assembly comprising a fluid passageway and a flow regulating apparatus, the fluid passageway comprising an inlet, an outlet, and an internal volume through which unrestricted movement of the fluid corresponds to an unrestricted flow value, the flow regulating apparatus comprising a first flow regulator and a second flow regulator, the flow regulating apparatus between the inlet and the outlet;

taking a measurement of fluid movement in the fluid passageway; and

adjusting a pump rate when the fluid movement does not correspond to the target flow value.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein adjusting a pump rate further comprises changing the operational status of the first flow regulator when the target flow value is greater than the unrestricted flow value.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein adjusting a pump rate further comprises changing the operational status of the second flow regulator when the target flow value is less than the unrestricted flow value.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting the pump rate when a change in an amount of fluid in a medicament container connected to the fluid passageway is detected.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting the pump rate when a change in a relative elevation of a medicament container connected to the fluid passageway with respect to an outlet of an administration tube connected to the outlet is detected.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein obtaining a target flow value further comprises receiving a user input.