Occlusion Detection for Flow Control Apparatus

• US 20160106630A1
• Filed: 10/14/2015
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kpr U.S., LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hudson, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 10,219,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0076 Feeding pumps A61M1/00, A61M5/142, A61M25/1018 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0088 for sensing parameters related to the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16863 Occlusion detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3365 Rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/12 having peristaltic action

Abstract

There is disclosed a flow control apparatus adapted for a feeding set having a housing capable of receiving at least a portion of the feeding set, a pumping device for actiong on the feeding set to produce fluid flow in the feeding set for delivery of fluid. The pumping device has a rotor and a motor operatively connector to the rotor for rotating the rotor to act on the feeding set to produce fluid flow in the feeding set. The apparatus has a sensor arranged with respect to the pumping device to produce a signal indicative of a rotational position of the rotor, and a control circuit in communication with the sensor for receiving the sensor signal from the sensor indicative of the rotational position of the rotor and in communication with the pumping device to control operation thereof. The control circuit controls operation of the motor at a first output to rotate the rotor to produce fluid flow in the feeding set and at a second output effectively less than the first output, the control circuit monitoring the sensor signal during operation of the motor at the second output to determine occlusion in the feeding set.

Claims

1. A flow control apparatus adapted to load a feeding set, said flow control apparatus comprising:

a housing capable of receiving at least a portion of the feeding set;

a pumping device for contacting the feeding set when the feeding set is received by the housing so the pumping device acts on the feeding set to produce fluid flow in the feeding set for delivery of fluid in a patient direction to a patient, the pumping device comprising a rotor and a motor operatively connector to the rotor for rotating the rotor to act on the feeding set to produce fluid flow in the feeding set;

a sensor arranged with respect to the pumping device to produce a signal indicative of a rotational position of the rotor; and

a control circuit in communication with the sensor for receiving the sensor signal from the sensor indicative of the rotational position of the rotor and in communication with the pumping device to control operation thereof, the control circuit being configured to operate the motor to rotate the rotor to contact the feeding set to produce a pumping action of fluid in the patient direction through the feeding set, the control circuit operating the motor at a first output to rotate the rotor to produce fluid flow in the feeding set and operating the motor at a second output effectively less than the first output, the control circuit monitoring the sensor signal during operation of the motor at the second output to determine a flow condition in the feeding set.

2. The flow control apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is free of a sensor to directly measure pressure in the feeding set.

3. A method of operating a flow control apparatus including a pumping device for detecting occlusions in fluid flow in a pump set acted upon by the flow control apparatus, the method comprising:

operating a motor of the pumping device using the control circuit in a first output to rotate a rotor of the pumping device to produce fluid flow in the pump set;

operating the motor using the control circuit at a second output effectively less than the first output;

operating a sensor arranged with respect to the pumping device to produce a signal indicative of a rotational position of the rotor; and

monitoring the sensor signal during operation of the motor at the second output to determine if an occlusion exists in the pump set.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the occlusion in the pump set is determined without using a sensor to directly measure pressure in the pump set.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein operating the motor at the second output comprises supplying pulses of power to the motor to rotate the rotor.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising operating the motor of the pumping device using the control circuit to stop rotation of the rotor after operating the motor at the first output and before operating the motor at the second output.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining the occlusion exists in the pump set if the rotor does not rotate to a predetermined position or does not rotate at least at a predetermined rate after operating the motor at the second output.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining the occlusion exists in the pump set if the rotor does not rotate to a predetermined position or does not rotate at least at a predetermined rate after operating the motor at the second output.