SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSESSING FLUIDS FROM A PATIENT

• US 20160331282A1
• Filed: 05/13/2016
• Published: 11/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gauss Surgical, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gauss Surgical, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: SATISH, Siddarth, HYOUNG, Peter, MILLER, Kevin, HOSFORD, Andrew, HSIEH, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 11,504,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/004 adapted for image acquisition of a particular organ or body part A61B5/0082 takes precedence; arrangements for optical scanning A61B5/0062
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02042 Determining blood loss or bleeding, e.g. during a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1032 Determining colour for diagnostic purposes measuring colour in general G01J3/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150099 by negative pressure, other than vacuum extraction into a syringe by pulling on the piston rod or into pre-evacuated tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150221 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150992 Blood sampling from a fluid line external to a patient, such as a catheter line, combined with an infusion line; blood sampling from indwelling needle sets, e.g. sealable ports, luer couplings, valves tubing connectors and couplings A61M39/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface

Abstract

Systems and methods for assessing fluids from a patient are disclosed. The system includes a receptacle including an inlet port, an outlet port, and a third port; a valve system in fluidic communication with the receptacle; and one or more features in the receptacle to aid in optical imaging of fluids. The system has a fill mode and a flush mode. In the fill mode, the valve system directs suction from a vacuum source through the third port into the receptacle, thereby drawing fluid through the inlet port into the receptacle. In the flush mode, the valve system directs suction from the vacuum source through the outlet port, thereby drawing fluid through the outlet port out of the receptacle. Fluid-related information such as, for example, concentration of a blood component, may be estimated based on images of fluids in the receptacle.

Claims

1. A system for assessing fluids from a patient and comprising a fill mode and a flush mode, the system further comprising:

a receptacle comprising an inlet port, an outlet port, and a third port;

a valve system in fluidic communication with the receptacle; and

one or more features in the receptacle to aid in optical imaging of fluids;

wherein in the fill mode, the valve system directs suction from a vacuum source through the third port into the receptacle, thereby drawing fluid through the inlet port into the receptacle; and

wherein in the flush mode, the valve system directs suction from the vacuum source through the outlet port, thereby drawing fluid through the outlet port out of the receptacle.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to actuate the valve system to toggle between the fill mode and the flush mode.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to actuate the valve system based on a fluid level signal indicating a volume of fluids detected in the receptacle.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising one or more sensors coupled to the receptacle and configured to detect the volume of fluids in the receptacle and generate a fluid level signal based on the detection of volume of fluids in the receptacle.

5. The system of claim 4, comprising a first sensor configured to detect a high threshold volume of fluids in the receptacle.

6. The system of claim 5, comprising a second sensor configured to detect a low threshold volume of fluids in the receptacle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve system is configured to be automatically actuated.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve system is configured to be manually actuated.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the receptacle further comprises a fourth port, wherein in the fill mode the valve system directs suction from the vacuum source to a fluid retrieval device coupled to the inlet port and closes the fourth port, and wherein in the flush mode the valve system opens the fourth port.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more features in the receptacle comprises an insert that cooperates with a surface of the receptacle to define a region of substantially uniform thickness.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the insert is coupled to the receptacle.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the insert is integrally formed with the receptacle.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a holder configured to receive the receptacle.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more features in the receptacle comprises a surface of the receptacle that at least partially defines a region in which fluid has a color gradient.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising an optical fiducial on the receptacle.

16. A method for assessing fluids from a patient with a receptacle comprising an inlet port, an outlet port, and a third port, wherein the method comprises:

collecting fluids from the patient in the receptacle by suctioning from a vacuum source through the third port of the receptacle to draw fluids through the inlet port into the receptacle;

obtaining an image of the collected fluids with the aid of one or more features in the receptacle; and

draining the collected fluids upon reaching a high threshold volume of fluids in the receptacle by suctioning from the vacuum source through the outlet port, thereby drawing fluids through the outlet port and out of the receptacle.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising, upon reaching a low threshold volume of fluids in the receptacle, collecting fluids from the patient in the receptacle.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising actuating a valve system to toggle between collecting fluids and draining fluids.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the valve system is actuated based on a fluid level signal indicating a volume of fluids detected in the receptacle.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising detecting the volume of fluids in the receptacle and generating the fluid level signal using one or more sensors based on the detection of volume of fluids in the receptacle.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the receptacle further comprises a fourth port, and the method further comprises closing the fourth port when collecting fluids, and opening the fourth port when draining the collected fluids.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising identifying a receptacle image region in the image and determining one or more pixel color values of at least a portion of the receptacle image region.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising estimating a concentration of a blood component in the receptacle based on the one or more pixel color values.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising estimating a quantity of the blood component in the receptacle based on the estimated concentration of a blood component and an estimated volume of fluids in the receptacle.