Detection of fluid flow faults in the parenteral administration of fluids
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring the flow of parenteral fluid through a parenteral fluid delivery system to a patient wherein the fluid in the delivery system is at a base level of pressure or flow rate, the system comprising:
- (a) means to apply to fluid in the fluid delivery system a fluid flow excitation pulse which is at a pressure or flow rate significantly greater or lesser than the base level of pressure or flow rate of fluid therein;
(b) means to sense the pressure response of fluid in the delivery system to the applied excitation pulse and generate a signal representing the response or characteristic thereof;
(c) means to generate a reference signal representing a pressure response or characteristic thereof of fluid in the delivery system to a fluid flow excitation pulse of a magnitude and duration equivalent to the fluid flow excitation pulse applied in (a) above when fault-free fluid flow conditions into the patient exist;
(d) means to compare the signal representing the sensed pressure response or characteristic thereof with the signal representing the reference pressure response or characteristic thereof to detect a difference therebetween; and
(e) means responsive to the difference to generate an alarm signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is directed to a method and system for evaluating the fluid communication between a parenteral fluid delivery system and a patient'"'"'s blood vessel. In accordance with the invention, one or more fluid flow pulses are applied to the fluid within the delivery system. Both positive and negative fluid flow pulses may be applied. The pressure response to the pulses under conditions of normal, unimpeded fluid flow is significantly different than the pressure response to such pulses when an infiltration or other fluid flow fault has occurred and this difference is used to detect fluid faults.
141 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring the flow of parenteral fluid through a parenteral fluid delivery system to a patient wherein the fluid in the delivery system is at a base level of pressure or flow rate, the system comprising:
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(a) means to apply to fluid in the fluid delivery system a fluid flow excitation pulse which is at a pressure or flow rate significantly greater or lesser than the base level of pressure or flow rate of fluid therein; (b) means to sense the pressure response of fluid in the delivery system to the applied excitation pulse and generate a signal representing the response or characteristic thereof; (c) means to generate a reference signal representing a pressure response or characteristic thereof of fluid in the delivery system to a fluid flow excitation pulse of a magnitude and duration equivalent to the fluid flow excitation pulse applied in (a) above when fault-free fluid flow conditions into the patient exist; (d) means to compare the signal representing the sensed pressure response or characteristic thereof with the signal representing the reference pressure response or characteristic thereof to detect a difference therebetween; and (e) means responsive to the difference to generate an alarm signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of monitoring the flow of parenteral fluid through a fluid delivery system to a patient, wherein the fluid in the delivery system is at a base level of pressure or flow rate, the method comprising:
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(a) applying to fluid in the fluid delivery system a fluid flow excitation pulse at a pressure or flow rate significantly greater or lesser than the base level of pressure or flow rate of fluid therein; (b) sensing the pressure response of fluid in the fluid delivery system to the applied excitation pulse and generating a signal representing the pressure response sensed or characteristic thereof; (c) generating a reference signal representing a pressure response or characteristic thereof of fluid in the fluid delivery system having to a fluid flow excitation pulse of a magnitude and duration equivalent to the fluid flow excitation pulse applied in (a) above when fault-free fluid flow conditions into the patient exist; (d) comparing the signal representing the sensed response or characteristic thereof with the signal representing the reference pressure response or characteristic thereof to detect a difference therebetween; and (e) generating an alarm signal when the sensed response signal differs from the reference response signal in a predetermined manner, the predetermined difference therebetween indicating the nature of the fluid communication between the fluid delivery system and the patient. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification