Bubble detection system
First Claim
1. In a fluid delivery system in which a liquid is delivered through a conduit leading to a patient, a bubble detection means comprising:
- pump means for delivering liquid through the conduit toward the patient;
control means adapted to control the movement of said pump means;
detector means adapted to monitor a parameter indicating the compressibility of the liquid delivered through the conduit and to produce at least one signal representing said parameter;
comparator means for comparing said at least one signal from said detector means with at least one signal of said same parameter indicative of said pump means delivering a known quantity of an incompressible liquid through the conduit at a specific rate, said comparator means producing a signal when said detected signal indicates that the compressibility of the liquid being delivered is a predetermined amount more than that of said compared signal;
means responsive to said signal from said comparator to discontinue delivering liquid to the patient and to relieve pressure in said conduit.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A bubble detection system for use in a fluid delivery line leading to a patient for automatic delivery of a fluid. The system monitors a parameter indicative of compressibility of the fluid being delivered and compares that monitored parameter with a known value of the same parameter using a relatively incompressible fluid. If the fluid being delivered is more compressible by a predetermined amount, the system recognizes the existence of a bubble and stops the further movement of fluid toward the patient and reduces the pressure in the fluid delivery line upstream of the bubble to prevent the bubble from progressing further toward the patient. The parameter may include pressure in the fluid delivery line, force required to deliver the fluid or motor current in the event an electric motor is used in delivering the fluid.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. In a fluid delivery system in which a liquid is delivered through a conduit leading to a patient, a bubble detection means comprising:
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pump means for delivering liquid through the conduit toward the patient; control means adapted to control the movement of said pump means; detector means adapted to monitor a parameter indicating the compressibility of the liquid delivered through the conduit and to produce at least one signal representing said parameter; comparator means for comparing said at least one signal from said detector means with at least one signal of said same parameter indicative of said pump means delivering a known quantity of an incompressible liquid through the conduit at a specific rate, said comparator means producing a signal when said detected signal indicates that the compressibility of the liquid being delivered is a predetermined amount more than that of said compared signal; means responsive to said signal from said comparator to discontinue delivering liquid to the patient and to relieve pressure in said conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A bubble detection means for use in a fluid delivery system in which a liquid is delivered through a conduit leading to a patient,
pump means for delivery liquid through the conduit; -
motive means associated with aid pump for moving said pump to deliver liquid toward said patient; control means adapted to control said motive means; detector means adapted to monitor a parameter indicating the compressibility of the liquid delivered through the conduit and to produce at least one signal evidencing said parameter; memory means having stored therein, at least one signal representative of said monitored parameter indicative of said pump means delivering a known amount of a relatively incompressible fluid through the conduit at a specific known rate; comparator means for comparing said at least one signal of said monitored parameter from said detector means with said at least one signal stored in said memory means at predetermined time intervals and to produce a signal when said compared signals indicate that the liquid being delivered through said conduit is more compressible than the relatively incompressible fluid; and means responsive to said signal produced from said comparator means to stop said motive means from moving said pump delivering liquid toward said patient. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of preventing large bubbles from entering the blood stream in a patient by traveling along a liquid flow path through a tubing having a distal end within the patient'"'"'s blood stream and a proximal end external of the patient comprising the steps of:
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forcing by motive means the liquid through the tubing in a direction from the proximal end of the tubing toward the distal end within the patient'"'"'s blood stream; sensing at least one point in time a parameter indicative of the compressibility of the liquid forced through the tubing and obtaining at least one value for said parameter; comparing the sensed value of the parameter with a stored value of the same parameter indicative of an incompressible liquid forced by the motive means through said tubing at a predetermined rate into a patient; discontinuing the motive means where the comparison between the sensed value of the parameter and the stored value indicates that the compressibility of the liquid being forced through the tubing is a predetermined amount more compressible than an incompressible liquid; and relieving the pressure in said flow path at or about the proximal end of the tubing. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A bubble detection means for use in a fluid delivery system in which a liquid is delivered through a conduit leading to a patient;
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pump means for delivering liquid through the conduit; motive means associated with said pump for moving said pump to deliver liquid toward said patient; control means adapted to control said motive means; detector means adapted to monitor a parameter indicating the compressibility of the liquid delivered through the conduit and to produce at least one signal evidencing said parameter; a central processor unit having as a first function, a memory means, said memory means having stored therein, at least one signal representative of said monitored parameter for said pump means delivering a known amount of a relatively incompressible fluid through the conduit at a predetermined rate; comparator means for comparing said at least one signal of said monitored parameter from said detector means with said at least one signal stored in said memory means at predetermined time intervals and to produce a signal when said compared signals indicate that the liquid being delivered through said conduit is more compressible than the relatively incompressible fluid; an independent bubble detector means located in said conduit and detecting bubbles in said liquid delivered from said pump means;
said independent bubble detector utilizing a second function of said central processor unit to produce a signal when a bubble is detected; andmeans responsive to said signal produced from said comparator means and said signal from said second function of said central processor unit to stop said motive means from moving said pump delivering liquid toward said patient. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification