Medication infusion system having optical motion sensor to detect drive mechanism malfunction
First Claim
1. A medication infusion system including an arrangement for monitoring the operation of said medication infusion system to ensure that said medication infusion system is operating properly to cause medication to be dispensed to a patient, said system comprising:
- a housing including means for mounting a syringe having a plunger therein;
a lead screw mounted for rotation in said housing;
a drive wheel for driving said lead screw;
means for driving said drive wheel to rotate said lead screw;
means mounted on said lead screw for pushing said plunger into said syringe to dispense medication when said lead screw rotates;
a reflective member having a pattern of reflective and substantially nonreflective surface zones thereon, said reflective member being mounted on said drive wheel to displace said reflective and nonreflective surface zones in sequence past a predetermined point; and
photoreflective sensor means for illuminating said predetermined point, and for detecting the level of reflection from said reflective member at said predetermined point to monitor movement of said reflective member with said drive wheel.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical motion sensor is provided for monitoring movement of a mechanical device, particularly such as an infusion pump of the type used for controlled delivery of medication to a patient. The motion sensor includes a disk member mounted upon a selected mechanical output component driven by the infusion pump, such that the disk member undergoes displacement during normal pump operation. The disk member defines a pattern of reflective and substantially nonreflective surface zones which are alternately illuminated by a light source during normal pump operation. A light detector responds to the level of reflection from the disk member to provide an output signal which varies according to disk member displacement. This output signal is connected to a controller for comparison with drive signals supplied to the infusion pump, to verify proper mechanical output operation of the pump.
665 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A medication infusion system including an arrangement for monitoring the operation of said medication infusion system to ensure that said medication infusion system is operating properly to cause medication to be dispensed to a patient, said system comprising:
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a housing including means for mounting a syringe having a plunger therein; a lead screw mounted for rotation in said housing; a drive wheel for driving said lead screw; means for driving said drive wheel to rotate said lead screw; means mounted on said lead screw for pushing said plunger into said syringe to dispense medication when said lead screw rotates; a reflective member having a pattern of reflective and substantially nonreflective surface zones thereon, said reflective member being mounted on said drive wheel to displace said reflective and nonreflective surface zones in sequence past a predetermined point; and photoreflective sensor means for illuminating said predetermined point, and for detecting the level of reflection from said reflective member at said predetermined point to monitor movement of said reflective member with said drive wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for use in a medication infusion system for monitoring and verifying proper operation of the medication infusion system, said medication infusion system being of the type which operates by engaging the plunger of a syringe to dispense medication to a patient, said system comprising:
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a drive motor having drive signals inputted thereto; mechanical drive means, driven by said drive motor, for driving the plunger of the syringe to dispense medication the patient; a reflective member having a pattern thereon of reflective and substantially nonreflective surface zones, said reflective member being movable with said lead screw to displace said reflective and nonreflective zones sequentially past a predetermined point; light source means for illuminating said predetermined point; reflection detector means for detecting the level of light reflected from said reflective member at said predetermined point and for generating an output signal representing said level of reflection; and controller means for comparing said output signal with the drive signals inputted to said drive motor and for responding thereto to indicate the operational state of said drive motor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. In an infusion pump having a drive motor, controller means for inputting drive signals to the drive motor, and at least one mechanical output component displaced by the drive motor and adapted to operate a syringe to deliver medication or the like therefrom in a controlled manner, a sensor-operated infusion pump safety monitoring system, comprising:
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a reflective member having a pattern thereon of reflective and substantially nonreflecting surface zones, said reflective member being movable with the mechanical output component to displace said reflective and nonreflective zones sequentially past a predetermined point; light source means for illuminating said predetermined point; and reflection detector means for detecting the level of light reflected from said reflective member at said predetermined point and for generating an output signal representing said level of reflection; said controller means including means for comparing said output signal with the drive signals inputted to the drive motor and for responding thereto to indicate the operational state of the drive motor, said controller means providing a fault signal when insufficient movement of said reflective member and the mechanical output component in relation to the drive signals inputted to the drive motor is detected; and means for providing an underinfusion alarm when said controller means provides said fault signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A medication infusion system including an arrangement for monitoring the operation of said medication infusion system to ensure that said medication infusion system is operating properly to cause medication to be dispensed to a patient, said system comprising:
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a housing including means for mounting a syringe having a plunger therein; a mechanical drive element mounted for driven movement in said housing; a drive wheel for driving said mechanical drive element; means for driving said drive wheel to drive said mechanical drive element; means mounted on said mechanical drive element for pushing said plunger into said syringe to dispense medication when said mechanical drive element is driven into movement; a reflective member having a pattern of reflective and substantially nonreflective surface zones thereon, said reflective member being mounted on said drive wheel to displace said reflective and nonreflective surface zones in sequence past a predetermined point; and photoreflective sensor for illuminating said predetermined point, and for detecting the level of reflection from said reflective member at said predetermined point to monitor movement of said reflective member with said drive wheel. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification