Method and apparatus for infiltration detection during administration of intravenous fluids
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of an obstruction or infiltration of a fluid being delivered through an intravenous tube to a patient, comprising:
- occlusion means for occluding an intravenous tube at a first location;
fluid moving means for subjecting the fluid downstream of said first location to a pressure drop below a first pressure level;
pressure monitoring means in contact with an exterior surface of the tube for monitoring fluid pressure within the tube downstream of said first location;
processing means in communication with said occlusion means, said fluid moving means, and said pressure monitoring means, for controlling said occlusion means to occlude the tube, for controlling said fluid moving means to subject the fluid to said pressure drop, for measuring a recovery time interval required for the pressure in the tube to recover to said first pressure level, and for comparing said recovery time interval with a predetermined time interval; and
display means connected to said processing means for indicating the results of said comparison.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for testing for patency at a venous access site during intravenous infusion of a medical solution includes the steps of occluding an intravenous injection tube upstream from the venous access site and monitoring the time and fluid pressure within the tube while the fluid pressure within the tube is varied by external contact with the tube. An apparatus for practicing the method of the invention includes a housing formed with a tube receiving portion for holding a portion of the tube in contact with an occluder finger, a fluid moving finger and a pressure transducer. The fluid moving finger is adapted to contact the tube so as to achieve a testing base pressure in the fluid, after occlusion by the occluder finger. A sequence of pressure drops are then effected by moving the fluid moving finger in stepped increments. An excessive time interval between a pressure drop and a recovery of fluid pressure back to the testing base pressure is an indication of an infiltration condition or some other obstruction.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of an obstruction or infiltration of a fluid being delivered through an intravenous tube to a patient, comprising:
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occlusion means for occluding an intravenous tube at a first location; fluid moving means for subjecting the fluid downstream of said first location to a pressure drop below a first pressure level; pressure monitoring means in contact with an exterior surface of the tube for monitoring fluid pressure within the tube downstream of said first location; processing means in communication with said occlusion means, said fluid moving means, and said pressure monitoring means, for controlling said occlusion means to occlude the tube, for controlling said fluid moving means to subject the fluid to said pressure drop, for measuring a recovery time interval required for the pressure in the tube to recover to said first pressure level, and for comparing said recovery time interval with a predetermined time interval; and display means connected to said processing means for indicating the results of said comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An infiltration detection apparatus for monitoring an intravenous infusion procedure in which a fluid is infused into a patient using a tube in fluid communication with a blood vessel of the patient, comprising;
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a housing formed with a tube receiving portion for receiving and retaining a portion of an intravenous tube; an occluder finger reciprocally mounted at a first location within said housing for movement by a first stepper motor to occlude the tube held in said tube receiving portion; a fluid moving finger mounted downstream of said first location in external contact with the tube within said housing, adapted for reciprocal movement by a second stepper motor, to achieve a pressure drop in the tube to a testing base pressure and to achieve a subsequent pressure drop in the tube by movement away from the tube; a pressure transducer mounted within said housing in contact with the tube for monitoring the pressure of the fluid within the tube downstream of said first location; a control circuit mounted within said housing, including a microprocessor electrically connected to said pressure transducer and to said first and second stepper motors, with said microprocessor adapted to control said occluder finger to occlude the tube and to control said fluid moving finger to achieve said testing base pressure and to initiate said subsequent pressure drop in the tube, with said microprocessor adapted to time a period for the pressure in the tube to return to said testing base pressure after said subsequent pressure drop, and with said microprocessor adapted to compare said time period with a predetermined time period; and display means connected to said control circuit for indicating the results of said comparison of said time periods. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of monitoring an intravenous fluid infusion procedure to test for a patency condition at the venous access site, comprising the steps of:
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occluding an intravenous fluid infusion tube upstream from the venous access site; manipulating an external surface of said tube to achieve a testing base pressure; initiating a pressure drop in the fluid within said tube by manipulating said external surface of said tube; sensing pressure in the fluid within said tube by contact with said external surface of said tube; timing an interval between said pressure drop and a recovery of said pressure in the fluid to said testing base pressure; comparing said time interval with a predetermined time limit; and displaying an alarm if said time interval is greater than said predetermined time limit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification