Integrated systems for testing and certifying the physical, functional, and electrical performance of IV pumps

• US 5,742,519 A
• Filed: 09/28/1995
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Spectrel Partners, L.L.C.
• Inventors: DiGianfilippo, Aleandro, McClendon, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Application Number:
  US08/535,544
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 364/509-510, 364/550, 364/558, 364/413.01-413.11, 417/18, 417/22, 604/67, 604/81, 604/65, 128/DIG. 12, 128/13
• US Class Current: 702/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/70 with testing or calibration facilities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/02 Equipment for testing the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/09 Flow through the pump
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations

Abstract

Systems integrate in a straightforward and user-friendly manner the testing and certification of different functional and performance characteristics of intravenous pumps on site by non-technical people.

Claims

1. A system for testing an intravenous fluid pump comprising

a container adapted to be coupled in liquid flow communication with the pump for receiving liquid conveyed by the pump,

a weight sensor for sensing weight of the container as the pump conveys liquid into the container,

a test controller including

a first element that commands the pump to convey liquid into the container under prescribed conditions including a prescribed test flow rate and a prescribed test period,

a second element that monitors changes in weight sensed by the weight sensor during the prescribed test period and derives therefrom a gravimetric test measurement comprising at least one of an actual flow rate of liquid into the container and an actual liquid volume delivered to the container, and

a third element for comparing the gravimetric test measurement to an outcome expected based upon the prescribed conditions, the outcome including at least one of a cumulative liquid volume delivered to the container and a range of flow rate accuracy based upon the prescribed test flow rate and for generating a test output comprising a pass mark when the comparison meets prescribed criteria and a fail mark when the comparison fails to meet prescribed criteria, and

an output device coupled to the third element for communicating the test output in alpha or numeric or alpha-numeric format.

2. A system according to claim 1

wherein the test controller includes an output element for prompting an operator in connection with testing the pump.

3. A system according to claim 1

wherein the test controller includes memory for storing in a database the expected outcome for the pump coupled to the test station.

4. A system for testing an intravenous fluid pump comprising:

a test station including

a housing,

a first component in the housing adapted to be coupled in liquid flow communication with an external intravenous fluid pump including a container adapted to be coupled in liquid flow communication with the pump for receiving liquid conveyed by the pump and a weight sensor for sensing weight of the container as the pump conveys liquid into the container, and

a second component in the housing adapted to be coupled electrically to the pump, and

a controller coupled to the test station for operating the test station in one mode including a first element that commands the pump to convey liquid under prescribed conditions, a second element that monitors changes in weight sensed by the weight sensor over time and derives therefrom a flow rate, and a third element for comparing the flow rate to an outcome expected based upon the prescribed conditions and for generating a first test output based upon the comparison, the controller also operating the test station in another mode controlling the operation of the second component to test at least one specified electrical characteristic of the pump and to generate a second test output regarding the specified electrical characteristic.

5. A system according to claim 4

wherein the housing includes an interior wall compartmentalizing the housing into a first compartment containing the first component and a second compartment containing the second component.

6. A system according to claim 4

wherein the controller includes an output element for prompting an operator in connection with measuring an operating characteristic of the pump.

7. A system according to claim 4

wherein the controller includes an output element for prompting an operator, an input element for receiving responses from the operator to prompting by the output element, and

wherein the controller is coupled to the output element and the input element to generate a prescribed test prompt instructing the operator to visually inspect at least one specified functional element of the pump, to receive a test response from the operator to the test response, and to generate a test output regarding the specified functional element based upon the test response.

8. A system according to claim 4

wherein the controller includes memory for storing in a database an expected performance outcome for the pump coupled to the test station.

9. A system for testing an intravenous fluid pump comprising

a first element adapted to be coupled to the pump to measure a selected single actual operating characteristic and provide consecutive measured outputs indicative of the selected single actual operating characteristic at predetermined consecutive intervals during a set test period,

a second element to compare each consecutive measured output at each predetermined consecutive interval to a desired actual operating characteristic, which desired operating characteristic remains the same throughout the set test period, and provide consecutive test outputs each comprising a pass mark when the comparison meets prescribed criteria and a fail mark when the comparison fails to meet the prescribed criteria, and

a processor for sampling consecutive test outputs over the set test period and providing a pass-test output only when a prescribed number of consecutive test outputs comprise pass marks before the test period ends.

10. A system according to claim 9

wherein the selected single actual operating characteristic measured by the first element comprises a pump flow rate.

11. A system according to claim 10

wherein the first element includes a weight sensing element to measure liquid flow rate gravimetrically.

12. A system for testing an intravenous fluid pump comprising

a first element adapted to be coupled to the pump to measure an actual operating characteristic comprising a pump flow rate and provide a measured output, the first element including a weight sensing element to measure liquid flow rate gravimetrically,

a second element to compare the measured output to a desired actual operating characteristic and provide a test output comprising a pass mark when the comparison meets prescribed criteria and a fail mark when the comparison fails to meet the prescribed criteria, and

a processor for sampling test outputs over a set test period and providing a pass-test output only when a prescribed number of consecutive test outputs comprise pass marks before the test period ends.

13. A system for testing first and second intravenous fluid pumps comprising

a container adapted to be coupled in liquid flow communication with either the first or second pump for receiving liquid conveyed by the respective pump,

a weight sensor for sensing weight of the container as the respective pump conveys liquid into the container,

a test controller including

an input to designate one of the first pump and the second pump as a selected pump for testing,

a first element that commands the selected pump to convey liquid into the container under only a first set of prescribed conditions, when the first pump is the selected pump, and under only a second set of prescribed conditions, different than the first set of prescribed conditions, when the second pump is the selected pump,

a second element that monitors changes in weight sensed by the weight sensor over time and derives therefrom at least one actual flow rate of liquid into the container, and

a third element for comparing the at least one actual flow rate to a first outcome expected when the first pump is the selected pump and to a second outcome, different than the first outcome, expected when the second pump is the selected pump, and for generating a test output comprising a pass mark when the comparison meets prescribed criteria and a fail mark when the comparison fails to meet prescribed criteria, and

an output device coupled to the third element for communicating the test output in alpha or numeric or alpha-numeric format.

14. A system according to claim 13

wherein the test controller includes an output element for prompting an operator in connection with testing the selected pump.

15. A system according to claim 13

wherein the test controller includes memory for storing in a database the first and second sets of prescribed conditions and the first and second expected outcomes.