Upstream occulsion detection system
First Claim
1. A method for detecting the condition of a fluid delivery system that includes a fluid line having an upstream end coupled to a fluid supply and a downstream end coupled to a fluid receiver, the delivery system having a flow control means for operating on a fluid chamber to control the flow of the fluid in the fluid line, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) controlling fluid flow through the fluid line at a pumping segment between the upstream and downstream ends;
(b) alternately exposing the pumping segment to fluid pressure at the upstream end of the fluid line and to fluid pressure at the downstream end of the fluid line;
(c) sensing the pressure downstream of the pumping segment and providing a pressure signal;
(d) determining a value corresponding to an average downstream pressure;
(e) comparing said average pressure value to a primary threshold value; and
(f) activating an occlusion alarm in response to the average pressure value being less than said primary threshold value.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pumping segment of a fluid line alternately in fluid communication with the upstream and downstream portions of the fluid line connects a fluid supply to a fluid receiver. A pressure sensor located downstream of the segment monitors the pressure during the segment'"'"'s communication with the upstream and downstream ends. The pressure difference is used to establish a pressure threshold against which the average pressure is compared to determine if an upstream occlusion exists. Should the average pressure fall within a cautionary zone, the pump is reversed to examine the pressure difference once again. Based on the pressure difference during the reversal, a pressure threshold line may be adjusted thereby adapting to fluid administration conditions.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A method for detecting the condition of a fluid delivery system that includes a fluid line having an upstream end coupled to a fluid supply and a downstream end coupled to a fluid receiver, the delivery system having a flow control means for operating on a fluid chamber to control the flow of the fluid in the fluid line, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) controlling fluid flow through the fluid line at a pumping segment between the upstream and downstream ends; (b) alternately exposing the pumping segment to fluid pressure at the upstream end of the fluid line and to fluid pressure at the downstream end of the fluid line; (c) sensing the pressure downstream of the pumping segment and providing a pressure signal; (d) determining a value corresponding to an average downstream pressure; (e) comparing said average pressure value to a primary threshold value; and (f) activating an occlusion alarm in response to the average pressure value being less than said primary threshold value.
-
-
2. A method for detecting the condition of a fluid delivery system that includes a fluid line having an upstream end coupled to a fluid supply and a downstream end coupled to a fluid receiver, the delivery system having a flow control means for operating on a fluid chamber to control the flow of the fluid in the fluid line, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) controlling fluid flow through the fluid line at a pumping segment between the upstream and downstream ends; (b) alternately exposing the pumping segment to fluid pressure at the upstream end of the fluid line and to fluid pressure at the downstream end of the fluid line; (c) sensing the pressure downstream of the pumping segment and providing a pressure signal; (d) determining a value corresponding to an average downstream pressure; (e) comparing said average pressure value to a primary threshold value; (f) comparing said average pressure value to a cautionary threshold value, said cautionary threshold value being greater than said primary threshold value; and (g) activating a cautionary occlusion alarm in response to the average pressure value being less than said cautionary threshold value and greater than said primary threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
-
-
5. A method for detecting the condition of a fluid delivery system that includes a fluid line having an upstream end coupled to a fluid supply and a downstream end coupled to a fluid receiver, the delivery system having a flow control means for operating on a fluid chamber to control the flow of the fluid in the fluid line, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) controlling fluid flow through the fluid line at a pumping segment between the upstream and downstream ends; (b) alternately exposing the pumping segment to fluid pressure at the upstream end of the fluid line and to fluid pressure at the downstream end of the fluid line; (c) sensing the pressure downstream of the pumping segment and providing a pressure signal; (d) determining a value corresponding to an average downstream pressure; (e) determining a downstream pressure difference; (f) deriving a primary threshold value as a function of the downstream pressure difference; and (g) comparing said average pressure value to the primary threshold value.
-
-
6. A method for detecting the condition of a fluid delivery system that includes a fluid line having an upstream end coupled to a fluid supply and a downstream end coupled to a fluid receiver, the delivery system having a flow control means for operating on the fluid chamber to control the flow of the fluid in the fluid line, the fluid upstream of the flow control means being at head pressure, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) controlling fluid flow through the fluid line at a pumping segment between the upstream and downstream ends; (b) alternately exposing the pumping segment to fluid pressure at the upstream end of the fluid line and to fluid pressure at the downstream end of the fluid line; (c) sensing the pressure downstream of the pumping segment and providing a pressure signal; (d) monitoring the pressure signal and determining the downstream pressure difference between the pumping segment exposed to the downstream pressure and exposed to the upstream pressure; (e) determining a primary threshold pressure as a function of said downstream pressure difference; (f) monitoring and determining an average downstream pressure; (g) comparing the average pressure to said primary threshold pressure; and (h) generating an upstream occlusion signal in response to said average pressure being less than said primary threshold pressure. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification