Method and apparatus for controlling infusion volume
First Claim
1. A method of controlling the fluid-flow rate of infusion fluid through an infusion pump receiving infusion fluid from a drip chamber, the method comprising the steps of:
- measuring the flow rate of infusion fluid into the drip chamber;
monitoring the drip chamber for movement;
if drip-chamber movement is not detected, then setting the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump to substantially match the fluid-flow rate of the drip chamber;
if drip-chamber movement is detected, then omitting the setting step and instead maintaining the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump as set immediately prior to the detection of drip-chamber movement.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flow sensor detects drops of infusion fluid that enter the drip chamber of an infusion system and generates a drop-detection signal indicating each drop detected. A setting controller receives the drop-detection signals from the flow sensor and counts the drops detected and then determines the fluid-flow rate of infusion fluid into the drip chamber. The setting controller then sets the infusion pump so that the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump substantially matches the fluid-flow rate of the drip chamber. A motion sensor detects drip-chamber movement and generates a motion-detection signal indicating the motion state of the drip chamber. A maintaining controller is coupled to receive the motion-detection signal from the motion sensor. The maintaining controller also stores a signal that indicates a stationary drip chamber. The maintaining controller compares the motion-detection signal to the stored signal to determine if drip chamber movement has occurred, and if drip-chamber movement has occurred it maintains the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump as set immediately prior to the detection of drip-chamber movement.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the fluid-flow rate of infusion fluid through an infusion pump receiving infusion fluid from a drip chamber, the method comprising the steps of:
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measuring the flow rate of infusion fluid into the drip chamber; monitoring the drip chamber for movement; if drip-chamber movement is not detected, then setting the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump to substantially match the fluid-flow rate of the drip chamber; if drip-chamber movement is detected, then omitting the setting step and instead maintaining the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump as set immediately prior to the detection of drip-chamber movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for controlling the flow rate of infusion fluid through an infusion pump, the infusion pump receiving infusion fluid from a drip chamber having a fluid-flow rate, the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump being set to substantially match the fluid-flow rate of the drip chamber, the apparatus comprising:
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a motion sensor that detects drip-chamber movement and generates a motion-detection signal indicating the motion state of the drip-chamber; and a controller coupled to receive the motion-detection signal from the motion sensor; wherein, if drip-chamber movement is detected, the controller maintains the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump as set immediately prior to the detection of drip-chamber movement. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for controlling the flow rate of infusion fluid through an infusion pump, the infusion pump receiving infusion fluid from a drip chamber, the apparatus comprising:
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a flow sensor for detecting drops of infusion fluid that enter the drip chamber and generating a drop-detection signal that indicates each drop detected; a setting controller coupled to receive the drop-detection signals from the flow sensor; wherein the setting controller counts the detected drops, and determines the fluid-flow rate of infusion fluid into the drip chamber, and sets the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump to substantially match the fluid-flow rate of the drip chamber; a motion sensor that detects drip-chamber movement and generates a motion-detection signal that indicates the motion state of the drip-chamber; a maintaining controller coupled to receive the motion-detection signal from the motion sensor; and wherein the maintaining controller stores a signal that indicates a stationary drip chamber and compares the motion-detection signal to the stored signal to determine if drip chamber movement has occurred, and, if drip-chamber movement has occurred, maintains the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump as set immediately prior to the detection of drip-chamber movement. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for controlling the flow rate of infusion fluid through an infusion pump, the infusion pump receiving infusion fluid from a drip chamber, the apparatus comprising:
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a flow sensor for detecting drops of infusion fluid that enter the drip chamber and generating a drop-detection signal that indicates each drop detected; a motion sensor that detects drip-chamber movement and generates a motion-detection signal that indicates the motion state of the drip-chamber; a controller coupled to receive the drop-detection signals from the flow sensor and the motion-detection signal from the motion sensor; wherein the controller counts the detected drops, and determines the fluid-flow rate of infusion fluid into the drip chamber, and sets the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump to substantially match the fluid-flow rate of the drip chamber; and wherein the controller stores a signal that indicates a stationary drip chamber and compares the motion-detection signal to the stored signal to determine if drip chamber movement has occurred, and, if drip-chamber movement has occurred, maintains the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump as set immediately prior to the detection of drip-chamber movement.
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Specification