Air in-line sensor for ambulatory drug infusion pump

• US 6,489,896 B1
• Filed: 11/03/2000
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: LaBedz, Ralph, Platt, Michael, Hovis, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US09/706,371
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 340/603, 340/621, 340/632, 604/122, 604/123, 128/DIG.13, 73/191
• US Class Current: 340/632
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/365 Air detectors A61M5/1684 takes precedence; in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3626
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02433 Gases in liquids, e.g. bubbles, foams
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/048 Transmission, i.e. analysed material between transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/102 one emitter, one receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/032 by measuring attenuation of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/223 Supports, positioning or alignment in fixed situation mounting transducers per se G10K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/28 providing acoustic coupling , e.g. water impedance matching G10K11/02

Abstract

An air in-line sensor for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube utilizes a unitary type sensor having a channel for receiving the tube. The channel has a tube loading section. A signal emitting member is positioned on one side of the tube and a signal receiving member is positioned on an opposite side of the tube. A first air baffle is positioned between the signal emitting and signal receiving members.

Claims

1. An air in-line sensor for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube, the sensor comprising:

a channel for receiving the tube having a tube loading section;

a signal emitting member positioned on one side of the tube and a signal receiving member positioned on an opposite side of the tube; and

,

a first air baffle positioned between the signal emitting member and the signal receiving member.

2. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising a first lead-in section.

3. The sensor of claim 2 wherein the first lead-in section comprises an upper portion of a first sidewall of the channel, the first lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the first sidewall to the upper portion of the first sidewall.

4. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the first air baffle prevents an ultrasonic signal from traveling around the tube.

5. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising a second air baffle.

6. The sensor of claim 5 wherein the second air baffle is positioned between the signal emitting member and the signal receiving member.

7. The sensor of claim 6 wherein the second air baffle prevents an ultrasonic signal from traveling around the tube.

8. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising a second lead-in section positioned opposite the first lead-in section.

9. The sensor of claim 8 wherein the second lead-in section comprises an upper portion of a second sidewall of the channel, the second lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the second sidewall to the upper portion of the second sidewall.

10. An air in-line sensor for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube, the sensor comprising:

a channel for receiving the tube having a first lead-in section, and a tube loading section;

a signal emitting member positioned on one side of the tube and a signal receiving member positioned on an opposite side of the tube; and

,

a first air baffle positioned between the signal emitting member and the signal receiving member.

11. The sensor of claim 10 wherein the first lead-in section comprises an upper portion of a first sidewall of the channel, the first lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the first sidewall to the upper portion of the first sidewall.

12. The sensor of claim 10 wherein the first air baffle prevents an ultrasonic signal from traveling around the tube.

13. The sensor of claim 10 further comprising a second air baffle.

14. The sensor of claim 13 wherein the second air baffle is positioned between the signal emitting member and the signal receiving member.

15. The sensor of claim 14 wherein the second air baffle prevents an ultrasonic signal from traveling around the tube.

16. The sensor of claim 10 further comprising a second lead-in section positioned opposite the first lead-in section.

17. The sensor of claim 16 wherein the second lead-in section comprises an upper portion of a second sidewall of the channel, the second lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the second sidewall to the upper portion of the second sidewall.

18. An air in-line sensor for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube, the sensor comprising:

a channel for receiving the tube having a tube loading section;

a first lead-in section comprising an upper portion of a first sidewall of the channel, the first lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the first sidewall to the upper portion of the first sidewall;

a second lead-in section comprising an upper portion of a second sidewall of the channel, the second lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the second sidewall to the upper portion of the second sidewall; and

,

the tube loading section having a stationary section and a movable section hingedly connected to the stationary section, the movable section having a blade having a radius of curvature for positioning the tube in the tube loading section.

19. An air in-line sensor system for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube located in a pumping mechanism, the tube extending from a supply bag of the therapeutic solution to a patient through the system, the system comprising:

a channel for receiving the tube having a first lead-in section, and a tube loading section;

a signal emitting member positioned on one side of the tube and a signal receiving member positioned on an opposite side of the tube;

a first air baffle positioned between the signal emitting member and the signal receiving member; and

,

the tube loader having a stationary section and a movable section hingedly connected to the stationary section, the movable section having a blade having a radius of curvature for positioning the tube in the tube loading section.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the pumping mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a peristaltic pump, a roller pump, an expulsor pump, a finger pump and a piston cassette pump.

21. The sensor of claim 19 wherein the first lead-in section comprises an upper portion of a first sidewall of the channel, the first lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the first sidewall to the upper portion of the first sidewall.

22. The sensor of claim 19 wherein the first air baffle prevents an ultrasonic signal from traveling around the tube.

23. The sensor of claim 19 further comprising a second air baffle.

24. The sensor of claim 23 wherein the second air baffle is positioned between the signal emitting member and the signal receiving member.

25. The sensor of claim 24 wherein the second air baffle prevents an ultrasonic signal from traveling around the tube.

26. The sensor of claim 19 further comprising a second lead-in section positioned opposite the first lead-in section.

27. The sensor of claim 26 wherein the second lead-in section comprises an upper portion of a second sidewall of the channel, the second lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the second sidewall to the upper portion of the second sidewall.

28. An air in-line sensor for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube, the sensor comprising:

means for emitting an ultrasonic signal through the tube;

means for preventing the ultrasonic signal from traveling around the tube;

means for detecting the ultrasonic signal emitted through the tube;

means for measuring the strength of the ultrasonic signal emitted through the tube;

means for comparing the strength of the ultrasonic signal to a preset voltage value;

means for outputting a preset, maximum value for liquid and a preset, minimum value for air; and

,

means for determining whether to sound an air in-line alarm.

29. The sensor of claim 28 wherein the means for emitting is a transducer.

30. The sensor of claim 28 wherein the means for preventing employs two air baffles positioned between a signal emitting member and a signal receiving member.

31. The sensor of claim 28 wherein the means for detecting is a transducer.

32. The sensor of claim 28 wherein the means for measuring employs an electrical circuit.

33. The sensor of claim 28 wherein the means for comparing employs a voltage comparator.

34. An air in-line sensor for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube, the sensor comprising:

a channel for receiving the tube having a tube loading section;

a signal emitting member positioned on one side of the tube and a signal receiving member positioned on an opposite side of the tube;

a first lead-in section comprising an upper portion of a first sidewall of the channel, the first lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the first sidewall to the upper portion of the first sidewall; and

,

a second lead-in section comprising an upper portion of a second sidewall of the channel, the second lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediated portion of the second sidewall to the upper portion of the second sidewall.