Leak detection system and method of using the same
First Claim
1. In a fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid into an individual'"'"'s body, a leak detection system to detect the presence of the fluid that has leaked outside a normal fluid path of the fluid delivery system, the leak detection system comprising:
- a fluid containing element adapted to be filled with the fluid to be delivered into the individual'"'"'s body and placed in a device for delivering the fluid into the individual'"'"'s body;
a delivery element configured to penetrate the individual'"'"'s body and establish fluid communication between the fluid containing element and the individual'"'"'s body so that the fluid can travel along the normal fluid path from the fluid containing element through the delivery element into the individual'"'"'s body; and
at least one chemical, positioned near the fluid containing element, that reacts with at least one component within the fluid when the fluid is present near an exterior surface of the fluid containing element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid into an individual'"'"'s body, a leak detection system indicates that the fluid has leaked outside a normal fluid path of the fluid delivery system, such as near an infusion site or a fluid-filled reservoir. Preferably, the leak detection system includes a chemical positioned near the infusion site that reacts with preservatives in the leaking fluid to generate a highly visible, brightly colored, chemical complex. Alternatively, mechanical, electro-optical, electrochemical, electrical or other chemical systems may be used to detect the presence of fluid that is leaking near the infusion site. Further, the leak detection systems may be used to detect the presence of fluid that is leaking from or near other locations within the fluid delivery system, such as on or near a fluid-filled reservoir, or a flexible tube coupled between the reservoir and the infusion site.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. In a fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid into an individual'"'"'s body, a leak detection system to detect the presence of the fluid that has leaked outside a normal fluid path of the fluid delivery system, the leak detection system comprising:
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a fluid containing element adapted to be filled with the fluid to be delivered into the individual'"'"'s body and placed in a device for delivering the fluid into the individual'"'"'s body;
a delivery element configured to penetrate the individual'"'"'s body and establish fluid communication between the fluid containing element and the individual'"'"'s body so that the fluid can travel along the normal fluid path from the fluid containing element through the delivery element into the individual'"'"'s body; and
at least one chemical, positioned near the fluid containing element, that reacts with at least one component within the fluid when the fluid is present near an exterior surface of the fluid containing element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid into an individual'"'"'s body, a leak detection system to detect the presence of the fluid that has leaked outside a normal fluid path of the fluid delivery system, the leak detection system comprising:
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a fluid containing element adapted to be filled with the fluid to be delivered into the individual'"'"'s body and placed in a device for delivering the fluid into the individual'"'"'s body;
a delivery element configured to penetrate the individual'"'"'s body and establish fluid communication between the fluid containing element and the individual'"'"'s body so that the fluid can travel along the normal fluid path from the fluid containing element through the delivery element into the individual'"'"'s body;
at least one chemical positioned near the fluid containing element that reacts with at least one component within the fluid when the fluid is present near an exterior surface of the fluid containing element;
a product of a chemical reaction between the at least one chemical positioned near the fluid containing element and the at least one component within the fluid is a colored complex;
an optical receiver that detects a change in light when the colored complex is created by the chemical reaction and provides an output signal indicating that a leak is detected; and
a light conducting element that guides light from a point near the fluid containing element to the optical receiver. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. In a fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid into an individual'"'"'s body, a leak detection system to detect the presence of the fluid that has leaked outside a normal fluid path of the fluid delivery system, the leak detection system comprising:
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a fluid containing element adapted to be filled with the fluid to be delivered into the individual'"'"'s body and placed in a device for delivering the fluid into the individual'"'"'s body;
a delivery element configured to penetrate the individual'"'"'s body and establish fluid communication between the fluid containing element and the individual'"'"'s body so that the fluid can travel along the normal fluid path from the fluid containing element through the delivery element into the individual'"'"'s body;
a rosette positioned near the fluid containing element;
at least one electrical component coupled to the rosette to detect a change in at least one electrical characteristic associated with the rosette when a leak occurs; and
a battery to supply power to the at least one electrical component. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. In a fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid into an individual'"'"'s body, a leak detection system to detect the presence of the fluid that has leaked outside a normal fluid path of the fluid delivery system, the leak detection system comprising:
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a device for delivering the fluid into the individual'"'"'s body;
a fluid containing element adapted to be filled with the fluid to be delivered into the individual'"'"'s body and placed in the device for delivering the fluid into the individual'"'"'s body;
a delivery element configured to penetrate the individual'"'"'s body and establish fluid communication between the fluid containing element and the individual'"'"'s body so that the fluid can travel along the normal fluid path from the fluid containing element through the delivery element into the individual'"'"'s body; and
at least one chemical, positioned near the fluid containing element, that reacts with at least one component within the fluid when the fluid is present near an exterior surface of the fluid containing element; and
at least one reactive element positioned near the fluid containing element and coupled to at least one of the delivery device and the fluid containing element so that when the fluid is present near an exterior surface of the fluid containing element, the at least one reactive element reacts with at least one component within the fluid.
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Specification