Occlusion system and method for a flow control apparatus

• US 7,447,566 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2006
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health Ireland Unlimited Company (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Knauper, Christopher A., Hudson, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DeCady; Albert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland; Steven R
• Application Number:
  US11/464,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20070083292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 700/282, 604/65, 604/67, 604/153, 128/DIG.13
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16868 Downstream occlusion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16872 Upstream occlusion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3351 Controlling upstream pump pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0688 by combined action on throttling means and flow sources G05D7/0694 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/13 Infusion monitoring

Abstract

A flow control apparatus having a flow monitoring system capable of detecting and identifying a downstream occlusion present within an administration feeding set loaded to the flow control apparatus is disclosed. A software subsystem is associated with the flow control apparatus and administration feeding set, the software system plots at least one discrete date point against a standard occlusion profile to detect if a downstream occlusion present within the administration feeding set.

Claims

1. A flow control apparatus comprising:

a) the flow control apparatus is adapted to be loaded with an administration feeding set having an upstream side and a downstream side, the flow control apparatus comprising a microprocessor;

b) the microprocessor is configured to execute a software subsystem stored as computer-executed instructions, the software subsystem is capable of identifying a downstream occlusion present within the administration feeding set; and

d) the software subsystem comprising a standard occlusion profile, the software subsystem plotting at least one discrete data point against a the standard occlusion profile wherein an occlusion detected condition is determined when the plotted data point matches the standard occlusion profile, and further wherein the step of plotting calculates a the discrete data point rotor revolution as NewTime less the average rotor revolution time.

2. The flow control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor, the sensor in cooperation with the software subsystem determines the absence and presence of fluid in the feeding set.

3. The flow control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said sensor comprises an ultrasonic transmitter assembly that transmits an ultrasonic signal through said administration feeding set, the sensor generates the discrete data point and wherein the signal is operative connected to the microprocessor.

4. The flow control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the occlusion detected condition in cooperation with the software subsystem sounds an alarm.

5. A method of monitoring fluid flow comprising:

a) loading an administration feeding set on a flow control apparatus;

b) determining an average rotor revolution time;

c) plotting at least one discrete data point against a standard occlusion profile;

wherein the step of plotting calculates the discrete data point as rotor revolution NewTime less the average rotor revolution time; and

d) identifying a downstream occlusion, wherein the step of identifying is the at least one discrete data point matching the standard occlusion profile for at least one rotor revolution.