Systems and methods for managing information relating to medical fluids and containers therefor

• US 7,859,473 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Liebel Flarsheim Co LLC (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Gibson, Chad M.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US11/617,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20070229266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 343/741, 343/742, 343/867, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 343/742
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14553 comprising a pressure jacket
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1785 comprising radioactive shield means syringe shields or holders for storage of radioactive sources G21F5/018
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 : for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

The present invention relates to management of information relating to medical fluids, containers therefore, and medical fluid administration devices for administering such medical fluids to patients. Data tags (e.g., RFID tags) are generally associated with containers of the invention and may be electromagnetically read from and/or written to using an electromagnetic device, for example, that may be associated with a medical fluid administration device of the invention.

Claims

1. A medical fluid injection assembly for use with a container having medical fluid disposed therein, the container having a data tag readable by electromagnetic signals, and the assembly comprising:

an electromagnetic device adapted to read data from and/or write data to the data tag while the container is supported on the medical fluid injection assembly, the electromagnetic device comprising;

a first antenna loop forming one side of a V-shape and being tuned to a radio frequency, and

a second antenna loop forming an opposing side of the V-shape and being tuned to the radio frequency; and

an electronic medical fluid administration device supporting the container at a substantially fixed location relative to said antenna loops and operable to inject the medical fluid into a patient.

2. A medical fluid injection assembly for use with a container having medical fluid disposed therein, the container having a data tag readable by electromagnetic signals, and the assembly comprising:

an electromagnetic device adapted to read data from and/or write data to the data tag while the container is supported on the medical fluid injection assembly, the electromagnetic device comprising

a first antenna loop comprising a signal lead and a ground lead,

a first tuning circuit comprising an input and an output, the output of the first tuning circuit connected to the signal lead of the first antenna loop, and the first tuning circuit tuning the first antenna loop to a radio frequency,

a second antenna loop comprising a signal lead and a ground lead, and

a second tuning circuit comprising an input and an output, the output of the second tuning circuit connected to the signal lead of the second antenna loop, and the second tuning circuit tuning the second antenna loop to the radio frequency; and

an electronic medical fluid administration device supporting the container at a substantially fixed location relative to said antenna loops, and operable to inject the medical fluid into a patient.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the second antenna loop is nonparallel with the first antenna loop and forms an angle of less than 180 degrees with the first antenna loop.

4. The assembly of claim 2 further comprising:

a third antenna loop comprising a signal lead and a ground lead, and

a third tuning circuit comprising an input and an output, the output of the third tuning circuit connected to the signal lead of the third antenna loop, and the third tuning circuit tuning the third antenna loop to the radio frequency.

5. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the device is mounted in association with the administration device.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the administration device comprises a mount comprising:

a first printed circuit board supporting the first antenna loop and the first tuning circuit; and

a second printed circuit board supporting the second antenna loop and the second tuning circuit.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the first printed circuit board forms an angle of less than about 180 degrees with the second printed circuit board.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the first printed circuit board supports a driver circuit electrically connectable to the first antenna loop, the second antenna loop, the first tuning circuit, and the second tuning circuit.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the driver circuit comprises a power terminal and a ground terminal.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the input of the first tuning circuit is connected to the power terminal, the ground lead of the first antenna loop is connected to the ground terminal, the input of the second tuning circuit is not connected to the power terminal or the ground terminal, and the ground lead of the second antenna loop is connected to the ground terminal.

11. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the input of the first tuning circuit is not connected to the power terminal or the ground terminal, the ground lead of the first antenna loop is connected to the ground terminal, the input of the second tuning circuit is connected to the power terminal, and the ground lead of the second antenna loop is connected to the ground terminal.

12. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the input of the first tuning circuit is connected to the power terminal, the ground lead of the first antenna loop is connected to the ground terminal, the input of the second tuning circuit is connected to the ground terminal, and the ground lead of the second antenna loop is connected to the ground terminal.

13. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the input of the first tuning circuit is connected to the ground terminal, the ground lead of the first antenna loop is connected to the ground terminal, the input of the second tuning circuit is connected to the power terminal, and the ground lead of the second antenna loop is connected to the ground terminal.

14. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising a switching circuit comprising:

a first switch comprising

a first contact connected to the input of the first tuning circuit,

a second contact connected to the ground terminal,

a third contact connected to the power terminal, and

a fourth contact not connected to the ground terminal or the power terminal, the first switch being operable to electrically connect the first contact with one of the second contact, the third contact and the fourth contact; and

a second switch comprising

a fifth contact connected to the input of the second tuning circuit,

a sixth contact connected to the ground terminal,

a seventh contact connected to the power terminal, and

an eighth contact not connected to the ground terminal or the power terminal, the second switch being operable to electrically connect the fifth contact with one of the sixth contact, the seventh contact and the eighth contact.

15. A medical fluid administration device for use with a medical fluid container containing at least one of a metallic and a diamagnetic fluid material, the medical fluid container having a data tag for storing data relating to the fluid material, the administration device comprising:

an electromagnetic device adapted to read data from, and/or write data to, the data tag, the electromagnetic device while the container is supported on the medical fluid administration device, comprising

a first antenna loop forming one side of a V-shape and being tuned to the radio frequency, and

a second antenna loop forming an opposing side of the V-shape and being tuned to the radio frequency; and

the medical fluid administration device supporting the container at a substantially fixed location relative to said antenna loops and operable to inject the at least one of the metallic and the diamagnetic fluid into a patient.

16. A method of using a medical fluid injection assembly comprising an electromagnetic device operable to read data from and/or write data to a data tag, the data tag being readable by electromagnetic signals and being associated with a container having medical fluid disposed therein, the method comprising:

electrically connecting first and second antenna loops of the device in a first circuit configuration, wherein the first and second antenna loops are tuned to a substantially identical radio frequency, and the first antenna loop is oriented in a nonparallel relationship with the second antenna loop; and

attempting an RF communication between the device and the data tag, wherein the attempting comprises providing RF power to the first circuit configuration;

during the attempting, supporting the container on an electronic medical fluid administration device at a substantially fixed location relative to said antenna loops; and

injecting the medical fluid into a patient by the electronic medical fluid administration device.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

determining whether or not RF communication is or was established between the device and the data tag;

if determined unsuccessful, electrically reconnecting the first and second antenna loops in a further circuit configuration different from the first circuit configuration; and

attempting another RF communication between the device and the data tag, wherein the attempting another RF communication comprises providing RF power to the further circuit configuration.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising iterating the determining, the electrically reconnecting, and the attempting another RF communication until determining that a successful RF communication has been established between the device and the data tag.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the first and second antenna loops, together, exhibit a V-shape.