Device and method for the detection of an occlusion

• US 7,881,883 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics International AG (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Remde, Axel
• Primary Examiner(s): Feliciano; Eliseo Ramos
• Assistant Examiner(s): Suarez; Felix E
• Application Number:
  US11/549,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20070270747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 702/12, 702/19, 702/45, 702/50, 702/100, 702/114, 702/138, 210/646, 600/454, 600/547, 600/561, 604/4, 604/131
• US Class Current: 702/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16863 Occlusion detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure

Abstract

A method for detecting occlusions including providing a signal that characterizes a conveying status of a fluid, and determining from a difference between two such signals whether an occlusion has occurred. The invention encompasses a device for detecting an occlusion including a sensor for sensing a fluid flow parameter and/or an operational parameter of the device and an evaluation unit for processing the output of the sensor.

Claims

1. A method for detecting an occlusion, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a signal that corresponds to a fluid pressure in at least one of an ampoule, a catheter, and a cannula of a fluid that is being at least one of infused, administered, and injected;

filtering the signal, wherein filtering comprises modifying the signal by applying a transfer function to the signal such that a pressure rise between chronologically successive readings of the signal is limited; and

comparing the filtered signal and a reference signal,

determining whether an occlusion in a flow path of the fluid has occurred based on a difference between the filtered signal and the reference signal.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal corresponds to a direct measure of the fluid pressure.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal is generated by a pressure sensor positioned proximate a pump outlet.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal corresponds to an indirect measure of the fluid pressure.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the signal is generated by a force sensor that is measuring a gear mechanism reaction force.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the providing of the signal is carried out either continuously or discretely.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of comparing the filtered signal and the reference signal comprises taking into account a respective delivery rate.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the steps of filtering the signal and comparing the filtered signal and the reference signal comprises taking into account a disturbance level of the fluid pressure.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the steps of filtering the signal and comparing the filtered signal and the reference signal comprises applying the Page-Hinkley stopping rule.

10. A device for detecting an occlusion, the device comprising

a sensor for sensing a fluid pressure in at least one of an ampoule, a catheter, and a cannula of a fluid that is being at least one of infused, administered, and injected, and

a processor coupled to the sensor,

wherein the processor is adapted to execute computer-implemented instructions to:

filter the signal, wherein filtering comprises modifying the signal by applying a transfer function to the signal such that a pressure rise between chronologically successive readings of the signal is limited,

compare the filtered signal and a reference signal, and

determine whether an occlusion in a flow path of the fluid has occurred based on a difference between the filtered signal and the reference signal.