System and method for controlling administration of medical fluid

• US 8,211,054 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Dewey, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): STIGELL, THEODORE J
• Application Number:
  US11/414,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20070255199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,255 Days
• Field of Search: 604/246, 604/31, 604/505, 604 65- 67, 604/131, 604/132, 604/151, 604/153, 604/247, 604/890.1
• US Class Current: 604/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0288 Electro-rheological or magneto-rheological materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0294 Piezoelectric materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14224 Diaphragm type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16809 by repeated filling and emptying of an intermediate volume pressure infusion using positive displacement pumps A61M5/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16886 for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence

Abstract

A system for controlling administration of medical fluid includes a fluid passageway to which is attached a first flow regulator, a second flow regulator, and a flow detector. The system also includes a controller for controlling the first and second flow regulators in response to a measurement taken by the flow detector of fluid movement in the fluid passageway. The first flow regulator, such as a pump, is configured to maintain fluid movement at flow values greater than an unrestricted flow value. The second flow regulator, such as a variable adjustable valve, is configured to maintain fluid movement at a flow value less than the unrestricted flow value. A method of controlling administration of medical fluid includes obtaining a target flow value, moving fluid through the disposable assembly, taking a measurement of fluid movement in the disposable assembly, and actuating a flow regulating apparatus.

Claims

1. A fluid control system for controlling administration of fluid from a medicament container, the system comprising:

a primary fluid inlet configured to be coupled to a primary medicament container;

a pump chamber in fluid communication with the primary fluid inlet, the pump chamber comprising a moveable wall and a pump outlet, the pump chamber configured for one-way fluid flow from the primary fluid inlet to the pump chamber and for one-way fluid flow from the pump chamber to the pump outlet, wherein fluid flows from the primary fluid inlet through the pump chamber to the pump outlet at a free flow rate when the pump wall is stopped;

a pump driver coupled to the moveable wall of the pump chamber and configured to cyclically move the moveable wall between a first position and a second position at an adjustable rate in response to a pump signal;

a flow restrictor movable between a fully open position and a closed position, the flow restrictor in fluid communication with the pump outlet, the flow restrictor comprising a restrictor outlet and configured to selectively increase and decrease fluid flow through the restrictor outlet, wherein fluid flows through the restrictor outlet at the free flow rate when the flow restrictor is in the fully open position;

a restrictor driver connected to the flow restrictor and configured to move the flow restrictor device between the fully open position and the closed position in response to a restrictor signal;

a flow detector comprising a fluid conduit disposed between the flow restrictor and the pump chamber, the flow detector configured to produce and detect a thermal change in fluid in the fluid conduit and to provide a detector signal representative of an existing fluid flow rate in the fluid conduit;

a user input device configured to obtain a target flow rate from a user; and

a controller in communication with the pump drive, the restrictor driver, and the flow detector, the controller configured to produce the pump signal and the restrictor signal to adjust the existing fluid flow rate to the target fluid flow rate and to automatically maintain the existing flow rate at the target fluid flow rate.

2. The system of claim 1 comprising a disposable assembly and a reusable assembly attached to the disposable assembly, the reusable assembly configured to be detached from the disposable assembly, the reusable assembly comprising the controller and the user input device, a display configured to communicate a flow rate, and a power source, the disposable assembly comprising the primary fluid inlet, the pump chamber, the pump driver, the flow restrictor, the restrictor driver, and the flow detector.

3. The system of claim 1 comprising a secondary fluid inlet configured to be coupled to a second medicament container, and wherein the pump chamber is in fluid communication with the secondary fluid inlet and the pump chamber is configured for one-way fluid flow from the secondary fluid inlet to the pump chamber.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the flow restrictor comprises a manual adjustment device connected to the flow restrictor device, the manual adjustment device sized to be manipulated by the user and configured to change movement of fluid through the restrictor outlet.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the pump chamber comprises a first check valve and a second check valve, the first and second check valves disposed between primary fluid inlet and the pump outlet.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the pump drive comprises an elastomeric dielectric film having a first side and a second side, the first side coated with a first expandable conductive film connected to a first electrode, the second side coated with a second expandable conductive film connected to a second electrode, the dielectric film configured to expand in response to a voltage applied to the first and second electrodes.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the pump driver comprises a first diaphragm comprising a first elastomeric dielectric film disposed between a first pair of expandable conductive coatings and a second diaphragm comprising a second elastomeric dielectric film disposed between a second pair of expandable conductive coatings, the first and second diaphragms coupled to the moveable wall of the pump chamber, the first diaphragm configured to move the moveable wall in a first direction in response to voltage applied to the first pair of coatings, the second diaphragm to move the moveable wall in a second direction in response to voltage applied to the second pair of coatings.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the pump driver comprises a piezoelectric device coupled to the moveable wall of the pump chamber, the piezoelectric device configured to move the moveable wall in response to a voltage applied to the piezoelectric device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the detector signal from the flow detector represents a time period in which the thermal change travels a predetermined distance in the fluid conduit of the flow detector.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the flow detector comprises:

a heat source disposed outside an internal volume of the fluid conduit of the flow detector, the heat source adapted to heat fluid in a heating region in the fluid conduit; and

a light source disposed outside the internal volume and adapted to produce an interrogating light directed toward fluid in an interrogating region in the fluid conduit;

a light detector disposed outside the internal volume and adapted to detect optical characteristics of the fluid in the interrogating region, and to detect changes in the optical characteristics when the heated fluid from the heating region enters the interrogating region.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the heat source is an optical device.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a communication device adapted for radio frequency communication with a network, the communication device connected to the controller and configured to receive a first set of drug delivery data from the network and to transmit a second set of drug delivery data to the network.