Fluid balance monitoring system with fluid infusion pump for medical treatment

• US 8,579,859 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2010
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Athena Gtx, Inc., Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Kramer, George C., Drew, Guy A., Deyo, Donald J., Brandenburg, Allen E., Voigt, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, PRITESH ASHOK
• Application Number:
  US12/978,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20110196304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 604 65- 67, 604/118, 604/131, 604/141, 604/142, 604/151, 604/157, 604/81, 604/153, 604/257, 604/181, 604/262
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1407 Infusion of two or more substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1483 using flexible bags externally pressurised by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16895 by monitoring weight change, e.g. of infusion container

Abstract

Novel fluid delivery systems are disclosed to improve the delivery of bio-compatible fluids to a patient. The systems can include a housing having a bladder pressurized by a pressurization unit so that fluid flow rate can be controlled, changed and/or monitored. The systems can also include a scale and/or a flow control unit.

Claims

1. A fluid delivery system comprising:

a collapsible container including a bio-compatible fluid,

a flow path leading from the container to a patient,

a pressurizing assembly surrounding all or a portion of the container,

a pressurization assembly, where the pressurization assembly pressurizes the pressurizing assembly in a controlled manner resulting in a force exerted on the container and a fluid flow rate from the container through the flow path to the patient and where the pressurization assembly depressurizes the pressurizing assembly in either a rapid manner to rapidly reduce the force on the container and the fluid flow rate from the container or to reduce the force on the container and the fluid flow rate from the container in a controlled manner, and

a weighing assembly, where the weighing assembly weighs the container and the pressurizing assembly on an intermittent basis, periodic basis, semi-continuous basis, continuous basis or any combination of intermittent, periodic, semi-continuous, or continuous basis to measure and/or monitor a flow rate of fluid from the container and through the flow path to the patient.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a flow control assembly, where the flow control assembly further controls the flow rate of fluid flowing from the container through the flow path to the patient.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressurizing assembly comprises:

a bladder and a sleeve,

where the bladder and the sleeve form a pocket into which the container is placed so that the bladder and sleeve surround all or a portion of the container so that as the bladder is inflated, the bladder and the sleeve cooperate to produce the force on the container.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressurizing assembly comprises:

a housing including;

an interior cavity for receiving the container,

a bladder disposed on a back portion of the housing, and

an openable door,

where the housing surrounds all or a portion of the container so that as the bladder is inflated, the bladder and the housing cooperate to produce the force on the container.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressurizing assembly comprises:

a housing including;

an interior cavity for receiving the container, and

an openable door,

where the housing surrounds the container so that as the container is pressurized, the housing produces the force on the container.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the weighing assembly includes a connector for detachably connecting the pressurizing assembly to the weighing assembly and a weight measuring unit for measuring the weight of the pressurizing assembly, where the weighing assembly monitors and/or measures a volume of fluid delivered from the container to the patient.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the system is of a unitary construction.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the system is of a modular construction.

6. A fluid delivery system comprising:

a collapsible container including a bio-compatible fluid,

a flow path leading from the container to a patient,

a pressurizing assembly surrounding all or a portion of the container, and

a pressurization assembly, where the pressurization assembly pressurizes the pressurizing assembly in a controlled manner resulting in a force exerted on the container and a fluid flow rate from the container through the flow path to the patient and where the pressurization assembly depressurizes the pressurizing assembly in either a rapid manner to rapidly reduce the force on the container and the fluid flow rate from the container or to reduce the force on the container and the fluid flow rate from the container in a controlled manner,

wherein the pressurization assembly includes an air pump, a tube connecting the pump to the pressurizing assembly, a pump control unit and a battery unit, where the pressurization assembly changes an internal pressure of the pressurizing assembly, and where the pressurization assembly sets the force exerted on the container by increasing an internal pressure of the pressurizing assembly to a set point pressure, intermittently sets the internal pressure to at least one desired pressure, periodically, semi-continuously and/or continuously varies the pressure according to a pressure change protocol and where increasing or decreasing the pressure, increases or decreases the fluid flow rate.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the pressurization assembly further includes a pressure relief valve that when activated, will either rapidly reduce the internal pressure in the pressurizing assembly or reduce the internal pressure in the pressurizing assembly in a controlled manner.

11. A fluid delivery system comprising:

a collapsible container including a bio-compatible fluid,

a flow path leading from the container to a patient,

a pressurizing assembly surrounding all or a portion of the container,

a pressurization assembly, where the pressurization assembly pressurizes the pressurizing assembly in a controlled manner resulting in a force exerted on the container and a fluid flow rate from the container through the flow path to the patient and where the pressurization assembly depressurizes the pressurizing assembly in either a rapid manner to rapidly reduce the force on the container and the fluid flow rate from the container or to reduce the force on the container and the fluid flow rate from the container in a controlled manner, and

a flow control assembly, where the flow control assembly further controls the flow rate of fluid flowing from the container through the flow path to the patient, and wherein the flow control assembly includes a flow control valve and flow control circuitry to regulate the flow rate of fluid through the valve, permitting improved flow control of fluid being delivered to the patient.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is of a unitary construction.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is of a modular construction.

14. A fluid delivery system comprising:

a collapsible container including a bio-compatible fluid,

a flow path leading to a patient,

a pressurizing assembly surrounding all or a portion of the container, and

a pressurization assembly that includes an air pump, a tube connecting the pump to the pressurizing assembly, a pump control unit and a battery unit, where the pressurization assembly changes an internal pressure of the pressurizing assembly, where the pressurization assembly sets the force exerted on the container by increasing an internal pressure of the pressurizing assembly to a set point pressure, intermittently sets the internal pressure to at least one desired pressure, periodically, semi-continuously and/or continuously varies the pressure according to a pressure change protocol and where increasing or decreasing the pressure, increases or decreases the fluid flow rate, and

a weighing assembly that includes a connector for detachably connecting the pressurizing assembly to the weighing assembly and a weight measuring unit for measuring the weight of the pressurizing assembly, where the weighing assembly monitors and/or measures a volume of fluid delivered from the container to the patient and where the weighing assembly weighs the pressurizing assembly on an intermittent basis, periodic basis, semi-continuous basis, continuous basis or any combination of intermittent, periodic, semi-continuous, or continuous basis.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the pressurizing assembly comprises:

a bladder and a sleeve,

where the bladder and the sleeve form a pocket into which the container is placed so that the bladder and sleeve surround all or a portion of the container so that as the bladder is inflated, the bladder and the sleeve cooperate to produce the force on the container.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the pressurizing assembly comprises:

a housing including;

an interior cavity for receiving the container,

a bladder disposed on a back portion of the housing, and

an openable door,

where the housing surrounds all or a portion of the container so that as the bladder is inflated, the bladder and the housing cooperate to produce the force on the container.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the pressurizing assembly comprises:

a housing including;

an interior cavity for receiving the container, and

an openable door,

where the housing surrounds container so that as the container is pressurized, the housing produces the force on the container.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the system is of a unitary construction.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the system is of a modular construction.

20. A fluid delivery system comprising:

a collapsible container including a bio-compatible fluid,

a flow path leading to a patient,

a pressurizing assembly surrounding all or a portion of the container, and

a pressurization assembly that includes an air pump, a tube connecting the pump to the pressurizing assembly, a pump control unit and a battery unit, where the pressurization assembly changes an internal pressure of the pressurizing assembly, and where the pressurization assembly sets the force exerted on the container by increasing an internal pressure of the pressurizing assembly to a set point pressure, intermittently sets the internal pressure to at least one desired pressure, periodically, semi-continuously and/or continuously varies the pressure according to a pressure change protocol and where increasing or decreasing the pressure, increases or decreases the fluid flow rate, and

a weighing assembly that includes a connector for detachably connecting the pressurizing assembly to the weighing assembly and a weight measuring unit for measuring the weight of the pressurizing assembly, where the weighing assembly monitors and/or measures a volume of fluid delivered from the container to the patient and where the weighing assembly weighs the pressurizing assembly on an intermittent basis, periodic basis, semi-continuous basis, continuous basis or any combination of intermittent, periodic, semi-continuous, or continuous basis, and

a flow control assembly that includes a flow control valve and flow control circuitry to regulate the flow rate of fluid through the valve, permitting improved flow control of fluid being delivered to the patient.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the pressurizing assembly comprises:

a bladder and a sleeve,

where the bladder and the sleeve form a pocket into which the container is placed so that the bladder and sleeve surround all or a portion of the container so that as the bladder is inflated, the bladder and the sleeve cooperate to produce the force on the container.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the pressurizing assembly comprises:

a housing including;

an interior cavity for receiving the container,

a bladder disposed on a back portion of the housing, and

an openable door,

where the housing surrounds all or a portion of the container so that as the bladder is inflated, the bladder and the housing cooperate to produce the force on the container.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the pressurizing assembly comprises:

a housing including;

an interior cavity for receiving the container, and

an openable door,

where the housing surrounds the container so that as the container is pressurized, the housing produces the force on the container.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the system is of a unitary construction.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the system is of a modular construction.