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Medication safety enhancement for secondary infusion

  • US 8,672,875 B2
  • Filed: 12/31/2003
  • Issued: 03/18/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for actively detecting a fault condition in an intravenous (IV) set having a primary line coupled to a first fluid source, a secondary line coupled from a second fluid source to a fitting, upstream of a pumping mechanism, on the primary line, a check valve in the portion of the primary line between the first fluid source and the fitting, a valve in the portion of the secondary line between the second fluid source and the fitting, and a portion of the primary line that is downstream of the fitting being coupled to the pumping mechanism of an infusion pump, the method comprising:

  • measuring a pressure of a fluid in the primary line at a point between the fitting and the pumping mechanism;

    determining a baseline pressure based on the measured pressure;

    infusing a bolus of fluid into the primary line between the fitting and the pumping mechanism;

    determining a characteristic of an increase in the measured pressure above the baseline pressure subsequent to the infusion of the bolus of fluid;

    comparing, using a processor, the determined characteristic with a threshold; and

    when the determined characteristic is greater than the threshold, providing an alert indicating a fault condition of the secondary line.

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