Infusion data communication system

• US 9,227,025 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2014
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Butterfield, Robert D., Schlotterbeck, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez, Manuel
• Application Number:
  US14/326,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20140324019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 604 65- 67, 604/131, 604/890.1, 604/891.1, 710/8, 128/DIG.12, 128/DIG.13
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• 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

An infusion data communication system provides a communication link among a fluid container, an infusion pump, and a patient through which identification data may be communicated. Data devices are located at the fluid container and the patient and conduct low frequency RF energy at a low power level containing the data into the medical fluid. The data-laden RF energy propagates through the medication fluid to data readers at the infusion pump which receives the RF energy and reads the data. A comparison is made to verify that the right medication is mounted to the infusion pump for administration to the right patient. RFID devices may be used for the data devices and readers. Pump programming data may also be propagated to the infusion pump from the container RFID tag. The RFID device at the patient may be writable and may be used to store a patient MAR.

Claims

1. An infusion data communication system for verifying a fluid line is coupled with a correct infusion pump, the system comprising:

a first tube connected to a first container and a first infusion pump;

a first data reader associated with the first infusion pump;

a first transponder configured to transmit first administration data from the first container to the first data reader;

a second tube connected to a second container and a second infusion pump;

a second data reader associated with the second infusion pump;

a second transponder configured to transmit second administration data from the second container to the second data reader through the fluid in the tube;

a processor coupled to the first data reader and the second data reader; and

a memory comprising a first programming instruction for the first infusion pump and a second programming instruction for the second infusion pump,

wherein the processor is configured to compare the first administration data to the first programming instruction and the second administration data to the second programming instruction, and provide an alert when the comparison indicates a discrepancy.

2. The infusion data communication system of claim 1, wherein the first transponder is configured to read the first administration data from a tag in the first container.

3. The infusion data communication system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first transponder or the second transponder is configured to couple an energy to the fluid in the tube, wherein the energy comprises the first administration data or the second administration data.

4. The infusion data communication system of claim 3, wherein the energy comprises one of the group consisting of Radio-Frequency (RF) electromagnetic energy and a mechanical vibration energy.

5. The infusion data communication system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first administration data or the second administration data comprises at least one of a fluid identification, a patient identification, a dose or a flow rate.

6. The infusion data communication system of claim 1, wherein the first infusion pump is disposed downstream from the first container and upstream from a patient.

7. The infusion data communication system of claim 1, wherein the first administration data is decoupled from the second administration data.

8. The infusion data communication system of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first tube is partially conductive of a first energy carrying the first administration data and a portion of the second tube is partially conductive of a second energy carrying the second administration data.

9. The infusion data communication system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the portion of the first tube or the portion of the second tube is electrically conductive.

10. The infusion data communication system of claim 1, further comprising patient data received from a transmitter in the patient.

11. The infusion data communication system of claim 1, wherein the discrepancy comprises a patient identification data.

12. An infusion pump in a medical administration system, the infusion pump comprising:

an upstream data reader coupled to a fluid container via a tube and configured to receive a first administration data from the fluid container through fluid in the tube;

a downstream data reader coupled to a patient via the tube, and configured to receive a patient data from the patient through the fluid;

a pumping mechanism having an occlusion in a fluid line that comprises the fluid container and the patient; and

a processor coupled to the upstream data reader and to the downstream data reader, wherein the processor is configured to provide the first administration data and the patient data to a programming module, and receive an alert from the programming module when there is a discrepancy between the administration data, and the patient data.

13. The infusion pump of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first administration data or the patient data comprises one of a fluid identification, a patient identification, a dose, or a flow rate.

14. The infusion pump of claim 12, wherein one of the first administration data or the patient data is at least partially transmitted in the fluid as energy coupled to a lumen of the tube.

15. The infusion pump of claim 12, wherein each of the upstream and downstream data readers receive data through coupling one of a mechanical vibration or a Radio-Frequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation into the fluid.

16. The infusion pump of claim 12, wherein coupling a first administration data comprises reading a tag in the fluid container.

17. The infusion pump of claim 12, wherein providing an alert comprises comparing the first administration data with the patient data.

18. The infusion pump of claim 12, wherein at least one of a first administration data or a patient data is received by transmission of a Radio-Frequency (RF) electromagnetic signal through a fluid in the lumen of the tube.

19. A method for verifying that a fluid line is coupled with a correct infusion pump, the method comprising:

coupling a first administration data from a first fluid container into a fluid in the lumen of a first tube, the first tube coupling the first fluid container with a first infusion pump;

transmitting the first administration data through the lumen of the first tube to the first infusion pump;

coupling a second administration data from a second fluid container into a fluid in the lumen of a second tube coupling the second fluid container with a second infusion pump;

transmitting the second administration data at least partially through the lumen of the second tube;

storing in a memory a first programming instruction for the first pump and a second programming instruction for the second pump;

comparing in a processor the first administration data to the first programming instruction and the second administration data to the second programming instruction; and

providing an alert if the comparison indicates a discrepancy.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving a patient data from a transmitting device placed in the patient.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein each of coupling a first and second administration data into a fluid in the lumen of the first tube and the second tube comprises one of coupling a mechanical vibration or coupling a Radio-Frequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation into the fluid.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein coupling a first administration data comprises reading a tag in the fluid container.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein providing an alert comprises comparing the first administration data and the second administration data with a patient identification data received from the patient.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one of coupling a first administration data or coupling a second administration data in a fluid comprises transmitting a Radio-Frequency (RF) electromagnetic signal through a fluid in the lumen of the first tube or the second tube.