Multifunction capacitive sensor for medical pump
First Claim
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1. A medical liquid delivery system comprising:
- a housing adapted to receive an IV line within a housing portion;
wherein a received portion of the IV line is elastic to expand and contract in cross section with changes in pressure of liquid within the IV line;
capacitive sensor electrodes positioned in the housing portion to flank the received IV line, andcontrol electronics communicating with the capacitive sensor electrodes to measure capacitance across the capacitive sensor electrodes and to sense at least one condition including a bubble within medical liquid within a received line;
wherein the capacitive sensor electrodes are attached to the housing to be retained in the housing with removal of the IV line; and
wherein the sensing of a bubble within the medical liquid within the received IV line by the control electronics distinguishes capacitive changes occurring within a predetermined period from capacitive charges occurring over a longer time than the predetermined window.
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Abstract
A medical pump or the like provides for a multi-function flow monitor that provides for capacitive plates positioned on opposite sides of the IV line to sense changes in the electrical environment within the IV line to deduce IV line pressure, the presence of IV fluid bubbles, the presence of the IV line within the pump, and/or correct pump operation. Each of these conditions may be determined by different analysis of the capacitance across the capacitive plates.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A medical liquid delivery system comprising:
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a housing adapted to receive an IV line within a housing portion;
wherein a received portion of the IV line is elastic to expand and contract in cross section with changes in pressure of liquid within the IV line;capacitive sensor electrodes positioned in the housing portion to flank the received IV line, and control electronics communicating with the capacitive sensor electrodes to measure capacitance across the capacitive sensor electrodes and to sense at least one condition including a bubble within medical liquid within a received line; wherein the capacitive sensor electrodes are attached to the housing to be retained in the housing with removal of the IV line; and wherein the sensing of a bubble within the medical liquid within the received IV line by the control electronics distinguishes capacitive changes occurring within a predetermined period from capacitive charges occurring over a longer time than the predetermined window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14)
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13. The medical liquid delivery system of claim I wherein the capacitive sensor electrodes are fixed in separation.
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15. A medical liquid delivery system comprising:
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an elastomeric IV line free from attached electrodes and compliant to expand and contract in cross section with changes in pressure of liquid within the IV line; a housing adapted to receive the IV line within a housing portion; at least two capacitive sensor electrodes positioned in and retained in the housing portion to flank the received IV line, and control electronics communicating with the capacitive sensor electrodes to measure a capacitance between the flanking sensor electrodes and configured to sense condition of (1) a pressure of medical liquid within the IV line by sensing a dielectric of the medical liquid between the capacitive sensor electrodes to measure diametric distention of the received IV line and (2) a presence of a fluid-filled IV line between the capacitive sensor electrodes by sensing a threshold change in permittivity between air and water and (3) a bubble within medical liquid within a received IV line by distinguishing capacitive changes occurring within a predetermined period from capacitive changes occurring over a longer time than the predetermined period. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification