Syringe pump rapid occlusion detection system

• US 9,427,521 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2012
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Pope, Brian, Liu, Zhan
• Primary Examiner(s): GILBERT, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US13/449,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20120203195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 604/890.1, 604 65- 67, 604503-505, 604/131, 604/151, 604/152, 604/154, 604/155
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16863 Occlusion detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16859 Evaluation of pressure response, e.g. to an applied pulse
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile

Abstract

An apparatus, method and program product detects an occlusion in a fluid line by determining if a relationship between force measurements departs from an expected relationship.

Claims

1. A method of automatically detecting an occlusion in a fluid line of a syringe pump, the syringe pump including a housing adapted to support a syringe containing a plunger moveable inside the syringe by pushing an end of the plunger with a pusher to expel fluid from an outlet of the syringe into a fluid line connected to the outlet and configured to carry the fluid under pressure to a patient, the method comprising:

mounting the syringe onto the housing with the plunger end extended;

coupling the pusher to the end of the plunger;

initiating a pumping sequence to begin pushing the end of the plunger to cause the fluid to flow into the fluid line at a rate; and

during the pumping sequence, determining a first force value indicative of force in the fluid line at time T1, thereafter stopping a pushing of the end of the plunger if the first force value deviates from an expected value to allow the pressure in the fluid line to decrease, and thereafter automatically resuming the pushing of the end of the plunger after a period of time and a determination that a second force value indicative of force in the fluid line at time T2 is less than the expected value; and

wherein resuming the pushing of the end of the plunger causes the fluid flow to resume at a reduced rate.

2. The method of automatically detecting an occlusion of claim 1, wherein stopping the pushing of the end of the plunger further includes determining the period of time.

3. A method of automatically detecting an occlusion in a fluid line of a medical pumping system, the medical pumping system including a syringe containing a plunger moveable inside the syringe by pushing an end of the plunger with a pusher to expel fluid from an outlet of the syringe into the fluid line according to a pumping sequence, the fluid line being configured to carry the fluid under pressure between a fluid source and a patient, the method comprising:

during the pumping sequence, determining a first force value indicative of force in the fluid line at time T1, thereafter stopping a pushing of the end of the plunger if the first force value deviates from an expected value to allow the pressure in the fluid line to decrease, and thereafter automatically resuming the pushing of the end of the plunger after a period of time and a determination that a second force value indicative of force in the fluid line at time T2 is less than the expected value; and

wherein prior to stopping the pushing of the end of the plunger, fluid flow was at a rate, wherein resuming the pushing of the end of the plunger causes the fluid flow to resume at a reduced rate.

4. The method of automatically detecting an occlusion of claim 3, further comprising providing an indication of the occlusion if a second force value indicative of force in the fluid line at time T2 deviates from the expected value.

5. The method of automatically detecting an occlusion of claim 3, wherein stopping the pushing of the end of the plunger further includes determining the expected value.

6. The method of automatically detecting an occlusion of claim 3, during the pumping sequence, wherein resuming the pushing of the end of the plunger further includes determining the period of time.

7. The method of automatically detecting an occlusion of claim 3, further comprising determining if a bolus infusion is indicated.

8. A pumping system comprising:

a fluid source;

a fluid line configured to carry fluid under force between the fluid source and a patient;

a syringe configured to contain fluid, the syringe including a plunger configured to be moveable therein so as to expel the fluid from an outlet of the syringe into the fluid line;

a sensor for determining at least one of first and second force values indicative of the force between the fluid source and the patient taken at times T1 and T2, respectively;

a pump configured to generate the force between the fluid source and the patient;

a processor in communication with the pump; and

a memory bearing program code, the processor being configured to execute the program code, the program code when executed on the processor enabling the processor to (a) initiate stopping a pushing of the end of the plunger in response to determining that the at least one of the first and second force values deviates from an expected value to allow pressure in the fluid line to decrease, and (b) automatically initiate resuming the pushing of the end of the plunger after a period of time and a determination that a second force value indicative of force in the fluid line at time T2 is less than the expected value; and

wherein prior to stopping the pushing of the end of the plunger, fluid flow was at a rate, wherein the program code initiates resuming the pushing of the end of the plunger such that the fluid flows at a reduced rate.

9. The pumping system of claim 8, wherein the program code initiates determining if a bolus infusion is being delivered.

10. A method of automatically detecting an occlusion in a fluid line of a syringe pump, the syringe pump including a housing adapted to support a syringe containing a plunger moveable inside the syringe by pushing an end of the plunger with a pusher to expel fluid from an outlet of the syringe into a fluid line connected to the outlet and configured to carry the fluid under pressure to a patient, the method comprising:

mounting the syringe onto the housing with the plunger end extended;

coupling the pusher to the end of the plunger;

initiating a pumping sequence to begin pushing the end of the plunger to cause the fluid to flow at a rate into the fluid line; and

during the pumping sequence, determining a first force value indicative of force in the fluid line at time T1, thereafter altering a pushing of the end of the plunger if the first force value deviates from an expected value to allow the pressure in the fluid line to decrease, and thereafter automatically resuming the pushing of the end of the plunger after a set delay time period and a determination that a second force value indicative of force in the fluid line at time T2 is less than the expected value; and

wherein resuming the pushing of the end of the plunger causes the fluid flow to resume at a reduced rate.

11. A method of automatically detecting an occlusion in a fluid line of a medical pumping system, the medical pumping system including a syringe containing a plunger moveable inside the syringe by pushing an end of the plunger with a pusher to expel fluid from an outlet of the syringe into the fluid line according to a pumping sequence, the fluid line being configured to carry the fluid under pressure between a fluid source and a patient, the method comprising:

during the pumping sequence, determining a first force value indicative of force in the fluid line at time T1, thereafter altering a pushing of the end of the plunger if the first force value deviates from an expected value to allow the pressure in the fluid line to decrease, and thereafter automatically resuming the pushing of the end of the plunger after a set delay time period and a determination that a second force value indicative of force in the fluid line at time T2 is less than the expected value; and

wherein prior to altering the pushing of the end of the plunger, fluid flow was at a rate, wherein resuming the pushing of the end of the plunger causes the fluid flow to resume at a reduced rate.

12. The method of automatically detecting an occlusion of claim 11, further comprising providing an indication of the occlusion if a second force value indicative of force in the fluid line at time T2 deviates from the expected value.

13. The method of automatically detecting an occlusion of claim 11, wherein altering the pushing of the end of the plunger further includes determining the expected value.

14. The method of automatically detecting an occlusion of claim 11, further comprising determining if a bolus infusion is indicated.

15. A pumping system comprising:

a fluid source;

a fluid line configured to carry fluid under force between the fluid source and a patient;

a syringe configured to contain fluid, the syringe including a plunger configured to be moveable therein so as to expel the fluid from an outlet of the syringe into the fluid line;

a sensor for determining at least one of first and second force values indicative of the force between the fluid source and the patient taken at times T1 and T2, respectively;

a pump configured to generate the force between the fluid source and the patient;

a processor in communication with the pump; and

a memory bearing program code, the processor being configured to execute the program code, the program code when executed on the processor enabling the processor to (a) initiate altering a pushing of the end of the plunger in response to determining that the at least one of the first and second force values deviates from an expected value to allow pressure in the fluid line to decrease, and (b) initiate resuming the pushing of the end of the plunger after a set delay time period and a determination that a second force value indicative of force in the fluid line at time T2 is less than the expected value; and

wherein prior to altering the pushing of the end of the plunger, fluid flow was at a rate, wherein resuming the pushing of the end of the plunger causes the fluid flow to resume at a reduced rate.

16. The pumping system of claim 15, wherein the program code initiates determining if a bolus infusion is being delivered.