Fluid container with fluid identification sensor and method

• US 9,606,037 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2015
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aesynt, Inc. (Omnicell Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kijowski, Todd, Santmyer, Paul, Hartlaub, Thaddeus, Deutsch, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Raevis, Robert R
• Application Number:
  US14/604,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20160213565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1475 Inlet or outlet ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/70 Device provided with specific sensor or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/15 Medicinal preparations ; Physical properties thereof, e.g. dissolubility drug screening with animal cells G01N33/5008
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 9/36 Analysing materials by measuring the density or specific gravity, e.g. determining quantity of moisture methods of measurement in general G01N9/02 - G01N9/32

Abstract

A fluid container, such as an intravenous (IV) bag, including a fluid sensor for analyzing, identifying, and verifying a fluid is provided. The container includes an at least partially enclosed body defining an interior volume and one or more ports having an opening for accessing a fluid in the interior. A sensor device may be attachable to one of the ports. The sensor device includes a sensor for measuring a parameter of the fluid. A channel may extend between the port and the sensor for providing fluid from the interior volume of the body to the sensor. The sensor may be connected to a processing apparatus, such as a computer, for determining at least the type of fluid present based on the measured parameter obtained with the sensor. A method for analyzing, identifying, and verifying a fluid contained in a fluid container, such as an IV bag, is also provided.

Claims

1. A container for holding a fluid to be identified, the container comprising:

an at least partially enclosed body defining an interior volume;

at least one fluid port having an opening for accessing the interior volume and configured to be connected to medical tubing for fluid delivery from the interior volume to a patient;

at least one sensor port having an opening for accessing the fluid in the interior volume; and

a sensor device attached to the at least one sensor port, the sensor device comprising a sensor for measuring density of the fluid and a connector enclosing a channel extending between the sensor port and the sensor for providing fluid from the interior volume of the body to the sensor.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least partially enclosed body comprises an intravenous bag.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the fluid port and/or the sensor port include a piercable septa extending over the opening.

4. The container of claim 1, further comprising a hanger for attaching the container to a pole, stand, or support.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a sensing chip adapted to contact the fluid to be identified and embedded on a carrier substrate.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the sensor device further comprises a sample well attached to the connector at an inflow port and defining an interior for holding the fluid to be identified.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein the sample well comprises an open top, and wherein the sensor device further comprises a mounting structure for removeably connecting the sensor to the open top of the sample well, such that a portion of the sensor that contacts the fluid to be identified extends from the open top into the interior of the sample well.

8. The container of claim 6, wherein the sample well comprises a fluid level line disposed on a sidewall of the well, the fluid level line indicating a volume of fluid required by the sensor.

9. The container of claim 6, wherein the sensor is molded into a sidewall of the sample well.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein the sensor device further comprises a valve extending from a proximal end of the channel, the valve being transitionable from an open position in which fluid flow from the interior volume of the body to the sensor is permitted and a closed position in which fluid flow is prevented.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the valve is a one-way valve configured to permit fluid flow from the interior volume of the body to the sensor through the channel.

12. The container of claim 1, wherein the sensor device is non-removeably attached to the sensor port.

13. A container for holding a fluid to be identified, the container comprising:

an at least partially enclosed body defining an interior volume;

at least one fluid port having an opening for accessing the interior volume and configured to be connected to medical tubing for fluid delivery from the interior volume to a patient;

at least one sensor port having an opening for accessing the fluid in the interior volume; and

a sensor device attached to the at least one sensor port, the sensor device comprising;

a sensor for measuring at least one parameter of the fluid;

a connector enclosing a channel extending between the sensor port and the sensor for providing fluid from the interior volume of the body to the sensor; and

a valve extending from a proximal end of the channel, the valve being transitionable from an open position in which fluid flow from the interior volume of the body to the sensor is permitted and a closed position in which fluid flow is prevented, wherein the valve closes automatically after a predetermined volume of fluid passes through the valve.

14. The container of claim 13, wherein the at least one parameter measured by the sensor is one or more of density, mass, and volume.

15. A container for holding a fluid to be identified, the container comprising:

an at least partially enclosed body defining an interior volume;

at least one fluid port having an opening for accessing the interior volume and configured to be connected to medical tubing for fluid delivery from the interior volume to a patient;

at least one sensor port having an opening for accessing the fluid in the interior volume; and

a sensor device attached to the at least one sensor port, the sensor device comprising;

a sensor for measuring at least one parameter of the fluid;

a connector enclosing a channel extending between the sensor port and the sensor for providing fluid from the interior volume of the body to the sensor;

a valve extending from a proximal end of the channel, the valve being transitionable from an open position in which fluid flow from the interior volume of the body to the sensor is permitted and a closed position in which fluid flow is prevented; and

an annular cover configured to be attached over a portion of the sensor port to removeably attach the valve to the sensor port.

16. The container of claim 15, wherein the at least one parameter of the fluid measured by the sensor is one or more of density, mass, and volume.

17. A method of associating a fluid sensor to a fluid container comprising:

providing the fluid container containing a fluid, the fluid container comprising;

an at least partially enclosed body defining an interior volume;

at least one fluid port having an opening for accessing the interior volume and configured to be connected to medical tubing for fluid delivery from the interior volume to a patient; and

at least one sensor port having an opening for accessing the fluid in the interior volume;

providing a sensor device, the sensor device enclosing a sensor configured to measure density of the fluid; and

attaching the sensor device to the sensor port, thereby providing for fluid communication between the sensor and the interior volume of the body through a channel between the sensor port and the sensor for providing fluid from the interior volume of the body to the sensor.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising expelling fluid from the interior volume through the channel to the sensor.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

measuring the density of the fluid with the sensor; and

identifying the fluid based, at least in part, on the measured density.