Detection system for flow control apparatus

• US 9,820,916 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2015
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kpr U.S., LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Boulanger, Jason, Hudson, Joseph, Trelford, Lester Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Flick, Jason
• Application Number:
  US14/806,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20160022545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 604 67
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0026 Parts, details or accessories for feeding-tubes external tubes from medical containers to a connector outside of the body A61M39/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0076 Feeding pumps A61M1/00, A61M5/142, A61M25/1018 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/008 Sensor means, e.g. for sensing reflux, acidity or pressure sensors for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00; sensors for inflation control A61M25/1018
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0088 for sensing parameters related to the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6036 characterised by physical shape, e.g. array of activating switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14228 with linear peristaltic action, i.e. comprising at least three pressurising members or a helical member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/168 Means for controlling media flow to the body or for metering media to the body, e.g. drip meters, counters ; Monitoring media flow to the body flow control in general G05D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/365 Air detectors A61M5/1684 takes precedence; in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3626
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/12 having peristaltic action

Abstract

A flow control apparatus adapted to receive a feeding set includes a housing capable of receiving at least a portion of the feeding set. A pumping device is supported by the housing and positioned to contact the feeding set when the feeding set is received by the housing so the pumping device acts on the feeding set to produce fluid flow in the feeding set for delivery of fluid to a subject. An ultrasonic sensor is supported by the housing and arranged with respect to the pumping device to produce a sensor signal indicative of a viscosity of the fluid delivered through the feeding set. A control circuit is in communication with the ultrasonic sensor for receiving the sensor signal from the sensor indicative of the viscosity of the fluid and in communication with the pumping device to control operation thereof.

Claims

1. A flow control apparatus adapted to receive a feeding set, said flow control apparatus comprising:

a housing capable of receiving at least a portion of the feeding set;

a pumping device associated with the housing and positioned to contact the feeding set when the feeding set is received by the housing so the pumping device acts on the feeding set to produce fluid flow in the feeding set for delivery of fluid to a subject;

an ultrasonic sensor arranged with respect to the pumping device to produce a sensor signal indicative of a viscosity of the fluid delivered through the feeding set; and

a control circuit in communication with the ultrasonic sensor for receiving the sensor signal from the sensor indicative of the viscosity of the fluid and in communication with the pumping device to control operation thereof, the control circuit being configured to determine a representation of the viscosity of the fluid from the sensor signal and to operate the pumping device to produce a fluid flow rate based on the representation of the viscosity, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine the viscosity by analyzing an amplitude of the sensor signal.

2. The flow control apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the control circuit includes a memory containing a lookup table associating sensor signal amplitude with viscosity.

3. The flow control apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the pumping device comprises a motor and a rotor, the motor being adapted to rotate the rotor so that the rotor repeatedly contacts the feeding set to produce fluid flow through the feeding set, the control circuit adjusting a rotation rate of the rotor based on the viscosity of the fluid.

4. The flow control apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein the control circuit is configured to decrease the rotation rate of the rotor as the detected fluid viscosity increases.

5. A flow control system for delivering fluid to a subject through a feeding set, comprising:

a flow control apparatus including a pumping device configured to act on the feeding set to produce fluid flow in the feeding set for delivery of fluid to a subject; and

an ultrasonic sensor arranged with respect to the pumping device and to sense the feeding set, the ultrasonic sensor including an ultrasonic emitter configured to emit an ultrasonic signal and an ultrasonic detector configured to detect the ultrasonic signal;

a portion of the feeding set being disposed in a path of the ultrasonic signal producing a signal detectable by the ultrasonic detector providing an indication of a condition of the feeding set; and

a control circuit in communication with the ultrasonic sensor and configured to identify the feeding set based on the sensor signal received from the ultrasonic sensor, wherein the control circuit includes a memory containing a plurality of identities of feeding sets, the control circuit being configured to match the sensor signal with one of the plurality of stored identities and to control operation of the flow control apparatus based on one or more characteristics associated with the stored identity that matches the sensor signal.

6. The flow control system set forth in claim 5 wherein the control circuit is configured to inhibit operation of the pumping device if the feeding set identified based on the sensor signal does not match a feeding set identity stored in the memory.

7. The flow control system set forth in claim 5 wherein the feeding set comprises tubing and a sensor component mounted on the tubing, the sensor component being disposed in the path of the ultrasonic signal when the feeding set is received by a housing configured to support the pumping device, the sensor component being constructed to produce the signal.

8. The flow control system set forth in claim 7 where the signal is produced by one of a size, shape, or material of the sensor component.

9. A flow control apparatus adapted to receive a pump set for driving fluid flow through the pump set, said flow control apparatus comprising:

a housing capable of receiving at least a portion of the pump set;

a pumping device supported by the housing and positioned to contact the pump set when the pump set is received by the housing so the pumping device acts on the pump set to produce fluid flow in the pump set; and

a sensor assembly supported by the housing and arranged with respect to the pumping device for detecting a condition of the pump set when the pump set is received by the housing, the sensor assembly comprising a single emitter for emitting a signal and a plurality of detectors for detecting the signal emitted by the single emitter, each detector being configured to detect a different condition of the pump set based on the signal detected by the detectors, the sensor assembly comprising at least three detectors, a first detector detecting whether the pump set is properly received by the housing, a second detector detecting the type of pump set, and a third detector detecting a viscosity of the fluid in the pump set.

10. The flow control apparatus set forth in claim 9 wherein the sensor assembly is an ultrasonic sensor assembly including a single ultrasonic emitter and a plurality of ultrasonic detectors.

11. A flow control apparatus adapted to receive a pump set for delivering fluid through the pump set, said flow control apparatus comprising:

a housing capable of receiving at least a portion of the pump set;

a pumping device supported by the housing and positioned to contact the pump set when the pump set is received by the housing so the pumping device acts on the pump set to produce fluid flow in the pump set;

an emitter constructed and arranged with respect to the pumping device to emit a first signal in a first direction toward a first section of the pump set when the pump set is received by the housing, and to emit a second signal in a second direction different from the first direction toward a second section of the pump set, the first and second signals being used to indicate a condition of the pump set at the first and second sections; and

a first detector arranged with respect to the emitter for detecting the first signal, and a second detector arranged with respect to the emitter for detecting the second signal, the first and second detectors being disposed on opposite sides of the emitter such that the first direction extends opposite to the second direction.

12. The flow control apparatus set forth in claim 11 wherein the emitter is disposed to emit the first signal toward an upstream portion of the pump set and to emit the second signal toward a downstream portion of the pump set when the pump set is received by the housing.

13. The flow control apparatus set forth in claim 12 wherein the emitter is disposed between the upstream and downstream portions of the pump set when the pump set is received by the housing.

14. The flow control apparatus set forth in claim 11 wherein the emitter is disposed between the first and second detectors.

15. The flow control apparatus set forth in claim 11 wherein the first and second signals emitted from the emitter are ultrasonic signals, the signals detected by the detectors indicating the presence of fluid in the pump set.