Optical displacement sensor for infusion devices
First Claim
1. A medical fluid dispensing apparatus for pumping an infusible medical fluid to the body of a patient, the medical fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:
- a piston having a motion wherein the piston causes the infusible medical fluid to be impelled out of the medical fluid dispensing apparatus at a determined delivery rate, the piston having an encoded pattern associated therewith; and
an optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor is configured to determine the position of the piston, relative to a fiducial position, based on the encoded pattern during delivery regardless of whether the encoded pattern associated with the piston repeats.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical sensor for a delivery device having a piston that displaces a substance, such as a fluid, from a reservoir. The optical sensor has a light source and a detector array for imaging encoding features disposed along a plunger rod coupled to the piston. By virtue of the pattern of encoding features, an absolute position of the plunger rod relative to a fiducial position may be determined uniquely. Thus, the volume of fluid remaining in the reservoir, the rate of fluid delivery, and proper loading of the reservoir may be accurately ascertained. Additionally, the encoding may serve to uniquely identify a version of the reservoir which may be supplied in various versions corresponding, for example, to differing concentrations of a therapeutic agent to be dispensed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A medical fluid dispensing apparatus for pumping an infusible medical fluid to the body of a patient, the medical fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:
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a piston having a motion wherein the piston causes the infusible medical fluid to be impelled out of the medical fluid dispensing apparatus at a determined delivery rate, the piston having an encoded pattern associated therewith; and an optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor is configured to determine the position of the piston, relative to a fiducial position, based on the encoded pattern during delivery regardless of whether the encoded pattern associated with the piston repeats. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A medical fluid dispensing apparatus for pumping an infusible medical fluid to the body of a patient, the medical fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:
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a piston having a motion wherein the piston causes the infusible medical fluid to be impelled out of the medical fluid dispensing apparatus at a determined delivery rate; a plunger rod coupled to the piston, the plunger rod bearing an encoded pattern of at least one encoding feature, wherein the encoding feature includes at least one reflective feature; and an optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor is configured to determine the position of the piston, relative to a fiducial position, based on the encoded pattern during delivery regardless of whether the encoded pattern includes unique or non-unique encoding features. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification