Volume monitoring device

• US 10,413,677 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Osprey Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Osprey Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Houfburg, Rodney L., Doan, Tuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhisma
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah, Nilay J
• Application Number:
  US13/975,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20140066860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,216 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31568 Means keeping track of the total dose administered, e.g. since the cartridge was inserted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31573 Accuracy improving means

Abstract

An apparatus includes a syringe housing and a plunger slidably received within the syringe housing. A plunger magnet is secured to the plunger. A potentiometer housing is fixed to the syringe housing and includes a potentiometer disposed therein. A wiper magnet is also disposed within the potentiometer housing. Movement of the plunger magnet causes a corresponding movement of the wiper magnet.

Claims

1. A medical syringe apparatus comprising:

a medical syringe housing;

a plunger comprising an axis, wherein the plunger is slidably received within the medical syringe housing so as to move along the axis;

a plurality of plunger magnets secured to and radially disposed on the plunger at a single location along the axis, said single location being substantially surrounded circumferentially by the plurality of plunger magnets;

a potentiometer housing fixed to the medical syringe housing;

a potentiometer disposed within the potentiometer housing; and

a wiper magnet slidably received within the potentiometer housing, wherein a movement of the plurality of plunger magnets causes a corresponding movement of the wiper magnet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of leads extending from the potentiometer.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an interface for connecting the plurality of leads to a measuring device, and wherein the measuring device displays a total volume injected and emits a warning of a critical outcome.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the potentiometer housing is releasably fixed to the medical syringe housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a securement element for releasably securing the potentiometer housing to the medical syringe housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the securement element comprises at least one of a clamp, a clasp, a hook and loop fastener, and a magnet.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the securement element for releasably securing the potentiometer is connected to the potentiometer housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the securement element for releasably securing the potentiometer is releasably connected to the potentiometer housing.

9. A medical syringe apparatus comprising:

a medical syringe housing;

a medical plunger slidably received within and rotatably received within the medical syringe housing;

a potentiometer secured to and along a body of the medical syringe housing, said potentiometer being disposed within a potentiometer housing;

a first magnet movably positionable in the potentiometer housing, wherein the first magnet is movable relative to the potentiometer; and

a second magnet secured to and disposed on the medical plunger, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are adapted to move linearly in tandem during a movement of the medical plunger, wherein the movement of the medical plunger is both rotational and linear.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a lead for sending an output signal from the potentiometer to an interface, wherein the interface displays a total volume injected and emits a warning of a critical outcome.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the output signal varies based on a position of the first magnet relative to the potentiometer.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first magnet is disposed proximate the potentiometer.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second magnet comprises a plurality of magnets.

14. A medical syringe apparatus comprising:

a medical syringe housing;

a potentiometer secured to and along a body of the medical syringe housing, said potentiometer being disposed within a potentiometer housing;

a first magnet disposed within the potentiometer housing and linearly movably positionable relative to the potentiometer; and

a medical plunger linearly slidably received and rotatably received within the medical syringe housing, wherein the first magnet is linearly movable based at least in part on a linear movement of the medical plunger, regardless of an angle of rotation of the medical plunger.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a second magnet secured to the medical plunger and aligned with the first magnet.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a third magnet secured to the medical plunger and aligned with the first magnet.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first magnet is disposed within a magnetic field formed by at least one of the second magnet and the third magnet.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a lead for sending an output signal from the potentiometer to an interface, wherein the interface displays a total volume injected and emits a warning of a critical outcome.