SYRINGE CHARACTERIZATION

• US 20150297832A1
• Filed: 12/03/2013
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2012
• 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: Blomquist, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,976,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/02 Equipment for testing the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1684 by detecting the amount of infusate remaining, e.g. signalling end of infusion
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A device for syringe characterization can include a syringe pump with a plunger driver, for a syringe configured to contain can a fluid, wherein the syringe includes a barrel and a plunger. The barrel and the plunger therewithin together define a central longitudinal axis of the syringe. The device can also include a barrel outer diameter sensor, and a linear position sensor in a substantially parallel orientation with the central longitudinal axis of the syringe when the syringe is installed in the syringe pump. At least one moveable marker can be in communication with the linear potentiometer, being capable of indicating a location along the linear potentiometer corresponding to a selected location on the barrel of the syringe when the syringe is installed in the syringe pump. The device can further include software for performing calculations that are indicative of syringe characterization, with respect to locations of selected ones of the at least one moveable marker and a diameter of the barrel that is sensed by the barrel outer diameter sensor.

Claims

1. A device for syringe characterization, comprising:

a syringe pump with a plunger driver, for a syringe configured to contain a fluid, wherein the syringe includes a barrel and a plunger, the barrel and the plunger therewithin together defining a central longitudinal axis of the syringe;

a barrel outer diameter sensor;

a linear position sensor in a substantially parallel orientation with the central longitudinal axis of the syringe when the syringe is installed in the syringe pump;

at least one moveable marker in communication with the linear position sensor, being capable of indicating a location along the linear position sensor corresponding to a selected location on the barrel of the syringe when the syringe is installed in the syringe pump; and

software for performing calculations that are indicative of syringe characterization, with respect to locations of selected ones of the at least one moveable marker and a diameter of the barrel that is sensed by the barrel outer diameter sensor.

2. The device for syringe characterization of claim 1, wherein an electronic input and display component is provided in a substantially parallel orientation with the central longitudinal axis of the syringe when installed in the syringe pump, with the electronic input and display component being substituted for the linear position sensor and the at least one moveable marker.

3. The device for syringe characterization of claim 1, wherein the barrel outer diameter sensor, the at least one moveable marker, and the software together function to provide syringe characterization for determination of a selected volume of fluid that is delivered from the syringe from a selected linear displacement of the plunger.

4. A method of syringe characterization, comprising:

providing a device for syringe characterization, the device comprising;

a syringe pump with a plunger driver, for a syringe configured to contain a fluid, wherein the syringe includes a barrel and a plunger, the barrel and the plunger therewithin together defining a central longitudinal axis of the syringe;

a barrel outer diameter sensor;

a linear position sensor in a substantially parallel orientation with the central longitudinal axis of the syringe when the syringe is installed in the syringe pump;

at least one moveable marker in communication with the linear position sensor, being capable of indicating a location along the linear position sensor corresponding to a selected location on the barrel of the syringe when the syringe is installed in the syringe pump; and

software for performing calculations that are indicative of syringe characterization, with respect to locations of selected ones of the at least one moveable marker and a diameter of the barrel that is sensed by the barrel outer diameter sensor;

instructing a user of the device to engage the barrel outer diameter sensor, with the sensor thereby determining an outer diameter of a barrel of the syringe;

calculating an approximate internal diameter of the barrel of the syringe;

instructing the user to move a selected one of the at least one moveable marker to a first position corresponding to a particular volume location along the barrel of the syringe;

calculating a second position corresponding to another volume location along the barrel of the syringe and instructing the user to move a selected one of the at least one moveable marker to the second position and provide feedback to the device upon completion thereof;

calculating an apparent actual wall thickness of the barrel of the syringe;

verifying whether the calculated wall thickness of the barrel of the syringe is within acceptable limits, and

if the calculated thickness is not within acceptable limits, then returning to instructing the user to move a selected one of the at least one moveable marker to a first position corresponding to a particular volume location along the barrel of the syringe through calculating an apparent actual wall thickness of the barrel of the syringe until the calculated thickness is within acceptable limits, and

if the calculated thickness is within acceptable limits, then determining whether accuracy of the thickness calculation needs to be improved;

if accuracy of the calculated thickness does not need to be improved, then calculating an inner diameter of the barrel of the syringe and thus an approximate volume of fluid that is deliverable outwardly from the syringe per linear distance advanced by a plunger tip within the barrel of the syringe;

if accuracy of the calculated thickness does need to be improved, then grouping any previously calculated thicknesses with a most recently calculated thickness and determining whether the grouping of calculated thicknesses is sufficiently consistent;

if the grouping of calculated thicknesses is not sufficiently consistent, then returning to instructing the user to move a selected one of the at least one moveable marker to a first position corresponding to a particular volume location along the barrel of the syringe;

if the grouping of calculated thicknesses is sufficiently consistent, then determining whether a required number of calculations have been made;

if the required number of calculations have not been made, then returning to instructing the user to move a selected one of the at least one moveable marker to a first position corresponding to a particular volume location along the barrel of the syringe;

if the required number of calculations have been made, then returning to calculating an inner diameter of the barrel of the syringe and thus an approximate volume of fluid that is deliverable outwardly from the syringe per linear distance advanced by a plunger tip within the barrel of the syringe if accuracy of the calculated thickness does not need to be improved; and

optionally, identifying a zero volume location on the barrel of the syringe, instructing the user to move a selected one of said at least one moveable marker to a location corresponding to the plunger tip in the syringe, and calculating an actual volume of fluid contained within the syringe.