Flow monitoring system for a flow control apparatus

• US 7,092,797 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2004
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health Ireland Unlimited Company (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Inventors: Gaines, Robert B., Hudson, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paladini, Albert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US10/853,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20050278072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 700/282, 604/65, 604/153, 604/152, 604/67, 737/03
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16868 Downstream occlusion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16872 Upstream occlusion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3351 Controlling upstream pump pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• 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: G05D 7/0688 by combined action on throttling means and flow sources G05D7/0694 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/13 Infusion monitoring

Abstract

A flow control apparatus having a flow monitoring system capable of detecting and identifying flow present within the administration feeding set loaded to the flow control apparatus is disclosed. The flow control apparatus comprises a single sensor capable of detecting the presence or absence of fluid in the administration feeding set. A software subsystem may be operatively associated with the single sensor that is capable of identifying between upstream and downstream flow conditions present within the administration feeding set loaded to the flow control apparatus.

Claims

1. A flow control apparatus adapted to be loaded with an administration feeding set having an upstream side and a downstream side, said flow control apparatus comprising:

a) a single ultrasonic sensor comprising a receiver assembly and an ultrasonic transmitter assembly, wherein the transmitter assembly transmits, to the receiver assembly, an ultrasonic signal through a portion of the administration feeding set,

b) a microprocessor in operative association with the single ultrasonic sensor for receiving the ultrasonic signal from the receiver assembly, and further in operative association with a software subsystem executed on the microprocessor for detecting the presence or absence of fluid in the upstream side of said administration feeding set, and

c) wherein the software subsystem is in operative association with the single ultrasonic sensor and configured to identify between an upstream flow occlusion and a downstream flow occlusion present within the administration feeding set, as a function of the received ultrasonic signal.

2. The flow control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a means for preventing fluid flow in said administration feeding set, said means for preventing fluid flow being in operative association with said software subsystem.

3. The flow control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said software subsystem prevents fluid flow in said administration feeding set.

4. The flow control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said software subsystem is capable of identifying whether or not a bag empty condition exists.

5. The flow control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said software subsystem is capable of identifying whether or not normal flow exists.

6. A method of monitoring fluid flow comprising:

a) engaging one end of an administration feeding set to at least one fluid source;

b) loading said administration feeding set having tubing, a valve mechanism, and a mounting member, wherein said valve mechanism and mounting member are engaged to a flow control apparatus;

c) stretching said tubing between said valve mechanism and said mounting member; and

d) generating an ultrasonic signal by a single sensor a positioned adjacent a portion of the tubing, said ultrasonic signal being representative of a presence or absence of fluid in the portion of tubing; and

e) executing a software subsystem on a microprocessor to identify between an upstream occlusion and a downstream occlusion present within said administration feeding set, wherein the microprocessor is operatively connected to the single sensor for receiving the ultrasonic signal and detecting the presence or absence of fluid in the upstream side of the feeding set as a function of the ultrasonic signal, and further wherein the software subsystem uses the ultrasonic signal to determine the upstream and downstream occlusion.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising preventing fluid flow in said administration feeding set to identify said downstream occlusion present in said administration feeding set.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein another end of said administration feeding set is engaged to a patient.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein executing the software subsystem further comprises identifying whether or not a bag empty condition exists.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein executing the software subsystem further comprises identifying whether or not normal flow exists.