System and method for reducing air bubbles in a fluid delivery line
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting air in a fluid delivery line using a medical pump having a motor and a first air detection sensor, comprising the steps of:
- starting a fluid delivery cycle having a pressurization phase, a delivery phase and a retraction phase;
activating the first air detection sensor during one of a first pressurization phase and a first delivery phase after a first predetermined cycle parameter value has been met;
measuring a first air content signal generated by the first air detection sensor;
generating first air content data from the first air content signal;
determining whether the first air content data has met a first predetermined air threshold;
deactivating the first air detection sensor during the one of the first pressurization phase and the first delivery phase after measuring the first air content signal and after a second predetermined cycle parameter value has been met;
reactivating the first air detection sensor during the one of the first pressurization phase and the first delivery phase after a third predetermined cycle parameter value has been met;
measuring a second air content signal generated by the first air detection sensor;
generating second air content data from the second air contents signal;
determining whether the second air content data has met the first predetermined air threshold; and
,deactivating the first air detection sensor during the one of the first pressurization phase and the first delivery phase after measuring the second air content signal and after a fourth predetermined cycle parameter value has been met.
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Abstract
A method and pump that accurately senses air in a fluid delivery line pulses or activates and deactivates the air sensor(s) multiple times during the pumping phase of the fluid delivery cycle and can generate alarms based upon a single indication or a cumulative indication of air in the line. The pump can include multiple air sensors spaced along the delivery line so that the method can use the multiple signals therefrom to distinguish real moving air bubbles from false positives and/or air bubbles adhered to the inner wall of the line.
246 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for detecting air in a fluid delivery line using a medical pump having a motor and a first air detection sensor, comprising the steps of:
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starting a fluid delivery cycle having a pressurization phase, a delivery phase and a retraction phase; activating the first air detection sensor during one of a first pressurization phase and a first delivery phase after a first predetermined cycle parameter value has been met; measuring a first air content signal generated by the first air detection sensor; generating first air content data from the first air content signal; determining whether the first air content data has met a first predetermined air threshold; deactivating the first air detection sensor during the one of the first pressurization phase and the first delivery phase after measuring the first air content signal and after a second predetermined cycle parameter value has been met; reactivating the first air detection sensor during the one of the first pressurization phase and the first delivery phase after a third predetermined cycle parameter value has been met; measuring a second air content signal generated by the first air detection sensor; generating second air content data from the second air contents signal;
determining whether the second air content data has met the first predetermined air threshold; and
,deactivating the first air detection sensor during the one of the first pressurization phase and the first delivery phase after measuring the second air content signal and after a fourth predetermined cycle parameter value has been met. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification