IV infusion monitoring device

Abstract

An IV infusion monitoring device is provided to measure and to display, during whole infusion process, the liquid level data including the weight of remaining medical liquid in an IV bottle, the liquid flow rate and the remaining time from the completion of an IV infusion process. It also gives alarm as the medical liquid in an IV bottle drops to a predetermined low level. The IV infusion monitoring system comprises an electric load sensor, a signal processor, a monitor terminal and a power provided preferably by a battery. The load sensor measures the weight of the medical liquid in the IV bottle. The measured signal is then transmitted to the signal processor for processing and generating the liquid level data, which are then sent to the monitor terminal for display. The monitor terminal can also generate an alarm if the liquid level drops to the predetermined value. Furthermore, the monitoring device combines with a server and a plurality of PDA devices to form a communication network so that a nurse can monitor the IV infusion process from a remote location.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61 / 338,636, filed on Feb. 22, 2010 by the present inventors to US Patent and Trademark Office.REFERENCES CITEDU.S. Patent Documents[0002]3,656,478Apr. 18, 1972Swersey604 / 663,939,360Feb. 17, 1976Jackson307 / 1184,589,372May 20, 1986Smith119 / 51.025,563,584Oct. 8, 1996Rader et al.340 / 618FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH[0003]Not applicableSEQUENCE LIST OF PROGRAM[0004]Not applicableFIELD OF INVENTION[0005]The present invention relates to a monitoring system of a liquid feeding line, and more particularly to an IV infusion monitoring device.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0006]Assume a patient lies on bed to receive IV infusion. There are two types of infusion systems. One is by pump, another is by gravity. The pump infusion system is very costly and often encounters maintenance trouble. Therefore, many hospital workers prefer to use the traditional gravity infusion system. The gr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]The present invention provides an IV infusion monitoring device, which is capable for measuring and monitoring the liquid level and liquid flow rate of the medical liquid in the IV bottle during whole infusion process, as well as for giving alarm when the medical liquid in the IV bottle drops to a predetermined low level. The present invention is different from and superior over all the prior arts in function, structure, cost, accuracy and reliability, as well as ease of use.

Problems solved by technology

The pump infusion system is very costly and often encounters maintenance trouble.

As the medical liquid in the IV bottle drops to a predetermined low level, i.e., nearly finished, the bottle must be replaced by a new one, otherwise air may enter the infusion line and causes serious medical problems.

This task becomes a heavy burden of medical workers, particularly at night.

For example, an IV infusion process may go wrong if a patient or particularly a baby moves violently during infusion.

Unfortunately, there is no any satisfied device existing in the current market for this task.

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