Devices, systems, and methods for improved syringe pump occlusion detection and flow continuity

Abstract

The syringe pump includes a container for receiving a syringe and a drive head for advancing a plunger of the syringe within a barrel of the syringe. The injection pump further comprises a processor. The processor is configured to receive programmed traffic. The processor is further configured to detect a run of the syringe, the run including a distance between a starting position of the plunger within the barrel and a current position of the plunger within the barrel. In addition, the processor is configured to estimate an amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and the detected run. Further, based on the estimated amount of friction, the processor is configured to adjust an occlusion detection operation of the injection pump or to adjust an operating speed of the drive head.

Description

[0001] Citation of Related Applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 394,937, filed on August 3, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to syringe pumps. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices, systems and methods for improving syringe pump occlusion detection and flow continuity. Background Art

[0004] In the medical field, syringe pumps are often used to provide medications and other fluids to patients. Currently, many syringe pumps include force sensors that determine the amount of force applied by the syringe plunger on the drive head of the syringe pump. This information can be used to detect downstream occlusions in the tubing that connects the syringe to the patient. However, this occlusion detection method can sometimes be inaccurate, resulting in false positive alarms.

[0005] False alarms can pull clinicians away from their patients and cause alarm fatigue. In addition, false alarms can consume limited resources of the infusion device, such as memory, user interface space, processor resources, network resources, and the like that may be required for the actual infusion operation. Therefore, there is a need for syringe pumps that can perform more accurate occlusion detection. In addition, there is a need to improve the flow continuity and flow rate accuracy of syringe pumps to ensure that patients receive their fluids at the prescribed rate. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present disclosure provides devices, systems and methods for improving occlusion detection and flow continuity of syringe pumps. Example implementations of the advances discussed herein include the following:

[0007] A syringe pump includes a container for accommodating a syringe, the syringe including a plunger and a barrel. The syringe pump also includes a drive head for advancing the plunger in the barrel. In addition, the syringe pump includes a processor for performing various operations. These operations include receiving a programmed flow rate. These operations also include detecting the extension of the syringe, including the distance between the starting position of the plunger in the barrel and the current position of the plunger in the barrel. In addition, the operation includes estimating the amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and the detected extension. In addition, the operation includes adjusting the occlusion detection operation of the syringe pump or the operating speed of the drive head based on the estimated amount of friction.

[0008] A computer-implemented method for improving occlusion detection or flow continuity of a syringe pump includes receiving a programmed flow rate of the syringe pump. The syringe pump includes a container for accommodating a syringe, the syringe including a plunger and a barrel. The syringe pump also includes a drive head for advancing the plunger in the barrel. The computer-implemented method also includes detecting a displacement of the syringe, including a distance between a starting position of the plunger in the barrel and a current position of the plunger in the barrel. In addition, the computer-implemented method includes estimating an amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and the detected displacement. In addition, the computer-implemented method includes adjusting an occlusion detection operation of the syringe pump or an operating speed of the drive head based on the estimated amount of friction.

[0009] A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform various operations. These operations include receiving a programmed flow rate of a syringe pump. The syringe pump includes a container for accommodating a syringe, which includes a plunger and a barrel. The syringe pump also includes a drive head for advancing the plunger in the barrel. These operations also include detecting the push distance of the syringe, including the distance between the starting position of the plunger in the barrel and the current position of the plunger in the barrel. In addition, the operation includes estimating the amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and the detected push distance. In addition, the operation includes adjusting the occlusion detection operation of the syringe pump or the operating speed of the drive head based on the estimated amount of friction.

[0010] Although the present disclosure describes the subject technology in the context of a syringe pump, most of the subject technology is still applicable to other types of infusion pumps. It should be understood that other configurations of the subject technology will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, in which various configurations in the subject technology are shown and described by way of illustration. As will be appreciated, the subject technology can have other and different configurations, and several of its details can be modified in various other aspects, all without departing from the scope of the subject technology. Therefore, the drawings and detailed description should be regarded as illustrative in nature and are not to be regarded as limiting. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] For a better understanding of the various described embodiments, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the following drawings. Throughout the drawings and description, like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts.

[0012] Figure 1 An example infusion device including a control module, a peristaltic infusion pump, and a syringe pump in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology is depicted.

[0013] Figure 2 An example institutional patient care system of a healthcare organization in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology is depicted.

[0014] Figure 3 Example syringe pump modules in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology are depicted.

[0015] Figure 4A-4C Depicted are example stand-alone syringe pumps according to various aspects of the subject technology, as well as example locations of syringes housed thereby.

[0016] Figure 5 Depicted are example forces acting on a drive head and syringe in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology.

[0017] Figure 6 is an example line graph including friction estimation curves and corresponding syringe pump adjustments in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology.

[0018] Figure 7 Depicted are example processes for improving occlusion detection or flow continuity of a syringe pump in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology.

[0019] Figure 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example electronic system for improving occlusion detection or flow continuity of a syringe pump in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Reference will now be made to embodiments, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of the various described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, processes, components, circuits, and networks are not described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the embodiments.

[0021] Many modern syringe pumps use force sensors for downstream occlusion detection. The force sensor detects the amount of force required to compress the syringe plunger, which force can then be converted into an estimate of the amount of pressure in the syringe. For example, some syringe pumps employ a force sensor located between the drive head and the syringe plunger to detect the amount of force applied by the plunger to the drive head. This process typically relies on the assumption that the force detected is roughly equal to the amount of force experienced by the fluid in the syringe.

[0022] However, this assumption may sometimes be wrong. For example, the friction between the plunger and the barrel of the syringe (e.g., resisting the lateral movement of the plunger in the barrel) may cause the force experienced by the fluid in the syringe to deviate from (e.g., less than) the amount of force required to compress the syringe plunger. Due to the pressure calculation based on incomplete force data, this may in turn cause incorrect occlusion alarms, as discussed in more detail below. In addition, the friction experienced by the plunger can also disrupt the flow rate continuity of the infusion therapy, resulting in inconsistent advancement of the drive head and the syringe plunger. This is particularly common at the beginning of an infusion therapy, where the friction between the plunger and the barrel may be at its maximum.

[0023] Thus, the present disclosure provides a sophisticated approach to occlusion detection and syringe pump operation by estimating and accounting for forces (e.g., friction) that could otherwise result in false alarms and / or substandard pump operation. Reducing false occlusion alarms can help conserve pump resources and increase the amount of time clinicians can spend with their patients. Additionally, improving flow rate continuity and flow rate accuracy can improve patient therapy by ensuring that patients receive prescribed fluids at the appropriate rate. Additionally, compensating for friction can also help reduce or eliminate startup delays in infusion therapy.

[0024] The first four figures discussed below are Figure 1 4, provide a basis for discussing improved occlusion detection and flow continuity. They depict example infusion devices (e.g., syringe pumps) and illustrate how these devices can be used in medical situations. Starting with FIG. 4, the present disclosure discusses metrics related to friction estimation, such as the distance the syringe plunger is pushed within the barrel and the programmed flow rate of the syringe pump. This discussion continues with the remaining figures, which further flesh out the devices, systems, and methods for improving the operation of the syringe pump.

[0025] Figure 1 An example infusion device 100 including a control module 104, a peristaltic infusion pump 131, and a syringe pump 132 according to various aspects of the subject technology is depicted. As depicted, the peristaltic infusion pump 131 and the syringe pump 132 (collectively referred to as infusion pumps 131 and 132) are mounted on both sides of the control module 104, which is configured for programming the infusion pumps 131 and 132.

[0026] According to various embodiments, the control module 104 is used to provide a user interface for the infusion pumps 131 and 132. The control module 104 may also serve as an interface between the infusion pumps 131 and 132 and an external device (e.g., a device terminal, a smartphone, or a tablet). Figure 1As depicted, the control module 104 includes a display 114 for visually presenting various information to the clinician, such as operating parameters of the infusion pumps 131 and 132 or warnings (e.g., warning indications, warning messages) associated with the infusion pumps 31 and 132. The control module 104 may also include a speaker to provide an audible warning. In some embodiments, the display 114 may be implemented as a touch screen display. In this way, by providing corresponding interactive elements via a graphical user interface (presented via the display 114), the control keys 116A-C may be omitted or reduced in number. In some embodiments, the infusion pumps 131 and 132 may include hardware elements to provide a human-perceivable warning or alarm performance (e.g., about occlusion) to the clinician, such as a light (e.g., a variable color light emitting diode), a display, or an audio output (e.g., a speaker).

[0027] In addition, the control module 104 may include a communication system through which the control module 104 can communicate with external devices. For example, the control module 104 can communicate with a medical facility server, a computer (e.g., a handheld communication device or a laptop-type computer), or an information device. When communicating with these devices, the control module 104 can pass information to the device, or the control module 104 can download information (e.g., a drug library) from them.

[0028] The communication system can be used to communicate access and interaction information to users of the control module 104 or devices coupled thereto (e.g., infusion pumps 131 and 132, or barcode scanners). In addition, the communication system may include a radiofrequency (RF) system, an optical system such as infrared, a BLUETOOTH TM The communication system (and / or the aforementioned barcode scanner) may additionally be included in an integrated manner with the infusion pumps 131 and 132, such as in embodiments where the infusion device 100 does not include a control module. The information input device need not be hardwired to the medical instrument; information may also be transmitted via a wireless connection.

[0029] According to the teachings set forth herein, in addition to the infusion pumps 131 and 132, the control module 104 can also be connected to other functional modules, such as physiological monitors (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, ECG, EEG, or pulse oximeter monitors), therapeutic devices, or other drug delivery devices (e.g., additional infusion pumps). In addition, the control module 104 can be a central processing unit (CPU) connected to a memory (such as a random access memory (RAM)). In some embodiments, the control module 104 includes a main non-volatile storage unit, such as a hard drive or a non-volatile flash memory. For example, the control module 104 can be used to store software data on the non-volatile storage unit. In addition, the control module may include one or more internal buses for connecting the aforementioned elements (see Figure 7 ).

[0030] In various embodiments, the display 114 is a touch screen for displaying information to a user and allowing the user to input information by touching a defined area of ​​the screen. In addition, or in an alternative, the display 114 may include any device for displaying and inputting information, such as a monitor, printer, keyboard, soft keys, mouse, trackball, and / or light pen.

[0031] The control module 104 may include a data input device, such as a barcode reader capable of scanning and interpreting data printed in a barcode format. In addition, or in the alternative, the data input device may be a device for inputting encoded data into a computer, such as one or more devices for reading a magnetic stripe, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device, wherein the digital data encoded in an RFID tag or smart label is captured by the data input device via radio waves, a PCMCIA smart card, a radio frequency card, a memory stick, a CD, a DVD, or any other analog or digital storage medium. Other examples of data input devices include voice activation or recognition devices or portable personal data assistants (PDAs).

[0032] Figure 2 An example institutional patient care system 200 of a healthcare organization in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology is depicted. Figure 2 In the embodiment of the present invention, the patient care device 202 (e.g., Figure 1 The infusion device 100) is connected to the internal healthcare network 236. The term patient care device or "PCD" may be used interchangeably with the term patient care unit or "PCU", either of which may include a variety of auxiliary medical devices, such as an infusion pump (e.g., Figure 1 Infusion pumps 131 and 132 of the patient care device 202, vital sign monitors, medication dispensing equipment (e.g., medicine cabinets, totes), medication preparation equipment, automatic dispensing equipment, modules coupled to one of the foregoing (e.g., syringe pump modules coupled to infusion pumps), or other similar equipment. Each element of the patient care device 202 is connected to the internal healthcare network 236 via a transmission channel 234. The transmission channel 234 is any wired or wireless transmission channel, such as an 802.11 wireless local area network (LAN).

[0033] In some embodiments, the internal healthcare network 236 also includes computer systems located in various departments throughout the hospital. For example, the network 236 optionally includes computer systems associated with an admissions department, a billing department, a biomedical engineering department, a clinical laboratory, a central supply department, one or more unit station computers, and / or a medical decision support system. As further described below, the internal healthcare network 236 may include discrete sub-networks. In the depicted example, the internal healthcare network 236 includes a device network 238 through which the patient care devices 202 and other devices communicate in accordance with normal operations.

[0034] In addition, the institutional patient care system 200 may include a separate information system server 242. Furthermore, although the information system server 242 is shown as a separate server, the functionality and programming of the information system server 242 may be incorporated into another computer. The institutional patient care system 200 may also include a device terminal 240 for connecting and communicating with the information system server 242. The device terminal 240 may include a personal computer, a personal data assistant, and a mobile device, such as a laptop, a tablet, an augmented reality device, or a smartphone, which is configured with software for communicating with the information system server 242 via the internal healthcare network 236.

[0035] Patient care device 202 includes a system for providing patient care and may include or contain a pump (e.g., Figure 1 infusion pumps 131 and 132), physiological monitors (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, ECG, EEG, pulse oximeters, and other patient monitors), therapeutic devices, and other drug delivery devices that can be used in accordance with the teachings set forth herein.

[0036] In the depicted example, the patient care device 202 includes a device connected to one or more functional modules 206-209 (e.g., Figure 1 The control module 204 (eg, Figure 1The control module 204 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 218 ​​connected to a memory (e.g., a random access memory (RAM) 222), as well as one or more interface devices (such as a user interface device 230), an encoded data input device 232, a network connection 220, and an auxiliary interface 226 for communicating with additional modules or devices. The control module 204 also, but not necessarily, includes a main non-volatile storage unit 228 for storing software data, such as a hard drive or non-volatile flash memory. In addition, the control module 204 may include one or more internal buses 224 for interconnecting the aforementioned elements.

[0037] In various embodiments, the user interface device 230 is a touch screen for displaying information to a user and allowing the user to input information by touching a defined area of ​​the screen. In addition, or in an alternative, the user interface device 230 may include a device for displaying and inputting information, such as a monitor, a printer, a keyboard, soft keys, a mouse, a trackball, and / or a light pen.

[0038] The data input device 232 may be a bar code reader capable of scanning and interpreting data printed in a bar code format. Additionally, or in the alternative, the data input device 232 may be any device for inputting encoded data into a computer, such as one or more devices for reading a magnetic stripe, a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, wherein digital data encoded in an RFID tag or smart label (defined below) is captured by the data input device 232 via radio waves, a PCMCIA smart card, a radio frequency card, a memory stick, a CD, a DVD, or any other analog or digital storage medium. Other examples of the data input device 232 include a voice activation or recognition device or a portable personal data assistant (PDA).

[0039] Depending on the type of interface device used, the user interface device 230 and the data input device 232 may be the same device. Figure 2 204, but it should be appreciated that the data input device 232 may be external to the control module 204 (eg, at the device terminal 240).

[0040] The auxiliary interface 226 may be an RS-232 communication interface, however, any other means for communicating with a peripheral device (e.g., a printer, a patient monitor, an infusion pump, or another medical device) may be used without departing from the subject technology. Additionally, the data input device 232 may be a separate functional module (e.g., one of the functional modules 206-209) configured to communicate with the control module 204 or any other system on the network using appropriate programming and communication protocols.

[0041] The network connection 220 may be a wired or wireless connection, such as through Ethernet, WiFi, BLUETOOTH, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) connection, a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, or a cable modem. Any direct or indirect network connection may be used, including but not limited to a telephone modem, a MIB system, an RS232 interface, an auxiliary interface, an optical link, an infrared link, a radio frequency link, a microwave link, or a WLAN connection or other wireless connection.

[0042] Functional modules 206-209 are devices for providing care to a patient or for monitoring a patient's condition (e.g., Figure 1 Infusion pumps 131 and 132). Figure 2 As shown, at least one of the functional modules 206-209 may be an infusion pump module, such as a syringe pump (e.g., Figure 1 For the purpose of this discussion, functional module 206 is referred to as an infusion pump module. However, it is noted that each of functional modules 206-209 can be any patient treatment or monitoring equipment, including but not limited to an infusion pump, a syringe pump, a PCA pump, an epidural pump, an enteral pump, a blood pressure monitor, a pulse oximeter, an EKG monitor, an EEG monitor, a heart rate monitor, an intracranial pressure monitor or the like. In addition, functional modules 206-209 can also be printers, scanners, barcode readers, near field communication readers, RFID readers or any other peripheral input, output or input / output devices.

[0043] Each functional module 206-209 communicates directly or indirectly with the control module 204 that provides overall monitoring and control of the patient care device 202. In addition, the functional modules 206-209 can be physically and electronically connected to one or both ends of the control module 204 in a serial manner, such as Figure 2 shown.

[0044] It should be appreciated that there are other ways to connect the functional modules 206-209 to the control module 204 that can be used without departing from the subject technology. It should also be understood that a device that provides sufficient programmability and connectivity, such as a pump or patient monitoring device, may be able to operate as a stand-alone device and communicate directly with the internal healthcare network 236 without connecting through the control module 204 or a separate interface unit. As described above, additional medical devices or peripherals can be connected to the patient-care device 202 through one or more auxiliary interfaces 226.

[0045] Each of the functional modules 206-209 may include a microprocessor 216, a volatile memory 214, a non-volatile memory 212, and module-specific components 210. It should be noted that although Figure 2 204, but any number of devices may be directly or indirectly connected to the control module 204. The number and type of functional modules described herein are intended to be illustrative, and they in no way limit the scope of the subject technology. Module-specific components 210 include any components required for the operation of a particular module, such as a pumping mechanism of a functional module 206.

[0046] Although each of the functional modules 206-209 may be capable of at least some degree of independent operation, the control module 204 monitors and controls the overall operation of the patient-care device 202. For example, as will be described in more detail below, the control module 204 provides programming instructions to the functional modules 206-209 and monitors the status of each of the functional modules 206-209.

[0047] Medical devices incorporating aspects of the subject technology may be equipped with a network interface module (NIM) that allows the medical device to participate as a node in a network. Although for clarity, the subject technology will be described as operating in an Ethernet network environment using the Internet Protocol (IP), it will be understood that the concepts of the subject technology are equally applicable to other network environments (e.g., standards-based or proprietary), and these environments are intended to be within the scope of the subject technology.

[0048] Data to and from various data sources can be converted to network compatible data by existing techniques, and the movement of information between medical devices and networks can be accomplished in various ways. For example, patient care devices 202 and internal healthcare network 236 can communicate via automatic interaction, manual interaction, or a combination of both. Automatic interaction can be continuous or intermittent, and can be accomplished via direct network connection 220 (e.g., Figure 2 ), or via an RS232 link, a MIB system, an RF link (such as BLUETOOTH), an IR link, WLAN, a digital cable system, a telephone modem, or other wired or wireless communication means.

[0049] Manual interaction between the patient care device 202 and the internal healthcare network 236 involves physically transferring data between the systems intermittently or periodically using, for example, a user interface device 230, a coded data input device 232, a bar code, a computer disk, a portable data assistant, a memory card, or any other medium for storing data. The communication means in all aspects are bidirectional, and data can be accessed from as many points of distributed data sources as possible. Decision making can occur in a variety of places within the internal healthcare network 236. For example, and not by way of limitation, decisions can be made in an information system server 242, a decision support, remote data server, a hospital department or unit station, or within the patient care device 202 itself.

[0050] Figure 3 An example syringe pump module 302 (eg, Figure 1 In the depicted embodiment, the example infusion system 300 includes a syringe pump module 302, which may include a drive train subsystem. For clarity of illustration, the syringe 304 is shown next to the pump, rather than installed in the pump. The syringe pump module 302 includes a bracket 306, in which the barrel 308 of the syringe 304 can rest when installed in the syringe pump module 302. The bracket 306 can include a clamp 310 to securely hold the barrel 308 in a fixed position in the bracket 306 to resist axial and lateral movement.

[0051] The clamp 310 can be pivoted so that it can be moved to an open position to allow loading or removal of the syringe 304, and a closed position in which it extends over the bracket 306 to retain the installed barrel 308. The barrel flange 312 of the syringe 304 can be seated in the barrel flange groove 314 in the syringe pump module 302 to secure the barrel 308 from axial movement during movement of the plunger 316 within the barrel 308.

[0052] In the example infusion system 300, the syringe 304 includes a barrel 308 and a plunger 316. The plunger 316 includes a button 318 having an inner side 320 and interconnected with a stopper 322 of the plunger 316 through a piston 340. The plunger 316 can include a stopper 322 to engage an inner wall of the barrel 308 to prevent fluid from leaking past the stopper 322 (e.g., by creating a seal between the stopper 322 and the inner wall of the barrel 308).

[0053] The drive head 324 of the syringe pump module 302 may be connected to a screw drive mechanism including a motor for coupling the linear motion of the screw drive mechanism to the plunger 316 for evacuating the contents of the syringe 304 and administering to a patient via an administration set 344. The flow rate of the syringe pump module 302 may be controlled by the syringe pump module 302 based on programmed parameters (e.g., requested flow rate, type of syringe).

[0054] When installed in the syringe pump module 302, the button 318 can be retained by the drive head 324 with a plunger retainer, which includes a pair of pivotally mounted claws, a first retainer claw 326 and a second retainer claw 328, Figure 3 The retainer claws 326 and 328 can be bent inwardly toward each other to grasp the button 318 when the syringe 304 is installed in the syringe pump module 302.

[0055] The rotation knob 330 can be used to control the position of the first and second retainer claws 326 and 328 to allow removal and insertion of the button 318, and to release the split nut from the drive shaft to allow axial positioning of the drive head 324. In addition, the syringe 304 can be provided for use with the syringe pump module 302 with different amounts of fluid, so that the plunger 316 of the syringe 304 can be located at different positions relative to the barrel 308.

[0056] The drive head 324 can be manually adjustable to accommodate syringes with different starting plunger positions. A syringe inserted into the bracket 306 can be aligned with the drive head 324 within a specific axial range. The point at which the axial centerline of the syringe intersects the driver can vary depending on the size of the syringe, but only in one direction along the drive head 324. The guide device 332 can extend from the drive head 324 to a point within the body of the syringe pump module 302.

[0057] The syringe pump module 302 may include a control panel 334 providing a plurality of buttons 336 for controlling the syringe pump module 302 and a display 338 for presenting pump-specific information to an operator. The buttons 336 may allow an operator to program the syringe pump module 302 for flow rate, volume to be infused, and / or other parameters. The display 338 may present the programmed flow rate, the amount of fluid remaining to be infused, as well as alarms and other information.

[0058] Figure 4A-4CAn example stand-alone syringe pump 400 is depicted, along with example positions 422A and 422B for receiving a syringe 402 therefrom, in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. Although the example syringe pump 400 is shown as a stand-alone device, the syringe pump 400 can be configured as a functional module of a modular infusion system, such as a patient care device (e.g., Figure 1 An injection module (e.g., Figure 1 Syringe pump 132 or Figure 3 injection pump module 302).

[0059] As described above, friction between the plunger and barrel of a syringe can cause false positive occlusion alarms, as well as inconsistent flow rates, particularly when detection of the occlusion alarm is based on force measured at the drive head. However, determining the amount of friction between the plunger and barrel of a syringe can be difficult because syringe stops (see, e.g., Figure 3 The stopper 322 is typically made of a material such as rubber, which may have varying amounts of viscoelasticity (e.g., as also affected by the fluid in the syringe).

[0060] According to various embodiments, friction can be accurately estimated based on one or more factors, including the distance that the plunger travels within the barrel. As used herein, "distance" or "syringe travel" (or "drive head travel") refers to the amount of distance (e.g., in cm or mm) between the starting position of the syringe plunger (or drive head) and the current position of the syringe plunger (or drive head) at the beginning of an infusion therapy or after pausing an infusion therapy and allowing the syringe pump to rest. This is discussed below with respect to Figure 4B and Figure 4C are discussed in more detail.

[0061] First from Figure 4A Start, similar to Figure 3 In the embodiment of the present invention, when the syringe 402 is loaded into the syringe pump 400, the plunger flange 404 at the end of the syringe plunger 406 is held in or against the drive head 408 by the flange clamp 410. The syringe barrel 412 is fixed by the barrel clamp 414. The drive head 408 includes a pushing surface, and when the drive head 408 moves toward the syringe barrel 412, the plunger flange 404 will be against the pushing surface, thereby pushing the syringe plunger 406 into the fixed syringe barrel 412 to discharge the contents of the syringe 402 through the drug delivery device 416 and into the patient's body.

[0062] and Figure 3Like the drive head 324 of the syringe pump 400, the drive head 408 can be connected to a screw drive mechanism including a motor for coupling the linear motion of the screw drive mechanism to the syringe plunger 406 to empty the syringe 402. The flow rate of the syringe pump 400 can be controlled by the syringe pump 400 based on programmed parameters (e.g., requested flow rate, type of syringe).

[0063] Typically, a syringe pump does not experience upstream pressure conditions because the fluid to be infused is contained in the syringe barrel 412 and is pushed into the drug delivery device 416 through the syringe plunger 406. Therefore, in some embodiments, the syringe pump 400 does not include an upstream pressure sensor. On the other hand, a syringe pump more often experiences downstream pressure conditions. Therefore, in some embodiments, the syringe pump 400 includes a force sensor (not shown) for detecting the downstream pressure. In some embodiments, the force sensor measures the force applied to the syringe plunger 406 by the drive head 408 of the syringe pump.

[0064] In some embodiments, the syringe pump 400 includes a high-resolution force sensor that interfaces with a pressure disc on the drug delivery device 416. The pressure disc provides a relatively large area of ​​contact with the pressure sensor. This allows the sensor to measure the pressure within the drug delivery device 416 more directly (e.g., rather than through the head of the syringe plunger 406) and with higher resolution and higher accuracy than a force sensor located at the drive head 408. The measurements from the high-resolution force sensor and the measurements from the drive head force sensor can be used independently or in conjunction with each other to detect an empty condition in the syringe pump 400.

[0065] In addition to various buttons or switches that an operator can use to activate and program the syringe pump 400, there is a display screen 418. The display screen 418 can be a liquid-crystal display (LCD) having a small number of segments, such as seven segments configured in a figure-of-eight configuration per character, suitable for displaying a small number of alphanumeric characters.

[0066] In addition, the display 418 can be monochrome. For example, it may only display red, green, or black characters. Alternatively, the display 418 can be a more complex LCD capable of displaying more characters and / or more complex characters. The LCD can be backlit, for example, using light emitting diodes (LEDs). In some embodiments, the infusion pump can include a thin-film transistor (TFT) LCD. In some embodiments, the display 418 is a touch screen, such as a capacitive touch screen.

[0067] When programming the syringe pump 400, the user can input the type of syringe 402 being used. The syringe pump 400 can store a database of known syringe types containing information such as syringe diameter and / or stroke in internal memory. In this way, the infusion pump firmware can calculate the position of the syringe plunger 406 based on the movement of the drive head 408 and the type and size of the syringe 402. This may allow the machine to display the volume infused, the time elapsed, the remaining volume, and / or the remaining time. As the infusion continues and the drive head moves, these calculations can be updated, and the information displayed at the display 418 can change.

[0068] The syringe pump 400 may include an input interface having controls operable to enter, increase and / or decrease pumping parameters (e.g., flow rate or volume to be infused). As depicted, in some embodiments, the input keys 420A-C are physically present on the device. However, in some embodiments, the input keys are graphically displayed on the display 418 (e.g., a touch screen display).

[0069] In some embodiments, the syringe pump 400 can be configured to identify (e.g., using a sensor) a disposable container loaded by the device. For example, the syringe pump 400 can perform electromechanical measurements on the loaded syringe to identify certain features about the loaded container. In addition, in some embodiments, the syringe pump 400 is configured to detect the size (e.g., diameter) of the syringe 402 inserted into the syringe pump 400. For example, the syringe pump 400 may include a sensor that measures the size of the syringe 402 (e.g., whether it is a 6mL, 10mL, or 50mL syringe) based on the degree to which the syringe is being held or based on the position of the barrel clamp 414. For example, based on the measurement performed by the sensor, the syringe pump can determine a list of possible candidate syringes. The device can then request confirmation via a display whether the container is in the list. During the infusion, the volume and / or flow rate of the infusion can be calculated based on the type of syringe 402 (e.g., based on the size of the syringe barrel 412).

[0070] Now go to Figure 4B and Figure 4C , these two figures illustrate syringe travel - a key factor in determining the amount of friction between the plunger 406 and the barrel 412 of the syringe 402. Figure 4B , plunger 406 is shown in its initial starting position (e.g., at the beginning of an infusion therapy) before being driven further into barrel 412. The starting position of plunger 406 is labeled as position 422A. Figure 4CIn the embodiment, the drive head 408 has pushed the plunger 406 forward into the barrel 412 so that the plunger 406 is now in position 422B. In this way, the syringe stroke is indicated by the bracket spanning distance 424 from position 422A to position 422B (e.g., the starting position and current position of the plunger, respectively).

[0071] In some embodiments, the syringe pump 400 is configured to detect thrust by recording a starting position of the drive head 408 and determining a current position of the drive head 408 based on the operating speed of the syringe pump (e.g., corresponding to the speed at which the drive head and plunger travel) and the amount of time the syringe pump has been operating.

[0072] Figure 5 Depicted are the actions of various aspects of the subject technology on a drive head 504 (e.g., Figure 3 Drive head 324 or Figure 4A-4C The drive head 408) and the syringe 506 (e.g., Figure 3 Syringe 304 or Figure 4A-4C Example forces 501-503 on a syringe 402 of FIG. 501. A first force 501 is a force generated by a drive head 504 pressing against a plunger 508 of a syringe 506 (e.g., Figure 3 Plunger 316 or Figure 4A-4C When the drive head 504 is pressed on the plunger 508, the plunger 508 travels to the barrel 510 (e.g., Figure 3 Cylinder 308 or Figure 4A-4C The syringe 506 is filled with fluid 512 and presses the fluid 512 out of the syringe 506 and into the patient. This results in a second force 502: the force of the fluid 512 on the plunger 508. As discussed further below, the second force 502 can contribute to the first force 501.

[0073] The syringe pump can approximate the syringe pressure based on the assumption that the first force 501 and the second force 502 are approximately equal. Figure 5 As shown, a third force 503 can act on the plunger and prevent the entire first force 501 from being converted into the second force 502. The third force 503 is caused by the friction between the plunger 508 and the barrel 510. Due to the elastic-viscous nature of many plunger stops, the third force 503 can be based on the position of the plunger 508 relative to its starting position (e.g., syringe stroke, see Figure 4C The distance 424) and the speed of the plunger 508 (e.g., corresponding to the programmed flow rate of the syringe pump and the associated operating speed of the drive head 504) vary. This relationship between the three forces 501-503 can be expressed mathematically as follows:

[0074] F=P*A+D

[0075] In this formula, F is the first force 501, the force of the plunger 508 against the drive head 504. Next, P*A is the second force 502, the force of the fluid 512 against the syringe 506, divided into component parts P and A, representing the pressure in the barrel 510 (P) and the surface area of ​​the bottom of the plunger 508 (A), respectively. Finally, D is the third force 503, the friction force between the plunger 508 and the barrel 510 - resisting the free movement of the plunger 508 relative to the barrel 510. Subtracting the third force 503 (D) from the first force 501 (F) yields the second force 502 (P*A). And dividing the result by the surface area of ​​the bottom of the plunger 508 (A) yields the amount of pressure in the syringe (P), as follows:

[0076]

[0077] The amount of pressure (P) in the syringe 506 can then be used to determine if there is an occlusion in or downstream of the syringe. For example, if the amount exceeds a pressure threshold, there may be an occlusion.

[0078] if[ Then alarm, stop, etc.]

[0079] In some embodiments, a machine learning (ML) model is used to estimate the amount of friction between the plunger 508 and the barrel 510. The machine learning model can be trained, for example, using training data on the amount of friction measured at different degrees of syringe push strokes for various syringes at different flow rates. In some embodiments, the degree of syringe push stroke, the programmed flow rate (or corresponding operating speed) or the quality of the syringe (e.g., syringe capacity, syringe diameter, syringe manufacturer and / or syringe model) can be controlled so that the ML model is trained only with data for a specific push stroke degree, a specific flow rate and / or a specific syringe quality. For example, one ML model can be trained using data collected using only a syringe with a capacity of 50 ml. Another ML model can be trained using data collected using only syringes from a specific manufacturer.

[0080] In some embodiments, estimating the amount of friction between the plunger 508 and the barrel 510 includes providing parameters (e.g., syringe push and / or programmed flow rate) to the ML model, and then receiving the estimated amount of friction from the ML model. In some embodiments, the ML model can be trained so that it only needs to receive a single parameter (e.g., syringe push or programmed flow rate) in order to provide the estimated amount of friction between the plunger 508 and the barrel 510. In some instances, the computational intensity of the single-input model may be lower than that of the multi-input model. Therefore, a syringe pump with lower computational power can be limited to using a single-input model.

[0081] As an example, a multi-input ML model can be represented in the following form:

[0082]

[0083] Where F is the estimated amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel, w is the training weight for the corresponding input generated by the ML model, and x is the input to the ML model (e.g., the programmed flow rate or syringe stroke). Similarly, a single-input ML model can be represented as:

[0084] F=β0+β1Q+…+β n Q n

[0085] Where F is, for example, the estimated average amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel over all portions of the stroke, β represents a set of training values, and Q represents a set of input values ​​such as flow rate, syringe stroke, and the like. In some embodiments, the ML model may require iterative feature selection in order to optimize accuracy while avoiding overfitting. As yet another example, the third, optimized model may be represented as follows:

[0086] D~β0+β1E+β2Q+β3EQ+β4E 2 +β5E 2 Q+β6E 3 +β7E 4 +β8E 5 Where D is the resistance (e.g., expected friction), β represents a set of trained weight coefficients, E is the syringe stroke, and Q is the flow rate. Machine learning, such as regression modeling, can identify the optimal set of features, such as stroke and flow rate, and the corresponding weights. The optimal set can be those values ​​and inputs that provide resistance that most closely matches the observed resistance in an actual syringe.

[0087] In some embodiments, the syringe pump can be configured to select a specialized ML model, such as one of the aforementioned ML models trained using selective training data (e.g., to control one aspect of the syringe). For example, the syringe pump can be configured to detect or receive an identifier of the syringe. Then, based on the syringe identifier, the syringe pump can determine the quality of the syringe - such as the diameter of the syringe (e.g., inner diameter or outer diameter), the capacity of the syringe, the manufacturer of the syringe, or the model of the syringe. Based on the determined syringe quality, the syringe pump can then select an ML model from a plurality of ML models (e.g., stored on the syringe pump), wherein the training data used to train the ML model is controlled for the aforementioned syringe quality. In addition, in some embodiments, the syringe pump is configured to report the syringe quality to a database. For example, these data can be used to determine which syringe qualities are most common and further improve and train the ML model accordingly.

[0088] As an example, upon determining that a syringe has an inner diameter of 75 mm, the syringe pump may select a dedicated ML model trained using data only from syringes with an inner diameter of 75 mm. In some embodiments, if the syringe pump cannot locate such an ML model, the syringe pump may search for other ML models trained using the closest fitting data and / or other controlled data corresponding to other qualities of the syringes in the syringe pump (e.g., having the same syringe capacity, manufactured by the same company as the syringe).

[0089] Additionally, in some embodiments, training data provided to the ML model is collected without the use of a syringe pump (e.g., using a materials tester). In this way, the ML model can be trained to be pump independent (e.g., able to provide an estimated amount of friction for a syringe regardless of the syringe pump into which the syringe is loaded). In some embodiments, a materials tester is used to collect training data for the ML model because the materials tester can be able to more accurately drive the plunger and more accurately measure the amount of friction experienced by the plunger. For example, the materials tester can be configured to apply a force to the plunger and / or detect the amount of force applied by the plunger to the fluid within the syringe, and provide a measurement indexed by the syringe stroke. Additionally, in some embodiments, the ML model includes a regression model that includes at least one trained weighting coefficient for a detected stroke or a programmed flow rate.

[0090] Note that a multidimensional database or lookup table can be used as an alternative or in addition to the ML model. The same parameters can be used as inputs (e.g., as indices) to the database or lookup table as those discussed above with respect to the ML model (e.g., syringe stroke, flow rate). Likewise, the same outputs (e.g., friction between the plunger and barrel) can be obtained from the database or lookup table.

[0091] Figure 6 is an example line graph 600 including a friction estimation curve 602 in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. As depicted, a syringe (e.g., Figure 3 Syringe 304, Figure 4A-4C Syringe 402 or Figure 5 The plunger of the syringe 506 (e.g., Figure 3 Plunger 316, Figure 4A-4C Syringe plunger 406 or Figure 5 The plunger 508) and the barrel (eg, Figure 3 The cylinder 308, Figure 4A-4C Syringe barrel 412 or Figure 5 The amount of friction 606 between the barrel 510) can vary with the amount of friction caused by the syringe pump (e.g., Figure 1 Syringe pump 132, Figure 3The syringe pump module 302 or Figure 4A-4C The infusion treatment process performed by the infusion pump 400 of the embodiment of the present invention may vary. The curve 602 depicted may represent the real-time infusion status.

[0092] As about Figure 5 As discussed, the amount of friction 602 (see Figure 5 The force 503) can result in the amount of force between the plunger and the drive head (see Figure 5 The force 501) is different from the amount of force between the plunger and the fluid in the syringe (see Figure 5 force 502).

[0093] Such differences may result in false occlusion alarms and unexpected changes in the flow rate of a syringe pump. For example, if the amount of force detected at the drive head is high due to friction, the infusion pump may incorrectly assume that the pressure in the syringe is also high and trigger an occlusion alarm - when in fact the syringe pressure is not high and no occlusion exists. Similarly, changes in friction between the plunger and the barrel may translate into unexpected changes in the flow rate of a syringe pump. For example, high friction may slow the flow rate of a syringe pump. And changes in friction may disrupt flow rate continuity. Therefore, to avoid inappropriate occlusion alarms and maintain flow continuity, in some embodiments, the syringe pump is configured to adjust (e.g., based on the estimated amount of friction) its own operations, such as occlusion detection operations or its drive head (e.g., Figure 3 Drive head 324, Figure 4A-4C Drive head 408 or Figure 5 The operating speed of the drive head 504) is adjusted to account for the friction between the plunger and barrel of the syringe.

[0094] Adjustments to a given parameter can be made in response to various aspects of the estimated amount of friction 602. In some embodiments, adjustments can be made based on the difference between friction estimates made at two different times. For example, if the friction estimate is greater than an earlier estimate (see bracket 604), the syringe pump can increase the pressure threshold for occlusion detection. This can prevent the occlusion alarm from being triggered prematurely. As another example, if the friction estimate is less than an earlier estimate (see bracket 606), the syringe pump can reduce the operating speed of the drive head motor. This can cause the syringe pump to operate at a flow rate that is closer to the programmed flow rate, and can also avoid unexpected changes in the syringe pump flow rate.

[0095] When making these adjustments, the extent of the adjustment can be based on the difference between the two friction estimates. For example, the difference between the friction estimates associated with bracket 604 is less than the difference between the estimates associated with bracket 606. Thus, the syringe pump can make a more significant adjustment (e.g., to the occlusion threshold or operating speed) in response to the estimate associated with the second bracket 606. In either instance, if the syringe pump determines that the difference between the two friction estimates is negligible, the syringe pump may not make any adjustments to its operation. In addition, the extent of the adjustment can also or alternatively be based on providing parameters (e.g., one or more friction estimates) to the ML model.

[0096] Additionally, in some embodiments, syringe pump adjustments can be made based on the slope of the friction curve 602. For example, if the slope is negative (see tangential arrow 608), the syringe pump can lower the pressure threshold used in occlusion detection. As another example, if the slope of the friction curve 602 is positive (see tangential arrow 610), the syringe pump can increase the operating speed of the drive head motor. As with the adjustments discussed above with respect to brackets 604 and 606, the extent of the adjustment made by the syringe pump can be based on the magnitude of the slope of the friction curve 602 - rather than simply considering whether the slope is positive or negative.

[0097] Figure 7 An example process 700 for improving occlusion detection or flow continuity of a syringe pump in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology is depicted. For purposes of explanation, the present disclosure refers to Figure 1-Figure 6 Blocks of an example process 700 are described, including components and / or processes described therein. One or more of the blocks of process 700 may be implemented by one or more of the computing devices described herein, such as Figure 1 Infusion device 100, Figure 2 Patient care equipment 202, Figure 3 The syringe pump module 302 of FIG. 4 and / or the syringe pump 400 of FIG. 4 .

[0098] In some embodiments, one or more of the blocks may be implemented based on one or more ML algorithms. In some embodiments, one or more of the blocks may be implemented separately from other blocks and implemented by one or more different processors or devices. In addition, for the purpose of explanation, the blocks of process 700 are described as occurring serially or linearly. However, multiple blocks of process 700 may occur in parallel. In addition, the blocks of process 700 do not need to be executed in the order shown, and one or more of the blocks of process 700 do not need to be executed.

[0099] In the depicted example, a processor (e.g., Figure 2 The CPU 218 receives a syringe pump (e.g., Figure 1 Infusion device 100, Figure 2 Patient care equipment 202, Figure 3 4 ). The programmed flow rate (702) may be received prior to initiating an infusion therapy via the syringe pump. However, the programmed flow rate may also be received in the middle of an infusion therapy (e.g., titration programming). Additionally, the programmed flow rate may correspond to the operating speed of a drive head or motor or other element for advancing a syringe plunger.

[0100] The processor also detects the syringe pump container (e.g. Figure 3 The syringe includes a plunger (e.g., Figure 3 Plunger 316, Figure 4A-4C Syringe plunger 406 or Figure 5 The plunger 508) and the barrel (eg, Figure 3 The cylinder 308, Figure 4A-4C Syringe barrel 412 or Figure 5 As described above with respect to Figure 4C The aforementioned (see Figure 4C The processor may detect the syringe travel based on the programmed flow rate (e.g., and the corresponding motor speed or drive head speed) and the amount of time the infusion therapy administered by the syringe pump has been running. Alternatively or additionally, the processor may detect the syringe travel based on a travel sensor (e.g., an optical sensor) attached to the syringe pump and configured to locate the position of the drive head or the position of the syringe (e.g., the flange of the plunger).

[0101] Additionally, the processor estimates (e.g., based on the programmed flow rate and the detected displacement) the amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel (706). Figure 5 As discussed, in some embodiments, estimating the amount of friction includes providing parameters (e.g., programmed flow rates or detected thrusts) to a model (e.g., an ML model) and obtaining the estimated amount of friction from the model. The model can be trained using training data about the corresponding amount of friction at corresponding thrusts for a plurality of syringes operating at a plurality of flow rates. Furthermore, in some embodiments, estimating the amount of friction includes indexing into a lookup table (e.g., a multidimensional database) and obtaining an estimated value from the lookup table.

[0102] In some embodiments, the processor receives an identifier of the syringe. Based on the syringe identifier, the processor then determines the mass of the syringe. For example, the syringe mass may include the diameter (e.g., inner diameter) of the syringe, the capacity of the syringe, the manufacturer of the syringe, or the model of the syringe. After determining the mass of the syringe, the processor selects an ML model from a plurality of ML models. The selected ML model may be a specialized ML model, for example, trained using data collected from syringes that each have the same mass as the syringe mass. For example, if the syringes in the syringe pump have a capacity of 50 milliliters, the selected ML model may only be trained using data from syringes that each have a capacity of 50 milliliters. Once the process selects the ML model, the processor then provides parameters to the ML model and receives an estimated friction from the ML model.

[0103] In some embodiments, the training data used to train the ML model is collected using a materials tester, and not using a syringe pump. As described above, a materials tester may be able to produce more accurate test data than a syringe pump. In addition, using a materials tester to collect training data means that the resulting ML model is pump-agnostic and can be used for a variety of syringe pumps, not just a specific type or brand of syringe pump.

[0104] In some embodiments, the amount of friction between the estimated plunger and the barrel is also based on the quality of the syringe. For example, the syringe quality can be the diameter of the syringe, the capacity of the syringe, the manufacturer of the syringe, or the model of the syringe. In this regard, the model can be trained with various quality parameters, and the quality parameters of the syringe in the current infusion can be used (for example, together with other parameters) to obtain the amount of estimated friction. Therefore, the processor can be configured to detect the diameter of the syringe via the diameter sensor of the syringe pump (or detect another syringe quality via another sensor configured to detect the quality of another syringe). Alternatively or additionally, the processor can be configured to receive the identifier of the syringe and determine the syringe quality based on the syringe identifier.

[0105] Additionally, the processor adjusts (e.g., based on the estimated amount of friction) the operation of the syringe pump (708). In some embodiments, the adjustment includes adjusting an occlusion detection operation of the syringe pump (708A). In some embodiments, the processor adjusts a drive head of the syringe pump (e.g., Figure 3 Drive head 324, Figure 4A-4C Drive head 408 or Figure 5 The operating speed (708B) of the drive head 504).

[0106] In some embodiments, the syringe pump includes an occlusion alarm and a force sensor attached to the drive head and configured to detect the amount of force applied to the drive head by the plunger. Therefore, adjusting the occlusion detection operation of the syringe pump may include measuring the amount of force applied to the drive head by the plunger via the force sensor. Adjusting the occlusion detection operation may also include determining the amount of pressure in the syringe based on the difference between the estimated amount of friction and the measured amount of force. In addition, adjusting the occlusion detection operation may include determining that the amount of pressure meets a pressure threshold, and triggering the occlusion alarm in response to determining that the amount of pressure in the syringe meets the pressure threshold.

[0107] In some embodiments, the syringe pump includes an occlusion alarm that is configured to trigger when the amount of pressure in the syringe meets a pressure threshold (e.g., 525 mmHg, 12 psi, etc.). Thus, the occlusion detection operation of the syringe pump can include adjusting the pressure threshold based on the estimated amount of friction. In this way, the processor can prevent the occlusion alarm from incorrectly triggering based on an unadjusted pressure threshold. For example, the threshold adjustment can be based on the difference between two estimated amounts of friction (e.g., at two different times) (see Figure 6 604 and 606, indicating the difference between the corresponding friction estimates). As another example, the processor may periodically estimate the friction between the plunger and the barrel, and the adjustment may be based on the slope of a curve including the friction estimate (see Figure 6 The tangential arrows 608 and 610 represent the slope of the friction curve 602).

[0108] In some embodiments, the operating speed of the drive head is adjusted also based on the slope of the estimated friction amount. Therefore, adjusting the operating speed can include increasing or decreasing the operating speed in response to determining that the slope of the estimated friction amount is respectively positive or negative. The degree to which the operating speed is adjusted can be based on the magnitude of the slope. In addition, the processor can be configured to periodically detect the push stroke of the syringe, periodically estimate the amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel (e.g., based on the programmed flow rate and / or the detected push stroke), and determine the slope of the estimated amount of friction based on the amount of periodically estimated friction. Alternatively or additionally, the processor can adjust the operating speed based on the difference between two different friction estimates, as discussed above with respect to the pressure threshold adjustment.

[0109] In some embodiments, the occlusion detection operation of the adjustment syringe pump or the operating speed of the drive head are also based on the viscosity of the fluid contained in the syringe. For example, the fluid viscosity can determine the amount of the pressure required for the fluid pump out of the syringe at the flow rate of programming. It is therefore necessary to adjust the pressure threshold or operating speed to avoid incorrect occlusion alarms and / or to ensure flow rate accuracy. Therefore, the processor can be configured to receive the indicator of the type of fluid, and determines the viscosity of the fluid based on the fluid type indicator.

[0110] Figure 8 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example electronic system 800 for improving occlusion detection or flow continuity of a syringe pump according to various aspects of the subject technology. The electronic system 800 may be implemented by a computing device for executing a program associated with Figure 7 The part or step of process 700 is or is composed of Figure 1-Figure 6 The components and methods provided herein may include software associated with the components and methods. In this regard, the electronic system 800 may include Figure 1 Infusion device 100, Figure 2 Patient care equipment 202, Figure 3 The syringe pump module 302 of FIG. 4 and / or the syringe pump 400 of FIG. 4 .

[0111] The electronic system 800 may also include a specially configured personal computer or mobile device for infusion, such as a smart phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, PDA, augmented reality device, wearable device (such as a watch or band or glasses), or a combination thereof, or other touch screen or television having one or more processors embedded therein or coupled thereto, or any other type of computer-related electronic device with a network connection.

[0112] In addition, the electronic system 800 may include various types of computer-readable media and interfaces for various other types of computer-readable media. In the depicted example, the electronic system 800 includes a bus 808, one or more processing units 812, a system memory 804, a read-only memory (ROM) 810, a permanent storage device 802, one or more input device interfaces 814, one or more output device interfaces 806, and one or more network interfaces 816. In some embodiments, the electronic system 800 may include or be integrated with other computing devices or circuits for operating the various components and methods described previously.

[0113] The bus 808 collectively represents a system, peripheral, and chipset bus that communicatively connects the numerous internal devices of the electronic system 800. For example, the bus 808 communicatively connects the one or more processing units 812 with the ROM 810, the system memory 804, and the permanent storage device 802. From these various memory units, the one or more processing units 812 retrieve instructions to be executed and data to be processed in order to perform the processes disclosed in the present subject matter. In different implementations, the one or more processing units 812 can be a single processor or a multi-core processor.

[0114] ROM 810 stores static data and instructions required by one or more processing units 812 and other modules of the electronic system. On the other hand, permanent storage device 802 is a read-and-write memory device. This device is a non-volatile memory unit that stores instructions and data even when the electronic system 800 is powered off. Some embodiments of the subject disclosure use a mass storage device (such as a magnetic or optical disk and its corresponding magnetic disk drive) as permanent storage device 802. Other embodiments use a removable storage device (such as a floppy disk, a flash drive and its corresponding magnetic disk drive) as permanent storage device 802.

[0115] Like permanent storage 802, system memory 804 is a read-and-write memory device. However, unlike storage 802, system memory 804 is a volatile read-and-write memory, such as random access memory (RAM). System memory 804 stores some instructions and data that the processor needs at run time. In some embodiments, the processes disclosed in the subject matter are stored in system memory 804, permanent storage 802, and / or ROM 810. From these various memory units, one or more processing units 812 retrieve instructions to execute and data to process in order to perform the processes of some embodiments.

[0116] The bus 808 is also connected to one or more input device interfaces 814 and one or more output device interfaces 806. The one or more input device interfaces 814 enable a user to convey information to the electronic system and select commands. Input devices used with the one or more input device interfaces 814 include, for example, an alphanumeric keyboard and a pointing device (also referred to as a "cursor control device"). The one or more output device interfaces 806 enable, for example, the display of images generated by the electronic system 800. Output devices used with the one or more output device interfaces 806 include, for example, a printer and a display device, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display (LCD). Some embodiments include devices that function as both input devices and output devices (e.g., a touch screen).

[0117] In addition, bus 808 also couples electronic system 800 to a network (not shown) via one or more network interfaces 816. One or more network interfaces 816 may include, for example, a wireless access point (e.g., Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) or a radio circuit for connecting to a wireless access point. One or more network interfaces 816 may also include hardware (e.g., Ethernet hardware) for connecting a computer to a portion of a computer network, such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless LAN, an intranet, or one of a plurality of networks, such as the Internet. When specifically configured with one or more of the described features, the components of electronic system 800 may be used in conjunction with the subject disclosure.

[0118] The above functions can be implemented in computer software, firmware or hardware. These techniques can be implemented using one or more computer program products. Programmable processors and computers can be included in mobile devices or packaged as mobile devices. Processes and logic flows can be performed by one or more programmable processors and by programmable logic circuits. General and special computing devices and storage devices can be interconnected through communication networks.

[0119] Some embodiments include electronic components, such as microprocessors, storage devices, and memories, which store computer program instructions in machine-readable or computer-readable media (also referred to as computer-readable storage media, machine-readable media, or machine-readable storage media). Some examples of such computer-readable media include RAM, ROM, read-only compact discs (CD-ROM), recordable compact discs (CD-R), rewritable compact discs (CD-RW), read-only digital versatile discs (e.g., DVD-ROM, dual-layer DVD-ROM), various recordable / rewritable DVDs (e.g., DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, etc.), flash memory (e.g., SD card, mini SD card, micro SD card, etc.), magnetic and / or solid-state hard drives, read-only and recordable CD-ROMs, ultra-density CD-ROMs, other optical or magnetic media, and floppy disks. Computer-readable media can store a computer program executable by at least one processing unit and include sets of instructions for performing various operations. Examples of computer programs or computer code include machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files including higher-level code that is executed by a computer, electronic component, or microprocessor using an interpreter.

[0120] Although the above discussion primarily involves microprocessors or multi-core processors executing software, some implementations are performed by one or more integrated circuits, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). In some implementations, such integrated circuits execute instructions stored on the circuits themselves.

[0121] As used in this specification and any claims of this application, the terms "computer," "server," "processor," and "memory" refer to electronic or other technical devices that are specifically configured with one or more of the above features. These terms do not include people or groups of people. For the purposes of this specification, the terms display or displaying means displaying on an electronic device. As used in this specification and any claims of this application, the terms "computer-readable medium" and "multiple computer-readable media" are entirely limited to tangible, physical objects that store information in a form readable by a computer. These terms do not include any wireless signals, wired download signals, and any other transient signals.

[0122] In order to provide interaction with the user, the embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented on a computer having a display device for displaying information to the user, such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, and a keyboard and pointing device, such as a mouse or trackball, through which the user can provide input to the computer. Other types of devices can also be used to provide interaction with the user. For example, the feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, tactile feedback), and the input from the user can be received in the form of acoustic, voice, gesture or tactile input. In addition, the computer can interact with the user by sending a document to and receiving a document from the device used by the user (e.g., by sending a web page to a web browser on a user's client device in response to a request received from a web browser).

[0123] Implementations of the subject matter described in this specification may be implemented in a specifically configured computing system that includes a back-end component (e.g., a data server), or includes a specifically configured middleware component (e.g., an application server), or includes a specifically configured front-end component (e.g., a client computer with a graphical user interface or a web browser through which a user can interact with implementations of the subject matter described in this specification), or any combination of one or more such back-end, middleware, or front-end components. The components of the system may be interconnected by one or more forms or media of digital data communication, such as a communication network. Examples of communication networks include LANs and WANs, interconnections (e.g., the Internet), and peer-to-peer networks (e.g., ad hoc peer-to-peer networks).

[0124] The computing system may include a specially configured client and server. The client and server are usually remote from each other and may interact via a communication network. The relationship between the client and the server is generated by computer programs running on respective computers and having a client-server relationship with each other. In some embodiments, the server transmits data (e.g., an HTML page) to a client device (e.g., for the purpose of displaying data to a user interacting with the client device and receiving user input from the user). Data generated at the client device (e.g., the result of a user interaction) may be received from the client device at the server.

[0125] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various illustrative blocks, modules, elements, assemblies, methods and algorithms described herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software or their combination. In order to illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative blocks, modules, elements, assemblies, methods and algorithms are generally described above with regard to their functions. Whether this function is implemented as hardware or software depends on specific application and the design constraints imposed on the whole system. The described function can be implemented in different ways for each specific application. Various components and blocks can be arranged differently (for example, arranged in different orders, or partitioned in different ways), all of which do not depart from the scope of this subject technology.

[0126] It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the disclosed process is an illustration of an example method. Based on design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the process can be rearranged. Some steps can be performed simultaneously. The attached method claims present elements of the various steps in an example order and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

[0127] The subject technology as a description of the terms:

[0128] For convenience, various examples of aspects of the present disclosure are described as numbered clauses (1, 2, 3, etc.). These are provided as examples and do not limit the subject technology. The identification of the figures and reference numbers is provided below only as an example and for the purpose of illustration, and the clauses are not limited by those identifications.

[0129] Item 1. An injection pump comprising: a container for accommodating a syringe, the syringe comprising a plunger and a barrel; a drive head for advancing the plunger within the barrel; and a processor configured to: receive a programmed flow rate; detect a stroke of the syringe, the stroke comprising a distance between a starting position of the plunger within the barrel and a current position of the plunger within the barrel; estimate an amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and the detected stroke; and adjust (i) an occlusion detection operation of the injection pump or (ii) an operating speed of the drive head based on the estimated amount of friction.

[0130] Clause 2. The injection pump according to clause 1 further includes: an occlusion alarm; and a force sensor attached to the drive head and configured to detect the amount of force applied to the drive head by the plunger; wherein adjusting the occlusion detection operation of the injection pump includes: measuring the amount of force applied to the drive head by the plunger via the force sensor; determining the amount of pressure in the syringe based on the difference between the estimated amount of friction and the measured amount of force; determining that the amount of pressure satisfies a pressure threshold; and triggering the occlusion alarm in response to determining that the amount of pressure in the syringe satisfies the pressure threshold.

[0131] Item 3. The injection pump according to Item 1 or Item 2 further includes an occlusion alarm configured to be triggered when the amount of pressure in the syringe meets a pressure threshold, wherein adjusting the occlusion detection operation of the injection pump includes adjusting the pressure threshold based on the estimated amount of friction.

[0132] Item 4. An injection pump according to Item 3, wherein: the estimated amount of friction includes an estimated amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel at a first time; the processor is also configured to (i) detect another stroke of the syringe, the other stroke including the distance between the starting position of the plunger in the barrel and the position of the plunger in the barrel at a second time after the first time, and (ii) estimate another amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and another detected stroke; and adjust the pressure threshold based on the difference between the estimated amount of friction and another estimated amount of friction.

[0133] Clause 5. An injection pump according to any one of clauses 1 to 4, wherein adjusting the operating speed of the drive head is also based on the slope of the estimated amount of friction, and includes: increasing the operating speed in response to determining that the slope of the estimated amount of friction is positive, or decreasing the operating speed in response to determining that the slope of the estimated amount of friction is negative; wherein the processor is also configured to (i) periodically detect the thrust of the syringe, (ii) periodically estimate the amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and the detected thrust, and (iii) determine the slope of the estimated amount of friction based on the periodic estimation of the amount of friction.

[0134] Clause 6. An injection pump according to any one of clauses 1 to 5, wherein: adjusting the occlusion detection operation of the injection pump or the operating speed of the drive head is also based on the viscosity of the fluid contained in the syringe; and the processor is also configured to (i) receive an indicator of the type of the fluid, and (ii) determine the viscosity of the fluid based on the fluid type indicator.

[0135] Clause 7. An injection pump according to any one of clauses 1 to 6, wherein: the amount of friction estimated between the plunger and the barrel is also based on the mass of the syringe, the mass of the syringe including the diameter of the syringe, the capacity of the syringe, the manufacturer of the syringe or the model of the syringe; and the processor is further configured to (i) detect the diameter of the syringe via a diameter sensor of the injection pump, or (ii) receive an identifier of the syringe and determine the mass of the syringe based on the syringe identifier.

[0136] Clause 8. An injection pump according to any one of clauses 1 to 7, wherein estimating the amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel comprises: providing the programmed flow rate and the detected stroke of the syringe to a machine learning (ML) model, the ML model being trained using training data regarding corresponding amounts of friction at corresponding strokes of multiple syringes operating at multiple flow rates; and receiving the estimated amount of friction from the ML model.

[0137] Clause 9. A syringe pump according to clause 8, wherein: the processor is further configured to (i) receive an identifier of the syringe, (ii) determine a quality of the syringe based on the syringe identifier, the syringe quality comprising a diameter of the syringe, a capacity of the syringe, a manufacturer of the syringe or a model of the syringe, and (iii) select the ML model from a plurality of ML models based on the syringe quality; and each of the plurality of syringes has the syringe quality.

[0138] Clause 10. The infusion pump of clause 8 or clause 9, wherein the ML model comprises a regression model including at least one trained weighting coefficient for the detected displacement or the programmed flow rate.

[0139] Item 11. A computer-implemented method for improving occlusion detection or flow continuity of an injection pump, comprising: receiving a programmed flow rate of an injection pump, the injection pump comprising (i) a container for accommodating a syringe, the syringe comprising a plunger and a barrel, and (ii) a drive head for advancing the plunger within the barrel; detecting a stroke of the syringe, the stroke comprising a distance between a starting position of the plunger within the barrel and a current position of the plunger within the barrel; estimating an amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and the detected stroke; and adjusting (i) an occlusion detection operation of the injection pump or (ii) an operating speed of the drive head based on the estimated amount of friction.

[0140] Clause 12. A computer-implemented method according to clause 11, wherein adjusting the occlusion detection operation of the injection pump includes: measuring the amount of force applied by the plunger to the drive head via a force sensor of the injection pump; determining the amount of pressure in the syringe based on the difference between the estimated amount of friction and the measured amount of force; determining that the amount of pressure satisfies a pressure threshold; and in response to determining that the amount of pressure in the syringe satisfies the pressure threshold, triggering an occlusion alarm of the injection pump.

[0141] Clause 13. A computer-implemented method according to clause 11 or clause 12, wherein: the injection pump also includes an occlusion alarm, which is configured to be triggered when the amount of pressure in the syringe meets a pressure threshold; and adjusting the occlusion detection operation of the injection pump includes adjusting the pressure threshold based on the estimated amount of friction.

[0142] Clause 14. The computer-implemented method according to clause 13 further includes: detecting another stroke of the syringe, the other stroke including the distance between the starting position of the plunger in the barrel and the position of the plunger in the barrel at a second time; and estimating another amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and the other detected stroke; wherein the estimated amount of friction includes an estimated amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel at a first time before the second time, and adjusting the pressure threshold is based on the difference between the estimated amount of friction and another estimated amount of friction.

[0143] Clause 15. A computer-implemented method according to any one of clauses 11 to 14, further comprising: periodically detecting a stroke of the syringe; periodically estimating an amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and the detected stroke; and determining a slope of the estimated amount of friction based on the periodic estimation of the amount of friction; wherein adjusting the operating speed of the drive head is also based on the slope of the estimated amount of friction, and comprises (i) increasing the operating speed in response to determining that the slope of the estimated amount of friction is positive, or (ii) decreasing the operating speed in response to determining that the slope of the estimated amount of friction is negative.

[0144] Clause 16. A computer-implemented method according to any one of clauses 11 to 15, further comprising: receiving an indicator of the type of fluid contained in the syringe; and determining the viscosity of the fluid based on the fluid type indicator; wherein adjusting the occlusion detection operation of the injection pump or the operating speed of the drive head is also based on the fluid viscosity.

[0145] Clause 17. A computer-implemented method according to any one of clauses 11 to 16, further comprising: detecting the diameter of the syringe via a diameter sensor of the injection pump; or receiving an identifier of the syringe and determining the mass of the syringe based on the syringe identifier, the syringe mass comprising the diameter of the syringe, the capacity of the syringe, the manufacturer of the syringe or the model of the syringe; wherein the amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel is estimated also based on the syringe mass.

[0146] Clause 18. A computer-implemented method according to any one of clauses 11 to 17, wherein estimating the amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel comprises: providing the programmed flow rate and the detected stroke of the syringe to a machine learning (ML) model, the ML model being trained using training data regarding corresponding amounts of friction at corresponding strokes of multiple syringes operating at multiple flow rates; and receiving the estimated amount of friction from the ML model.

[0147] Clause 19. The computer-implemented method of clause 18, further comprising: receiving an identifier of the syringe; determining a mass of the syringe based on the syringe identifier, the syringe mass comprising a diameter of the syringe, a capacity of the syringe, a manufacturer of the syringe, or a model of the syringe; and selecting the ML model from a plurality of ML models based on the syringe mass; wherein each of the plurality of syringes has a syringe mass.

[0148] Item 20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising: receiving a programmed flow rate of an injection pump comprising (i) a container for accommodating a syringe, the syringe comprising a plunger and a barrel, and (ii) a drive head for advancing the plunger within the barrel; detecting a stroke of the syringe, the stroke comprising a distance between a starting position of the plunger within the barrel and a current position of the plunger within the barrel; estimating an amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and the detected stroke; and adjusting (i) an occlusion detection operation of the injection pump or (ii) an operating speed of the drive head based on the estimated amount of friction.

[0149] Further considerations:

[0150] It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the process disclosed herein is an illustration of an example method. Based on design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the process can be rearranged. Some steps can be performed simultaneously. The attached method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

[0151] The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. The foregoing description provides various examples of the subject technology, and the subject technology is not limited to these examples. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Therefore, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but should be given the full scope consistent with the language claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one", unless specifically so stated, but "one or more". Unless otherwise specifically stated, the term "some" refers to one or more. Male pronouns (e.g., his) include female and neutral genders (e.g., her and its), and vice versa. Titles and subtitles (if any) are used only for convenience and do not limit the invention described herein.

[0152] The predicates "configured to," "operable to," and "programmed to" do not imply any specific tangible or intangible modification of the subject matter, but are intended to be used interchangeably. For example, a processor being configured to monitor and control an operation or component may also mean that the processor is programmed to monitor and control the operation, or that the processor is operable to monitor and control the operation. Similarly, a processor being configured to execute code may be interpreted as the processor being programmed to execute code or being operable to execute code.

[0153] The term automatically, as used herein, can include execution by a computer or machine without user intervention; for example, by an instruction or other initiation mechanism by a computer or machine in response to a predicate action. The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example or illustration." Any aspect or design described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs.

[0154] Phrases such as "aspects" do not imply that such aspects are essential to the subject technology, or that such aspects apply to all configurations of the subject technology. Disclosures related to an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. An aspect may provide one or more examples. Phrases such as aspects may refer to one or more aspects, and vice versa. Phrases such as "embodiments" do not imply that such embodiments are essential to the subject technology, or that such embodiments apply to all configurations of the subject technology. Disclosures related to an embodiment may apply to all embodiments, or one or more embodiments. An embodiment may provide one or more examples. Phrases such as "embodiments" may refer to one or more embodiments, and vice versa. Phrases such as "configurations" do not imply that such configurations are essential to the subject technology, or that such configurations apply to all configurations of the subject technology. Disclosures related to a configuration may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A configuration may provide one or more examples. Phrases such as "configurations" may refer to one or more configurations, and vice versa.

[0155] As used herein, a "user interface" (also referred to as an interactive user interface, graphical user interface, or UI) may refer to a web-based interface that includes data fields and / or other control elements for receiving input signals or providing electronic information and / or providing information to a user in response to any received input signals. Control elements may include dials, buttons, icons, selectable areas, or other perceptible indicia presented via the UI that, when interacted with (e.g., clicked, touched, selected, etc.), initiate data exchange with the device presenting the UI. The UI may use a language such as hyper-text mark-up language (HTML), FLASH, or the like. TM , JAVA TM , .NET TM , C, C++, web services or rich site summaries (RSS) technology. In some embodiments, the UI can be included in a stand-alone client (e.g., a thick client, a fat client) that is configured to communicate (e.g., send data or receive data) according to one or more of the described aspects. The communication can be to or from a medical device or server communicating with it.

[0156] As used herein, the terms "determining" or "determining" encompass a wide variety of actions. For example, "determining" may include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, generating, acquiring, searching (e.g., searching in a table, database, or another data structure), confirming, etc., via a hardware element without user intervention. In addition, "determining" may include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory), etc., via a hardware element without user intervention. "Determining" may include parsing, selecting, choosing, establishing, etc., via a hardware element without user intervention.

[0157] As used herein, the term "providing" or "providing" encompasses a wide variety of actions. For example, "providing" may include storing a value at a location on a storage device for subsequent retrieval, transmitting a value directly to a recipient via at least one wired or wireless communication medium, transmitting or storing a reference to a value, etc. "Providing" may also include encoding, decoding, encrypting, decrypting, verifying, authenticating, etc. via a hardware element.

[0158] As used herein, the term "message" encompasses a wide variety of formats for communicating (e.g., transmitting or receiving) information. A message may include a machine-readable aggregation of information, such as an XML document, a fixed field message, a comma-delimited message, JSON, a custom protocol, or the like. In some embodiments, a message may include a signal for transmitting one or more representations of information. Although described in the singular, it will be understood that a message may be composed, transmitted, stored, received, etc., in multiple parts.

[0159] As used herein, the term "selectively" or "selected" may encompass a wide variety of actions. For example, the process of "selecting" may include determining an option from a plurality of options. The process of "selecting" may include one or more of the following: dynamically determined inputs, preconfigured inputs, or user-initiated inputs for making the determination. In some embodiments, n input switches may be included to provide the functionality of selection, where n is the number of inputs used to make the selection.

[0160] As used herein, the term "correspondence" or "positive correspondence" encompasses a structural, functional, quantitative and / or qualitative correlation or relationship between two or more objects, data sets, information and / or the like, preferably wherein the correspondence or relationship can be used to transform one or more of the two or more objects, data sets, information and / or the like to appear to be the same or equal. The correspondence can be evaluated using one or more of a threshold, a value range, fuzzy logic, pattern matching, an ML evaluation model, or a combination thereof.

[0161] In any embodiment, the data generated or detected can be forwarded to a "remote" device or location, where "remote" means a location or device other than the location or device where the program is executed. For example, the remote location can be another location in the same city (e.g., an office, a laboratory, etc.), another location in a different city, another location in a different state, another location in a different country, etc. Therefore, when an item is indicated as being "remote" from another item, it means that the two items can be in the same room but separate, or at least in different rooms or different buildings, and can be at least one mile, ten miles, or at least one hundred miles apart. "Communicating" information means transmitting data representing the information as an electrical signal through an appropriate communication channel (e.g., a private network or a public network). "Forwarding" an item means any means of getting an item from one location to the next, whether by physically transporting the item or otherwise (where possible), and at least in the case of data, including physically transporting a medium that carries the data or communicates the data. Examples of communication media include radio or infrared transmission channels and network connections to another computer or networked device, as well as the Internet, or include email transmissions and information recorded on a website, etc.

Claims

1. A syringe pump comprising: a container for housing a syringe, the syringe comprising a plunger and a barrel; a drive head for advancing the plunger within the barrel; as well as The processor is configured as: receiving a programmed flow rate; detecting a pushing distance of the syringe, the pushing distance comprising a distance between a starting position of the plunger in the barrel and a current position of the plunger in the barrel; estimating an amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and the detected displacement; and Based on the estimated amount of friction, (i) an occlusion detection operation of the syringe pump or (ii) an operating speed of the drive head is adjusted.

2. The injection pump according to claim 1, further comprising: Blockage alarm; as well as a force sensor attached to the drive head and configured to detect an amount of force applied to the drive head by the plunger; Wherein, adjusting the occlusion detection operation of the injection pump includes: measuring, via the force sensor, an amount of force applied by the plunger to the drive head; determining an amount of pressure in the syringe based on a difference between the estimated amount of friction and the measured amount of force; determining that the amount of pressure satisfies a pressure threshold; and In response to determining that the amount of pressure in the syringe satisfies the pressure threshold, the occlusion alarm is triggered.

3. The injection pump according to claim 1 further includes an occlusion alarm, which is configured to be triggered when the amount of pressure in the syringe meets a pressure threshold, wherein adjusting the occlusion detection operation of the injection pump includes adjusting the pressure threshold based on the estimated amount of friction.

4. The injection pump according to claim 3, wherein: The estimated amount of friction includes an estimated amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel at a first time; The processor is further configured to (i) detect another stroke of the syringe, the another stroke comprising a distance between a starting position of the plunger within the barrel and a position of the plunger within the barrel at a second time after the first time, and (ii) estimate another amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and the another detected stroke; and Adjusting the pressure threshold is based on a difference between the estimated amount of friction and another estimated amount of friction.

5. The injection pump according to claim 1, wherein: Adjusting the operating speed of the drive head is also based on the slope of the estimated amount of friction and includes: increasing the operating speed in response to determining that the slope of the estimated amount of friction is positive, or decreasing the operating speed in response to determining that the slope of the estimated amount of friction is negative; Wherein, the processor is further configured to (i) periodically detect a displacement of the syringe, (ii) periodically estimate an amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and the detected displacement, and (iii) determine a slope of the estimated amount of friction based on the periodic estimation of the amount of friction.

6. The syringe pump according to claim 1, wherein: adjusting an occlusion detection operation of the syringe pump or an operating speed of the drive head further based on a viscosity of a fluid contained within the syringe; and The processor is also configured to (i) receive an indicator of a type of the fluid, and (ii) determine a viscosity of the fluid based on the fluid type indicator.

7. The syringe pump according to claim 1, wherein: estimating the amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel is also based on the mass of the syringe, which includes the diameter of the syringe, the capacity of the syringe, the manufacturer of the syringe, or the model of the syringe; and The processor is further configured to (i) detect a diameter of the syringe via a diameter sensor of the syringe pump, or (ii) receive an identifier of the syringe and determine a quality of the syringe based on the syringe identifier.

8. The injection pump according to claim 1, wherein: Estimating the amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel includes: providing the programmed flow rate and the detected displacement of the syringe to a machine learning (ML) model trained using training data regarding corresponding amounts of friction at corresponding displacements of a plurality of syringes operating at a plurality of flow rates; and An estimated amount of friction is received from the ML model.

9. The injection pump according to claim 8, wherein: The processor is further configured to (i) receive an identifier of the syringe, (ii) determine a quality of the syringe based on the syringe identifier, the syringe quality comprising a diameter of the syringe, a capacity of the syringe, a manufacturer of the syringe, or a model of the syringe, and (iii) select the ML model from a plurality of ML models based on the syringe quality; and Each of the plurality of syringes has the syringe mass.

10. The injection pump according to claim 8, wherein: The ML model comprises a regression model including at least one trained weighting coefficient for the detected push range or the programmed flow rate.

11. A computer-implemented method for improving occlusion detection or flow continuity of a syringe pump, comprising: receiving a programmed flow rate of a syringe pump comprising (i) a container for receiving a syringe, the syringe comprising a plunger and a barrel, and (ii) a drive head for advancing the plunger within the barrel; detecting a pushing distance of the syringe, the pushing distance comprising a distance between a starting position of the plunger in the barrel and a current position of the plunger in the barrel; estimating an amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and the detected displacement; and Based on the estimated amount of friction, (i) an occlusion detection operation of the syringe pump or (ii) an operating speed of the drive head is adjusted.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein: Adjusting the occlusion detection operation of the syringe pump includes: measuring, via a force sensor of the syringe pump, an amount of force applied by the plunger to the drive head; determining an amount of pressure in the syringe based on a difference between the estimated amount of friction and the measured amount of force; determining that the amount of pressure satisfies a pressure threshold; and In response to determining that the amount of pressure in the syringe satisfies the pressure threshold, an occlusion alarm of the syringe pump is triggered.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein: The syringe pump further includes an occlusion alarm configured to be triggered when the amount of pressure in the syringe satisfies a pressure threshold; and Adjusting the occlusion detection operation of the syringe pump includes adjusting the pressure threshold based on the estimated amount of friction.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising: detecting another stroke of the syringe, the another stroke comprising a distance between a starting position of the plunger in the barrel and a position of the plunger in the barrel at a second time; and estimating another amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and another detected displacement; wherein the estimated amount of friction includes an estimated amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel at a first time before the second time, and adjusting the pressure threshold is based on a difference between the estimated amount of friction and another estimated amount of friction.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising: Periodically detecting the pushing distance of the syringe; periodically estimating an amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and the detected displacement; and determining a slope of the estimated amount of friction based on periodically estimating the amount of friction; Wherein, adjusting the operating speed of the drive head is also based on the slope of the estimated amount of friction, and includes (i) increasing the operating speed in response to determining that the slope of the estimated amount of friction is positive, or (ii) decreasing the operating speed in response to determining that the slope of the estimated amount of friction is negative.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving an indicator of a type of fluid contained in the syringe; and determining a viscosity of the fluid based on the fluid type indicator; Wherein, adjusting the occlusion detection operation of the syringe pump or the operating speed of the drive head is also based on the fluid viscosity.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising: detecting the diameter of the syringe via a diameter sensor of the syringe pump; or receiving an identifier of the syringe, and determining a quality of the syringe based on the syringe identifier, the quality of the syringe including a diameter of the syringe, a capacity of the syringe, a manufacturer of the syringe, or a model of the syringe; Wherein, estimating the amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel is also based on the mass of the syringe.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein: Estimating the amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel includes: providing the programmed flow rate and the detected displacement of the syringe to a machine learning (ML) model trained using training data regarding corresponding amounts of friction at corresponding displacements of a plurality of syringes operating at a plurality of flow rates; and An estimated amount of friction is received from the ML model.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising: receiving an identifier of the syringe; determining the quality of the syringe based on the syringe identifier, the syringe quality including the diameter of the syringe, the capacity of the syringe, the manufacturer of the syringe, or the model of the syringe; and selecting the ML model from a plurality of ML models based on the syringe quality; Wherein, each of the plurality of syringes has the mass of the syringe.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising: receiving a programmed flow rate of a syringe pump comprising (i) a container for receiving a syringe, the syringe comprising a plunger and a barrel, and (ii) a drive head for advancing the plunger within the barrel; detecting a pushing distance of the syringe, the pushing distance comprising a distance between a starting position of the plunger in the barrel and a current position of the plunger in the barrel; estimating an amount of friction between the plunger and the barrel based on the programmed flow rate and the detected displacement; and Based on the estimated amount of friction, (i) an occlusion detection operation of the syringe pump or (ii) an operating speed of the drive head is adjusted.

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