Syringe pump and program

Abstract

To provide a technique for detecting a blockage of a fluid path, in a mode corresponding to a use state of a syringe pump.SOLUTION: A syringe 10 is attached to a syringe pump 100. The syringe pump 100 reads information from a display element 19 of the syringe 10, extracts a syringe ID from the read information, and acquires a pressure value for warning associated with the extracted syringe ID. The syringe pump 100 outputs a warning when the inner pressure of the syringe 10 is the acquired pressure value for warning or higher.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to syringe pumps. [Background technology]

[0002] Various techniques have been proposed for detecting blockage of a fluid path in a syringe pump used for drug administration, etc. For example, JP-T-2007-528236 (Patent Document 1) discloses a syringe pump that stores various parameters. In Patent Document 1, the various parameters include a blockage detection time, and when a given gradient in the pressure of the fluid path is maintained for more than the blockage detection time, the syringe pump generates an alarm of line blockage. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2007-528236 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a syringe pump, the circumstances under which an occlusion alarm should be generated should be set according to the usage state of the syringe pump, such as the sliding resistance of each syringe, but Patent Document 1 does not consider this point.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to provide a technique for detecting blockage of a fluid path in a manner according to the usage state of a syringe pump. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a syringe pump comprising: a support portion that supports at least a portion of a syringe; a reading portion that acquires information from a display element of the syringe supported by the support portion; and a control portion that acquires a warning pressure value associated with a syringe identified by the information read by the reading portion by accessing one or more databases that associate information identifying the syringe with warning pressure values, wherein the control portion outputs a warning when pressure in a flow path of a drug filled in the syringe supported by the support portion is equal to or greater than the acquired warning pressure value.

[0007] The syringe pump may further include a drive unit that moves a plunger rod of the syringe. When the pressure is equal to or greater than the warning pressure value, the control unit may drive the drive unit to move the plunger rod so as to reduce the internal pressure of the syringe.

[0008] The one or more databases may include a first database associating syringe-related conditions with individual syringes and a second database associating a warning pressure value with the syringe-related conditions. Obtaining the warning pressure value may include accessing the first database to obtain a syringe-related condition associated with the syringe identified by the information read by the reading unit, and accessing the second database to obtain the warning pressure value associated with the obtained syringe-related condition.

[0009] The conditions regarding the syringe may include the type of drug filled in the syringe, the shape or type of material of the gasket part of the syringe, the type of coating material on the inside of the syringe barrel, the sterilization method of the syringe, or a combination of these.

[0010] The control unit may notify an error when the syringe cannot be identified based on the information read by the reading unit while the support unit is supporting the syringe.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of: acquiring information from a display element of a syringe supported by a support portion of the syringe pump; acquiring a warning pressure value associated with a syringe identified by the read information by accessing one or more databases that associate information identifying the syringe with warning pressure values; and outputting a warning when pressure in a flow path of a drug filled in the syringe supported by the support portion is equal to or greater than the acquired warning pressure value. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present disclosure, information identifying a syringe is read from a display element of the syringe, and a warning pressure value associated with the information is obtained. When the internal pressure of the syringe reaches or exceeds the obtained warning pressure value, a warning is output. This allows blockage of the fluid path of the drug in the syringe to be detected based on the warning pressure value set for each syringe. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a syringe pump and a syringe attached to the syringe pump. [Diagram 2] 2 is a plan view of the syringe pump of FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow II. [Diagram 3] 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a syringe is attached to the syringe pump of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the syringe pump 100. [Diagram 5] 1A to 1C are diagrams for explaining a method for detecting an obstruction in a fluid path of a drug filled in a syringe 10 by a syringe pump 100. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a database of warning pressure values. [Figure 7]13 is a flowchart of a process for outputting a warning regarding a blockage of a fluid path of a drug filled in a syringe 10. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the movement direction of the drive unit 120 in step S20. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a connection mode between the syringe pump 100 and an external computer. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the data structure of a first database. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the data structure of a second database. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a syringe pump will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0015] [External appearance of the syringe pump] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a syringe pump and a syringe attached to the syringe pump. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the syringe pump of Fig. 1 as seen from the direction of arrow II. Fig. 3 is a view showing a state in which a syringe is attached to the syringe pump of Fig. 1.

[0016] 1, the syringe pump 100 is applied to a syringe 10. The syringe 10 includes a barrel 20 and a plunger rod 30.

[0017] The barrel 20 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape. A liquid inlet 22 is provided at the tip of the barrel 20. A first flange 21 is provided at the rear end of the barrel 20. The barrel 20 is made of a transparent or translucent resin such as polypropylene. A lubricating oil such as silicone oil may be applied to the inner peripheral surface of the barrel 20. The inside of the barrel 20 is filled with a medicinal liquid.

[0018] The barrel 20 includes a display element 19 that displays unique information about the syringe 10. The display element 19 may be, for example, an IC (integrated circuit) chip such as an RFID (radio frequency identifier) ​​tag, or a label on which a QR (quick response) code is printed. The display element 19 may be attached to the barrel 20, or may be configured as a part of the barrel 20.

[0019] The plunger rod 30 is fitted inside the barrel 20 and has a second flange 31 at the rear end. A gasket portion 32 that is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the barrel 20 is provided at the tip side of the plunger rod 30. The gasket portion 32 is made of an elastic body such as vulcanized rubber or thermoplastic elastomer. The portions of the plunger rod 30 other than the gasket portion 32 are made of resin such as polypropylene.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, syringe pump 100 includes barrel receiving portion 110, groove portion 111, drive portion 120, and operation panel 180.

[0021] The barrel 20 is placed on the barrel receiving part 110. The barrel receiving part 110 has a concave part that contacts a lower part of the outer circumferential surface of the barrel 20. The groove part 111 is provided at the rear end of the barrel receiving part 110. The first flange 21 is inserted into the groove part 111. The barrel receiving part 110 and the groove part 111 are formed by integral molding.

[0022] The driving unit 120 has a pressing surface 121 that presses the second flange 31, and a movable claw portion 122 that holds the second flange 31 by clamping it against the pressing surface 121. The movable claw portion 122 is biased in a direction approaching the pressing surface 121 by a biasing mechanism such as a spring. The driving unit 120 holds the plunger rod 30 movably toward the barrel 20. The driving unit 120 moves the plunger rod 30 toward the barrel 20, whereby the medicinal liquid in the barrel 20 is injected into the tube from the liquid injection port 22.

[0023] The driving unit 120 further has a clutch lever 123 for manually adjusting the position of the driving unit 120 itself and the position of the movable claw portion 122 in the extension direction of the plunger rod 30 when attaching or detaching the plunger rod 30. Specifically, by rotating the clutch lever 123 in one direction, the driving unit 120 is put into a locked state in which manual movement of the driving unit 120 is restricted, and the movable claw portion 122 is maintained in a state in which it is biased toward the pressing surface 121. By rotating the clutch lever 123 in the other direction, the driving unit 120 is put into an unlocked state, and the movable claw portion 122 is moved away from the pressing surface 121 against the biasing force.

[0024] The configuration of the drive unit 120 is not limited to the above, and the drive unit 120 may have a pressing surface 121 that presses the second flange 31, and a fixed claw portion that houses the second flange 31 between the pressing surface 121 and the drive unit 120.

[0025] In this embodiment, the syringe pump 100 further includes a barrel holding part 112. The barrel holding part 112 is connected to a rotation shaft 113 so as to rotate in the vertical direction above the barrel receiving part 110. When the barrel holding part 112 is rotated down, it holds the barrel 20 placed on the barrel receiving part 110. In this embodiment, the barrel receiving part 110 is an example of a support part that supports at least a part of the syringe 10, and the barrel holding part 112 is another example of the support part. Note that the barrel holding part 112 does not necessarily have to be provided.

[0026] Operation panel 180 includes a display showing the status of syringe pump 100 and operation buttons operated by a user (eg, a medical professional).

[0027] The syringe pump 100 further includes a reader / writer 190. The reader / writer 190 is disposed so as to read information on a position facing the display element 19 of the syringe 10 attached to the syringe pump 100.

[0028] As shown primarily in FIG. 3, the inlet 22 of the syringe 10 is connected to a tube 901, a transducer 200 is disposed between the tubes 901 and 902, a three-way stopcock 300 is disposed between the tubes 902 and 903, and the tube 903 extends toward a needle (not shown) that will be inserted into the patient.

[0029] [Block configuration of syringe pump] Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of syringe pump 100. As shown in Fig. 4, the syringe pump 100 includes a control unit 150 that controls the operation of the syringe pump 100. The control unit 150 includes a processor 151 that executes a program for controlling the operation of the syringe pump 100, and a memory 152 for storing various data including the program. Note that in the syringe pump 100, the process for controlling the operation may be executed by a dedicated circuit such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0030] The control unit 150 controls the operation of the drive unit 120 and the display of the operation panel 180. The drive unit 120 may include a motor for moving the drive unit 120 itself, and the control unit 150 may control the operation of the motor. In response to an operation of an operation button on the operation panel 180, the control unit 150 executes an operation according to the type of the operated button.

[0031] Syringe pump 100 further includes an alarm unit 160 that performs an alarm operation. Alarm unit 160 may be a warning lamp, a speaker that outputs sound, or a combination of these. Control unit 150 notifies information such as a warning via alarm unit 160.

[0032] Syringe pump 100 further includes a start switch 170. Control unit 150 switches the operation of syringe pump 100 between ON and OFF in response to the start switch 170 being operated by a user.

[0033] The control unit 150 acquires the information read by the reader / writer 190, and acquires the ID of the syringe 10 attached to the syringe pump 100 from the information.

[0034] The control unit 150 is connected to the transducer 200, and determines the pressure in the tube 901, i.e., the internal pressure of the syringe 10, based on a signal output from the transducer 200. Note that the transducer 200 is an example of a means for measuring pressure. The internal pressure of the syringe 10 may be measured using other types of hardware elements.

[0035] [Detection of blockage by syringe pump 100] Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method for detecting an obstruction in the fluid path of the drug filled in the syringe 10 by the syringe pump 100. In the graph shown in Fig. 5, the vertical axis represents the internal pressure of the syringe 10, and the horizontal axis represents the elapsed time from the start of delivery of the drug in the syringe 10.

[0036] 5, a value Px is a warning pressure value set for the syringe 10. A line L1 represents an example of a change in the internal pressure of the syringe 10.

[0037] In line L1, the internal pressure reaches value Px after time Tx has elapsed since the start of drug delivery. When the internal pressure reaches value Px, syringe pump 100 outputs a warning from notification unit 160 indicating that the fluid path is blocked.

[0038] [Warning pressure value database] 6 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of the database of warning pressure values. The database of warning pressure values ​​may be stored in memory 152 or in any storage device accessible to processor 151.

[0039] The database of warning pressure values ​​includes four types of items (syringe ID, drug name, capacity, and warning pressure value). The syringe ID identifies each syringe. The drug name indicates the name of the drug filled in the syringe. The capacity indicates the capacity of the drug contained in the syringe. The warning pressure value indicates a warning pressure value preset for each syringe. The database may also include other items such as gasket shape, gasket material, and sterilization method.

[0040] In the example of Fig. 6, a syringe identified by a syringe ID "1000101" is filled with a volume of "45 ml" of a drug identified by a drug name "A". A warning pressure value "Px" is set for this syringe.

[0041] [Processing flow] Fig. 7 is a flowchart of a process for outputting a warning regarding a blockage of a fluid path of a drug filled in the syringe 10. The syringe pump 100 may realize the process of Fig. 7 by causing the processor 151 to execute a given program.

[0042] In step S10, syringe pump 100 determines whether or not a command to start drug administration has been issued. Syringe pump 100 may determine that a command to start drug administration has been issued in response to operation of a given operation button in operation panel 180. Syringe pump 100 maintains control at step S10 until it determines that a command to start drug administration has been issued (NO in step S10), and when it determines that the command to start has been issued (YES in step S10), it proceeds to control at step S12.

[0043] 7, the syringe pump 100 starts a process for injecting a drug in response to an instruction to start the drug administration. In this process, for example, the driving unit 120 is driven in accordance with a drug administration schedule. As a result, the drug filled in the syringe 10 is administered to the patient via the tube 91 or the like in accordance with the schedule.

[0044] In step S12, the syringe pump 100 extracts the syringe ID from the information read from the display element 19 of the syringe 10 by the reader / writer 190.

[0045] In step S14, the syringe pump 100 refers to the database of warning pressure values ​​to obtain the warning pressure value associated with the syringe ID obtained in step S12.

[0046] In step S16, the syringe pump 100 acquires a signal from the transducer 200, and determines the internal pressure of the syringe 10 from the acquired signal.

[0047] In step S18, the syringe pump 100 determines whether the internal pressure identified in step S16 is equal to or greater than the warning pressure value acquired in step S14. If the internal pressure is equal to or greater than the warning pressure value (YES in step S18), the syringe pump 100 advances control to step S20, and if not (NO in step S18), the syringe pump 100 returns control to step S16.

[0048] In step S20, syringe pump 100 outputs a warning indicating blockage of the fluid path by notification unit 160. The warning may be visual (illumination of a lamp), audible (output of voice), a combination of these, or output in other manners.

[0049] In step S22, the syringe pump 100 drives the drive unit 120 to move the plunger rod 30 a given distance in a direction in which the pressure in the barrel 20 (the internal pressure of the syringe 10) decreases (see FIG. 8 described later). Thereafter, the syringe pump 100 ends the process of FIG.

[0050] Fig. 8 is a diagram for explaining the movement direction of the driving unit 120 in step S20. In Fig. 8, an arrow A1 is shown as the movement direction of the driving unit 120 in step S20. The arrow A1 represents the movement direction of the plunger rod 30 that increases the volume of the space formed by the barrel 20 and the gasket portion 32.

[0051] The syringe pump 100 described above reads information from the display element 19 of the syringe 10, extracts the syringe ID from the read information, obtains a warning pressure value associated with the extracted syringe ID, and outputs a warning when the internal pressure of the syringe 10 is equal to or greater than the obtained warning pressure value. This allows an appropriate value to be set for each syringe as the threshold value for the internal pressure of the syringe for warning of blockage, even if the sliding resistance differs for each syringe.

[0052] When an instruction to start administering the drug in syringe 10 is given (YES in step S10), syringe pump 100 may output an error from notification unit 160 if the syringe ID cannot be extracted due to a failure to read display element 19 or the like.

[0053] [System configuration variations] In the above description, the processing in Fig. 7 may be executed by a computer connected to syringe pump 100. Fig. 9 is a diagram for explaining a connection mode between syringe pump 100 and an external computer.

[0054] 9 shows a computer 500 as an example of an information processing device that controls the operation of the syringe pump 100. The computer 500 is an alternative to the control unit 150 (FIG. 4) and includes a processor 501 and a memory 502. The computer 500 may realize the processing of FIG. 7 by causing the processor 501 to execute a given program. The computer 500 may include a dedicated circuit, such as an ASIC or FPGA, that executes the processing of FIG. 7.

[0055] [Modification of the method for obtaining the warning pressure value] The warning pressure value may be set in association with conditions related to the syringe (such as the type of drug filled in the syringe, the shape or material of the gasket part, the type of coating on the inside of the barrel, the sterilization method of the syringe, or a combination of these).

[0056] For example, when a certain medicine is filled into a certain syringe in a hospital, the user registers information about the syringe and information about the medicine in a database in association with the syringe ID. The syringe pump 100 (or the computer 500) identifies conditions related to the syringe 10 (such as the type of medicine filled, the shape or type of material of the gasket part, the type of coating agent on the inside of the barrel, the sterilization method of the syringe 10, or a combination of these) from the syringe ID of the syringe 10 attached to the syringe pump 100. The syringe pump 100 (or the computer 500) then acquires a warning pressure value associated with the identified conditions, and outputs a warning if the internal pressure of the syringe 10 is equal to or greater than the warning pressure value. The syringe pump 100 may acquire the conditions related to the syringe 10 by acquiring information associated with the syringe ID in a first database such as that shown in FIG. 10. The conditions related to the syringe 10 may be identified from an element (such as an IC tag) attached to the syringe 10, and the syringe pump 100 may obtain the conditions related to the syringe 10 directly from the element attached to the syringe 10.

[0057] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the data structure of the first database. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the data structure of the second database. The first database associates conditions related to a syringe with each individual syringe. The second database associates a warning pressure value with conditions related to a syringe. The first database and the second database are stored in, for example, memory 152. Note that the first database and the second database may be stored in different storage devices, such as the first database being stored in a server in a hospital and the second database being stored in memory 152.

[0058] As shown in Fig. 10, the first database includes three items (syringe ID, drug name, and gasket material). The syringe ID identifies each syringe. The drug name indicates the name of the drug filled in each syringe. The gasket material indicates the material of the gasket of each syringe.

[0059] The example in Figure 10 indicates that a syringe identified by S(1) is filled with a drug identified by M(1) and that the material of the gasket portion of the syringe identified by S(1) is G(1).

[0060] As shown in Fig. 11, the second database stores warning pressure values ​​in a matrix for two items (drug name and gasket material). In the example of Fig. 11, for example, if the drug filled in the syringe is M(1) and the material of the gasket of the syringe is G(1), a value P(1,1) is set as the warning pressure value.

[0061] In one implementation example, the medical professional registers in the first database that the syringe S(1) has been filled with the drug M(1). The medical professional further registers in the first database the material G(1) of the gasket portion of the syringe S(1). Instead of the material G(1) of the gasket portion, the medical professional may register other types of information that identify the material of the gasket portion, such as the product number of the syringe S(1). The computer managing the first database may identify the material of the gasket portion from the information registered by the medical professional and register the identified gasket material in the first database.

[0062] The first database is stored in a server in the hospital. In response to S(1), M(1), and G(1) being registered in the first database, a computer in the hospital outputs a display element including the ID of the syringe S(1). A medical professional attaches the output display element to the syringe S(1).

[0063] When syringe S(1) is attached to syringe pump 100, syringe pump 100 reads information from a display element affixed to syringe S(1) and extracts the ID of syringe S(1), i.e., "S(1)", from the read information. Then, syringe pump 100 uses the extracted "S(1)" to obtain a warning pressure value, as described as step S13. Obtaining the warning pressure value includes two steps.

[0064] As a first step, the syringe pump 100 obtains the drug name (M(1)) and the material (G(1)) of the gasket portion associated with the syringe identified by “S(1)” by referring to the first database.

[0065] As a second step, the syringe pump 100 obtains a warning pressure value (P(1)) corresponding to the combination of the drug name (M(1)) and the material (G(1)) of the gasket portion obtained as described above by referring to the second database.

[0066] In the above example, a combination of two types of information (the name of the drug filled in the syringe and the material of the gasket of the syringe) is adopted as the condition regarding the syringe used to specify the warning pressure value. That is, the first database associates two types of information with a syringe ID, and the second database specifies the warning pressure value corresponding to the two types of information. Note that the condition regarding the syringe may be one type of information or a combination of three or more types of information.

[0067] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 10 syringe, 19 display element, 20 barrel, 30 plunger rod, 32 gasket portion, 100 syringe pump, 110 barrel receiving portion, 112 barrel holding portion, 120 drive portion, 150 control unit, 200 transducer, 300 three-way stopcock, 500 computer, 901, 902, 903 tubes.

Claims

1. A support portion that supports at least a portion of the syringe; a reading unit that acquires information from a display element of the syringe supported by the support unit; a control unit that accesses one or more databases that associate information identifying a syringe with a warning pressure value, to obtain a warning pressure value associated with the syringe identified by the information read by the reading unit; the control unit outputs a warning when a pressure in a flow path of the medicine filled in the syringe supported by the support unit is equal to or higher than the acquired warning pressure value; The one or more databases include: a first database associating syringe related conditions with individual syringes; a second database relating warning pressure values ​​to conditions relating to the syringe; Including, Obtaining the warning pressure value includes: accessing the first database to obtain a condition related to the syringe associated with the syringe identified by the information read by the reading unit; accessing the second database to obtain a warning pressure value associated with the obtained condition for the syringe; Including, A syringe pump, wherein the conditions regarding the syringe include a type of drug filled in the syringe.

2. A drive unit that moves a plunger rod of the syringe supported by the support unit, The syringe pump according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit drives the drive unit to move a plunger rod so as to reduce the internal pressure of the syringe when the pressure is equal to or greater than the warning pressure value.

3. 3. The syringe pump according to claim 1, wherein the conditions related to the syringe further include a shape or type of material of a gasket portion of the syringe, a type of coating material on the inside of the barrel of the syringe, a sterilization method of the syringe, or a combination thereof.

4. The syringe pump according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit notifies an error when the syringe cannot be identified based on the information read by the reading unit while the support unit is supporting the syringe.

5. When executed by a computer, the program causes the computer to: obtaining information from a display element of a syringe supported by a support of the syringe pump; obtaining a warning pressure value associated with the syringe identified by the retrieved information by accessing one or more databases that associate the syringe identifying information with warning pressure values; outputting a warning when a pressure in a flow path of a drug filled in the syringe supported by the support unit is equal to or higher than the acquired warning pressure value; Run the command, The one or more databases include: a first database associating syringe related conditions with individual syringes; a second database relating warning pressure values ​​to conditions relating to the syringe; Including, The step of obtaining a warning pressure value includes: accessing the first database to obtain a condition related to the syringe associated with the syringe identified by the information read by the reading unit; accessing the second database to obtain a warning pressure value associated with the obtained condition for the syringe; Including, The condition regarding the syringe includes a type of drug filled in the syringe.

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