Infusion monitoring device and medical infusion system

Abstract

The invention relates to an infusion monitoring device (7) for monitoring a gravity infusion therapy, in particular the infusion rate of the gravity infusion therapy, comprising a housing (8), which has a cutout (10) for receiving a drip chamber (5) of an infusion set (2), the cutout extending continuously through the infusion monitoring device (7) along a central cutout axis (13) extending in the direction of gravity. The housing (8) has a first and a second horizontally extending guide structure (14.1,14.2), which are in the form of guide rails (9) and each of which adjoins one side of the cutout (10) and extends through the housing (8) perpendicularly to the central cutout axis (13). The first guide structure (14.1) has a holding mechanism in the form of a flexible component (12), in particular in the form of a spring-biased projection, which is provided and designed to block or release the guide rail (9) of the first guide structure (14.1). The invention also relates to a medical infusion system.

Description

[0001] Infusion monitoring device and medical infusion system

[0002] Description

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The present disclosure relates to an infusion monitoring device for monitoring, in particular the infusion rate, of a gravity infusion therapy, which is designed and configured to accommodate an infusion set with a drip chamber. The disclosure also relates to a medical system comprising an infusion monitoring device and a (gravity) infusion set with a drip chamber.

[0005] Background of the Revelation

[0006] Conventional infusion sets used for gravity infusion therapy feature a drip chamber that connects to a medical container holding an infusion fluid via a hollow spike / piercing spike. A flexible tube is attached to one end of the drip chamber and connects to a patient port via a coupling, such as a Luer-lock fitting. The drip chamber typically includes a flexible section for manually creating a vacuum, which draws the infusion fluid from the container and allows for initial level adjustment within the chamber. The rigid section primarily serves to clearly observe the dripping behavior of the infusion fluid within the chamber, as it is not opaque, unlike the conventional flexible section.

[0007] In gravity infusion, the pressure for administering the solution is generated by the weight of the infusion fluid itself, achieved by positioning the fluid container at an elevated level relative to the patient's IV line. One advantage of gravity infusion therapy is that it eliminates the need for an electrically powered infusion pump and, consequently, a power outlet. However, since such infusion sets alone cannot provide accurate information about the current infusion rate or the total volume of infusion administered, battery-operated infusion monitoring devices are known in the art. These devices can be attached to the infusion set or drip chamber. Such monitoring devices are capable of monitoring the drip rate in the drip chamber and, for example,The device uses a built-in display to show clinical staff information about the infusion, such as the current infusion rate. Furthermore, monitoring the fill level of the infusion fluid in the drip chamber is a regular task for clinical staff. It is also particularly helpful if the drip rate can be estimated at a glance and, fundamentally, if an assessment can be made as to whether the infusion fluid is being administered at all. For clinical staff to reliably perform these two checks, vertical mounting or positioning of the infusion set, especially the drip chamber, is crucial. To minimize the workload for medical staff, attaching and removing the drip chamber from the infusion monitoring device should be simple and require minimal additional effort.Alternatively, attaching and removing the infusion monitoring device from the drip chamber of the infusion set should be as simple as possible. At the same time, it should be ensured that the drip chamber can be securely and stably connected within the infusion monitoring device so that, for example, the drip chamber is not unintentionally pulled out of the infusion monitoring device by tensile forces on the tubing of the infusion set or can otherwise slip out.

[0008] Structures, such as clamps, are known from the prior art to prevent the drip chamber from slipping or shifting vertically. However, these conventional structures are cumbersome to operate, either because they require both hands of the medical personnel or because attaching or removing the drip chamber or infusion set from the infusion monitoring device requires holding the drip chamber or infusion monitoring device with one hand while the other hand moves the other component relative to the first.

[0009] Brief description of the present revelation

[0010] Therefore, the present disclosure aims to avoid or at least mitigate the disadvantages described above and, in particular, to provide an infusion monitoring device that advantageously monitors the drip rate in the drip chamber and that vertically aligns and guides the drip chamber in a stable manner, thus having no significant influence on the position and orientation of the drip chamber, and which simultaneously allows for easy removal and attachment of the drip chamber. The provided infusion monitoring device should therefore have suitable structures that are designed to be as simple as possible and do not have / require additional actuation structures such as clamps or the like. Furthermore, the structures should ensure that unintentional removal of the infusion monitoring device from the drip chamber is prevented.

[0011] This problem is solved by an infusion monitoring device according to the features of claim 1 and by a medical infusion system according to the features of claim 8. Advantageous embodiments are claimed in the dependent claims and / or are explained below.

[0012] The disclosure therefore relates initially to an infusion monitoring device for monitoring gravity infusion therapy, in particular the infusion rate of the gravity infusion therapy or the volume of infusion fluid administered to date, comprising a housing that has a recess for receiving a drip chamber of an infusion set, which extends continuously through the infusion monitoring device along a recess axis running in the direction of gravity. The housing has a first and a second horizontally extending guide structure, which are designed as guide rails and each adjoin one side of the recess and extend perpendicularly to the recess axis through or into the housing.The first guide structure has a holding mechanism in the form of a flexible component, in particular in the form of a spring-loaded projection, which is designed and configured to block or release the guide rail of the first guide structure.

[0013] In other words, the housing of the infusion monitoring device is designed to accommodate hardware components such as a speaker, circuit board, sensors, operating buttons, and a power source, particularly a battery. A vertical recess is formed within the housing, dimensioned to hold, and specifically clamp, the drip chamber of an infusion set. The infusion monitoring device can, for example, determine the current drip rate within the drip chamber using integrated sensors. Furthermore, the recess has a vertical center axis to prevent the drip chamber from tilting or twisting when inserted into the infusion monitoring device. The housing also features a first and a second guide structure adjacent to the recess, effectively extending it.The guide structures are separated from each other by the recess and extend horizontally through or into the housing of the infusion monitoring device, thus running perpendicular to the recess. The guide structures thereby form guide rails within the housing. The infusion monitoring device also features a retaining mechanism on the first guide structure in the form of a flexible component, in particular a spring-loaded projection, which is designed and configured to lock or release the guide rail of the guide structure. In other words, the first guide structure or both guide structures can have a flexible component for easy attachment and removal of the drip chamber. The flexible component can be displaced to release the guide rail behind it, allowing the counter-locking structure of the drip chamber to be inserted.Subsequently, the flexible component, particularly in the form of a rigid ball pre-tensioned by a spring, can return to its original locking / blocking position, especially due to the spring force of the pre-tensioned spring. This locks the guide rail and advantageously pushes the counter-locking structure of the drip chamber further into the desired end position. The flexible component is designed to be sufficiently robust or to move so easily between the locking and releasing positions that, on the one hand, unintentional removal / slipping / dislodging of the drip chamber is prevented, and on the other hand, handling / operating the removal / attachment of the drip chamber in the infusion monitoring device is perceived as simple and intuitive by clinical staff.By arranging a flexible component that allows sufficient ease of escape, medical personnel are advantageously able to insert the drip chamber into the guide rails and thus into the recess, or remove it from the guide rails, for example, with only one hand.

[0014] Advantageously, the guide structures in the housing, particularly adjacent to the recess, are arranged such that a received / coupled drip chamber, in particular a counter structure on the drip chamber, can be guided horizontally along the guide structures of the infusion monitoring device into the recess.

[0015] In a further advantageous aspect of the disclosure, each of the guide structures can have a horizontally extending rectangular groove in the same horizontal plane, or a first horizontal projection in a first horizontal plane and a second horizontal projection in a second horizontal plane, which extend horizontally through the housing such that guide rail-forming edges / undercuts are formed for receiving and securing the drip chamber. In a further advantageous aspect of the disclosure, the guide rails of the first guide structure and the second guide structure, or the guide structures themselves, can be aligned with each other in the form of guide rails.In other words, the guide rails can each be formed by two horizontally extending edges at a predetermined distance from each other and a wall section preferably extending perpendicular to them, which is formed either by a rectangular groove in the guide structure or by two horizontal projections in the guide structure. Furthermore, the recess into which the guide rails open can run perpendicularly past the guide rails. In particular, the guide rails can be designed and configured such that, for example, a cuboid or annular counter-locking structure, which is arranged particularly on the drip chamber, with a suitable height (between the horizontal edges) and a suitable width (distance between the wall sections of the respective guide structures), can be received in the guide rails, in particular in a form-fitting manner.With sufficiently little play between the guide rails and the locking mechanism of the drip chamber, tilting (relative to the vertical axis / recess axis) and slippage in the direction of gravity of the drip chamber can be prevented. Preferably, a conventional connecting ring of the drip chamber, which connects the flexible part to the rigid part of the drip chamber or conceals their fastening means and which has a larger circumference than the rigid and flexible parts of the drip chamber, is designed as the locking mechanism. In other words, the locking mechanism of the drip chamber can be held in position by the guide rails, thus preventing the drip chamber from being unscrewed from the housing of the infusion monitoring device.This ensures that the drip chamber cannot be pulled out of the housing of the infusion monitoring device by pulling on the tubing of the infusion set.

[0016] Preferably, the second guide structure can have an undercut. The undercut is located at the end of the guide rail designed to receive the locking mechanism of the drip chamber and blocks this end of the guide rail. When the flexible component is pushed out of the way by the drip chamber, particularly the locking mechanism, during insertion, positioning or insertion of the locking mechanism into the guide rails of both guide structures is enabled, since the undercut of the second guide structure can be bypassed by the locking mechanism as the flexible component is displaced. The guide rails, the flexible component, and the undercut are thus designed and adapted to each other in such a way that during the insertion process of the locking mechanism into the guide rails, the flexible component can be displaced.The flexible component is pushed horizontally away from the counter-locking structure into the recess, allowing the counter-locking structure to be displaced by at least the same distance and thus bypass the undercut. Advantageously, the counter-locking structure or the drip chamber can therefore be positioned stably and securely in both the vertical and horizontal directions within the infusion monitoring device and is secured against unintentional slippage.

[0017] Furthermore, the counter-locking structure can be secured in a horizontal position within the infusion monitoring device by the undercut in combination with the flexible component, while medical personnel are still able to insert the drip chamber into the guide rails and thus into the recess, after overcoming an initial resistance from the flexible component, or subsequently remove it from the guide rails, for example, with only one hand.

[0018] In a further preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the recess can be in the form of a through hole and cut and / or break through a front face of the housing, such that the recess is open to the outer surface of the housing along the entire recess central axis.

[0019] In other words, the recess can extend from one end of the housing to the opposite end. Furthermore, the recess can be designed as a kind of through-hole adjacent to the edge of a front side surface, so that the recess has a partially open inner (cylindrical) shell surface. The shell surface can therefore be open on the side that intersects the (front) side surface / front of the housing. A user / caregiver thus always has a view of a drip chamber within the infusion monitoring device. The caregiver is therefore able to determine at a glance whether the infusion fluid is currently flowing through the infusion set and simultaneously estimate the current drip rate / infusion rate.

[0020] According to a further preferred aspect of the disclosure, at least one of the guide rails can have one or two additional insertion ramps at one end, which are angled relative to the horizontally extending rectangular groove or the horizontally extending projections, such that the height of the guide rails is increased at this end. This advantageously simplifies the insertion of the counter-locking structure of the drip chamber into the guide rails, as the insertion clearance is increased and the precision requirements for the operator are reduced. Thus, the handling / operating feel is further improved.

[0021] In a further preferred aspect of the disclosure, at least one of the guide rails can have a stop at one end for halting / stopping the counter-locking structure. By stopping the counter-locking structure during the insertion process or movement / insertion along the guide rails, an end position of the received drip chamber within the infusion monitoring device is defined, and unintentional ejection on the other side, which is opposite the insertion side, is prevented.

[0022] In a further advantageous aspect of the disclosure, the housing of the infusion monitoring device can be made of a plastic material. This allows at least a large part of the housing of the infusion monitoring device to be manufactured in one piece, thereby minimizing the manufacturing costs and effort of the infusion monitoring device. The disclosure further relates to a medical infusion system with an infusion monitoring device according to the disclosure and a drip chamber of an infusion set incorporated into the infusion monitoring device. The drip chamber has a locking mechanism, in particular in the form of an annular projection, which is guided horizontally in the two horizontally extending guide structures within the housing of the infusion monitoring device and secured vertically by the guide structures.

[0023] Brief description of the characters

[0024] The disclosure is explained in more detail below with reference to advantageous embodiments and the accompanying figures. These show:

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a conventional infusion set that can be inserted into the infusion monitoring device;

[0026] Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view through a medical infusion system with an infusion monitoring device and a drip chamber incorporated therein, according to an advantageous embodiment of the disclosure;

[0027] Fig. 3 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view through the medical infusion system according to the advantageous embodiment of the disclosure along the section plane AA in Fig. 2; and

[0028] Fig. 4 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view through the medical infusion system according to the advantageous embodiment of the disclosure along the section plane BB in Fig. 2.

[0029] The figures are merely schematic and serve solely to illustrate the present disclosure. It should be noted that the features of the individual embodiments may be interchangeable and may occur in a specific combination.

[0030] Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0031] The present disclosure is described below with reference to the preferred embodiment and Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an infusion set 2. Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a medical infusion system according to an advantageous embodiment of the disclosure, including an infusion monitoring device 7 and a drip chamber 5 incorporated therein. Figures 3 and 4 each show a longitudinal section view of the medical infusion system according to the advantageous embodiment.

[0032] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a conventional infusion set 2 that can be inserted into the infusion monitoring device 7. The infusion set 2 has a drip chamber 5 which can be connected to a medical container with infusion fluid by means of a spike. The drip chamber 5 has a rigid transparent part 3 and a flexible part 4. An initial fill level of the infusion fluid in the drip chamber 5 can be set via the flexible part 4 by the user repeatedly manually pressing the flexible part 4 to create a vacuum in the drip chamber 5. A flexible tube 6 is arranged at one end of the drip chamber 5, which does not have the spike, and which conveys the infusion fluid from the drip chamber 5 to a patient. Preferably, a roller clamp for setting a drip rate is arranged in a central section of the tube 6.The transparent, rigid part 3 of the drip chamber 5 serves to clearly observe the dripping behavior of the infusion fluid within the drip chamber 5, since the flexible part 4 of the drip chamber 5 is opaque. The rigid part 3 and the flexible part 4 of the drip chamber 5 are connected to each other via a counter-locking structure 15 in the form of a ring element or an annular projection. Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view through a medical infusion system with an infusion monitoring device 7 and a drip chamber 5 accommodated therein, according to an advantageous embodiment of the disclosure. The drip chamber 5 is accommodated / arranged in a recess 10, which extends vertically in the direction of gravity through the housing 8 of the infusion monitoring device 7. The counter-locking structure 15 is connected by two opposing locking structures 14.1, 14.2.2 included, in which the counter-locking structure can be horizontally inserted / removed.

[0033] The first guide structure 14.1 also features a retaining mechanism in the form of a flexible component 12, specifically a spring-loaded projection, designed to lock or release a guide rail 9 of the first guide structure 14.1. Furthermore, the second guide structure 14.2 features an undercut 11 located approximately opposite the flexible component 12. The undercut 11 is located at the end of the guide rail 9 that is designed to receive the counter-locking structure 15 of the drip chamber 5 and locks this end of the guide rail 9. When the drip chamber 5 is inserted into the recess 10 or into the guide rails 9, the counter-locking structure 15 pushes the flexible component 12 to the side and releases the guide rail 9 behind it. Simultaneously, the counter-locking structure 15, together with the flexible component 12, is disengaged, allowing the counter-locking structure 15 to bypass the undercut 11.During the continuous horizontal insertion of the drip chamber 5 or the counter-locking structure 15 along the guide rails 9 or into the recess 10, the counter-locking structure 15 strikes at the end against a stop 17, which is arranged inside the guide rail 9 in the first guide structure 14.1, and is simultaneously held in a horizontal direction by the undercut 11 and the flexible component 12 which has now snapped back into place.

[0034] Figures 3 and 4 each show a schematic longitudinal sectional view through the medical infusion system according to the advantageous embodiment of the disclosure along the section plane AA and BB, respectively, from Figure 2. Both longitudinal sectional views run along the vertical recess center axis 13 of the recess 10, and planes AA and BB are arranged perpendicular to each other. The guide rails 9 in the guide structures 14.1 and 14.2 are clearly visible. The counter-locking structure 15 of the drip chamber 5 is guided horizontally and secured vertically within these guide rails. The clearance between the guide structures 14.1 and 14.2 and the counter-locking structure 15 is selected or kept to a minimum such that rotation or deflection of the counter-locking structure 15, including the drip chamber 5, relative to the recess center axis 13 is prevented.Figure 4 further shows insertion ramps 18 which are angled relative to the horizontally extending guide rail 9, such that the height of the guide rail is increased at this end. The insertion ramps 18 can preferably be formed on the guide rails 9 of both guide structures 14.1, 14.2 or alternatively only on one of the guide structures 14.1, 14.2.

[0035] List of reference signs

[0036] 2 IV sets

[0037] 3 rigid part

[0038] 4 flexible part

[0039] 5 drip chamber

[0040] 6 hoses

[0041] 7 Infusion monitoring device

[0042] 8 cases

[0043] 9 Guide rail

[0044] 10 recesses

[0045] 11 Undercut

[0046] 12 flexible components

[0047] 13 Recess center axis

[0048] 14.1 First management structure

[0049] 14.2 Second management structure

[0050] 15 Counter-stack structure

[0051] 17 attacks

[0052] 18 Inset ramp

Claims

Claims 1. Infusion monitoring device (7) for monitoring a gravity infusion therapy, in particular an infusion rate of the gravity infusion therapy, with a housing (8) which has a recess (10) for receiving a drip chamber (5) of an infusion set (2), which extends continuously through the infusion monitoring device (7) along a recess central axis (13) extending in the direction of gravity, wherein the housing (8) has a first and a second horizontally extending guide structure (14.1, 14.2), which are designed as guide rails (9) and each adjoin one side of the recess (10) and extend perpendicularly to the recess central axis (13) through or into the housing (8), characterized in that the first guide structure (14.1) has a holding mechanism in the form of a flexible component (12), in particular in the form of a spring-loaded projection, which is designed and configured to block or release the guide rail (9) of the first guide structure (14.1).

2. Infusion monitoring device (7) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the guide structures (14.1, 14.2) has a horizontally extending rectangular groove in the same horizontal plane or a first horizontal projection in a first horizontal plane and a second horizontal projection in a second horizontal plane, which extend horizontally through the housing (8) in such a way that edges forming guide rails (9) are formed for receiving and securing the drip chamber (5).

3. Infusion monitoring device (7) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide rails (9) of the first guide structure (14.1) and the second guide structure (14.2) are aligned with each other.

4. Infusion monitoring device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess (10) is designed in the form of a through hole and a front side of the housing (8) is such that cuts and / or breaks through, so that the recess (10) is open to the outer surface of the housing (8) along the entire recess center axis (13).

5. Infusion monitoring device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the guide rails (9) has one or two additional insertion ramps (18) at one end, which are angled relative to the horizontally extending rectangular groove or the horizontally extending projections, so that the height of the guide rail (9) is increased at this end.

6. Infusion monitoring device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the guide rails (9) has a stop (17) at one end.

7. Infusion monitoring device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (8) is made of a plastic material.

8. Medical infusion system with an infusion monitoring device (7) according to one of the preceding claims and a drip chamber (5) of an infusion set (2) received in the infusion monitoring device (7), characterized in that the drip chamber (5) has a counter-locking structure (15), in particular in the form of an annular projection, which is guided in the horizontal direction in the two horizontally extending guide structures (14.1 , 14.2) within the housing (8) of the infusion monitoring device (7) and is secured in the vertical direction via the guide structures (14.1 , 14.2).

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