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, having a housing (8) with a first housing portion (9) and a second housing portion (19) which are connected to one another via at least one connecting portion (12, 14), wherein between the first housing portion (9) and the second housing portion (19) is a cutout(10) which is provided and designed to receive a drip chamber (5) of an infusion set (2) and extends along a central cutout axis (13) running in the direction of gravity between the first housing portion (9) and the second housing portion (19). The at least one connecting portion (12, 14) delimits an opening (18) extending through the housing (8) or has or forms said opening. 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 adjusting a vacuum, which draws the infusion fluid from the container and allows for initial level adjustment. The rigid section primarily serves to clearly observe the dripping behavior of the infusion fluid within the drip 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 therefore... BB2563P-WG-0003

[0008] 2 / 17 that no electrically and motor-driven infusion pump, and therefore no power connection, is necessary for administering the infusion solutions. Since such infusion sets alone cannot provide an accurate indication of the current infusion rate or the total volume of infusion fluid administered so far, battery-operated infusion monitoring devices are known in the prior art. These devices can be connected or clamped to the infusion set or the drip chamber. Such infusion monitoring devices are able to monitor the drip rate in the drip chamber and, for example, display information about the infusion, such as the current infusion rate, to the clinical staff using a built-in display. Furthermore, checking the fill level of the infusion fluid to be administered in the drip chamber is a routine task for clinical staff.Furthermore, it is particularly helpful if the drip rate can be estimated at a glance at the drip chamber, and a basic assessment can be made as to whether the infusion fluid is being administered at all. For clinical staff to be able to perform these two checks reliably, vertical hanging or positioning of the infusion set, especially the drip chamber, is crucial. To minimize the workload for medical personnel, 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 comb of the infusion set should be as straightforward as possible.At the same time, it should be ensured that the drip chamber can be securely and stably coupled within the infusion monitoring device, so that the drip chamber is not unintentionally pulled out of the infusion monitoring device by pulling forces on the tubing of the infusion set or can otherwise slip through.

[0009] 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.

[0010] If the fluid level in the drip chamber falls below a predefined minimum during infusion therapy, this conventionally requires the cumbersome removal of the drip chamber or the entire infusion set from the infusion monitoring device, and a subsequent adjustment step to restore an appropriate fill level is unavoidable. This is time-consuming and automatically results in additional work for medical staff.

[0011] Brief description of the present revelation

[0012] Therefore, the present disclosure aims to avoid or at least mitigate the disadvantages described above and, in particular, to provide an infusion monitoring device which advantageously monitors the drip rate in the drip chamber and simultaneously allows for easy removal and attachment of the drip chamber. Furthermore, it should ensure that medical personnel can easily check or visually monitor the current drip rate, and if the current fill level of the infusion fluid within the drip chamber is too low during infusion therapy, the necessary adjustment should be possible while the infusion monitoring device is connected to the drip chamber of the infusion set.

[0013] 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 9. Advantageous embodiments are claimed in the dependent claims and / or are explained below. BB2563P-WG-0003

[0014] 4 / 17

[0015] The disclosure therefore relates initially to an infusion monitoring device for monitoring a gravity infusion therapy, in particular an infusion rate of the gravity infusion therapy, which has a housing with a first housing section and a second housing section connected to each other via at least one connecting section. A recess is arranged between the first housing section and the second housing section, which is designed and configured to receive a drip chamber of an infusion set and which extends along a recess center axis running in the direction of gravity between the first housing section and the second housing section. The at least one connecting section defines, has, or forms an opening extending through the housing.

[0016] In other words, the first housing section of the infusion monitoring device is preferably designed to accommodate hardware components such as a loudspeaker, circuit board, sensors, and buttons for operating the infusion monitoring device, while the second housing section is preferably designed to accommodate a power source, particularly in the form of a battery. A vertically extending recess is formed in the housing of the infusion monitoring device, dimensioned to accommodate, and in particular clamp, a 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 it is inserted into the infusion monitoring device.Furthermore, the two housing halves are connected to each other via at least one connecting section / connecting bridge. This at least one connecting section borders the recess and is, so to speak, arranged in a common plane, which borders the recess extending between the housing sections and is located, in particular, behind BB2563P-WG-0003.

[0017] 5 / 17 or below it. The opening / recess is preferably hole-shaped, is preferably arranged in the plane of the at least one connecting section and preferably borders the recess.

[0018] In a preferred aspect of the disclosure, the first housing section and the second housing section can be connected to each other via a first and a second connecting section, which are separated from each other by the opening extending through the housing. Thus, an opening or a second recess can be arranged between the connecting sections, by means of which the connecting sections are separated.

[0019] In a preferred aspect of the disclosure, the opening can be designed and configured to accommodate at least one finger, in particular an index finger and / or a middle finger, of a user, so that the second housing section can be gripped by the user with one hand. In other words, a user can grip the infusion monitoring device with one hand because a palm can be placed on or partially around the second housing section, which preferably includes the power source, while at least the index finger and / or the middle finger and / or the ring finger is / are accommodated in the opening. The respective fingers can thus be inserted through the opening, so that the second housing section can be enclosed by one hand like a kind of hand or carrying handle.The opening / hole-like recess allows for the formation of an integrated, device-specific handle, enabling safe and stable transport of the infusion monitoring device. A further advantage of this opening is the ability to insert, clamp, or couple the drip chamber to, and remove or decouple it from, the infusion monitoring device with one hand. The drip chamber can be inserted into the recess with a pushing motion, or removed / decoupled from the opening, particularly from the rear of the infusion monitoring device, by pressing with the index, middle, or ring finger (or a combination of these fingers). Therefore, one-handed operation (removal) of the infusion monitoring device is possible at any time.

[0020] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the disclosure, the opening can have the same width as the first recess and can adjoin or merge into the first housing section and the second housing section.

[0021] In a further advantageous embodiment of the disclosure, the height of the opening can be at least twice as large as its width. This advantageously ensures that visibility for checking the fill level in the drip chamber remains unobstructed when the device is inserted, which is a routine task for clinical staff. Additionally, the light entering from the rear through the perforated opening increases the contrast and improves the readability of the fill level. Furthermore, the opening, which extends through the infusion monitoring device, allows the fill level to be viewed from the rear of the housing. This makes it virtually irrelevant at what angle to the vertical axis the infusion monitoring device is positioned relative to the infusion set, infusion bag, or patient bed. The fill level is therefore always readable.

[0022] According to a further preferred aspect 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, so that the recess can be open to the outer surface of the housing along the entire recess central axis.

[0023] 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 / visually monitor the current drip / infusion rate.

[0024] In a further preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the housing, which comprises at least the first housing section, the second housing section, and at least one connecting section, can be made of a plastic material. Thus, at least a large part of the housing of the infusion monitoring device can be formed in one piece, thereby minimizing the manufacturing costs and effort of the infusion monitoring device.

[0025] The disclosure further relates to a medical infusion system comprising an infusion monitoring device as disclosed and a drip chamber of an infusion set incorporated into the infusion monitoring device. The drip chamber has a rigid, preferably clear, part and a flexible, compressible part, and the opening of the infusion monitoring device is limited by or formed within the at least one connecting section such that the rigid part and the flexible part are each at least partially / sectionarily covered by the opening. The opening is particularly preferably arranged between the first connecting section and the second connecting section, such that the rigid part and the flexible part are each at least partially / sectionarily covered by the opening.

[0026] According to a preferred aspect of the disclosure, the drip chamber can be arranged in the recess of the infusion monitoring device such that the flexible part can be compressed from one side via the recess and from a second side via the opening. This advantageously ensures that if a controlled fill level falls below the desired / minimum level, a quick and easy adjustment can be made by clinical staff, in particular by re-compressing the flexible part of the drip chamber, as in the initial configuration Z-priming procedure. This is achieved without any further work step for the clinical staff, since the opening eliminates the need to remove the drip chamber from the infusion monitoring device for this adjustment. Furthermore, the measurement (e.g., of the drip rate) is not interrupted during this step.Thus, due to the special structure of the infusion monitoring device, it is possible to squeeze the drip chamber in the flexible part / area from the front and back with the fingers, especially when inserted / coupled.

[0027] Preferably, the medical infusion system, in particular the infusion monitoring device, is configured for the automatic regulation, adjustment, or control of the gravity infusion therapy / infusion, especially the drip rate / infusion rate. In other words, according to the disclosure, the infusion monitoring device can have not only a monitoring function but also a regulatory function. Particularly preferably, the medical infusion system, in particular the infusion monitoring device, has a control unit that is configured and prepared, e.g., via a roller clamp, and which, in particular, is capable of automatically regulating or adjusting the drip rate / infusion rate based on or taking into account the current infusion rate detected by the infusion monitoring device.

[0028] Brief description of the characters

[0029] The disclosure is explained in more detail below with reference to advantageous embodiments and the accompanying figures. These show:

[0030] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a conventional infusion set that can be inserted into the infusion monitoring device; Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of an infusion monitoring device according to an advantageous embodiment;

[0031] Fig. 3 shows a schematic front view of the infusion monitoring device of the advantageous embodiment from Fig. 2, in a state gripped by a user; and

[0032] Fig. 4 shows a schematic front view of a medical infusion system with an infusion monitoring device and a drip chamber of an infusion set included therein, according to an advantageous embodiment.

[0033] 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.

[0034] Detailed description of the embodiments

[0035] 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. Figures 2 and 3 show an infusion monitoring device 7 according to an advantageous embodiment. Figure 4 shows a medical infusion system with the infusion monitoring device 7 according to the advantageous embodiment.

[0036] 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 a user by repeatedly BB2563P-WG-0003

[0037] 10 / 17 Manually pressing the flexible part 4 creates 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 piercing dome. This tube 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 middle section of the tube 6. The transparent rigid part 3 of the drip chamber 5 allows for clear observation of the dripping behavior of the infusion fluid within the drip chamber 5, since the flexible part 4 of the drip chamber 5 is opaque.

[0038] Figure 2 shows a schematic front view of an infusion monitoring device 7 according to an advantageous embodiment. The infusion monitoring device 7 has a housing 8, which is formed from a first housing section 9 and a second housing section 19. Furthermore, a vertically extending recess 10 with a vertical recess center axis 13 is formed in / on the housing 8, into which the drip chamber 5 of the infusion set 2 can be received. A hardware component arrangement 11 is arranged in the first housing section 9 (here on the left side of the housing 8). A power source 16, for example in the form of a battery, is arranged in the second housing section 19. In this illustration, the hardware component arrangement 11 is located to the left of the recess 10 and the power source 16 is located to the right of the recess 10.

[0039] The two housing sections 9, 19 are connected via a first and a second connecting section 12, 14, which are arranged horizontally between the two housing sections 9, 19. In this embodiment, the first connecting section 12 is flush with the top surface of the housing 8, and the second connecting section 14 is flush with the bottom surface of the housing 8. Furthermore, a rectangular opening 18 is arranged between the connecting sections 12, 14, which has the same width as the connecting sections 12, 14. Thus, the connecting sections 12, 14 and the opening 18 are the same width as the recess 10. In this view, the plane in which the connecting sections 12, 14 and the opening 18 are arranged lies behind the recess 10, i.e., according to BB2563P-WG-0003.

[0040] 11 1 17

[0041] The perspective of Figure 2 shows the opening 18 positioned deeper than the recess 10. In other words, the hole-like opening 18 is located in the (depth) plane of the connecting sections 12 and 14 and extends into or opens into the recess 10. Alternatively, a version with only one connecting section 12 and 14 is also conceivable, against which the opening 18 adjoins or within which it is formed.

[0042] Figure 3 shows a schematic front view of the infusion monitoring device 7 of the advantageous embodiment from Figure 2, which is grasped by a user's hand. Next to the infusion monitoring device 7, the user's hand (shown here as the right hand) is depicted, grasping the second housing section 19 with a thumb 22 in combination with the palm from one side of the second housing section 19, and with a middle finger 24 and a ring finger 26 from the other side. The middle finger 24 and ring finger 26 can be inserted through or engaged in the opening 18, i.e., placed against the inner side of the second housing section 19, in particular from the side of the recess 10. The use of the second housing section 19 as a carrying handle in this state is clearly visible.

[0043] The fingers of the right hand, which are not shown here, are arranged behind the housing 8 of the infusion preparation device 7 in this illustration.

[0044] Figure 4 shows a medical infusion system with the infusion monitoring device 7 and the infusion set 2 in the section of the drip chamber 5. The drip chamber 5 of the infusion set 2 is received / clamped in the recess 10 of the infusion monitoring device 7, which in this view covers the first and second connecting sections 12, 14 and the opening 18. Advantageously, starting from this position, the drip chamber 5 can be pushed out / removed with one hand from behind, in particular using the middle finger 24 and / or ring finger 26. Furthermore, the drip chamber 5 is arranged in the recess 10 of the infusion monitoring device 7 such that the flexible part 4 located in the lower half of the drip chamber 5 can be compressed from a first side via the recess 10 and from a second side via the opening 18 in order to adjust a (new) (infusion) fluid level if necessary.

[0045] As an alternative to a roller clamp provided on a central section of the tubing 6 for setting a drip rate (see Fig. 1), a clamp, for example a roller clamp, can also be part of the infusion monitoring device 7. The infusion monitoring device 7 can thus have not only a monitoring function but also a regulating function. For example, the infusion monitoring device 7 can be configured for automatic regulation of the infusion rate, such as by automatically actuating the clamp provided in the infusion monitoring device 7 or another suitable actuating means by which the infusion rate can be adjusted.

[0046] BB2563P-WG-0003

[0047] 13 / 17

[0048] List of reference signs

[0049] 2 IV sets

[0050] 3 rigid part

[0051] 4 flexible part

[0052] 5 drip chamber

[0053] 6 hoses

[0054] 7 Infusion monitoring device

[0055] 8 cases

[0056] 9 first housing section

[0057] 10 recesses

[0058] 11 Hardware component arrangement

[0059] 12 first connecting part

[0060] 13 Recess center axis

[0061] 14 second connecting part

[0062] 16 Power source

[0063] 18 Breakthrough

[0064] 19 second housing section

[0065] 22 thumbs

[0066] 24 middle fingers

[0067] 26 Ring finger

Claims

BB2563P-WG-0003 14 / 17 Claims 1. Infusion monitoring device (7) for monitoring a gravity infusion therapy, in particular an infusion rate of the gravity infusion therapy, comprising a housing (8) with a first housing section (9) and a second housing section (19) which are connected to each other via at least one connecting section (12, 14), wherein a recess (10) is arranged between the first housing section (9) and the second housing section (19), which is provided and configured to receive a drip chamber (5) of an infusion set (2) and which extends along a recess center axis (13) extending in the direction of gravity between the first housing section (9) and the second housing section (19), characterized in that the at least one connecting section (12, 14) limits or has or forms an opening (18) extending through the housing (8).

2. Infusion monitoring device (7) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the first housing section (9) and the second housing section (19) are connected to each other via a first and a second connecting section (12, 14) which are separated from each other by the opening (18) extending through the housing (8).

3. Infusion monitoring device (7) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the opening (18) is provided and designed in such a way as to accommodate at least one finger, in particular a middle finger (24) and / or a ring finger (26), of a user, so that the second housing section (19) can be grasped by the user with one hand.

4. Infusion monitoring device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening (18) has the same width as the recess (10) and is adjacent to the first housing section (9) and the second housing section (19). BB2563P-WG-0003 15 / 17 5. Infusion monitoring device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height of the opening (18) is at least twice as large as the width of the opening (18).

6. Infusion monitoring device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first housing section (9), the second housing section (19) and the at least one connecting section (12, 14) are integrally connected to each other.

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

8. Infusion monitoring device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the first housing section (9), the second housing section (19) and the at least one connecting section (12, 14) are made of a plastic material.

9. Medical infusion system comprising 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 recess (10) of the infusion monitoring device (7).

10. Medical infusion system according to claim 9, characterized in that the drip chamber (5) has a rigid part (3) and a flexible part (4) and that the opening (18) of the infusion monitoring device (7) is limited by or formed in the at least one connecting section (12, 14) in such a way that the rigid part (3) and the flexible part (4) are each at least partially covered by the opening (18).

11. Medical infusion system according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the drip chamber (5) is arranged in the recess (10) of the infusion monitoring device (7) such that the flexible part (3) can be compressed from a first side via the recess (10) and from a second side via the opening (18).

12. Medical infusion system according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the medical infusion system, in particular the infusion monitoring device, is designed for automatic regulation of the gravity infusion therapy, in particular the infusion rate.

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