Infusion Transition Management via Parameter Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current DERS systems face challenges in managing ongoing infusions when patients are transferred between care areas, as they often require shutdown and restart, which can be disruptive and lead to clinical complications or safety issues due to parameter mismatches between care areas.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that allows seamless transition of infusions by classifying ongoing infusions based on algorithms and hospital best practices, determining compatibility with the new care area's parameters, and allowing continuation or discontinuation accordingly, without the need for power cycling or reprogramming, using a hospital dataset to store and manage care area settings and drug/fluid information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If DERS systems apply adjusted settings when patients transition between care areas, then safety and clinical utility are improved, but ongoing infusions are disrupted and require shutdown and restart

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidinfusion continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts care area settings based on the current state of infusions. When a patient transitions between care areas, the system evaluates whether ongoing infusions can continue under the new care area's parameter ranges. If compatible, the infusion continues uninterrupted; if incompatible, the system manages the transition appropriately. This dynamic approach maintains safety while preserving infusion continuity when possible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system compares parameter ranges between source and destination care areas to determine compatibility. By analyzing whether the destination care area's parameter ranges encompass the source care area's ranges, the system can determine if ongoing infusions can continue without disruption. This parameter-based evaluation enables selective application of adjusted settings only when necessary for safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If DERS systems enforce parameter compliance for destination care area, then safety is improved, but clinician time increases due to manual parameter adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidclinician time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically evaluates parameter compatibility between care areas and manages infusion transitions without requiring manual clinician intervention. By comparing parameter ranges and determining compatibility automatically, the system reduces the time clinicians would otherwise spend manually adjusting parameters while maintaining safety through automated compliance checking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides automated feedback to clinicians regarding parameter compatibility and infusion continuity status. This feedback mechanism enables clinicians to make informed decisions quickly without manual analysis of parameter ranges, reducing time loss while ensuring safety compliance through systematic parameter comparison.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If DERS systems apply adjusted settings only when infusion device is idle, then safety is maintained, but productivity is reduced due to infusion shutdown and restart

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidinfusion interruption time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically determines whether to apply adjusted settings based on real-time infusion status and parameter compatibility. When the destination care area's parameter ranges are compatible with ongoing infusions, the system allows continuous operation without shutdown. When incompatible, the system manages the transition appropriately. This dynamic decision-making eliminates unnecessary shutdowns while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary evaluation of parameter compatibility before patient transition is finalized. By assessing whether the destination care area's parameters can accommodate ongoing infusions in advance, the system can prepare for seamless transition without requiring infusion shutdown, thus reducing interruption time while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2973102B1Management of care area transitions of intravenous infusions
Publication Date: 2022.09.21 CAREFUSION 303 INC
  • EP2973102B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2973102B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2973102B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An infusion device providing an in-progress infusion of at least one of a drug or a fluid consistent with one or more parameters of a first care area in a hospital can be transitioned to a second care area of the hospital. Details of the in-progress infusion can be compared against one or more second parameters defined for the second care area, and a compatibility determination can be made between the in-progress infusion and the one or more second parameters defined for the seconds care area. A handling mode of the in- progress infusion in the second care area can be selected based on the compatibility determination, and the in-progress infusion can be resolved consistent with the selected handling mode. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.