Infusion Pump Barcode Reader Integration for Medication Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing infusion systems face challenges in ensuring accurate medication administration due to the risk of upstream line mix-ups, particularly when multiple infusion pumps are used for the same patient, leading to potential medication errors that can be fatal.

Innovation Solution

The infusion system incorporates a medication reservoir with a barcode label positioned at the lower edge, facing away from the reservoir portion towards the infusion pump, and an infusion pump equipped with a barcode reader oriented to read the barcode correctly, ensuring accurate medication identification and reducing the risk of mix-ups.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a barcode reader is integrated into the infusion pump to read medication reservoir barcodes, then medication identification accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebarcode reading accuracyVSAvoidinfusion pump structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The barcode reader is integrated directly into the infusion pump device, merging the barcode reading function with the infusion delivery system. This allows the pump to automatically identify the medication reservoir and verify compatibility, improving measurement precision while managing device complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

A barcode label is introduced as an intermediary element between the medication reservoir and the infusion pump. The barcode serves as a machine-readable mediator that enables automatic identification and verification, improving accuracy without requiring complex direct sensing mechanisms between the pump and reservoir.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the barcode is positioned at the lower edge of the reservoir facing the infusion pump, then barcode reading reliability is improved, but the ease of operation during reservoir replacement is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebarcode reading reliabilityVSAvoidreservoir replacement convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The barcode is pre-positioned at the lower edge of the reservoir in a fixed location that ensures automatic alignment with the infusion pump's barcode reader during proper installation. This preliminary positioning ensures reliable reading before the infusion process begins, while the natural insertion motion guides the user to the correct orientation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring the user to actively present the barcode to the reader, the system is designed so that the barcode automatically presents itself to the reader during the natural insertion process. The barcode position and orientation are inverted from traditional label placements, ensuring the reading surface faces the pump when the reservoir is correctly installed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple infusion pumps are used for the same patient, then treatment flexibility is improved, but the risk of upstream line mix-ups increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment flexibilityVSAvoidmedication administration safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The barcode reading system provides immediate feedback to the user and system when a reservoir is scanned, confirming the medication identity and compatibility. This feedback mechanism allows verification before connection and can alert users to potential mismatches, reducing the risk of line mix-ups even when multiple pumps are used simultaneously or sequentially for the same patient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The barcode creates a machine-readable copy of the medication identification information, which can be stored and verified by the infusion pump system. This digital copy enables automatic verification processes that prevent incorrect medication administration, providing a safety layer that scales across multiple pumps and users without degrading reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3231467B1Infusion pump system

Publication Date: 2025.02.26 MICREL MEDICAL DEVICES SA

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AI summary

The invention relates to an infusion system including an infusion pump (2), said infusion pump (2) comprising an input unit which is adapted for adjusting a value of at least one parameter provided for controlling the operation of the infusion pump (2) and/or an infusion process, and a display unit (8) adapted to display the value of the at least one parameter to be adjusted through the input unit, wherein the input unit comprises at least one slide bar (10) including an which is adapted to be touched by a user's finger (20a) to be moved along its length resulting in a change of the value of the parameter, wherein a movement in a first direction results in an increase of the value of the parameter and in a reversed second direction results in a decrease of the value of the parameter, and wherein the slide bar (10) is adapted so that the rate of change of the value of the parameter essentially correlates with the speed of movement of the finger (20a) and in an idle mode is decelerated in a similar way as under influence of an inertia load and/or a friction.