Infusion Pump Hose Clamp Detection Using IR Markers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical pumps face challenges in reliably detecting and distinguishing hose clamps due to inadequate color recognition using pure RGB lighting, which limits compatibility and safety in infusion processes.
Innovation Solution
An electro-optical system within the clamping module of a medical pump that uses a combination of RGB LEDs and an IR LED to illuminate the hose clamp, with a photodetector and optical window to determine the clamp's color and type by analyzing reflected light, expanding the spectral space for improved recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If pure RGB lighting is used for color recognition, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of hose clamp color detection is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines RGB LEDs with an additional IR (infrared) LED to create an extended lighting system. This merging of different light sources (visible RGB + invisible IR) enables the system to detect both standard colored clamps and IR-coded clamps, resolving the contradiction by expanding measurement capability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spectral parameters of the lighting system by adding IR wavelength capability to the standard RGB spectrum. This parameter expansion allows differentiation of hose clamps that appear identical under visible light but have distinct IR reflectance properties, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light sources with different wavelengths are added to expand spectral space, then the color recognition capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple light sources (RGB LEDs + IR LED) into a single integrated electro-optical system. This consolidation approach improves color recognition capability across the extended spectrum while managing device complexity through unified control architecture and shared optical pathways where possible.
Solution Approach 2:
The extended electro-optical system is designed with multi-functionality to handle both traditional colored hose clamps (detectable with RGB) and IR-coded clamps (detectable with IR LED). This universal design improves adaptability and versatility without requiring separate detection systems for different clamp types, thereby controlling overall device complexity.
3Reliability
If the electro-optical system uses IR markers and expanded spectral detection, then the reliability of hose clamp identification is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates IR markers directly into the hose clamp manufacturing process itself, rather than adding them as separate post-processing steps. This preliminary integration ensures reliable IR coding is built into the clamp structure during production, improving identification reliability while minimizing additional manufacturing complexity by combining steps where possible.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables reliable detection and identification of hose clamps, ensuring compatibility and safety by providing both machine and user readability, and allowing for the expansion of color recognition beyond the limitations of pure RGB lighting.
Implementation Method 1
a photodetector for receiving reflected light
Implementation Method 2
an optical window for focusing the at least first light beam and/or the at least second light beam onto the disposable infusion item as well as the reflected light in the photodetector
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a clamping module (1) of or for a medical pump, which has an electro-optical system for detecting a hose clamp (2) of a disposable infusion item that can be inserted into the clamping module (1), the system comprising the following components, wherein the hose clamp (2) has an optical marker (3): a first light source (4) for emitting at least one first light beam (5), a second light source (6) for emitting at least one second light beam (7), wherein the second light source (6) is configured differently from the first light source (4), a photodetector (8) for receiving reflected light (9), and an optical window (10) for focusing the at least first light beam (5) and/or the at least second light beam (7) onto the disposable infusion item (2) and the reflected light (9) in the photodetector.Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a method for detecting a hose clamp (2) based on a color by means of a measurement algorithm after the hose clamp (2) has been inserted into a medical pump.