Infusion Pump Line Flush for Accurate Multi-Fluid Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Infusion pump systems face challenges when switching between single and concurrent fluid delivery, as residual therapeutic fluid in the common line complicates volume and flow rate control, leading to potential inaccuracies in medication administration.
Innovation Solution
A control system for an infusion pump that includes hardware processors and memory to manage the operation of an infusion pump system with multiple fluid reservoirs and a common line. The system configures the pump to receive instructions for delivering fluids at specific rates, determines the volume of the common line, and adjusts infusion rates accordingly to ensure accurate delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the therapeutic fluid remaining in the common line is cleared before the next therapeutic fluid begins administration, then the accuracy of medication delivery is improved, but the time delay before the next therapeutic fluid reaches the patient increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary flush of the common line using the first therapeutic fluid at an increased flush rate before administering the second therapeutic fluid. This preliminary action clears residual fluid from the common line, ensuring accurate delivery of the second therapeutic fluid while minimizing delay by using a higher flush rate temporarily.
2Speed
If the first therapeutic fluid is administered at the combined rate of the first therapeutic fluid infusion rate plus the second therapeutic fluid infusion rate, then the speed of fluid delivery is improved, but the reliability of therapy delivery deteriorates due to incorrect dosing
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the infusion rate based on the phase of administration. During the flush phase, the first therapeutic fluid is delivered at a higher flush rate to clear the common line quickly. During the concurrent administration phase, the system delivers both therapeutic fluids at their respective prescribed rates, ensuring accurate dosing while maintaining efficient delivery.
3Productivity
If a single medication is delivered at a combined rate exceeding the upper limit specified for such medication, then the productivity of fluid delivery is improved, but the safety and reliability of medication administration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the delivery process into distinct phases: a flush phase where the first therapeutic fluid is delivered at a higher rate to clear the common line, and a concurrent administration phase where both therapeutic fluids are delivered at their respective prescribed rates. This segmentation ensures that high-rate delivery is used only when safe (flushing non-therapeutic or already-dosed fluid), while therapeutic delivery maintains safe, prescribed rates.
4Measurement precision
If the pump data is corrected to reflect accurate infusion rates, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The control system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the actual delivery rates and volumes of both therapeutic fluids. The system tracks the volume of first therapeutic fluid delivered during the flush phase and adjusts the calculation of the second therapeutic fluid volume accordingly. This feedback ensures accurate pump data while using software-based control rather than complex hardware modifications.
Data Source
AI summary
An infusion pump system has a reservoir configured to hold a medicinal fluid, a fluid line in fluid communication with the reservoir and having a terminal fluid delivery end, and an infusion pump. The infusion pump system is configured to determine a fluid line volume corresponding to a volume of the fluid line, wherein the fluid line comprises a fluid line volume of a non-medicinal fluid; draw the medicinal fluid from the reservoir to deliver the medicinal fluid; infuse the medicinal fluid at a flushing rate causing displacement of a volume of the non-medicinal fluid remaining in the fluid line and infusion of the non-medicinal fluid out of the terminal fluid delivery end at the flushing rate; determine that an infused volume of the medicinal fluid equals or exceeds the fluid line volume; and reduce infusion to an infusion rate lower than the flushing rate.