Infusion Pump Controller Using Piecewise Volume Model
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Infusion pumps lack effective safeguards to prevent overinfusion, particularly when operated by patients without medical professional assistance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method in infusion pumps that includes a pump controller with a processor and memory to manage a flow rate modulation pattern and a model using a piecewise function to track fluid delivery, issuing alerts and stopping infusions when maximum permissible volumes are reached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If infusion pumps are operated by patients in home settings without medical professional assistance, then ease of operation is improved, but safety deteriorates due to lack of safeguards against overinfusion
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by calculating projected cumulative volumes and issuing alerts before overinfusion actually occurs. The pump controller computes the projected cumulative volume at alert time points and compares it against the maximum permissible volume, providing advance warning to the user before the dangerous condition is reached, allowing corrective action to be taken.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the actual cumulative volume delivered, comparing it with the projected cumulative volume, and issuing alerts when discrepancies indicate potential overinfusion. The pump controller receives feedback from volume measurements and adjusts operation by alerting the user and potentially stopping the infusion to prevent harm.
2Reliability
If complex monitoring models are implemented to track fluid delivery and prevent overinfusion, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring model is segmented into discrete alert time points during the infusion program. Rather than continuous complex monitoring, the system evaluates the projected cumulative volume at specific predetermined time intervals, dividing the monitoring task into manageable segments that are computationally efficient while still providing comprehensive safety coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a simplified computational model that copies the essential safety function without requiring complex hardware. The pump controller uses software-based calculations of projected cumulative volume that mirror the safety logic, replacing the need for complex physical monitoring devices with intelligent computational algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
To prevent overinfusion, an infusion pump restricts the volume of infusate that the patient can receive over a given period of time by utilizing an analytical model of infusate volume delivered to the patient as a function of time that takes the form of a piecewise function, v(t). During initial programming of an infusion, an initial version of the model is created. The model is updated each time the flow rate modulation pattern is modified over the course of the infusion. Each update to the model results in one or more new elements being added to the piecewise function. The maxima of each element of the piecewise Δv(t) is determined and compared to a maximum permissible volume set by the user. If any of the maxima meet or exceed the value, an alert is issued. Once the maximum permissible volume is reached, the infusion is stopped.