Infusion Pump Priming Safety via Connector Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Insulin infusion devices risk accidental medication delivery during priming if the cannula is not removed from the patient, potentially leading to overdose and serious side effects like hypoglycemia.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using conductive contacts and sensors in the infusion device to detect whether the lineset is connected to the infusion set, preventing the priming sequence if the circuit is closed, ensuring the cannula is disconnected before initiating the priming process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the priming sequence is automatically initiated after reservoir installation, then the priming process is simplified and faster, but there is a risk of accidental medication delivery into the patient if the cannula is not removed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary check by detecting whether the connector is attached to the infusion set before initiating the priming sequence. This preliminary action prevents accidental medication delivery by ensuring the cannula is disconnected before priming begins, while still allowing automatic priming to proceed quickly once the safety condition is met.
Solution Approach 2:
An electrical circuit with conductive contacts serves as an intermediary safety mechanism between the connector and the priming control system. The circuit detects connector attachment status and mediates the priming initiation, blocking the priming sequence when the connector is attached and allowing it when disconnected, thus preventing harmful medication delivery.
2Reliability
If manual verification of cannula removal is required before priming, then patient safety is improved, but the ease of operation and convenience are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-verification by automatically detecting whether the connector is attached to the infusion set through the electrical circuit. This eliminates the need for manual verification by the user, maintaining high patient safety through automated detection while preserving ease of operation by removing the burden of manual checking from the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical circuit provides immediate feedback about connector attachment status to the control system. This feedback mechanism automatically informs the system whether priming should be permitted, ensuring patient safety through continuous monitoring while maintaining operational convenience by eliminating the need for user intervention in the verification process.
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
Prevents unintentional medication infusion by ensuring the cannula is removed before priming, thereby preventing potential overdose and ensuring safe and accurate insulin delivery.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor is in electrical communication with the housing contacts and detects whether the connector is attached to the infusion set
Data Source
Figure 1~3B
Figure 4A~4C
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
Described is drug infusion device and lineset for delivering medication. The novel pump and lineset described herein eliminate the ability of the pump and lineset from being primed when the cartridge reservoir is in fluid communication with the drug-delivering cannula, through which medication is delivered, is inserted into the skin of a patient. The system and method of the invention include a lineset having a plurality of electrical leads for allowing electrical communication between the infusion pump and the infusion set and for allowing the pump to determine whether the lineset is connected to the infusion set when a priming operation is initiated.