Infusion Pump Pressure Profiling for Unintended Flow Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infusion systems face challenges in accurately detecting unintentional fluid flow, defective valves, and incorrect fluid transitions due to malfunctions or improper programming, leading to potential harm to patients and inefficiencies in medication delivery.
Innovation Solution
The system employs fluid pressure slope profiles to automate infusion pump control by sampling pressure upstream, calculating actual profiles, and comparing them to expected profiles to detect anomalies, activating alarms, and altering pump operations to prevent unintended flow or mixtures, using mechanisms like occluders to manage fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual monitoring of fluid flow is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to undetected unintentional flow and defective valves
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors fluid pressure and detects unintentional flow without requiring manual intervention. The processor continuously samples pressure data and compares actual profiles against expected profiles, enabling the system to self-diagnose flow anomalies and alert caregivers automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual visual monitoring with an automated electronic monitoring system using pressure sensors and digital signal processing. The mechanical act of observing fluid flow is substituted with electronic pressure measurement and computational analysis of pressure slope profiles.
2Productivity
If automated fluid transition between primary and secondary sources is implemented, then productivity is improved, but reliability worsens due to potential defective valve detection failures
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously samples fluid pressure during transitions and provides feedback by comparing actual pressure slope profiles against expected profiles. This feedback mechanism enables real-time detection of valve defects and abnormal flow conditions, allowing the system to identify when transitions are not occurring as programmed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes expected pressure slope profiles before fluid transitions occur, creating a reference framework for detecting anomalies. By pre-defining what normal transition pressure patterns should look like, the system can reliably detect deviations indicating defective valves or improper transitions.
3Measurement precision
If continuous pressure sampling is performed, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs pressure sampling at sufficient intervals to accurately determine pressure slope profiles without continuous sampling. By sampling at optimized intervals rather than continuously, the system achieves the measurement precision needed to detect flow anomalies while minimizing energy consumption from the pressure sensor and processor.
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 approach ensures timely and accurate fluid delivery, prevents patient harm, and maintains medication integrity by automatically adjusting flow rates and detecting defects in infusion lines.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor coupled to the infusion line upstream of the infusion pump, the pressure sensor configured to sample fluid pressure within the infusion line
Implementation Method 2
an infusion pump having a mechanism engaged against the infusion line to occlude flow through the infusion line
Implementation Method 3
the fluid may be directed out of the fluid source and infusion line by the force of gravity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Systems and methods for determining the position of a fluid within a fluid source and infusion line coupled to an infusion flow control device are described herein. An exemplary system and method includes sampling fluid pressure upstream of an infusion pump, and calculating fluid pressure slope profiles. By sampling fluid pressure upstream of an infusion pump at discrete intervals and monitoring fluid pressure slope profiles, conditions of fluid flow, including unintentional fluid flow through an infusion line or a defective check valve in an infusion line, are detected, and fluid flow through an infusion pump is controlled.