Inline Pressure Sensor for Infusion Occlusion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medication infusion systems struggle to detect occlusions in fluid paths efficiently, leading to delayed or undetected blockages that can result in inadequate medication delivery and potentially dangerous consequences for patients, as they rely on force measurements that are dominated by static and dynamic friction forces rather than fluid pressure.
Innovation Solution
A medication infusion system that includes a fluid reservoir, a fluid path connected to a patient, and a pressure sensor placed inline to measure pressure directly within the fluid path, allowing for real-time detection of occlusions by analyzing pressure pulses and peaks, thereby isolating fluid pressure from frictional forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If force measurements are used to detect occlusions, then the system can monitor fluid delivery, but the measurements are dominated by static and dynamic friction forces rather than fluid pressure, reducing detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pressure measurement function from the force measurement system by placing a pressure sensor directly in the fluid path. This separates the fluid pressure measurement from the piston force measurement, allowing accurate occlusion detection independent of friction forces in the piston mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensor acts as an intermediary device placed in the fluid path between the reservoir and patient. It directly measures fluid pressure without being influenced by mechanical friction forces, providing accurate occlusion detection while isolating the measurement from the complex piston mechanism.
2Reliability
If piston force measurements are used, then occlusions can be detected, but static and dynamic friction forces dominate below approximately 2 psi, limiting sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical force measurement system with a pressure sensor that directly measures fluid pressure. This substitution eliminates the dominance of friction forces and provides reliable occlusion detection across the full pressure range, particularly improving sensitivity below 2 psi where friction forces previously masked pressure changes.
3Measurement precision
If multiple piston movements are required to determine occlusion, then friction forces can be averaged, but this increases the time required to detect occlusions
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor provides continuous real-time pressure monitoring in the fluid path, eliminating the need to wait for multiple piston movements to detect occlusions. By measuring pressure continuously before and during piston movements, the system can immediately detect occlusions without requiring repeated measurements to average out friction variations.
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 enables rapid and accurate detection of occlusions, reducing the risk of inadequate medication delivery and preventing premature removal of vascular access devices, ensuring timely and effective treatment by directly measuring fluid pressure close to the delivery location.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor placed inline to measure pressure directly within the fluid path, allowing for real-time detection of occlusions by analyzing pressure pulses and peaks
Data Source
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AI summary
A medical fluid communication system (100) is disclosed comprising a pump controller (105) and a fluid detector (125). The fluid detector (125) detects characteristics of the fluid and provides fluid measurements to the pump controller (105), which detects if the fluid is flowing in the medication delivery system. In the event fluid is not flowing due to an occlusion, the pump controller (105) may attempt to resolve the occlusion or may provide a warning to a user that an occlusion is occurring.