IV Infusion Line Label Printing for Accurate Tubing Change Times
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current labeling methods for intravenous infusion lines are inefficient, prone to human error, and result in low compliance with best practices, leading to medication errors and central line-associated bloodstream infections, with up to 78% of serious medical errors and 0.8 CLABSI events per 1,000 central line days.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for creating labels using a communication device, processing device, and printing device to automatically generate and print labels for intravenous infusion lines, incorporating information such as drug name, administration time, and tubing change time, with color coding for compliance and reducing human error.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual labeling methods are used with preprinted and handwritten labels, then staff can label infusion lines, but the process is tedious and time-consuming taking over a minute per infusion
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service labeling by allowing infusion pumps to automatically generate and print labels without requiring manual data entry by staff. The pump uses its own stored infusion parameters to create the label, eliminating the time-consuming manual process while maintaining complete labeling functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical labeling process with an automated electronic system. The infusion pump's integrated printer and software automatically generate labels based on electronic infusion data, substituting the manual writing and assembly process with automated electronic label creation and printing.
2Reliability
If manual labeling is used, then staff can create labels, but compliance with labeling requirements is low with up to 60.1% of labels missing required information
Solution Approach 1:
The system ensures complete and accurate labeling by automatically populating all required fields from the infusion pump's electronic data. The label includes drug name, concentration, infusion rate, start time, and other mandatory information without requiring staff to manually verify or complete each field, thereby ensuring 100% compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback mechanisms to ensure labeling compliance by automatically verifying that all required label elements are present before printing. The pump's software checks infusion parameters and ensures the generated label contains all necessary information, preventing incomplete labels from being produced.
3Manufacturing precision
If handwritten labels are used, then staff can customize labels, but handwriting is often illegible and human errors occur such as miscalculating tubing change time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces handwritten labels with electronically generated printed labels from the infusion pump. This substitution eliminates handwriting illegibility and calculation errors by using the pump's electronic data to automatically generate accurate, legible printed labels with precisely calculated tubing change times based on stored infusion parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary computational layer between the infusion parameters and the label content. The pump's software acts as an intermediary that automatically calculates tubing change times and other derived values from the electronic infusion data, eliminating direct human calculation and reducing errors.
4Ease of manufacture
If ad hoc label materials like medical tape are used, then labeling can be performed, but the process lacks standardization and increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the labeling function directly into the infusion pump system by integrating a printer and label storage. This combination eliminates the need for separate ad hoc labeling materials and processes, providing a standardized, built-in labeling solution that simplifies the overall system while ensuring consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a method of creating a label for labeling an intravenous infusion line. Further, the method may include receiving an information associated with one or more intravenous infusion lines from input devices, analyzing the information, determining label content of labels associated with the intravenous infusion lines, determining label content formats of the label content, generating a label information for the labels based on the label content and the label content formats, and printing the label information on label sheets based on the generating of the label information. Further, the printing of the label information creates the labels for the intravenous infusion lines.