Infusion Line Air Sensing with Off-Resonance Signal Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Analog-to-digital converters in infusion systems can become over-saturated when operating at resonant frequencies, leading to reduced accuracy and reliability in detecting air in fluid delivery lines, causing errors and alarms.
Innovation Solution
The system operates sensors at a modified frequency different from their resonant frequency to reduce signal amplitude below the saturation level of the analog-to-digital converter, preventing over-saturation and improving detection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sensor operates at its resonant frequency to maximize signal output, then the detection sensitivity is improved, but the analog-to-digital converter becomes over-saturated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating frequency parameter of the sensor from the resonant frequency to a non-resonant frequency. This parameter change reduces the signal amplitude to a level that the analog-to-digital converter can process without saturation, while still maintaining sufficient detection capability for air bubbles in the infusion line.
2Measurement precision
If the signal amplitude is increased to improve detection accuracy, then the measurement precision is improved, but the analog-to-digital converter becomes over-saturated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the frequency parameter to achieve an optimal signal amplitude that provides sufficient detection accuracy without exceeding the analog-to-digital converter's saturation threshold. This resolves the contradiction by finding a frequency point that balances detection precision with converter reliability.
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 enhances the reliability and accuracy of air detection in infusion systems by avoiding signal over-saturation, reducing errors, and ensuring accurate fluid delivery.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more sensors were used to transmit and receive a signal through a fluid delivery line of the infusion system in order to determine, based on the strength of the signal that propagated through the fluid delivery line, whether air, fluid, or some combination thereof was disposed in the fluid delivery line
Implementation Method 2
analog-to-digital converters are used to convert the received analog signal from analog to digital in order for a processor to determine, based on the converted digital signal, whether air, fluid, or some combination thereof is disposed in the fluid delivery line
Implementation Method 3
The resonant frequency of the one or more sensors is the frequency at which the output of the signal transmitted from the one or more sensors is maximized for a given transfer medium such as for the infusion fluid contained within the fluid delivery line
Data Source
AI summary
To detect air in a fluid delivery line of an infusion system, infusion fluid is pumped through a fluid delivery line adjacent to at least one sensor. A signal is transmitted and received using the at least one sensor into and from the fluid delivery line. The at least one sensor is operated, using at least one processor, at a modified frequency which is different than a resonant frequency of the at least one sensor to reduce an amplitude of an output of the signal transmitted from the at least one sensor to a level which is lower than a saturation level of the analog-to-digital converter to avoid over-saturating the analog-to-digital converter. The signal received by the at least one sensor is converted from analog to digital using an analog-to-digital converter. The at least one processor determines whether air is in the fluid delivery line based on the converted digital signal.