Smart Drip Counter with Database Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drip counter devices in intravenous infusion therapy face challenges in setting and monitoring infusion rates due to lack of connectivity to hospital databases, requiring manual data input for new infusion types and patient information, and difficulty in comparing actual infusion with planned care plans, leading to inefficiencies and potential errors.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a control circuitry with a transceiver for wireless or wired communication to connect with hospital databases, allowing for automatic retrieval of infusion plans, patient data, and real-time monitoring, along with a user interface to display and adjust infusion rates, and generate alarms for deviations from planned protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual data input is used for infusion plans and patient information, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming manual entry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transceiver as an intermediary component that enables automatic data exchange between the drip counter device and hospital databases. This mediator handles the complexity of database connectivity and data retrieval, allowing the main infusion monitoring function to remain simple while gaining automated access to infusion plans and patient information.
Solution Approach 2:
The drip counter device is enhanced with multi-functionality by integrating database connectivity, automatic data retrieval, and wireless communication capabilities. This allows a single device to perform both traditional infusion monitoring and modern automated data management, eliminating the need for separate manual processes.
2Ease of operation
If separate clamp and monitor are used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation worsens due to lack of integrated control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the previously separate clamp device and monitor device into a single integrated drip counter device. The control circuitry combines both the infusion rate control functions (previously in the clamp) and the monitoring functions (previously in the separate monitor), enabling unified operation and real-time coordinated control of infusion delivery.
3Reliability
If real-time monitoring with database connectivity is implemented, then reliability improves, but use of energy increases due to continuous communication and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic data transmission and monitoring cycles rather than continuous operation. The transceiver communicates with the database at scheduled intervals to update infusion plans and retrieve new patient information, while the monitoring function operates continuously at a lower energy level. This periodic approach maintains data accuracy while reducing overall power consumption compared to sustained high-level communication.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods disclosed. The invention relates to method in a drip counter device comprising: obtaining information on the drip counter device; controlling the transceiver to obtain information on infusion liquid dosing plan of the person the infusion liquid is to be administered; controlling the transceiver to transmit obtained information to a system monitoring device; receiving device parameters to administer infusion liquid according to the dosing plan; monitoring the administering of the infusion liquid; comparing the administering with the dosing plan; controlling the transceiver to transmit information on monitoring or comparison results to the system monitoring device and controlling the user interface to display comparison results.