Syringe Pump Flush Infusion With Linked Medication Orders

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing syringe-based infusion systems lack a documented linkage between medication and flush orders, leading to inaccuracies in reporting and potential under- or overdosing, and require manual programming that may not account for the connection between primary medication and flush fluid.

Innovation Solution

The system electronically links medication and flush orders, automatically determining the remaining amount of medication to be delivered and initiating flush fluid delivery when the medication is complete, ensuring accurate and safe administration without user intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual programming is used for flush fluid delivery, then the system is simpler to operate, but reporting accuracy deteriorates due to lack of linkage between medication and flush orders

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereporting accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects when a new syringe is loaded and self-programs the flush fluid delivery parameters by retrieving medication order information from electronic medical records, eliminating the need for manual programming while ensuring accurate reporting through automatic linkage between medication and flush orders

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors syringe loading status through sensors and uses this feedback to automatically initiate and adjust flush fluid delivery parameters, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains reporting accuracy without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If manual programming is used for flush fluid delivery, then automation is reduced, but time consumption increases due to manual intervention requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime efficiencyVSAvoidautomation level
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-loads medication order information from electronic medical records into the pump's memory before the actual flush delivery is needed, so that when a new syringe is detected, the system can immediately execute the pre-calculated flush parameters without manual programming delays

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The pump automatically detects syringe loading and self-programs the flush delivery parameters without requiring clinician intervention, significantly reducing the time from syringe loading to accurate flush fluid delivery while increasing automation level

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If flush fluid delivery is initiated manually, then control precision is maintained, but safety deteriorates due to potential under- or overdosing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedication administration safetyVSAvoidoperational simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the volume of flush fluid delivered and compares it against the pre-calculated required volume from the medication order, automatically adjusting or stopping delivery to prevent under- or overdosing, thereby enhancing safety through real-time feedback control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual calculation and programming of flush volumes with electronic automated calculations based on medication order data, eliminating human error in determining correct flush volumes while maintaining ease of operation through automatic execution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4497141B1Device, method, and system for accurate delivery of flush infusion
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 CAREFUSION 303 INC
  • EP4497141B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4497141B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4497141B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A syringe pump determines, upon receiving a new syringe, that at least a first portion of a predetermined amount of a first fluid was previously delivered by the syringe pump according to a first fluid delivery order before the new syringe was loaded into the syringe pump, and determines a second portion of the first fluid remaining to be delivered to complete the predetermined amount of the first fluid for the first fluid delivery order. A delivery of a second fluid is initiated by the syringe pump and, when an amount of the second fluid delivered from the new syringe satisfies the second portion of the first fluid remaining to be delivered, the pump automatically, without user intervention, indicates the first fluid delivery order as being complete, de-associates the first fluid delivery order from the syringe pump, and associates the syringe pump with the second fluid delivery order.