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Publication Number
US-11191897-B2
Publication Date
2021-12-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
An infusion pump includes inlet and outlet valves and a squeezing element configured to squeeze a fluid line coupled to the infusion pump. A method includes at least one round of valve operation check prior to initiation of a delivery session of fluid to a subject, and subsequently, after an intake phase and before a delivery phase of at least one infusion pump cycle, determining for the at least one pump cycle, an absolute amount of air in the fluid line. The valve operation check and the determining of the amount of air each include: (A) closing the inlet valve to confine a section of the fluid line between the inlet and outlet valves; (B) squeezing the confined section; (C) measuring the pressure within the confined section; and (D) subsequently, relieving the pressure in the confined section. Other applications are also described.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an infusion pump that uses an inlet valve, an outlet valve, and a squeezing element located between the inlet valve and the outlet valve. Electric circuitry performs at least one round of valve operation check prior to initiation of a delivery session of fluid to a subject, and during the check and during subsequent infusion pump cycles triggers closing the inlet valve to confine a section of the fluid line, triggers squeezing of the confined section, measures the pressure within the confined section, and subsequently triggers relieving of the pressure.
After an intake phase and before a delivery phase of at least one infusion pump cycle, the electric circuitry determines an absolute amount of air in the fluid line using the same confined-section procedure. Successive pressure measurements across cycles are used to distinguish between an absolute amount of air and an accumulated amount of air and to support subsequent decisions regarding delivery.
The invention further uses the measured pressure and pressure/pressure-pattern behavior to detect and quantify air in the fluid line, and to support diagnosis of valve dysfunction. The same valve operation check framework is used to distinguish air holdup versus improper valve sealing and to detect delayed opening/closing or a valve stuck open or stuck closed, with threshold-based behavior to decide whether to continue or stop delivery based on the accumulated amount of air.
Claims Coverage
The relevant independent claim is clm-00001. It combines a valve-operation check performed prior to delivery with an in-cycle determination of an absolute amount of air using confined-section squeezing, pressure measurement, and pressure relief, coordinated across an intake phase and a delivery phase. Dependent claims refine the inventive features by constraining squeezing/pressure-measurement timing, adding calculation and threshold decision logic, specifying valve dysfunction diagnosis modes, and limiting acceptable pressure sensor types.
Confined-section valve check and in-cycle air quantification
The electric circuitry performs at least one round of valve operation check prior to initiation of a delivery session, and subsequently after an intake phase and before a delivery phase determines an absolute amount of air in the fluid line, where each round includes triggering closing the inlet valve to confine a section between the inlet valve and the outlet valve, triggering squeezing of the confined section using the squeezing element, measuring the pressure within the confined section, and subsequently triggering relieving of the pressure in the confined section.
Release-to-squeeze positioning during pressure measurement
The electric circuitry moves the squeezing element from a Release position toward a Squeeze position to trigger squeezing of the confined fluid line section, and measures the pressure while the squeezing element is positioned between the Release and Squeeze positions.
Absolute air amount derived from relative air and delivered volume
The electric circuitry uses the measured pressure to infer relative air content in delivered fluid and determines the absolute air amount by calculating air volume from the delivered fluid volume and the inferred relative air content over an infusion pump cycle.
Threshold-controlled delivery start based on accumulated air
The delivery phase is initiated by opening the outlet valve only when the accumulated amount of air in the fluid line is below a predetermined threshold value.
Valve dysfunction diagnosis from delay and stuck behavior
After performing the valve operation check, the electric circuitry determines whether an inlet valve and/or an outlet valve is dysfunctional based on delayed opening/closing or a valve stuck open or stuck closed.
Specified pressure sensor types
The pressure sensor includes at least one selected from a piezoelectric sensor, a gauge pressure sensor, an optical sensor, or a proximity sensor.
Across the claim set, the core coverage links confined-section squeezing and pressure measurement with a valve operation check prior to delivery and an in-cycle determination of an absolute amount of air. Dependent features further specify squeezing/measurement positioning, deriving absolute air amount from inferred relative air content and delivered volume, threshold-based decision control for initiating delivery based on accumulated air, diagnosing valve dysfunction modes from check results, and limiting pressure sensor options.
Stated Advantages
Determines an absolute amount of air in the fluid line after an intake phase and before a delivery phase of an infusion pump cycle.
Uses measured pressure/pressure-pattern behavior to distinguish air holdup versus improper valve sealing.
Detects valve dysfunction including delayed opening/closing and valves stuck open or stuck closed.
Initiates delivery based on a predetermined threshold value of accumulated air in the fluid line.
Documented Applications
Pre-delivery and in-cycle quality control in an infusion pump for detecting and quantifying air in a fluid line.
Supporting safety-zone QC decisions to continue or stop delivery based on accumulated air threshold values.
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