Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11273257-B2
Publication Date
2022-03-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
Infusion pump system and associated methods The invention provides a fluid delivery system (1), comprising: an outlet tube (6); a pump (2) for pumping liquid along a fluid path (100) including the outlet tube; a closed sensing tube (104) branched from the fluid path which, in use, is filled with gas; and a sensor (108) configured to sense movement of a liquid front within the sensing tube and, responsive to sensing of said movement, determine that a partial or total occlusion has occurred within the outlet tube.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a fluid delivery system that includes an outlet tube, a pump for pumping liquid along a fluid path including the outlet tube, and a replaceable cartridge having a reservoir and a closed sensing tube. The closed sensing tube is branched from the fluid path and, in use, is filled with gas. A sensor senses whether the contents within the sensing tube are a liquid or gas to determine movement of a liquid front within the sensing tube.
In response to sensing movement of the liquid front, the system determines that a partial or total occlusion has occurred within the outlet tube. The sensor is configured to sense at least one of the refractive index of the sensing tube, the permittivities of the contents of the sensing tube, or the impedance of the contents of the sensing tube. The sensing of the liquid front movement is thereby used to infer whether occlusion is partial or total within the outlet tube.
The invention is further described through embodiments in which different sensing mechanisms detect liquid front movement within the gas-filled sensing tube. These include optical detection based on refractive-index change, capacitive sensing based on liquid versus gas permittivity changes, and electrical impedance sensing using terminals whose impedance changes when bridged by liquid. Additional embodiments include pressure sensing at the distal end by detecting a gas pressure rise and comparing it to thresholds, and package-level configurations in which the sensor electronics reside in a durable pump part while the sensing tube is in a replaceable cartridge.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim provides a fluid delivery system architecture with a gas-filled branched sensing tube and a sensor configured to determine liquid-front movement and thereby determine partial or total occlusion within an outlet tube. The inventive features cover the core sensing principle, the occlusion determination based on liquid-front movement, and the replaceable cartridge and pump cooperation with the branched sensing tube.
Gas-filled branched sensing tube for liquid-front movement
A closed sensing tube branched from the fluid path which, in use, is filled with gas; a sensor configured to sense whether the contents within the sensing tube are a liquid or gas to determine movement of a liquid front within the sensing tube.
Occlusion determination from sensed liquid-front movement
Responsive to sensing of said movement, determine that a partial or total occlusion has occurred within the outlet tube.
Refractive index, permittivity, or impedance sensing of sensing-tube contents
The sensor configured to sense the refractive index of the sensing tube, the permittivities of the contents of the sensing tube, or the impedance of the contents of the sensing tube.
Replaceable cartridge with reservoir and closed sensing tube
The replaceable cartridge comprises a reservoir and the closed sensing tube.
Pump configured to pump liquid from the reservoir along the fluid path
The pump is configured to pump liquid from the reservoir along the fluid path.
Across the independent claim, occlusion detection is implemented by using a closed, gas-filled sensing tube branched from the outlet fluid path, sensing liquid-gas content to track liquid-front movement, and determining partial versus total occlusion in the outlet tube based on that movement. The sensing of liquid-gas content is performed via refractive index, permittivities, or impedance of the sensing-tube contents, in a system that uses a replaceable cartridge with a reservoir and closed sensing tube in cooperation with the pump.
Stated Advantages
Enables determination that partial or total occlusion has occurred within the outlet tube based on sensed movement of a liquid front within the sensing tube.
Allows sensing via refractive index, permittivity, or impedance of the sensing-tube contents.
Supports configurations where sensor electronics can be located in a durable pump part while the sensing tube is provided in a replaceable cartridge.
Documented Applications
Infusion/flow management in a fluid delivery system that determines partial or total occlusion within an outlet tube, including within a pump-driven liquid delivery context.
Interested in licensing this patent?