Blood leakage detection device
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8048045-B2
Publication Date
2011-11-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
A blood leakage detection device for attachment to the skin of a patient at a wound such as one caused by insertion a cannula into a vein or artery comprises a support of a flexible material having a top side and an opposite bottom side, a zone of adhesive for attachment to the skin on the bottom side of the support extending along its periphery except for a sector of from about 5° to about 150°, a blood absorbent patch disposed on the support and extending inwardly of the adhesive zone and, optionally, in the sector, and a blood detection probe comprising a probe head disposed at or near the center of the support in the absorbent patch or abutting the bottom side thereof. A blood transport element can be disposed between the support and the absorbent patch.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a single-use blood leakage detection device for attachment to the skin of a patient at a wound, in particular a wound caused by insertion of a cannula into a vein or artery. The device comprises a support of flexible material with a top side and a bottom side, and a zone of adhesive for attachment to the skin on the bottom side. The adhesive zone extends along the periphery except for a sector of about 5° to about 150°, thereby leaving an adhesive-free sector.
A blood absorbent patch having a top side and a bottom side is disposed on the support and extends inwardly of the adhesive zone and, in the sector. A blood detection probe comprises an optical fibre for disposition above the wound, and a probe head for disposition above the wound. The probe head is disposed at or near the centre of the support in the absorbent patch or in abutment with the bottom side of the absorbent patch, and inward of the adhesive zone.
The disclosure further describes alternative sensing and structural options, including an electrical conductance probe using electrodes and/or wires separated by a slit, and an architecture in which a blood transport non-absorbing layer or net-like structure may be provided between the support and the absorbent patch. A cover may be provided over the top side to protect the arrangement while allowing fluid escape.
Claims Coverage
The document provides one independent claim covering the overall blood leakage detection device architecture, with dependent claims adding specific structural, quantitative, and optical/electrical feature constraints. The inventive features emphasized are the adhesive-free sector geometry, the inward placement of the absorbent patch, the probe head placement at or near the centre, and optional refinements such as non-absorbing transport layers and optical/electrical sensing details.
Skin-attachable flexible support with peripheral adhesive except for an adhesive-free sector
A blood leakage detection device comprises a support of flexible material having a top side and a bottom side, with a zone of adhesive for attachment to the skin on the bottom side extending along its periphery except for a sector of about 5° to about 150°.
Inward blood absorbent patch disposed on the support
A blood absorbent patch having a top side and a bottom side is disposed on the support and extends inwardly of the adhesive zone and, in the sector.
Optical-fibre blood detection probe with probe head at or near the centre
A blood detection probe comprises an optical fibre for disposition above the wound, with a probe head for disposition above the wound disposed at or near the centre of the support in the absorbent patch or in abutment with the bottom side of the absorbent patch, and inward of the adhesive zone.
U-formed support with probe head between the legs
The support is U-formed, and the probe head is positioned between the legs of the U-shaped support.
Probe head discontinuity attenuating light when contacted by blood
The probe head has a discontinuity that, when contacted by blood, attenuates light carried by the fibre.
Blood transport layer with limited blood-adhering capacity relative to the absorbent patch
The blood-adhering capacity of a transport element is 5% or less of the blood-absorbing capacity of the absorbent patch.
Sharp bend approximately 180° in the optical fibre
The probe comprising an optical fibre has a sharp bend approximately 180°.
Overall claim coverage is anchored in the combination of a flexible support with a peripheral adhesive zone leaving an adhesive-free sector, an inward blood absorbent patch, and an optical-fibre-based blood detection probe whose probe head is positioned at or near the support centre, including abutment with the absorbent patch bottom side and inward of the adhesive zone. Dependent claims further narrow the configuration using specific support geometry, optical interaction details, and optional transport-element constraints including a quantitative blood-adhering capacity limit relative to the absorbent patch.
Stated Advantages
Improved reaction time, described as 1–3 seconds.
Improved repeatability compared with a comparator device.
Improved reaction time compared with a comparator in which a non-absorbing passage element was replaced by an absorbent-type patch (described as about 3 seconds or longer).
Documented Applications
Blood leakage detection for a wound caused by insertion of a cannula into a vein or artery.
A described venous puncture test, including reaction-time evaluation and repeatability comparison.
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