Air-bubble-monitoring medication assembly, medical system and method
US7338470B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 3, 2003 |
| Grant date | Mar 4, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 21, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M5/365
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An air-bubble-monitoring medication assembly includes a drug infusion subassembly having a tube for administering therein a liquid to a patient, a bubble-size determinator which is positioned to sense an air bubble entrained in the liquid in the tube and which determines the volume of the air bubble, and an analyzer. The analyzer logs the time the detector senses an air bubble and the volume of the air bubble, calculates a running sum of a total air volume of all air bubbles sensed over a time interval, compares the running sum with a preselected limit, and generates an output when the running sum exceeds the preselected limit. The medical system additionally includes a controller assembly which determines a delivery schedule for administering the liquid and which controls the drug infusion subassembly to administer the liquid in accordance with the determined delivery schedule. The method performs the analyzer functions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.