Flow monitoring system for a flow control apparatus

Flow monitoring system in a flow control device

Full description

Background of the invention:-

The present invention relates to a flow control device capable of distinguishing flow states present within an administration feeding set.

Fluids administered containing medication or food to a patient are generally well known in the field. Typically, fluid is released to the patient by a flow control-mounted feeding device, such as a pump, connected to a fluid source that releases the patient's fluid.

The flow control device in the previous field may also be able to monitor and detect fluid flow conditions that may occur inside the bearing drive feeder while the flow control device is operating. In general, flow monitoring systems in a previous field are able to monitor and detect flow states that may rely on separate sensors that are placed in the upstream or downstream sides of the administration feeding set in order to distinguish between an upstream and downstream flow state. Hence, it exists

There is a need in the field for an improved flow controller that has a flow monitoring system and is able to determine between an upstream flow state and an upstream flow state using a single probe, for this reason it is possible to monitor the fluid and be aware of any problem occurring in the fluid release.

General description of the invention:-

The present invention relates to a flow control device that includes a flow control device adapted to be carried with a management feed device containing an upstream side and an upstream side, an individual sensor to detect the presence or absence of fluid in the upstream side of the management feed device.

An operating sub-program system is linked to the individual sensor, in which the program sub-system is capable of distinguishing between a flow state and a flow state with the current within the drive supply device.

The present invention also relates to a flow control device that includes a flow control device configured to be loaded with a management feed device, the management feed device having an upstream side and a downstream side with the management feed device mounted on the flow controller, an individual sensor for detecting the presence or absence of liquid in the flow control device. Upstream in the facility's feeding device, and a software subsystem that operates pedestrians with an individual sensor, in which the software subsystem is able to distinguish between an upstream flow state and an upstream flow state inside the management feeder. The bearing on the flow control device.

The present invention also relates to a method for monitoring fluid flow including connecting one end in an administration feeding set to at least one fluid source, carrying the administration feeding device to a flow control device, which connects another end to an administration feeding set, distinguishing between a flow state against The upstream current and the downstream flow state are located inside the management feeder and loaded on the flow control device.

Brief explanation of the drawings:-

Figure 1 represents a view of an exemplary flow control device containing a flow monitoring system according to the present invention;

Figure 2 represents a side view of the flow control device with the drive feed device loaded therein according to the present invention.

Figure 3 represents a simplified phase diagram showing the elements in a flow control device that includes a flow monitoring system according to the present invention;

Figure 4 represents a block diagram of the flow monitoring system according to the present invention;

Figure 4a represents a precise context of a graph shown in Figure 4 according to the present invention;

Figure 5a represents a graph showing the signal strength over time for the case of an empty bag detected by a sensor according to the present invention, and

Figure 5B is a graph showing the signal strength at the time of occlusion

The current through the sensor according to the present invention.

Detailed description:-

Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of a flow control device according to the present invention is shown and generally shown as 10 in Figures 1 to 5. The flow controller 10 includes a flow monitoring system 12 that is capable of detecting and clarifying between upstream and downstream flow states within the administration feeding set 14. The administration feeding device 14 contains a set of tubing 56 that is mounted on the flow control device 0 1 to release fluid to the patient by attaching a valve mechanism 26 and a fitting member 74 in the administration feeding device 14 to the flow controller 10. As used herein, the term load means that the valve mechanism 28 and mounting member 74 are coupled to the flow control device 0 1 and the piping assembly 56 is positioned in an expanded state between the valve mechanism 28 and mounting member 74 so that the drive feed device 14 is a device for working with Flow control device 10.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an exemplary flow control device 10 according to the present invention includes a housing 20 configured to hold a drive feed device 4 1 for the flow control device 0 1 . The flow control device 10 includes a primary cavity 124 that is covered by a primary door 136 and contains a first and second cavity 58 and 60 to provide locations that are configured to hold the drive feed device 14 for the flow control device 10 when the valve mechanism 28 and the mounting member 74 are connected to the first and second cavity 58. 60 in a row. Preferably, the fluid circulation means, such as the rotor 26, are round and connected through a seat 20 and configured to connect a set of tubes 56 so that they are

The tube assembly 56 is positioned in an expanded state between the first and second cavities 58, 60 when the drive feed device is loaded on the flow control device 10.

And the. As used herein, the portion of the piping 56 in the drive feeder 14 that leads to the rotor 26 is expressed as upstream, while the portion of the piping 56 that leads away from the rotor 26 is expressed as downstream. Accordingly, rotating the rotor 26 compresses the tubing 56 and provides a means of circulating the fluid from the upstream side to the downstream side in the administration feeder 14 for delivery to the patient. It is envisaged that any flow control device containing means for circulating a fluid may be used, such as a linear peristaltic pump, a bellows pump, a turbine pump, a rotary peristaltic pump, and a displacement pump. In addition, The idea of this invention is based on means of preventing the flow of liquid into the drive feeding device 14 preferably a valve mechanism 28. However, any means may be used that can prevent the flow of liquid through the drive feed device administration feeding set 14 .

Referring to Figure 1, the flow control device 10 also includes a user interface 40 that assists the user to operate the interface with the flow control device 10. The width 70, by combining an actuator with an array of buttons 138 positioned along a stack 66, assists the user to interact with a precision actuator 62 to operate the flow monitoring system 12 according to the present invention. Referring to Figure 3, the flow controller 10 also includes a microactuator 62 that operates in combination with an individual sensor 32. A software subsystem 36 operates in conjunction with a microactuator 62 and is also connected to the flow monitoring system 12 and means of preventing fluid flow, such as a valve mechanism 28, which provides a means for the flow controller 10 to detect and distinguish between upstream and downstream flow states in the device. Feed management 4 1 during an operation in the flow control device 10. As noted above, the flow controller 0 1 has an individual sensor 32 to detect whether fluid is present or absent in the tubing assembly.

56 on the upstream side of the drive supply device 14. The individual sensor 32 is mounted on the housing 20 of the flow control device 10 and is placed to detect the presence or absence of liquid on the upstream side of the administration feeding set 14.

In an embodiment shown in Figure 2, the individual probe 32 includes a hollow probe style 42 and is configured to secure the receiving pipes 56 here when the drive feed device 14 is mounted on the flow control device 10.

In order for an individual sensor 32 to detect the presence or absence of fluid in the tubes 56 in the drive feeding device 14 requires that the tubes 56 be connected and confined within the path of the sensor 42. In one embodiment, attachment and retention in the tubes 56 within the path of the sensor 42 is achieved by activating the flow control device 10 when the tubes 56 are empty of liquid and are connected around the flow control device 0 1 so that the vacuum creates a decrease in the outer diameter of the tubes 56 as air is emptied from a feed device. administration feeding set 14, thus placing the tubes 56 in a vacuum state 0 In this deflated state, the user can easily place the tubes 56 within the path of the sensor 42 when carrying the administration feeding device 14 to a device Flow control 10.

Also, the valve mechanism 28 connects with the pipes 56 that are empty of any liquid, with the pipes 56 connected to the first cavity 58, after which the pipes 56 are wrapped around the rotor 26, and the mounting member 74 connected to the second cavity 60 and therefore carries the administration feeding set 14 with a device Flow control 10 and a portion of tubing 56 between the first and second cavities 58 and 60 that are in an expanded state. He then operated the valve mechanism 28 to allow the flow of liquid to continue through the pipes 56 and thus the air was emptied from the management supply device 14. Hence, when the rotor makes 26 runs during this preparation method, a vacuum is created inside the tubes 56 which is strengthened from subsidence according to the flexible nature of the tubes 56 and the lack of liquid containing the drive feeding device 14. This temporary drop in the pipe 56 allows the couplers to have strong forces

The tension exerted by operating the rotor 26 allows the tubes 56 to be easily held within the path of the sensor 42.

In addition, when the flow controller 10 is engaged and the tubing 56 is connected within the probe path 42, the fluid flow through the tubing 56 increases the outer diameter in the tubing 56 relative to the inner diameter in the probe path 42. Once the tubes 56 are connected within the probe path 42 and the remaining parts of the drive feed device 14 are connected to the flow control device 10, the flow monitoring system 16 becomes operational. A micro-actuator 62 controls and manages the process of the various components of the flow controller 10. Preferably, an individual sensor 32 includes an ultrasonic transmitter assembly 90 that transmits an ultrasonic signal through a portion of piping 56 placed in the path of the sensor 42 to provide a means of detecting the presence or absence of fluid on the upstream side of the drive feeder 14 when the signal is received. By Future 92 Gathering.

Upon receipt of an ultrasonic signal, the receiver assembly 92 detects whether liquid is present or absent inside the pipes 56 along the path of the sensor 42, which depends on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal received by the microactuator 62. The receiver assembly 92 is then connected to the microactuator 62. Characteristics placed in the received ultrasonic signal connected to the microactuator 62 and the software subsystem 36 determine whether the fluid flow within the drive feeder 14 is normal or whether an abnormal flow is present. The program subsystem 36 determines through a set of decision points and steps whether normal flow or abnormal flow conditions exist within the pipes 56, and if an abnormal flow condition exists, whether it is an empty bag condition, an upstream blockage, or a downstream blockage.

Referring to the diagram in Figures 4 and 4a, the various decision points and steps are implemented by a program subsystem 36 to implement periodic testing method A by the flow monitoring system 12 shown. A subsystem directs 36 flow controllers to perform 10 tasks

Various operations related to detecting and distinguishing between upstream and downstream flow states in the drive supply device 14. During normal operation, the individual probe 32 transmits ultrasonic signals through the tubes 56 connected within the probe route 42 to detect the presence or absence of fluid in the administration feeding set 14. During the operation of the flow control device 10, the software subsystem 36 determines at predetermined times whether it is informed of a periodic test method A to determine whether the blockage exists in the flow 0. The periodic test method A includes communicating the flow of a finite fluid through the drive feed device 14 by means of a valve mechanism 28 Transmit and detect an ultrasonic signal to determine the presence or absence of liquid with an individual sensor 32 and repeat these steps, if necessary.

Specifically, a program subsystem 36 decides at step 289 whether to perform periodic test method A as shown in Figure 4a. If so, the micro-actuator 62 brings the flow device 0 1 to the termination state in step 290 in order to terminate the operation of the flow control 10 such that the rotor 26 no longer circulates the fluid through the tubes 56. A precision actuator 62 then, in a step 292, places a valve mechanism 28 in a trapped position preventing the flow of fluid into the tubes 56.

After blocking the flow of fluid through the drive feed device 14 by a valve mechanism 28, a base line signal is taken by a single probe 32 in step 294 to provide a precision actuator 62 with a readout of the signal when the flow controller 0 1 is reactivated in step 296.

After reactivation, any liquid contained within the tubes 56 shall circulate through the tubes 56 by the action of the rotor 26 and be released to the patient as soon as there is no obstruction along the downstream side of the drive-fed device 14 0 and after a short period of time after the valve mechanism 8 2 is in position. A blockage that terminates the flow of fluid requires that the tubes 56 be drained of any remaining fluid until the blockage with the flow is present, which must prevent the fluid from receiving I am the patient until the fluid is strong enough to remain inside the tubes 56 according to the blockage 0 and a subsystem of the program 36 allows, after determining the amount Previously, any excess liquid is required to drain from pipe 56 in step 298. At step 300, it transmits

An individual sensor 32 then sends another ultrasonic signal through the piping 56 and takes a second reading to determine if fluid is present or absent within the management feed device 14. If fluid remains inside the drive feed device 14, a software subsystem 36 then determines the presence of a downstream blockage and sounds an alarm.

Once cyclic test method A is complete, a software subsystem 36 reaches a decision point 302 that determines which of the others is in a downstream state first, such as a blockage along the downstream side of the drive feeder 14 located inside the piping 56 . If there is no fluid remaining in the pipes 56 at the decision point 302, a software subsystem 36 determines that there is no blockage downstream. In step 304, the precision actuator 62 resets the meter and places the flow controller 10 in a closed state in step 306. A valve mechanism 28 is then placed in either a feed or purge position allowing fluid to flow through the tubing 56 in step 308. After the valve mechanism 28 is operated to feed or clean the flow control device site 10 placed in the operating state in step 310, the flow monitoring system 12 contains a program subsystem 36 that returns to step 289.

If at decision point 302 a blockage along the side in the drive feed device 14 downstream is possible, then decision point 312 is then reached. The decision point 312 is the number of presence detected by the individual sensor 32 of the presence of liquid inside the pipes 56 which is denoted as 5A, while the previously established maximum number of presence in the flow monitoring system 12 allows the detection of a possible blockage with the flow and is denoted (maximum) D5. If D5 is smaller than (maximum) D5 at the decision point 312, the software subsystem 36 will determine that there is no blockage with the flow and position the valve mechanism 8 2 to allow fluid to flow through the drive feed device 14 in a manner as previously described above in steps 304, 306. , 308 and 310 . However, if D5 is greater than D5(max) there may be a blockage of the current and a software subsystem 36 will instruct a micro-actuator 62 to activate the alarm 68. Preferably, the warning 68 should be audible, visual, vibration, or any combination thereof.

In an embodiment of the present invention it is expected that a certain type of alarm 68 may recreate a certain unusual flow condition that exists within the management feeder 14 and is known to the user by means of one of a visual, audible or vibrating alarm 68. For example, alarm 68 contains different sounds indicating different types of upstream and downstream conditions, such as an upstream blockage, an empty bag state, or an upstream blockage. These 68 individual alarms allow the flow monitoring system 12 to record the presence of many different unusual flow conditions.

Detection of upstream flow conditions within the drive feed 14, such as an upstream blockage or empty bag condition, is determined by the presence or absence of fluid within the piping by a single sensor 32 at a detection point positioned on the upstream side of the drive feed device 14. However, non-similar detection of an upstream blockage along the drive feeder 14 Detection in an upstream flow condition, such as an upstream blockage or empty bag condition in the drive feeder 14 does not require that the periodic test method A be implemented. Alternatively, detection in upstream flow conditions is complementary during normal operation of the flow control device 10 while the valve mechanism 28 is in the feeding or cleaning position allowing fluid to flow through the drive feed device 14.

The flow monitoring system 2 1 also detects and distinguishes between upstream flow conditions, such as normal flow, empty bag, and upstream blockage conditions when periodic test method A is not implemented by the software subsystem 36. Specifically, if at decision point 289 the software subsystem 36 does not initiate a periodic test method A to detect upstream flow states, a software subsystem 36 will operate to detect and differentiate between the states in normal flow, empty bag, and upstream blockage.

A program subsystem 36 determines in connection with an operator with the flow monitoring system 12 whether or not a normal upstream flow condition exists within the management feeder 14 during the operation of the flow control device 10. This process occurs at the decision point 314 and is determined based on the presence or absence

The fluid as detected by an individual sensor 32. Specifically, if the individual sensor 32 detects the presence of liquid inside the piping 56 then the flow is detected by a software subsystem 36 at the decision point. 314 A normal upstream flow condition is present because a flow condition is not present that shakes or restricts the flow of liquid on the upstream side of the feeding device. The administration 14 causes the fluid to become absent as detected by the individual sensor 32. If flow exists at decision point 314, this normal flow state will show the user interface 40 in step 315. Accordingly, the 68 alarm is not activated until the patient receives the correct dose of fluid during flow states.

The flow monitoring system 12 only activates an alarm 68 at the decision point 314 if an empty bag condition or blockage along the upstream side of the drive feed device 4 1 is detected as evidence by the absence of liquid in the piping 56 Operating performance of the flow control device 10. A software subsystem 36 distinguishes between an empty bag state and an upstream blockage at decision point 316. As shown in Figures 5A and 5B, a comparison is made between the decision point 316 to determine whether an empty bag condition or an upstream blockage exists within the drive feed device 014

As also shown, the graphs in Figures 5a and 5b are illustrated with previously defined base lines that show the relative signal strengths in an ultrasonic signal received by the receiver assembly 30b for the case of an empty bag and an upstream occlusion, thus, which provides a basis for distinguishing between the two supported upstream flow cases. On a comparison in a group of readings taken by an individual sensor 32 against a pre-determined base line scale represented by these two unusual flows. Specifically, a software subsystem 36 compares the change in signal strength from the combination of sensor readings caused by the individual sensor 32 over time against a predetermined baseline scale specifically for these flow conditions. It provides a comparison with readings taken by an individual sensor 32 that allows the software subsystem 36 to distinguish between an empty bag and an upstream blockage. For example, in the case of an empty bag, the change between successive readings decreases very quickly over time, while in the case of

Upstream blockage The signal change decreases very slowly over time. It is noted that when Figures 5a and 5b show an example of a preferred base line scale, another base line scale may be used that distinguishes between these two cases of abnormal flow.

An empty bag state is present when determined at the decision point 316 placed when comparing a signal against a predetermined metric as described above, a program subsystem 36 activates an alarm 68. If a subsystem of program 36 is determined at a decision point 316, an upstream blockage will exist, and a subsystem of program 36 will be directed. Also the activation in Alarm 68 is explained by an unusual flow. Accordingly, the flow monitoring system 12 is capable of detecting and distinguishing between upstream and downstream flow states that contain at least four separate flow states occurring within the drive feed 14. The ability of the flow monitoring system 2 1 complements the ability to detect and distinguish between downstream flow states Upstream flow is preferably achieved by a single detection point via a single sensor 32 placed on the upstream side of the administration feeding set 14.

Although the flow controller 10 described above is an ideal embodiment,

The present invention provides a flow control system 12 that may be used with any suitable flow control device.

It must be understood from the foregoing that, while embodiments of the invention are specifically stated and described, various modifications may be made here without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.