AU2002323281A1

AU2002323281A1 - Intravenous set flow volumetric measurement device

Info

Publication number: AU2002323281A1
Application number: AU2002323281A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Zeev Burko
Original assignee: BURKO SYSTEMS AND DEVELOPMENT Ltd
Current assignee: BURKO SYSTEMS AND DEVELOPMENT Ltd
Priority date: 2001-09-05
Filing date: 2002-08-21
Publication date: 2003-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 2022-08-21

Description

INTRAVENOUS SET FLOW VOLUMETRIC MEASUREMENT DEVICE

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

_ The present invention relates to the flow of fluids into a patient's

blood stream and, more particularly, to a system and method for the

volumetric measurement of fluids administered in any standard gravity

intravenous infusion set.

The intravenous infusion of fluids into a patient's bloodstream is a

common medical procedure. Fluids that are typically administered

intravenously include glucose and saline solutions, drugs, and blood.

Intravenous (IV) systems generally comprise a reservoir, a drip chamber, a

feed tube, and an IV needle. The reservoir, also called an IV bag, holds a

quantity of the fluid to be infused. The reservoir is coupled to a dripper by

means of a feed tube. The dripper, in turn, is coupled by the feed tube to the

hollow IV needle, which is injected into a vein of the patient. The fluid in

the reservoir drips through the needle and into the bloodstream, with the

drip rate being controlled by the dripper.

In the past, two major approaches have been used to control the rate

at which fluids are administered intravenously. The first approach is to use a

conventional drip chamber which is manually controlled to adjust the drop

rate through the drip chamber until the drops fall at a predetermined rate.

This approach brings with it the advantage of simplicity in that only gravitational forces are needed to maintain the flow of fluids through the

drip chamber.

However, manually controlled drip chambers are not satisfactory for

all applications, for such drip chambers can permit fluid flow rate

inaccuracies above or below the requested flow rate. These inaccuracies are

due to the fact that the size of individual drops passing through the drip

chamber can vary from set to set, the flow rate with which the fluid passes

through the drip chamber, fluid pressure, and vibrational influences on the

drip chamber. Furthermore, unless the drip chamber is carefully made to

exacting tolerances, the drop volume may vary from one drip chamber to the

next and definitely from one type of set to the next type. This means that a

drop rate appropriate for a preselected fluid flow rate with a first drip

chamber is not necessarily appropriate for a second drip chamber.

Moreover, because of cold flow of tubing used in conjunction with

conventional pinch clamps, a conventional, manually controlled drip

chamber which is operating at a desired drop rate initially may well vary

from this drop rate in time.

In an effort to provide greater accuracy of infusion rates, positive

displacement infusion pumps have come into widespread use. Such pumps

provide the advantage of accurately controlled infusion rates, largely

independently of the pressure or the viscosity of the fluid being infused.

However, such infusion pumps suffer from their own disadvantages. Because they typically operate at pressures of up to 60 psi, the danger of

overpressure infusion is always present. Furthermore, infusion pumps tend

to be relatively expensive, as well as heavy and cumbersome. In large part,

the weight of infusion pumps is related to the size of the back up battery

needed to power the pump in the event of a power failure. Because pumps

operate motors on a regular basis, back up batteries for infusion pumps

require large capacity.

The most basic part of control is to first obtain a precise volumetric

measurement of the fluid administered.

US Pat. No. 4,525,163 to Slavik et al teaches a flow control device

including a sensor for measuring drop sizes. The drop sizes are measured as

a calculation of averages after a certain number of optically detected drops

fall into a burette. This is not a volumetric measurement and an additional

drawback is that the administered fluid has to pass through the device, this

being an invasive device.

US Pat. No. 4,504,263 to Steur et al describes an invasive flow

monitor where the flow of fluid passes through the monitor. The

disadvantage of the invasive devices is that they have to be sterilized

between uses and that becomes the responsibility and a resulting nuisance of

the hospital requiring multiple devices with extras for sterilization. In the

device described by Steuer the individual drops are measured by a infrared sensor. An additional drawback to the in asiveness of Steuer's invention is

that he assumes that the drops are spherical which is not always the case.

There exist prior art describing non-invasive devices for counting

drops such as described in US Pat. No. 6,083,206 to Molko. Molko teaches

a device that can count drops with great precision by sensing infra-red

radiation passing through the drip chamber, but does not account for the

volumetric measurement of each drop and must rely on the drop size

designated by the particular set.

The necessity for volumetric precision becomes critical for tiny

infants who receive even less than two milliliters of fluid administered in an

IV drip per hour.

As infusion pumps and gravity fed intravenous sets have the

abovementioned disadvantages it would be highly advantageous to have a

simple gravity fed intravenous set devoid of the above limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a

device for the volumetric measurement of a fluid administered in a gravity

infusion set including a drip chamber. The device includes a housing

configured for releasable deployment around a cylindrical surface of the

drip chamber. The housing includes a source of radiation configured to emit

radiation through the drip chamber in a path substantially perpendicular to an axis of the cylindrical surface and an optical receiver deployed to be

adjacent to a portion of the cylindrical surface substantially opposite the

source of radiation. The optical receiver is configured for quantitatively

sensing the radiation and a processor operative to calculate a volume of

each drop passing through the drip chamber as a function of the relative loss

of radiation quantitatively sensed by the receiver during passing of a drop

against a background radiation.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is

provided a method for calculating a volume delivered through an

intravenous set with a drip chamber configured for the flow of the fluid

substantially along the drip chamber's axis. The method includes the steps

of passing radiation from the exterior of the drip chamber through the drip

chamber via a path generally perpendicular to the drip chamber axis to a

sensor positioned on an opposite position on the exterior of the drip

chamber, detecting and quantifying a background radiation value passing

through the drip chamber, detecting and quantifying a radiation value

passing through a drop falling through the drip chamber in order to obtain

data indicative of a radiation loss due to the drop passing though the

radiation path; and calculating a volume of the drop as a function of the

relative loss of radiation detected during passing of the drop against the

background radiation value. According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is

provided a method for calculating a volume delivered through an

intravenous set with a drip chamber configured for the flow of the fluid

substantially along the drip chamber's axis. The method comprises the steps

of passing radiation from the exterior of the drip chamber through the drip

chamber via a path generally perpendicular to the drip chamber axis to a

sensor positioned on an opposite position on the exterior of the drip

chamber, detecting and quantifying a background radiation value passing

through the drip chamber, detecting and quantifying a radiation value

passing through a drop falling through the drip chamber in order to obtain

data indicative of a radiation loss due to the drop passing though the

radiation path; and deriving a volume measurement for the drop using a

lookup table, the lookup table formed by accumulating empirical data.

According to further features in preferred embodiments of the

invention described below, the radiation is configured to function in pulsed

mode.

According to still further features in the described preferred

embodiments the radiation is configured to function in continuous mode.

According to further features in preferred embodiments of the

invention described below, the radiation is light radiation.

According to still further features in the described preferred

embodiments the radiation is infra-red radiation. According to still further features in the described preferred

embodiments a volume calculated is used for controlling the flow of a fluid

administered in a gravity infusion set.

According to still further features in the described preferred

embodiments a relative loss of radiation is converted into a volume with the

aid of a lookup table. The lookup table is created by accumulating empirical

data of drops passing through various infusion sets determining a relative

loss of radiation during the passing of the drop through the radiation and

then weighing the drops and determining the volume of each drop in

proportion to its specific gravity. The device and method is suitable for use

with any IV set and is non-invasive.

The present invention successfully addresses the shortcomings of the

presently known configurations by providing a device and method for

measuring the volume of a drop, which can be used to determine the volume

of a fluid administered in a gravity infusion set.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with

reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to

the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way

of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred

embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily

understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the

invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of

the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental

understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings

making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the

invention may be embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a device for the volumetric measurement of a fluid

administered in a gravity infusion set;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the radiation pulses before and after

passing through a drip chamber, before and during the passage of a drop

through the chamber; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for calculating the volume of a

drop.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is of a device and method for measuring the

volume of a drop, which can be used to determine the volume of a fluid

administered in a gravity infusion set.

Specifically, the present invention can be used to determine the volume of

each drop administered in a gravity infusion set facilitating a most accurate knowledge of a total volume administered which can be used in the control

of the flow of the fluid.

The principles and operation of a device and method for measuring

the volume of a drop according to the present invention may be better

understood with reference to the drawings and accompanying descriptions.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail,

it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the

details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in

the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is

capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various

ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology

employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be

regarded as limiting.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a device 10 for

the volumetric measurement of a fluid administered in a gravity infusion set

12 including a drip chamber. Some of the parts are illustrated out of

proportion in order to get a better understanding of the parts of the invention

involved and how they combine with a gravity infusion set. Gravity infusion

set 12 typically includes a reservoir 16, a drip chamber 14, a feed tube 18,

and an IV needle 20.

Device 10 includes a housing 22 configured for releasable

deployment around a cylindrical surface 24 of drip chamber 14. Housing 22 fits over drip chamber 14 and is attached to any of a number of places

including the tube leading into drip chamber 14 or alternately to the top

portion of drip chamber 14 or to the stand supporting set 12. Housing 22

includes a source of radiation 26. Source of radiation 26 is configured to

emit radiation 28 through drip chamber 14 in a path substantially

perpendicular to an axis 30 of cylindrical surface 24. An optical receiver 32

configured for quantitatively sensing radiation is deployed to be adjacent to

a portion of cylindrical surface 24 substantially opposite source of radiation

26.

Preferably the radiation from a source of radiation 26 emitted is

infrared light. Alternately or additionally other types of radiation could be

used as well. Source of radiation 26 includes an array of infrared light

emitting diodes that generate infrared light. According to the present

invention the infrared radiation is emitted either in a continuous mode or

alternately in a pulsed mode.

Among the advantages of a pulsed mode are improved control in

accounting for background radiation level and in saving energy. A

preferable pulse rate is a rate of thousands of pulses and preferably at

approximately 100,000 pulses per second. Pulsed mode is helpful in

prevention of disturbances in background radiation measurements for

example when light from an external source such as sunlight shines onto the

drip chamber. A pulser in source of radiation 26 periodically energizes the light

emitting diodes to produce a series of energized and non-energized states.

Figure 2 illustrates the difference between pulses of radiation

detected and quantified by optical receiver 32 after having passed through

drip chamber 14 with no drop (figure 2a) in the path of the radiation and

with a drop 40 (figure 2b) in the path of the radiation.

Figure 2a illustrates pulses of radiation 14 represented digitally. An

Analog-to-Digital converter is used to convert radiation pulses into digital

code, a measurable voltage or some other measurable electrical reaction to

the analog signal. Pulses 40 passing through drip chamber 14 when no drop

is in the path of the radiation are measured and there is no significant

variation in height between the pulses measured by optical receiver 32

passing through chamber 14. There is of course a difference between the

radiation going in to chamber 14 and detected by optical receiver 32 on the

other side of chamber 14. This is the background or reference level. Device

preferably 10 calibrates itself before and after each drop passing through

drip chamber 14 which takes into account any changes in the environment

inside or outside. Examples of changes that need to be taken accounted for

are foggy-like droplets formed on the outside of chamber 14 or tiny droplets

splashed on the inside surface of chamber 14. As device 10 is suitable for

any gravity IV set 12, there are inherent differences between various drip

chambers, such as wall thickness or wall constitution. A processor 34 controls the energizing of the infrared emitting diodes in accordance to the

radiation sensed on the other side of chamber 14 and adjusts the radiation

for each set and continues to calibrate itself many times between each drop.

Figure 2b illustrates a drop 42 passing through chamber 14 and the

resultant decrease in radiation passing through chamber 14. A dip 44 in

radiation sensed by sensor 32 is illustrated, wherein the minimum signal 46

in dip 44 corresponds to the thickest segment diameter of drop 42 passing

through chamber 14. Figure 2b illustrates the significance of preferably

having many tens of thousands of pulses per second, which means that a

few hundred pulses would pass through each drop 42 passing through drip

chamber 14. Accuracy of device 10 in the volumetric measurement of a

drop increases with the amount of pulses passing through a drop. Each pulse

represents a segment of a drop so more pulses passing through a drop give a

more accurate final result which is the volume of the drop. Device 10

calculates the volume of a drop regardless of the shape of the drop or the

type of IV set. A drop may be elongated or alternately a relatively wide and

flat drop. Many factors influence the shape of the drop including pressure,

the width of the entrance into the drip chamber, the fluid viscosity and

whether the entrance to the drip chamber is perfectly round or not.

Processor 34 is operative to calculate a volume of each drop 42

passing through drip chamber 14 as a function of the relative loss of radiation quantitatively sensed by receiver 32 during passing of drop 42

against a background or reference level of radiation.

In order to be able to calculate a volume for each drop, a lookup table

is first formed by accumulating empirical data. Empirical data is obtained

by running device 10 with numerous sets, each set with its own drop types.

Each drop has its own dip in radiation passing through. Each drop is then

weighed on an analytical balance to produce a precise weight. Taking into

account the specific gravity for each type of fluid, a volume for each can be

easily calculated. For example with water 1 kilogram water occupies a

volume of one liter. Various specific gravities of fluids will have

corresponding volumes slightly different than that of water. This procedure

is repeated many times, preferably thousands of times, such that it is

possible to relate a weight and therefore a volume to a dip or an integral

which is the value that is related to the dip.

Infrared light emitted in continuous mode is be more precise than

pulsed mode as the information missing between the pulsed will be

provided, and the drawback of sunshine or other light interfering with the

infrared can be overcome by making housing 22 non transmitting to light

from the outside, much like a black box. A significant drawback is the high

demand for power for a continuous flow of radiation. In many cases where

the preferable power supply to device 10 is a battery powered supply which

enables easy mobility from one patient to another, a continuous mode of radiation supply would deplete the batteries rapidly. Alternatively, in

another embodiment of the present invention, device 10 is powered by AC

current, and preferably has a source of batteries for backup in which case

continuous mode would be the preferred mode. This would be particularly

advantageous for a permanently positioned device 10 or when more

precision is required.

Reference is now made to Figure 3 which is a flow diagram of a

method 60 for calculating a volume delivered through an intravenous set

with a drip chamber configured for the flow of the fluid substantially along

the drip chamber's axis. Method 60 includes the steps of passing radiation

62 from the exterior of the drip chamber through the drip chamber via a

path generally perpendicular to the drip chamber axis to a sensor positioned

on an opposite position on the exterior of the drip chamber and detecting

and quantifying 64 a background radiation value passing through the drip

chamber. If the background radiation value was either too low or too high

65, then the amount of radiation to be passed through chamber 14 is

modified to a higher or lower radiation and is passed through again 62. This

stage is repeated until a predetermined level of radiation is reached. This

could depend on many factors, such as set type and formation of frost on the

chamber. Once a predetermined level of radiation has been reached, it is

possible to calculate the volume of a drop. The next step occurs when a

drop passes through the chamber 68. Radiation preferably in the form of infrared light is passed through a drop falling through the drip chamber 70.

The sensor detects and quantifies the radiation 72 in order to obtain data

indicative of a radiation loss due to the drop passing though the radiation

path. The volume of the drop is then calculated as a function of the relative

loss of radiation detected during passing of the drop against the background

radiation value. The volume calculated for a drop is used in the control of

fluid administered making control more precise.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with

specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives,

modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications

and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended

claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A device for the volumetric measurement of a fluid

administered in a gravity infusion set including a drip chamber, device

comprising:

(a) a housing configured for releasable deployment around a

cylindrical surface of the drip chamber, said housing including:

(i) a source of radiation, said source of radiation

configured to emit radiation through the drip chamber in a

path substantially perpendicular to an axis of said cylindrical

surface; and

(ii) an optical receiver deployed to be adjacent to a portion

of said cylindrical surface substantially opposite said source of

radiation, said optical receiver configured for quantitatively

sensing said radiation; and

a processor operative to calculate a volume of each drop passing

through the drip chamber as a function of the relative loss of

radiation quantitatively sensed by said receiver during passing of a

drop against a background radiation.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation is configured to

function in pulsed mode.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation is configured to function in continuous mode.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation is light

radiation.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation is infra-red

radiation.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein a volume calculated is used for controlling the flow of a fluid administered in a gravity infusion set.

7. A method for calculating a volume delivered through an

intravenous set with a drip chamber configured for the flow of the fluid

substantially along the drip chamber's axis, method comprising the steps of:

(a) passing radiation from the exterior of the drip chamber

through the drip chamber via a path generally perpendicular to the

drip chamber axis to a sensor positioned on an opposite position on

the exterior of the drip chamber;

(b) detecting and quantifying a background radiation value

passing through the drip chamber;

(c) detecting and quantifying a radiation value passing through a

drop falling through the drip chamber in order to obtain data indicative of a radiation loss due to said drop passing though said

radiation path; and

(d) calculating a volume of said drop as a function of the relative

loss of radiation detected during passing of said drop against said

background radiation value.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said radiation is configured to

function in pulsed mode.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said radiation is configured to

function in continuous mode.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said radiation is light

radiation.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said radiation is infra-red

radiation.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of

controlling the flow of a fluid administered in a gravity infusion set using

the volume calculated for a drop.

13. A method for calculating a volume delivered through an intravenous

set with a drip chamber configured for the flow of the fluid substantially

along the drip chamber's axis, method comprising the steps of:

(a) passing radiation from the exterior of the drip chamber

through the drip chamber via a path generally perpendicular to the

drip chamber axis to a sensor positioned on an opposite position on

the exterior of the drip chamber;

(b) detecting and quantifying a background radiation value

passing through the drip chamber;

(c) detecting and quantifying a radiation value passing through a

drop falling through the drip chamber in order to obtain data

indicative of a radiation loss due to said drop passing though said

radiation path; and

(d) deriving a volume measurement for said drop using a lookup

table, said lookup table formed by accumulating empirical data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said radiation is configured

o function in pulsed mode.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said radiation is configured

o function in continuous mode.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said radiation is light

radiation.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said radiation is infrared

radiation.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of

controlling the flow of a fluid administered in a gravity infusion set using

the volume calculated for a drop.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said empirical data is

accumulated by weighing a plurality of drops passed through said radiation

path and determining the volume of each drop in proportion to its specific

gravity.