# US 10,869,800 B2 · Relocation module and methods for surgical equipment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,869,800 B2 - Document ID: US10869800B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/879,406 - Filed: 2020-05-20 - Published: 2020-09-10 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-26 - Assignees: Augustine Biomedical + Design, LLC - Applicants: Augustine Biomedical + Design, LLC - Inventors: Scott D. Augustine; Susan D. Augustine; Garrett J. Augustine; Brent M. Augustine; Ryan S. Augustine; Randall C. Arnold - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869800B2 ## CPC - A61G 13/108: {Means providing sterile air at a surgical operation table or area (treatment rooms A61G10/00; instruments or implements for sterile operation A61B90/00; sterilisation of air A61L9/00; purification of air in air-conditioning systems F24F3/16, F24F8/00)} - A61M 16/009: {Removing used or expired gases or anaesthetic vapours (filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air in drainage systems A61M1/784; bacterial filters in the expiratory path A61M16/1065)} - A61B 50/13: Trolleys{, e.g. carts} - A61B 50/15: Mayo stands; Tables - A61B 90/96: using barcodes - A61B 90/98: using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders - A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks - A61M 16/18: Vaporising devices for anaesthetic preparations - A61B 46/10: specially adapted for instruments{, e.g. microscopes} - A61B 90/50: Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms - A61B 2050/155: {Mayo stands} - A61M 16/01: specially adapted for anaesthetising {(A61M16/104, A61M16/18 take precedence)} - A61M 2205/6045: having complementary physical shapes for indexing or registration purposes - B01D 46/0093: {against fire or explosion} - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract An anesthetic equipment storage and waste air management module configured to housing electronic and electromechanical surgical equipment including a system to measure and record administration of one or more IV medications or fluids for IV administration. The module can include a housing having a lower section and a tower-like upper section, wherein the lower section is configured to house unrelated waste heat-producing electronic and electromechanical surgical equipment. The module can also include a cowling that substantially confines waste heat generated by the unrelated waste heat-producing electronic and electromechanical surgical equipment, and can include a system for measuring and recording the administration of the one or more IV medications and fluids. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A module for housing unrelated electronic and electromechanical surgical equipment including a system to measure and record administration of one or more IV medications or fluids for IV administration, the module comprising: a housing having a lower section and a tower-like upper section, wherein the lower section is configured to house unrelated waste heat-producing electronic and electromechanical surgical equipment, and wherein the tower-like upper section is located on top of the lower section, wherein the upper section is configured to accommodate mounting of equipment controls, display screens and monitor screens at a convenient height for viewing and operating; a cowling that substantially confines waste heat generated by the unrelated waste heat-producing electronic and electromechanical surgical equipment; and a system for measuring and recording the administration of the one or more IV medications and fluids, the system comprising: a barcode reader or an RFID interrogator configured to identify at least one of the one or more IV medications or fluids; and a machine vision digital camera in electrical communication with processing circuitry configured to determine a volume of medication administered from a syringe or fluid administered from an IV bag through an IV drip chamber into an IV tubing based on an image generated by the machine vision digital camera. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, the system to measure and record the administration of the one or more IV medications or fluids further comprising: an injection portal; and one or more orienting members, wherein the injection portal includes an injection port that is configured to be in fluid communication with the IV tubing and the one or more orienting members are configured to guide syringes of varying diameters to mate with the injection port within the injection portal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The module of claim 2, wherein the system to measure and record the administration of the one or more IV medications or fluids further comprises: a display in electrical communication with the machine vision digital camera, wherein the machine vision digital camera is configured to capture an image of a syringe when the syringe is inserted inside the injection portal, and wherein the display is configured to output a visual image or representation of the syringe. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The module of claim 2, wherein the machine vision digital camera is located to capture an image of an inside of the injection portal, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to interpret the image of a syringe when the syringe is inserted into the injection portal to measure the volume of medication injected from the syringe by determining a size and an internal diameter of the syringe and measuring a distance a plunger of the syringe moves to calculate an injected volume. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the RFID interrogator is configured to identify at least one of the one or more IV medications or fluids for IV administration that has been labeled with an RFID tag. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the machine vision digital camera that is in electrical communication with the processing circuitry is configured to read a barcode to identify a medication or fluid for IV administration that has been labeled with a barcode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the system to measure and record the administration of the one or more IV medications or fluids further comprises: a display in electrical communication with the machine vision digital camera, wherein the display is configured to output medication and fluid identification and injection information including one or more of: a brand name of a drug, a generic name of a drug, a concentration of a drug, a dosage of a drug, a dosage delivered, a fluid flow rate, a fluid volume delivered, a patient allergy, an alert for over-dosing, an alert for a drug allergy and an alert for drug interactions on the display. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The module of claim 7, wherein the system to measure and record the administration of the one or more IV medications or fluids further comprises or is in electrical communication with one or more of: an electronic anesthetic record (EAR) and an electronic medical record (EMR), and wherein the system automatically records at least some of the administration of the one or more IV medications in one or both of the (EAR) and the (EMR). ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The module of claim 2, wherein the system to measure and record the administration of the one or more IV medications or fluids further comprises: a mechanical clamp configured to clamp the IV tubing, the mechanical clamp positioned upstream or downstream from the injection port, wherein the mechanical clamp can be automatically actuated to mechanically compress the IV tubing to stop the administration of the one or more IV medications or fluids when an adverse condition is determined by the processing circuitry. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The module of claim 2, wherein the injection portal includes one or more UV lights that shine on the injection port. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the machine vision digital camera is located adjacent to the IV drip chamber, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to interpret the image of drops in the IV drip chamber and determine a volume of fluid flowing from the IV bag by determining a size of drops and a number of drops per unit time to calculate a fluid flow rate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the system to measure and record the administration of the one or more IV medications or fluids further comprises: a hanger configured to support an IV bag; and an electronic scale in electrical communication with a processor, wherein the electronic scale is configured to measure a combined weight of the IV bag, the IV drip chamber, the IV tubing and the fluids in the IV bag, and wherein the processor is configured to determine a reduction in the measured combined weight over time to determine the weight of the IV fluids infused over time and convert the measured combined weight over time to a fluid flow rate and an infused fluid volume. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the system to measure and record the administration of the one or more IV medications or fluids further comprises: a hanger configured to receive the IV bag; an electronic scale in electrical communication with a processor, wherein the hanger is configured to support the IV bag; and a float located in the IV drip chamber, wherein the machine vision digital camera is located adjacent to the IV drip chamber, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine a volume of fluid flowing from the IV bag by determining a size of drops and a number of the drops per unit time to calculate a fluid flow rate, wherein the electronic scale is configured to measure a combined weight of the IV bag, the IV drip chamber, the IV tubing and the fluid in the IV bag, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine a reduction in the measured combined weight over time to determine a weight of the IV fluids infused over time and convert the measured combined weight over time to a fluid flow rate and infused fluid volume, wherein at higher flow rates, when the drops in the IV drip chamber coalesce into a fluid stream that is un-interpretable by the machine vision camera and processing circuitry, the fluid stream causes a float in the IV drip chamber to move indicating that fluid is flowing, and wherein when the system fails to identify individual drops and detects that the float is moving, the processing circuitry is configured to measure a fluid flow rate by determining a reduction of the combined weight of the IV bag, the IV drip chamber, the IV tubing and the fluid in the IV bag over time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the system to measure and record the administration of the one or more IV medications or fluids further comprises: one or more electro-mechanical clamps in electrical communication with the processing circuitry, wherein the machine vision digital camera is located adjacent the IV drip chamber that is configured to be connected to the IV bag, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to interpret the image including a fluid meniscus level in the IV drip chamber, and wherein when the fluid meniscus is not present, the processing circuitry causes actuation of the one or more electro-mechanical clamps to compress the IV tubing to stop a portion of an IV infusion before air can enter the IV tubing. ### Claim 15 A module for housing unrelated electronic and electromechanical surgical equipment including a system to measure and record administration of one or more IV medications or fluids for IV administration to a patient, the module comprising: a housing having a lower section and a tower-like upper section, wherein the lower section is configured to house unrelated waste heat-producing electronic and electromechanical surgical equipment, and wherein the tower-like upper section is located on top of the lower section, wherein the upper section is configured to accommodate mounting of equipment controls, display screens and monitor screens at a convenient height for viewing and operating; a cable and hose management system located on a patient side of the module, wherein the patient side of the module is configured to face a patient and provide the closest and most direct access to the patient when the module is positioned adjacent an anesthesia side of an arm-board of a surgical table; and a system to measure and record the administration of the one or more IV medications and fluids, the system comprising: a barcode reader or an RFID interrogator configured to identify at least one of the one or more IV medications or fluids; and a machine vision digital camera in electrical communication with processing circuitry configured to determine a volume of medication administered from a syringe or fluid administered from an IV bag through an IV drip chamber into an IV tubing based on an image generated by the machine vision digital camera. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The module of claim 15, wherein the system to measure and record the administration of the one or more IV medications or fluids further comprises: an injection portal; and one or more orienting members, wherein the injection portal includes an injection port that is configured to be in fluid communication with the IV tubing and the one or more orienting members are configured to guide syringes of varying diameters to mate with the injection port within the injection portal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The module of claim 16, wherein the system to measure and record the administration of the one or more IV medications or fluids further comprises: a display in electrical communication with the machine vision digital camera, wherein the machine vision digital camera is configured to capture an image of the syringe when the syringe is inserted inside the injection portal, and wherein the display is configured to output a visual image or representation of the syringe. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The module of claim 16, wherein the machine vision digital camera is located to capture an image of an inside of the injection portal, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to interpret the image of the syringe when the syringe is inserted into the injection portal to measure the volume of medication injected from the syringe by determining a size and an internal diameter of the syringe and measuring a distance a plunger of the syringe moves to calculate an injected volume. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The module of claim 15, wherein the RFID interrogator is configured to identify at least one of the one or more IV medications or fluids for IV administration that has been labeled with an RFID tag. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The module of claim 15, wherein the machine vision digital camera is in electrical communication with the processing circuitry is configured to read a barcode to identify a medication or fluid for IV administration that has been labeled with a barcode. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The module of claim 15, wherein the system to measure and record the administration of the one or more IV medications or fluids further comprises: a display in electrical communication with the machine vision digital camera, wherein the display is configured to output medication and fluid identification and injection information including one or more of: a brand name of a drug, a generic name of a drug, a concentration of a drug, a dosage of a drug, a dosage delivered, a fluid flow rate, a fluid volume delivered, a patient allergy, an alert for over-dosing, an alert for a drug allergy and an alert for drug interactions on the display. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The module of claim 21, wherein the system to measure and record the administration of the one or more IV medications or fluids further comprises or is in electrical communication with one or more of: an electronic anesthetic record (EAR) and an electronic medical record (EMR), and wherein the system automatically records at least some of the administration of the one or more IV medications in one or both of the (EAR) and the (EMR). ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The module of claim 16, wherein the injection portal includes one or more UV lights that shine on the injection port. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The module of claim 15, wherein the machine vision digital camera is located adjacent to the IV drip chamber, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to interpret the image of drops in the IV drip chamber and determine a volume of fluid flowing from the IV bag by determining a size of drops and a number of drops per unit time to calculate a fluid flow rate. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The module of claim 15, wherein the system to measure and record the administration of the one or more IV medications or fluids further comprises: a hanger configured to support an IV bag; and an electronic scale in electrical communication with a processor, wherein the electronic scale is configured to measure a combined weight of the IV bag, the IV drip chamber, the IV tubing and the fluids in the IV bag, and wherein the processor is configured to determine a reduction in the measured combined weight over time to determine the weight of the IV fluids infused over time and convert the measured combined weight over time to a fluid flow rate and an infused fluid volume. ### Claim 26 A module comprising: a housing having a lower section and a tower-like upper section, wherein the lower section is configured to house unrelated waste heat-producing electronic and electromechanical surgical equipment, and wherein the tower-like upper section is located on top of the lower section; a cowling that substantially confines waste heat generated by the unrelated waste heat-producing electronic and electromechanical surgical equipment; a system for monitoring the administration of one or more IV medications and fluids, the system comprising: at least one of a sensor configured to identify the one or more IV medications or fluids, or an input configured to receive the identity of the one or more IV medications or fluids; a machine vision digital camera to capture an image of one or more of a syringe or a drip chamber; processing circuitry operably coupled to the sensor to receive the identity of the one or more IV medications or fluids, the processing circuitry operably coupled to the machine vision digital camera to receive the captured image and determine a volume of medication administered from the syringe or fluid administered from an IV bag based on the image; and a display operably coupled to the processing circuitry, the display configured to receive instructions from the processing circuitry to output the identity and determined volume of medication administered from the syringe or fluid administered from an IV bag.