# US 12,178,997 B2 · Flow indicator for an infusion pump > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,997 B2 - Document ID: US12178997B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/358,229 - Filed: 2023-07-25 - Published: 2024-01-18 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-01 - Assignees: Avent, Inc. - Applicants: Avent, Inc. - Inventors: Bao-Tram N. Pham; Justin Coker; Shane A. Duffy; Judith Davenport; Kenneth C. Hsu; Ryan Massengale - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178997B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/1684: {by detecting the amount of infusate remaining, e.g. signalling end of infusion} - A61M 5/14586: {pressurised by means of a flexible diaphragm} - A61M 5/16886: {for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters} - A61M 5/141: {with capillaries for restricting fluid flow} - A61M 2005/1405: {Patient controlled analgesia [PCA]} - A61M 2205/0216: Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking - A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means - A61M 2205/3334: Measuring or controlling the flow rate - A61M 2205/3389: Continuous level detection (A61M2205/3393 takes precedence) - A61M 2205/3553: remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office - A61M 2205/3584: using modem, internet or Bluetooth® - A61M 2205/583: by visual feedback - 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)} ## Abstract Systems and methods are provided for signaling a condition of an infusion assembly. An example system may comprise an elastomeric pump that includes a chamber for receipt of a volume of fluid, an outer layer configured to expand and contract as the chamber receives and dispenses the fluid, and a passive indicator provided on the outer layer for signaling a change in the volume of the fluid in the chamber. The example system further may comprise an image capture device configured to capture an image of the pump, and a processing system configured to process the image to signal the condition of the infusion assembly to a user of the system. An example method may comprise capturing the image of the pump; processing the image; and displaying information to the user of the pump to communicate a condition of the pump to the user. Various elastomeric pumps for infusion assemblies also are provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for signaling a condition of an infusion assembly, the system comprising: an image capture device; a display; at least one processor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to: obtain an image of an infusion pump of the infusion assembly by the image capture device, the infusion pump comprising an expandable bladder for holding a fluid and a passive indicator visible on an outside surface of the expandable bladder, wherein the image contains the passive indicator; evaluate the image to determine a volume of the fluid in the infusion pump based on the passive indicator; and present an indication of the volume of the fluid on the display. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the passive indicator is configured to change in size in conjunction with the expandable bladder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the system to: present one or more guides on the display to assist a user in positioning the infusion pump within a field of view of the image capture device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more guides correspond to an upper support member and a lower support member of the infusion pump such that the upper support member and the lower support member are configured to be positioned within the one or more guides prior to the obtaining of the image, the expandable bladder extending between the upper support member and the lower support member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the image of the infusion pump is a first image, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the system to: obtain a series of additional images of the infusion pump, the series of additional images captured in succession after the obtaining of the first image; and store the first image and the series of additional images. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the system to: evaluate the first image and the series of additional images to determine a flow rate of the infusion pump; and present an indication of the flow rate on the display. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the system to: determine a change in the volume of the fluid in the infusion pump by comparing the first image with at least one image of the series of additional images; and present a graphical representation of the change in the volume of the fluid in the infusion pump on the display. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the system to: provide a prompt to a user to capture a series of additional images of the infusion pump at one or more time intervals, wherein the prompt is presented on the display or provided as an audible signal via an audio output device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the system to: evaluate the first image and at least one image of the series of additional images using a machine learning model to predict when an infusion procedure will be completed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the system to: present at least one of a starting volume of the infusion pump or a time interval for completing an infusion procedure on the display. ### Claim 11 A method for signaling a condition of an infusion assembly, the method comprising: receiving, by a processing device, an image of an infusion pump of the infusion assembly captured by an image capture device, the infusion pump comprising an expandable bladder for holding a fluid and a passive indicator visible on an outside surface of the expandable bladder, wherein the image contains the passive indicator; evaluating the image, by the processing device, to determine a volume of the fluid in the infusion pump based on the passive indicator; and presenting, by the processing device, an indication of the volume of the fluid on a display. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the passive indicator changes in size in conjunction with the expandable bladder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: presenting one or more guides on the display to assist a user in positioning the infusion pump within a field of view of the image capture device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more guides correspond to an upper support member and a lower support member of the infusion pump such that the upper support member and the lower support member are configured to be positioned within the one or more guides prior to the capturing of the image, the expandable bladder extending between the upper support member and the lower support member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the image of the infusion pump is a first image, the method further comprising: receiving, by the processing device, a series of additional images of the infusion pump captured by the image capture device, the series of additional images captured in succession after the capturing of the first image; and storing, by the processing device, the first image and the series of additional images. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: evaluating, by the processing device, the first image and the series of additional images to determine a flow rate of the infusion pump; and presenting, by the processing device, an indication of the flow rate on the display. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: determining a change in the volume of the fluid in the infusion pump by comparing the first image with at least one image of the series of additional images; and presenting a graphical representation of the change in the volume of the fluid in the infusion pump on the display. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: providing a prompt, by the processing device, to a user to capture the series of additional images of the infusion pump at one or more time intervals, wherein the prompt is presented on the display or provided as an audible signal via an audio output device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: evaluating, by the processing device, the first image and at least one image of the series of additional images using a machine learning model to predict when an infusion procedure will be completed. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: presenting, by the processing device, at least one of a starting volume of the infusion pump or a time interval for completing an infusion procedure on the display.