# US 2013/0152933 A1 · Automated fluid delivery system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0152933 A1 - Document ID: US20130152933A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/814,934 - Filed: 2011-08-09 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-10 - Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, a California corporation - Inventors: David William Lischer; Stephen Winston Roberts - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152933A1 ## CPC - A61M 16/0875: {Connecting tubes} - A61M 16/0057: {Pumps therefor} - A61M 16/024: {including calculation means, e.g. using a processor} - A61M 16/0677: {Gas-saving devices therefor} - A61M 16/12: by mixing different gases - A61M 16/125: {Diluting primary gas with ambient air} - A61M 16/20: Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices - A61M 16/204: {used for inhalation control} - A61M 16/0051: {with alarm devices} - A61M 16/0858: {Pressure sampling ports} - A61M 16/1015: {using a gas flush valve, e.g. oxygen flush valve} - A61M 2016/0021: {with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor} - A61M 2016/0027: {pressure meter} - A61M 2202/0208: Oxygen - A61M 2205/18: with alarm - A61M 2205/3358: Measuring barometric pressure, e.g. for compensation - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - A61M 2230/005: Parameter used as control input for the apparatus - A61M 2230/06: Heartbeat rate only - A61M 2230/205: partial oxygen pressure (P-O2) - A61M 2230/432: partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2) - 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 An automated fluid delivery system and method are disclosed. The system includes distensible tubing, a flow controller, and a fluid flow adjustment module. The fluid flow adjustment module may be configured to detect differential pressure in the tubing and adjust the flow controller to provide an amount of fluid through the tubing during inhalation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system of providing fluid to a user, comprising: distensible tubing; a flow controller coupled to the tubing and configured to control a flow of fluid through the tubing; and a fluid flow adjustment module connected to the tubing and the flow controller, the module being configured to measure pressure changes in the tubing during a single inhalation and control the flow controller to provide an optimum amount of the fluid through the tubing based on the measured pressure changes during the inhalation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow adjustment module includes a microcontroller configured to determine the optimum amount of the fluid to be delivered through the flow controller based on the measured pressure changes during the inhalation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the optimum amount of fluid is a bolus of oxygen. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the tubing is a cannula. ### Claim 5 A system of providing oxygen to a user, comprising: distensible tubing connected between an oxygen source and the user to provide an amount of oxygen to the user; a flow controller coupled to the tubing and configured to control the amount of oxygen through the tubing; a pressure sensor connected to the tubing between the flow controller and the user; and a microcontroller coupled to the pressure sensor, the microcontroller being configured to: receive pressure signals provided by the pressure sensor, wherein the pressure signals are detected from differential pressure in the tubing, detect the start of a breathing event from the user based on a first pressure signal, determine the amount of oxygen needed by the user based on a second pressure signal, and control the flow controller to adjust the amount of oxygen flow to the user based on the second pressure signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the flow controller to deliver the determined amount of oxygen during the breathing event. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, including a blood oxygen sensor connected to the microcontroller and adapted to be attached to the user, the microcontroller being configured to determine the amount of oxygen needed based on measurements taken by the blood oxygen sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, including a bypass valve connected between the oxygen source and the user, the bypass valve disposed to allow continuous oxygen flow to the user when the system malfunctions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, including a carbon dioxide sensor connected to the microcontroller, the microcontroller being configured to determine, based on measurements taken by the carbon dioxide sensor, a second amount of oxygen to be delivered during an inhalation subsequent occurring subsequently to the breathing event. ### Claim 10 A method of providing oxygen to a user, including: detecting the start of a first breathing event in tubing connected to the user; analyzing a magnitude of pressure change in the tubing during a predetermined time frame; determining an amount of oxygen needed by the user during the first breathing event based on the magnitude of pressure change analyzed; and supplying the determined amount of oxygen to the user. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the start of the first breathing event includes detecting a pressure drop in the tubing greater than a predetermined threshold pressure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the pressure change occurs during an inhalation phase of the breathing event. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein supplying the determined amount of oxygen to the user is performed early in the inhalation phase of the first breathing event. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the determined amount of oxygen to the user is performed within a predetermined time from the detection of the start of the breathing event. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the analyzed magnitude of pressure change is based on a difference of ambient pressure and a pressure in the tubing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, including measuring blood oxygen levels in the user, wherein determining the amount of oxygen needed is based in part on the measured blood oxygen levels. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, including: measuring carbon dioxide levels of the user during an exhalation phase of the first breathing event; and determining the amount of oxygen to be supplied to the user during the inhalation phase of a second breathing event, based in part on the measured carbon dioxide levels, wherein the second breathing event occurs after the exhalation phase of the first breathing event.