Intravenous infusion monitoring apparatus, system and method

A device for measuring flow rate of a fluid passing through a fluid channel, the device comprising:

• a housing having a coupling interface to which the fluid channel is attachable;
• a thermal source disposed in the housing and adjacent to the coupling interface at a first location, wherein the thermal source is to emit a first thermal signal from the coupling interface into the fluid channel;
• a first thermal sensor disposed in the housing and adjacent to the coupling interface at a second location spaced apart from the first location with a first interval;
• wherein the first thermal sensor is to receive a first thermal signal at the coupling interface from the fluid channel;
• a microprocessor disposed in the housing and coupled to the thermal source and the first thermal sensor, wherein the microprocessor is to record a first instant at which the first thermal signal is emitted from the thermal source, a second instant at which a second thermal signal is received by the thermal sensor, and to determine the flow rate based on said first interval, the first instant, the first thermal signal, the second instant and the second thermal signal.

A system for determining flow rate of an intravenous fluid delivery, the system comprising:

• a flow cell having a sidewall surrounding a fluid channel having an inlet and an outlet;
• a controller including:
• a housing to which the flow cell is attached;
• a thermal source disposed in the housing at a first position and adjacent to a first portion of the sidewall of the flow cell, wherein the thermal source is to emit a first thermal signal into the fluid channel;
• a first thermal sensor disposed in the housing at a second position and adjacent to a second portion of the sidewall of the flow cell, wherein the first thermal sensor is to receive a first thermal signal from the fluid channel;
• a microprocessor disposed in the housing and coupled to the thermal source and the first thermal sensor, wherein the microprocessor is to record a first instant at which the first thermal signal is emitted into the fluid channel, a second instant at which a second thermal signal is received from the fluid channel, and to determine the flow rate based on said first interval, the first instant, the first thermal signal, the second instant and the second thermal signal.