# US 2014/0155867 A1 · Intravenous infusion monitoring apparatus, 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 2014/0155867 A1 - Document ID: US20140155867A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/114,076 - Filed: 2012-04-10 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-27 - Inventors: Freddie Eng Hwee Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155867A1 ## CPC - A61M 5/16886: {for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters} - G01F 1/684: Structural arrangements; Mounting of elements, e.g. in relation to fluid flow - G01F 1/6847: {where sensing or heating elements are not disturbing the fluid flow, e.g. elements mounted outside the flow duct} - G01F 15/001: {Means for regulating or setting the meter for a predetermined quantity} - A61M 5/16804: {Active flow controllers} - A61M 5/16831: {Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies (low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066)} - 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)} - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME ## Abstract An intravenous infusion system that shows infusion flow rate, volume of medication infused, and alarming during malfunction. User intervention to adjust flow rates deviation is possible, using the data already stored in the system prior to the onset of making the adjustment. The system detects flow rate by measuring temperature dynamics in a section of the fluid path, unlike other systems that measures the electromechanical output of the pumping source if the counting of drops is not possible. This fundamental difference allows the invention to be used in any system that has a pumping source that provides a continuous fluid path as it measures actual flow of fluid in a segment of the fluid path, independent of pumping mechanism design. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for thermal signal transmission with an external device, the apparatus comprising: a tubular member having a sidewall and a fluid channel surrounded by the sidewall, the fluid channel has an inlet and an outlet; wherein the sidewall includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is to allow a first thermal signal to transmit into the fluid channel through the first portion, the second portion is to allow a second thermal signal to transmit from the fluid channel through the second portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first plate and a second plate connected to each other with the tubular member sandwiched therebetween, the first plate includes a first window, one of the first and the second plates includes a second window, wherein the first window is at least partially overlapped with the first portion, and the second window is at least partially overlapped with the second portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sidewall being resiliently deformable, a distance between the first plate and the second plate is less than an external diameter of the tubular member such that the tubular member is compressed between the first plate and the second plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first window and the second window is an opening through which the at least one of the first portion and the second portion is directly accessible. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first window and the second window is a thermal-conductive panel through which the at least one of the first portion and second portion is directly accessible. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a barcode label attached to an external surface of one of the first plate and the second plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first plate and the second plate are movably attached to each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion is positioned between the inlet and the outlet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second portion is positioned between the first portion and the outlet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sidewall further includes a third portion to allow a third thermal signal to transmit from the fluid channel through the third portion, wherein the third portion is positioned between the inlet and the first portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are recesses formed on the sidewall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a thermal conductive probe attached to one of the recesses. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the thermal conductive probe is positioned penetrating through the sidewall in the recess. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a barcode label attached to an external surface of the sidewall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a clamping mechanism coupled to the inlet for varying fluid flow into the tubular member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a regulator coupled to the outlet for varying fluid flow out of the tubular member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are positioned on a same side of the sidewall. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are positioned on different sides of the sidewall. ### Claim 19 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. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The device of claim 19, wherein the coupling interface includes a first end and a second end, the thermal source is positioned between the first end and the second end of the coupling interface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein the first thermal sensor is positioned between the thermal source and the second end of the coupling interface. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The device of claim 21, further comprising a second thermal sensor disposed in the housing and adjacent to the coupling interface at a third location spaced apart from the first location with a second interval; wherein the second thermal sensor is coupled to the microprocessor and to receive a second thermal signal at the coupling interface from the fluid channel. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, wherein the second thermal sensor is positioned between the first end of the coupling interface and the thermal source. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the first thermal sensor and the second thermal sensor are spaced at a substantially same distance from the thermal source. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The device of claim 19, wherein the coupling interface is a slot having a first side surface and a second side surface opposite to each other for receiving the fluid channel therebetween. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The device of claim 25, wherein the thermal source and the first thermal sensor are positioned at the first side surface. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The device of claim 25, wherein the thermal source is positioned at the first side surface. and the first thermal sensor is positioned at the second side surface. ### Claim 28 (depends on 19) The device of claim 19, further comprising a barcode reader coupled to the microprocessor and disposed adjacent to the coupling interface. ### Claim 29 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. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The system of claim 29, wherein the thermal source is positioned between the inlet and the outlet. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The system of claim 30, wherein the first thermal sensor is positioned between the thermal source and the outlet. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The system of claim 31, wherein the housing having a first side surface and a second side surface, the flow cell is disposed between the first side surface and the second side surface, wherein the thermal source is disposed on one of the first and second side surfaces and the first thermal sensor is disposed on said one of the first and second side surfaces. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The system of claim 31, wherein the housing having a first side surface and a second side surface, the flow cell is disposed between the first side surface and the second side surface, wherein the thermal source is disposed on one of the first and second side surfaces and the first thermal sensor is disposed on the other one of the first and second side surfaces. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The system of claim 31, further comprising a second thermal sensor disposed in the housing at a second position and adjacent to a third portion of the sidewall of the flow cell, wherein the second thermal sensor is coupled to the microprocessor and to receive a second thermal signal from the fluid channel. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34, wherein the second thermal sensor is positioned between the inlet and the thermal source. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The system of claim 35, wherein the housing having a first side surface and a second side surface, the flow cell is disposed between the first side surface and the second side surface, wherein the thermal source is disposed on one of the first and second side surfaces and the second thermal sensor is disposed on said one of the first and second side surfaces. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The system of claim 35, wherein the housing having a first side surface and a second side surface, the flow cell is disposed between the first side surface and the second side surface, wherein the thermal source is disposed on one of the first and second side surfaces and the second thermal sensor is disposed on the other one of the first and second side surfaces. ### Claim 38 (depends on 29) The system of claim 29, wherein the flow cell is detachably attached to the housing of the controller. ### Claim 39 (depends on 29) The system of claim 29, wherein the flow cell includes a barcode attached an external surface of the sidewall, wherein the controller includes a barcode reader coupled to the microcontroller to read the barcode. ### Claim 40 (depends on 29) The system of claim 29, further comprising a flow rate regulator coupled to the flow cell for varying the flow rate of the intravenous fluid delivery. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The system of claim 40, wherein the flow rate regulator is coupled to the controller and to vary the flow rate based on a control signal received by the controller. ### Claim 42 (depends on 29) The system of claim 29, wherein the controller further includes a proximity switch which is activated when a flow cell is attached to the housing. ### Claim 43 (depends on 29) The system of claim 29, wherein the housing having a first plate and a second plate, the first plate and the second plate being movable relative to each other between a first position at which the flow cell is received between the first plate and the second plate, and a second position at which the flow cell is fixed between the first plate and the second plate. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The system of claim 43, wherein when the first plate and the second plate are at the second position, the fluid channel is compressed between the first plate and the second plate. ### Claim 45 A method of detecting flow rate in an intravenous fluid delivery system, the method comprising: emitting a first thermal signal into a first location of a fluid delivery channel at a first instant, wherein the fluid delivery channel forms a segment of the intravenous infusion system; receiving a second thermal signal from a second location of the fluid delivery channel at a second instant, the second location is positioned with a first interval downstream from the first location; determining the flow rate based on the first thermal signal, the first instant, the second thermal signal, the first internal and a cross-sectional area of the fluid delivery channel. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The method of claim 45, further comprising receiving a third thermal signal from a third location of the fluid delivery channel at a third instant, the third location is positioned with a second interval upstream from the first location, and determining the flow rate based on the first thermal signal, the first instant, the second thermal signal, the first internal, the third thermal signal, the third instant, the second interval and the cross-sectional area of the fluid delivery channel.