Method and System for Monitoring Fluid Levels in Medical Devices
AssigneeBecton, Dickinson and Company
InventorZachary Jarrod Traina
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for monitoring a fluid level in a medical device includes emitting electromagnetic radiation from the needleless connector to the cap, sensing an amount of reflected electromagnetic radiation reflected back toward the needleless connector, transmitting a value of the amount of reflected electromagnetic radiation to a medical device management system, analyzing the value of the amount of reflected electromagnetic radiation to determine if the amount of reflected electromagnetic ration meets a predetermined threshold, and responding based upon the analyzing.
Claims21
A method for monitoring a fluid level in a medical device, the method comprising:
- emitting electromagnetic radiation from a first portion of the medical device toward a second portion of the medical device, wherein the first portion of the medical device is a needleless connector;
- sensing an amount of reflected electromagnetic radiation reflected back toward the needleless connector;
- transmitting a value of the amount of reflected electromagnetic radiation to a medical device management system;
- analyzing the value of the amount of reflected electromagnetic radiation to determine if the amount of reflected electromagnetic ration meets a predetermined threshold;
- and
- responding based upon the analyzing.
A medical device comprising:
- a needleless connector housing an emitter and a sensor;
- and
- a cap removably coupled to the needleless connector, the cap defining a reservoir, the cap comprising a reflector, wherein the reflector reflects emitted electromagnetic radiation toward the sensor when the reflective sensor is dry, and wherein an amount of reflected electromagnetic radiation correlates to an amount of fluid present in the cap.
A system for monitoring a fluid level in a medical device, the system comprising:
- a medical device comprising:
- a needleless connector comprising an emitter and a sensor;
- and
- a cap removably coupled to the needleless connector, the cap defining a reservoir, the cap comprising a reflector having a reflective surface;
- and
- a medical device management system in communication with the medical device,
- wherein the reflector reflects emitted electromagnetic radiation from the emitter toward the sensor when the reflective sensor is dry, and
- wherein an amount of reflected electromagnetic radiation correlates to an amount of fluid present in the cap.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.