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US 6,362,591 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for detection of occlusions
AssigneeMiniMed Inc.
InventorSheldon Moberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatically detecting an occlusion or drive system failure in a medication infusion system is provided. The electrical current to an infusion pump is measured and compared against a baseline average current. If the current exceeds a threshold amount, an alarm is triggered. Alternatively, pump motor encoder pulses are measured during a pump cycle. If the number of pulses do not correspond within a normal range, an alarm is triggered. After any alarm is triggered, the pump motor is driven in reverse for an incremental distance in order to relieve the fluid pressure in the system.
Claims17
A method of detecting an occlusion in a fluid pump system, comprising:
- applying input power parameters to a pump motor to provide a first pump cycle;
- measuring a first encoder count during the first pump cycle;
- determining whether the first encoder count is less than a first value;
- and
- rewinding the fluid pump system at least to the point of reducing pressure in the fluid pump system after determining that the first encoder count is less than the first value.
2 more elements
A method of detecting an occlusion in a fluid pump system, comprising:
- applying input power parameters to a pump motor to provide a first pump cycle;
- measuring a first encoder count during the first pump cycle;
- determining whether the first encoder count is less than a first value;
- providing an alarm indication after determining that the first encoder count is less than the first value;
- calculating a total number of alarm indications after determining that the first encoder count is less than the first value;
- determining whether the total number of alarm indications exceeds a second value;
- and
- providing a system error message after determining that the total number of alarm indications exceeds the second value.
5 more elements
A method of detecting an occlusion in a fluid pump system, comprising:
- applying input power parameters to a pump motor to provide a first pump cycle;
- measuring a first encoder count during the first pump cycle;
- determining whether the first encoder count is less than a first value;
- rewinding the fluid pump system at least to the point of reducing pressure in the fluid pump system after determining that the first encoder count is less than the first value;
- providing an alarm indication after determining that the first encoder count is less than the first value;
- calculating a total number of alarm indications after determining that the first encoder count is less than the first value;
- determining whether the total number of alarm indications exceeds a second value;
- providing a system error message after determining that the total number of alarm indications exceeds the second value;
- determining whether the first encoder count is equal to a third value;
- and
- adjusting the input power parameters to provide a second pump cycle after determining that the first encoder count does not equal the third value, said second pump cycle resulting in a second encoder count, said second encoder count being one of a value greater than the first encoder count if the first encoder count is less than the third value and a value smaller than the first encoder count if the first encoder count is greater than the third value.
8 more elements
A system for detecting an occlusion in a fluid pump system, comprising:
- a processing unit capable of communicating with the fluid pump system;
- and
- program logic executed by the processing unit, comprising:
- means for applying input power parameters to a pump motor to provide a first pump cycle;
- means for measuring a first encoder count during the first pump cycle;
- means for determining whether the first encoder count is less than a first value;
- and
- means for rewinding the fluid pump system at least to the point of reducing pressure in the fluid pump system after determining that the first encoder count is less than the first value.
5 more elements
A system for detecting an occlusion in a fluid pump system, comprising:
- a processing unit capable of communicating with the fluid pump system;
- and
- program logic executed by the processing unit, comprising:
- means for applying input power parameters to a pump motor to provide a first pump cycle;
- means for measuring a first encoder count during the first pump cycle;
- means for determining whether the first encoder count is less than a first value;
- and
- means for providing an alarm indication after determining that the first encoder count is less than the first value;
- means for calculating a total number of alarm indications after determining that the first encoder count is less than the first value;
- means for determining whether the total number of alarm indications exceeds a second value;
- and
- means for providing a system error message after determining that the total number of alarm indications exceeds the second value.
9 more elements
A system for detecting an occlusion in a fluid pump system, comprising:
- a processing unit capable of communicating with the fluid pump system;
- and
- program logic executed by the processing unit, comprising:
- means for applying input power parameters to a pump motor to provide a first pump cycle;
- means for measuring a first encoder count during the first pump cycle;
- means for determining whether the first encoder count is less than a first value;
- means for rewinding the fluid pump system at least to the point of reducing pressure in the fluid pump system after determining that the first encoder count is less than the first value;
- means for providing an alarm indication after determining that the first encoder count is less than the first value;
- means for calculating a total number of alarm indications after determining that the first encoder count is less than the first value;
- means for determining whether the total number of alarm indications exceeds a second value;
- means for providing a system error message after determining that the total number of alarm indications exceeds the second value;
- means for determining whether the first encoder count is equal to a third value;
- and
- means for adjusting the input power parameters to provide a second pump cycle after determining that the first encoder count does not equal the third value, said second pump cycle resulting in a second encoder count, said second encoder count being one of a value greater than the first encoder count if the first encoder count is less than the third value and a value smaller than the first encoder count if the first encoder count is greater than the third value.
11 more elements
A method of operating a fluid pump system, comprising:
- applying a power parameter to deliver a motor drive increment to the fluid pump system;
- measuring a response of the fluid pump system to the power parameter so applied;
- determining if the power parameter and the response of the fluid pump system are within a predetermined acceptable limit;
- and
- rewinding the fluid pump system at least to the point of reducing pressure in the fluid pump system if the power parameter and the response of the fluid pump system are not within the predetermined acceptable limit.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.