US 7,976,508 B2 · Medication safety system featuring a multiplexed RFID interrogator panel

Abstract

A medication safety system includes a panel mounted to an IV pole above a multi-channel infusion pump also mounted to the IV pole. The panel includes multiple RFID readers for reading the RFID tags placed on each of the medication containers mounted to the panel. The pump includes a controller that communicates with the RFID readers at the panel to receive the information read by the RFID readers and automatically program the respective pump channel. A verification program verifies that the medication delivery information from the containers matches the patient identified for the pump and the programming parameters of the pump fall within acceptable ranges. In another aspect, the panel contains multiple vibration devices to impart vibrations to the medication of each of the containers mounted to the panel. Those vibrations are sensed by the particular pumping channel to confirm that the correct channel has been programmed for that medication. When the clinician opens the door of the pumping channel, the pump may request information from the RFID reader at the panel for that medication and may wait for receipt of the vibrations in the medication of the tubing mounted into the channel.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A medication safety system for reading medication delivery information from an information device located at a medication container and providing that medication delivery information to a medication delivery apparatus, the system comprising:

a panel at which the medication container having the information device is mounted, the panel comprising a vibration device configured to impart vibrations to the medication of the container;
a conduit connected to the medication container configured to conduct the medication of the container to the medication delivery apparatus;
a reader located at the panel configured to wirelessly read the information device and to provide an information signal representative of the information contained in the information device;
a vibration sensor located at the medication delivery apparatus, the vibration sensor configured to detect vibrations in the medication of the conduit and provide a vibration signal when vibrations are sensed;
and
a controller located at the medication delivery apparatus coupled to the reader, the vibration sensor, and the vibration device, the controller configured to receive the information signal and the vibration signal, to activate the vibration device, and to configure the medication delivery apparatus in accordance with the information signal.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Medication safety system featuring a multiplexed RFID interrogator panel

Life of this patent

Medication safety system featuring a multiplexed RFID interrogator panel

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims35