# US 9,752,913 B2 · Method for determining the empty state of an IV bottle in an IV infusion monitoring device

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- Number: US 9,752,913 B2
- Document ID: US9752913B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/290,941
- Filed: 2014-05-29
- Published: 2015-12-03
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-05-29
- Applicants: Jun Feng; Xueming Miao
- Inventors: Jun Feng; Xueming Miao
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752913B2

## CPC

- G16H 40/67: for remote operation
- A61M 5/1414: {Hanging-up devices}
- A61M 5/16845: {by weight}
- A61M 5/16895: {by monitoring weight change, e.g. of infusion container}
- G01F 1/00: Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow (measuring a proportion of the volume flow G01F5/00)
- G01F 23/20: by measurement of weight, e.g. to determine the level of stored liquefied gas
- G01F 23/804: {containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level}
- G16H 20/17: delivered via infusion or injection
- G16Z 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
- A61M 2205/18: with alarm
- A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers
- A61M 2205/502: User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
- A61M 2205/60: with identification means
- A61M 2205/6054: Magnetic identification systems
- A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated
- G06F 17/40: Data acquisition and logging (for input to computer G06F3/00)
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- 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
- G16Z: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A method for determining the empty state of an IV bottle is provided in an IV infusion monitoring device or in a networking monitoring system, which is cable to monitor the infusion data during whole infusion process. The infusion data includes the weight of remaining medical liquid in the IV bottle, the infusion rate and the remaining time from completion as well as the empty state. It also gives alarm as the measured gross weight of the IV bottle drops to the empty state. The empty state is determined preferably in terms of necking effect and needle tip effect, or their combination.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for determining empty state of an IV bottle, comprising:
(a) providing an IV infusion monitoring device for measuring infusion data, said infusion data including weight of remaining medical liquid in said IV bottle, infusion rate, remaining time from completion of IV process, and empty state of said IV bottle, said IV infusion monitoring device comprising:
(i) a load sensor for measuring gross weight of said IV bottle including said medical liquid and attachments,
(ii) a signal processor having
signal amplifier for amplifying said measured weight signal and outputting an amplified weight signal,
A/D converter for converting said amplified weight signal from analog signal to a group of digital data,
microprocessor having memory for storing said digital data and having software for statistically analyzing said a group of digital data as well as for calculating said infusion data,
(b) providing a methodology for determining said empty state of said IV bottle, comprising steps of:
(i) said infusion rate being measured and calculated continuously,
(ii) said empty state of said IV bottle being determined if a specific effect is observed, said specific effect being selected from the group consisting of needle tip effect, necking effect, and combined needle tip and necking effect.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method for determining empty state of claim 1 further providing a monitor terminal having
display means for displaying said infusion data,
alarm means for giving alarm as said weight of remaining medical liquid in said IV bottle drops to said empty state.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method for determining empty state of claim 1 further providing at least one pair of infrared sensors for detecting said infusion rate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method for determining empty state of claim 1 further providing a communication network, wherein said infusion data including said empty state being communicated with a server and at least one mobile devices selected from the group consisting of PDA device, laptop computer, palmtop computer, smart phone, smart watches and smart glasses.

### Claim 5

A method for determining empty state of an IV bottle, comprising:
(a) providing an IV infusion monitoring device, comprising:
(i) a load sensor for measuring gross weight of said IV bottle including medical liquid and attachments,
(ii) a signal processor having
signal amplifier for amplifying said measured weight signal and outputting an amplified weight signal,
A/D converter for converting said amplified weight signal from analog signal to a group of digital data,
microprocessor having memory for storing said digital data as a function of time and having software for encoding said digital data as a function of time,
data transmitter for transmitting said digital data as a function of time,
(b) providing a communication network, comprising one server, said monitoring device and said at least one mobile devices, wherein said digital data as a function of time being transmitted to said server, said server having software for analyzing and calculating infusion data, and said infusion data being then transmitted back to said monitoring device and said at least one mobile devices, said infusion data including weight of remaining medical liquid in said IV bottle, infusion rate, remaining time from completion of IV process, and empty state of said IV bottle,
(c) providing a methodology for determining said empty state of said IV bottle, comprising steps of:
(i) said infusion rate being measured and calculated continuously,
(ii) said empty state of said IV bottle being determined if a specific effect is observed, said specific effect being selected from the group consisting of needle tip effect, necking effect, and combined needle tip and necking effect.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method for determining empty state of claim 5 further providing a monitor terminal having
display means for displaying said infusion data,
alarm means for giving alarm as said weight of remaining medical liquid in said IV bottle drops to said empty state.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method for determining empty state of claim 5 further providing at least one pair of infrared sensors for detecting said infusion rate.