Multifunction capacitive sensor for medical pump

摘要

A medical pump or the like provides for a multi-function flow monitor that provides for capacitive plates positioned on opposite sides of the IV line to sense changes in the electrical environment within the IV line to deduce IV line pressure, the presence of IV fluid bubbles, the presence of the IV line within the pump, and/or correct pump operation. Each of these conditions may be determined by different analysis of the capacitance across the capacitive plates.

主权项

1. A medical liquid delivery system comprising:
a housing adapted to receive an IV line within a housing portion; wherein a received portion of the IV line is elastic to expand and contract in cross section with changes in pressure of liquid within the IV line; capacitive sensor electrodes positioned in the housing portion to flank the received IV line, and control electronics communicating with the capacitive sensor electrodes to measure capacitance across the capacitive sensor electrodes and to sense at least one condition including a bubble within medical liquid within a received line; wherein the capacitive sensor electrodes are attached to the housing to be retained in the housing with removal of the IV line; and wherein the sensing of a bubble within the medical liquid within the received IV line by the control electronics distinguishes capacitive changes occurring within a predetermined period from capacitive charges occurring over a longer time than the predetermined window.