METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACOUSTIC FAULT DETECTION IN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICATION INFUSION PUMP

摘要

Apparatus located in an implantable medication infusion pump for quickly and easily detecting a condition adversely affecting medication delivery in the implantable medication infusion pump is disclosed which can reliably detect occurrences including an occluded catheter, the presence of air in the pumping mechanism. and the failure of the pumping mechanism. The system uses the amplitude of an acoustic signal generated by operation of the pumping mechanism as compared with a baseline signal to detect an encapsulated or occluded catheter or air in the fluid line. In addition, the system can detect a partially encapsulated or occluded catheter by detecting repeated downward slope patterns during repetitive, closely spaced pumping cycles. An apparatus and related method for quickly and easily detecting a condition adversely affecting medication delivery in an implantable medication infusion pump is disclosed which can reliably detect occurrences including an occluded catheter, the presence of air in the pumping mechanism, and the failure of the pumping mechanism The method uses the amplitude of an acoustic signal generated by operation of the pumping mechanism as compared with a baseline signal to detect an encapsulated or occluded catheter or air in the fluid line In addition, the method can detect a partially encapsulated or occluded catheter by detecting repeated downward slope patterns during repetitive, closely spaced pumping cycles.