Sensor assembly and system, method, and computer program product for identifying devices connected to device connectors

1 . A sensor assembly comprising:

a sensor in communication with a connector of a medical device including a fluid flow path, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a dimension of an end of another connector of another medical device when the another connector of the another medical device is connected to the connector of the medical device, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a disconnection when the another connector of the another medical device is disconnected from the connector of the medical device, wherein the sensor includes a force sensor having a plurality of switches, and wherein each switch of the plurality of switches is configured to be actuated in response to a physical force applied to at least one of the connector and the sensor; and

an indicator, for indicating information sensed from the sensor, wherein the sensor and the indicator are one of (i) sealed together within a water-impermeable coating that surrounds the connector of the medical device or (ii) sealed together within the connector of the medical device,

wherein at least two of the plurality of switches are arranged at different distances from a longitudinal axis of the connector of the medical device.

2 . The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of switches includes a plurality of conductive circuits surrounding the connector of the medical device.

3 . The sensor assembly of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of conductive circuits includes a plurality of concentric rings.

4 . The sensor assembly of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of switches includes a flexible layer of conductive or semi-conductive material on the plurality of conductive circuits.

5 . The sensor assembly of claim 4 , wherein the flexible layer of conductive or semi-conductive material includes a force-sensing resistor or a carbon and/or graphite infused polymer.

6 . The sensor assembly of claim 4 , wherein the water-impermeable coating surrounds the flexible layer and the plurality of conductive circuits.

7 . The sensor assembly of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of switches includes a layer of anisotropic elastic material on the flexible layer.

8 . The sensor assembly of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of switches includes a spring loaded metallic ring on the plurality of conductive circuits.

9 . The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes an optical sensor.

10 . The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector includes a needless connector or a Luer connector.

11 . The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the detected dimension includes at least one of (i) a distance of an outer edge of the end of the another connector of the another medical device from a longitudinal axis of the connector of the medical device and (ii) a cross sectional area of the end of the another connector of the another medical device.

12 . The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises a speaker and one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs), wherein the indicator is configured to provide at least one of an audio indication via the speaker and a visual indication via the one or more LEDs associated with the dimension of the end of the another connector of the another medical device.

13 . The sensor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a wireless communication device configured to communicate, to a remote computing device, information associated with at least one of (i) the dimension of the end of the another connector of the another medical device and (ii) a connection or a disconnection of the medical device to or from the another medical device,

wherein the wireless communication device is the one of (i) sealed together with the indicator and the sensor within the water-impermeable coating that surrounds the connector of the medical device or (ii) sealed together with the indicator and the sensor within the connector of the medical device, with the indicator and the sensor.

14 . The sensor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more processors programmed and/or configured to determine a type of the another medical device based on the detected dimension.

15 . A system comprising:

a sensor in communication with a connector of a medical device including a fluid flow path, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a dimension of an end of another connector of another medical device when the another connector of the another medical device is connected to the connector of the medical device and wherein the sensor is configured to detect a disconnection when the another connector of the another medical device is disconnected from the connector of the medical device; and

an indicator, for indicating information sensed from the sensor, wherein the sensor and the indicator are one of (i) sealed together within a water-impermeable coating that surrounds the connector of the medical device or (ii) sealed together within the connector of the medical device;

one or more processors programmed and/or configured to:

determine a type of the another medical device based on the detected dimension; and

provide an output associated with the detected dimension;

wherein the sensor includes a force sensor having a plurality of switches, wherein each switch of the plurality of switches is configured to be actuated in response to a physical force applied to at least one of the connector and the sensor, and

wherein at least two of the the plurality of switches are arranged at different distances from a longitudinal axis of the connector of the medical device.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein actuation of a furthest switch of the plurality of switches from the longitudinal axis of the connector of the medical device is associated with the dimension of the end of the another connector of the another medical device.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the sensor includes an optical sensor, and wherein the detected dimension includes at least one of (i) a distance of an outer edge of the end of the another connector of the another medical device from a longitudinal axis of the connector of the medical device and (ii) a cross sectional area of the end of the another connector of the another medical device.

18 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising:

a wireless communication device configured to communicate, to the one or more processors, information associated with at least one of (i) the dimension of the end of the another connector of the another medical device and (ii) a connection or a disconnection of the medical device to or from the another medical device.

19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the type of the another medical device includes a syringe, a catheter, or a disinfecting cap.

20 . A method comprising:

detecting, with a sensor surrounding an exterior surface of a connector of a medical device including a fluid flow path, a dimension of an end of another connector of another medical device when the another connector of the another medical device is connected to the connector of the medical device;

determining, with at least one processor, a type of the another medical device based on the detected dimension;

providing, with an indicator, an output associated with the detected dimension, wherein the sensor and the indicator are one of (i) sealed together within a water-impermeable coating that surrounds the connector of the medical device or (ii) sealed together within the connector of the medical device; and

detecting, with the sensor surrounding the connector of the medical device, when the another connector of the another medical device is disconnected from the connector of the medical device;

wherein the sensor includes a force sensor having a plurality of switches, and wherein each switch of the plurality of switches is configured to be actuated in response to a physical force applied to at least one of the connector and the sensor, and

wherein at least two of the plurality of switches are arranged at different distances from a longitudinal axis of the connector of the medical device.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein detecting the dimension of the end of the another connector of the another medical device includes detecting at least one of (i) a distance of an outer edge of the end of the another connector of the another medical device from the longitudinal axis of the connector of the medical device and (ii) a cross sectional area of the end of the another connector of the another medical device.

22 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

communicating, with a wireless communication device, to a remote computing device, information associated with at least one of (i) the dimension of the end of the another connector of the another medical device and (ii) a connection or a disconnection of the medical device to or from the another medical device.

23 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

controlling, with at least one processor, a flow of a fluid in a fluid flow path including the medical device and the another medical device based on the information.

24 . A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium including program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least on processor to:

control a sensor surrounding an exterior surface of a connector of a medical device including a fluid flow path to detect a dimension of an end of another connector of another medical device when the another connector of the another medical device is connected to the connector of the medical device;

determine a type of the another medical device based on the detected dimension;

control an indicator to provide an output associated with the detected dimension, wherein the sensor and the indicator are one of (i) sealed together within a water-impermeable coating that surrounds the connector of the medical device or (ii) sealed together within the connector of the medical device; and

control the sensor surrounding the connector of a medical device when the another connector of the another medical device is disconnected from the connector of the medical device;

wherein the sensor includes a force sensor having a plurality of switches, and wherein each switch of the plurality of switches is configured to be actuated in response to a physical force applied to at least one of the connector and the sensor, and

wherein at least two of the plurality of switches are arranged at different distances from a longitudinal axis of the connector of the medical device.