Sensor for detecting the fill state of a medical fluid bag

1 . A warning device for an ostomy, drainage, or wound bag configured to detect when the bag is full and needs to be emptied that does not require the bag or a section thereof to stretch, comprising:

a. a flaccid foldable collapsible bag with a fill port that fills with liquid urine or waste product ( FIG. 16 A );

b. a sensor, attached to the bag, the sensor composed of a stretchable material that changes either resistance, capacitance, or inductance as the sensor is stretched, with at least a portion of the bag being covered by and free to move relative to at least a portion of the sensor ( FIGS. 24 , 25 , 35 );

c. the sensor being attached to the bag so that either:

i. the sensor wraps around an entire perimeter of the bag, but with a perimeter of the sensor being smaller than the perimeter of the bag, requiring the bag to be folded and collapsed to fit within the smaller perimeter of the sensor, when the sensor is unstretched ( FIG. 37 D ); or

ii. the sensor covers a portion of the bag perimeter, such that when the bag is empty; the sensor is unstretched and the portion of the bag perimeter covered by the unstretched sensor has a linear material length longer than the length of the unstretched sensor, requiring the bag to be folded and collapsed to fit within the space covered by the sensor in its unstretched state ( FIG. 37 E );

d. such that when the bag is filled to a predetermined level with urine or waste product, the bag pushes and exerts a force onto the sensor thereby changing the resistance, capacitance, or inductance of the sensor without requiring the bag or a section thereof to stretch ( FIGS. 18 , 19 );

e. in response to being stretched, the sensor, without requiring any additional reference surfaces, exerts a countervailing force equal to and opposite to the force exerted onto the sensor by the bag ( FIGS. 37 D, 37 E );

f. as more urine or waste product continues to flow into the bag, increasing bag volume, the bag exerts more force onto the sensor, further changing the resistance, capacitance or inductance of the sensor ( FIGS. 24 , 25 ); and

g. in response, the sensor exerts a stronger countervailing force equal to and opposite to the force exerted onto the sensor by the bag ( FIGS. 37 D, 37 E );

h. an electronic processing module connected to the sensor to detect and generate a warning signal when the bag is full or needs to be emptied ( FIG. 38 ); and

i. the warning signal being fed to at least one of: a warning indicator such as a vibration, audible or visual device, a Bluetooth transmitter, a Wi-Fi transmitter, a warning cable for connection to a remote device, or combinations thereof ( FIG. 38 ).

2 . The warning device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the vibration, audible or visual device, Wi-Fi transmitter, or Bluetooth transmitter is worn by a person whom the bag is attached to.

3 . The warning device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the warning cable, the Wi-Fi transmitter, or the Bluetooth transmitter is connected to a remote device located at an attendant's station to indicate when the bag is full and needs to be emptied.

4 . The warning device of claim 1 wherein the sensor is attached to an exterior of the bag using mounting posts ( FIGS. 37 C, 39 B ).

5 . The warning device of claim 1 wherein the sensor is pre-installed by a bag manufacturer into channels integrated into the bag ( FIG. 40 ).

6 . The warning device of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a stretchable carbon impregnated rubber cord whose electrical resistance changes as the cord is stretched ( FIG. 16 A ).

7 . An ostomy, drainage, or wound bag warning device to detect when a bag is full and needs to be emptied without requiring the bag or a section thereof to stretch, comprising:

a. a flaccid, flexible, foldable collapsible bag with a fill port that fills with liquid urine or waste product ( FIG. 16 A );

b. a sensor, attached to the bag, the sensor composed of a stretchable material that changes either resistance, capacitance, or inductance as the sensor is stretched with at least a portion of the bag being covered by, and free to move relative to at least a portion of the sensor ( FIGS. 24 , 25 , 35 );

c. the sensor further being attached to the bag so that either:

i. the sensor wraps around an entire perimeter of the bag, but with a perimeter of the sensor being smaller than the perimeter of the bag, requiring the bag to be folded and collapsed to fit within the smaller perimeter of the sensor when the sensor is unstretched ( FIG. 37 D ); or

ii. the sensor covers a portion of the bag perimeter, such that when the bag is empty; the sensor is unstretched and the portion of the bag perimeter covered by the unstretched sensor has a linear material length longer than the length of the unstretched sensor, requiring the bag to be folded and collapsed to fit within the space covered by the sensor in its unstretched state ( FIG. 37 E );

d. as the bag fills with waste product, a shape of the bag changes such that at a predetermined level of waste product in the bag, the bag begins to put force onto the sensor, and in response thereto, the sensor changes its shape by stretching to adapt to the shape of the bag, the sensor covering a sufficient portion of the bags perimeter such that as the contents of the bag redistributes within the bag in response to a person changing position, the sensor remains stretched, without requiring the bag to stretch ( FIGS. 21 B, 28 );

e. the resulting stretching also changing the resistance, capacitance, or inductance of the sensor;

f. as urine or waste product continues to flow into the bag, the sensor continues to stretch changing its resistance, capacitance or inductance as the sensor continues to adapt to the changing shape of the bag ( FIGS. 22 through 25 );

g. the sensor also adapts to changes in the shape of the bag, due to the bag being bent, twisted, tilted, or squeezed ( FIGS. 20 , 21 A, 21 B, 28 );

h. an electronic processing module connected to the sensor to detect and generate a warning signal when the bag is full or needs to be emptied ( FIG. 38 ); and

i. the warning signal being fed to at least one of: a warning indicator such as a vibration, audible or visual device, a Bluetooth transmitter, a Wi-Fi transmitter, a warning cable for connection to a remote device, or combinations thereof ( FIG. 38 ).

8 . The warning device of claim 7 wherein at least one of the vibration, audible or visual device, Wi-Fi transmitter, or Bluetooth transmitter is worn by a person whom the bag is attached to.

9 . The warning device of claim 7 wherein at least one of the warning cable, the Wi-Fi transmitter, or the Bluetooth transmitter is connected to a remote device located at an attendant's station to indicate when the bag is full and needs to be emptied.

10 . The warning device of claim 7 wherein the sensor is a stretchable carbon impregnated rubber cord whose electrical resistance changes as the cord is stretched ( FIG. 16 A ).

11 . A warning device for an IV bag dispensing medication or blood to detect when contents of the bag fall below a predetermined level without requiring the bag or a section thereof to stretch, the warning device comprising:

a. a sensor composed of a stretchable material that changes either resistance, capacitance, or inductance as stretch of the sensor changes ( FIGS. 44 C, 46 );

b. the sensor further configured to be attached to a flaccid foldable collapsible bag for holding liquid medication or blood with at least a portion of the bag being covered by, and free to move relative to at least a portion of the sensor ( FIGS. 43 A, 44 );

so that either:

i. the sensor wraps around an entire perimeter of the bag, with a perimeter of the sensor being smaller than the perimeter of the bag, requiring either:

A. the bag is folded and collapsed to fit within the smaller perimeter of the sensor when the sensor is unstretched, or

B. the sensor is stretched to fit around and cover the entire perimeter of the bag causing at least a portion of the bag to fold or collapse underneath the stretched sensor ( FIGS. 45 A, 46 A ); or

ii. the sensor covers a portion of the bag perimeter, such that when the bag is empty; the sensor is unstretched and the portion of the bag perimeter covered by the unstretched sensor has a linear material length longer than a length of the unstretched sensor, requiring either:

A. the bag is collapsed and folded to fit within the space covered by the sensor in its unstretched state, or

B. the sensor is stretched to cover a portion of the bag causing the bag to be folded or collapsed underneath the stretched sensor;

so that when the contents in the bag exceed a predetermined level, the bag stretches the sensor and when the contents falls below a predetermined level, the bag no longer stretches the sensor ( FIGS. 46 B, 47 B );

c. and further such that the sensor is configured to be located on the bag at a predetermined position with respect to a level of medication or blood in the bag to insure that the bag pushes into and exerts forces onto the sensor without requiring the bag or a section thereof to stretch ( FIGS. 44 B, 45 B );

d. in response to being stretched, the sensor, without requiring any additional reference surfaces, exerts a countervailing force equal to and opposite to the force exerted onto the sensor by the bag ( FIG. 37 D );

e. as medication or blood continues to flow out of the bag, a volume of the bag decreases such that the bag exerts less force onto the sensor;

f. in response thereto, the sensor exerts a weaker countervailing force opposite to the force exerted onto the sensor by the bag, thereby causing the sensor to change its resistance, capacitance or inductance;

g. when contents of the bag drop below a predetermined level, the force exerted by the bag onto the sensor decreases by a predetermined amount indicating the sensor is no longer sufficiently stretched;

h. an electronic processing module, configured to detect a resistance, capacitance or inductance value corresponding to a sensor that is no longer sufficiently stretched, and to generate a warning signal to indicate that the contents of the bag have fallen below the predetermined level ( FIG. 48 at 48 - 7 ); and

h. the warning signal being fed to at least one of a warning indicator such as a vibration, audible or visual device, a Bluetooth transmitter, a Wi-Fi transmitter, or a warning cable for connection to a remote device ( FIG. 48 ).

12 . The warning device of claim 11 wherein at least one of the vibration, audible or visual device, Wi-Fi transmitter, or Bluetooth transmitter, or combinations thereof is worn by a person whom the bag is attached to.

13 . The warning device of claim 11 wherein at least one of; the warning cable, the Wi-Fi transmitter, or the Bluetooth transmitter is connected to a remote device located at an attendant's station in a hospital or nursing home to indicate when the contents of the bag has fallen below the predetermined level.

14 . The warning device of claim 11 wherein the sensor is further configured to be attached to an exterior of the bag using mounting posts ( FIG. 46 A, 46 B, 46 C ).

15 . The warning device of claim 11 wherein the sensor is pre-installed by a bag manufacturer into channels integrated onto the bag ( FIG. 47 A, 47 B, 47 C ).

16 . The warning device of claim 11 wherein the sensor is a stretchable carbon impregnated rubber cord whose electrical resistance changes as the cord is stretched ( FIG. 44 B, 45 B ).

17 . A warning device for an IV bag dispensing medication or blood to detect when contents of the bag fall below a predetermined level without requiring the bag or a section thereof to stretch, the warning device comprising:

a. a sensor composed of a stretchable material that changes either resistance, capacitance, or inductance as stretch of the sensor changes ( FIGS. 44 , 45 );

b. the sensor configured to be attached to a flaccid foldable collapsible bag filled with liquid medication or blood, with at least a portion of the bag being covered by, and free to move relative to at least a portion of the sensor ( FIGS. 43 , 44 );

c. the sensor being attached to the bag so that either:

i. the sensor wraps around an entire perimeter of the bag, but with a perimeter of the sensor being smaller than the perimeter of the bag, requiring either:’

A. the bag is folded and collapsed to fit within the smaller perimeter of the sensor when the sensor is unstretched, or

B. the sensor is stretched to fit around and cover the entire perimeter of the bag causing at least a portion of the bag to fold or collapse underneath the stretched sensor ( FIGS. 45 A, 46 A, 47 A ); or

ii. the sensor covers a portion of the bag perimeter, such that when the bag is empty; the sensor is unstretched and the portion of the bag perimeter covered by the unstretched sensor has a linear material length longer than the length of the unstretched sensor, requiring;

A. the bag is collapsed and folded to fit within the space covered by the sensor in its unstretched state,

B. the sensor is stretched to cover a portion of the bag causing the bag to be folded or collapsed underneath the stretched sensor:

d. so that when the contents in the bag exceed a predetermined level it stretches the sensor and when the contents falls below a predetermined level it no longer stretches the sensor ( FIGS. 46 B, 46 C, 47 B, 47 C ), the sensor also configured to be located on the bag at a predetermined position relative to a predetermined level of medication or blood in the bag to insure that the bag pushes into and exerts force onto the sensor without requiring the bag or a section thereof to stretch ( FIG. 44 B );

e. in response to such a force, the sensor changes its shape by decreasing an amount of stretch ( FIG. 44 B ), which changes the sensor's resistance, capacitance, or inductance;

f. and further such that when the level of medication or blood within the bag drops below a predetermined level, indicating that the sensor is no longer sufficiently stretched, thereby changing its resistance, capacitance, or inductance to indicate this condition ( FIG. 45 B );

g. an electronic module configured to be connected to the sensor, to detect the resistance, capacitance or inductance value that corresponds to the sensor no longer being sufficiently stretched, and to generate a warning signal that the bag is below the predetermined level ( FIG. 48 );

h. the warning signal being fed to at least one of a warning indicator such as a vibration, audible or visual device, a Bluetooth transmitter, a Wi-Fi transmitter, or a warning cable for connection to a remote device, or combinations thereof ( FIG. 48 ).

18 . The warning device of claim 17 wherein at least one of the vibration, audible or visual device, Wi-Fi transmitter, or Bluetooth transmitter is worn by a person to whom the bag is attached to indicate when the level of medication or blood in the bag has fallen below the predetermined level or when the bag is almost empty and may need to be replaced.

19 . The warning device of claim 17 wherein at least one of the warning cable, the Wi-Fi transmitter, or the Bluetooth transmitter is connected to a remote device located at a attendant's station to indicate when the level of medication or blood in the bag has fallen below the predetermined level or when the bag is almost empty and may need to be replaced.

20 . The warning device of claim 17 wherein the sensor is a stretchable carbon impregnated rubber cord whose electrical resistance changes as the cord is stretched ( FIG. 16 A, 44 B ).