METHODS AND APPRATUS FOR MONITORING ROTATION OF AN INFUSION PUMP DRIVING MECHANISM
An infusion system, method and device for delivering therapeutic fluid to the body of a patient are disclosed. The device includes a dispensing unit having a peristaltic pump for dispensing therapeutic fluid to the body of the patient. The peristaltic pump includes a driving mechanism. The device further includes a monitoring mechanism ( 112, 114 ) for monitoring operation of the driving mechanism and dispensing of therapeutic fluid to the body of the patient.
1 - 46 . (canceled)
47 . A device for dispensing therapeutic fluid to a body of a patient, comprising:
a dispensing unit comprising:
a reservoir containing therapeutic fluid;
a driving mechanism comprising a motor and one or more gears;
a power supply for providing power to at least the motor;
electronic components including at least a processor for controlling at least the operation of the motor; and
a rotation sensor adapted for monitoring the operation of at least one of the motor and the one or more gears;
wherein the dispensing unit is adapted for dispensing the therapeutic fluid according to output of the rotation sensor.
48 . The device according to claim 47 , wherein the dispensing unit further comprises:
a fluid delivery tube in fluid communication with the reservoir;
an outlet port for delivering therapeutic fluid to the patient, the outlet port is in fluid communication with the reservoir via the fluid delivery tube; and
a stator elastically supported by a spring for interacting with the fluid delivery tube.
49 . The device according to claim 48 , wherein the one or more gears comprises:
a pinion coupled to the motor and having a plurality of pinion teeth, the motor causes rotation of the pinion;
a secondary gear having a plurality of secondary gear teeth for interacting with the plurality of pinion teeth, wherein rotation of the pinion in a particular direction causes rotation of the secondary gear in an opposite direction;
a shaft coupled to the secondary gear and rotating in the same direction as the secondary gear;
a worm disposed on the shaft and rotating in the same direction as the shaft; and
a rotary wheel having a plurality of rotary wheel teeth for interacting with the worm, wherein rotation of the worm causes rotation of the rotary wheel.
50 . The device according to claim 49 , wherein the rotary wheel further comprises
one or more rollers disposed circumferentially at the rotary wheel;
wherein upon rotation of the rotary wheel, the one or more rollers are driven by the rotary wheel and interact with the fluid delivery tube;
wherein the fluid delivery tube is disposed between the stator and the one or more rollers such that the one or more rollers squeezes the delivery tube against the stator and displaces the therapeutic fluid inside the fluid delivery tube toward the outlet port.
51 . The device according to claim 47 , wherein the rotation sensor comprises:
an energy source for emitting energy;
an energy detector for detecting energy emitted by the energy source;
wherein the energy source and the energy detector are adapted to detect rotation of at least one of the one or more gears;
wherein the energy detector generates one or more signals for processing by the processor.
52 . The device according to claim 51 , wherein the energy is radiation energy.
53 . The device according to claim 51 , wherein the energy is selected from a group consisting of: infrared radiation, electromagnetic radiation, electrochemical energy, electromechanical energy, mechanical energy and other energy.
54 . The device according to claim 51 , wherein the energy detector is a light detector.
55 . The device according to claim 51 , wherein the at least one of the one or more gears is selected from a group consisting of: a pinion, a secondary gear, a shaft, a worm and a rotary wheel.
56 . The device according to claim 51 , wherein the at least one of the one or more gears is provided with an auxiliary element rotatable by the at least one of the one or more gears.
57 . The device according to claim 51 , wherein the at least one of the one or more gears includes one or more openings for passing the emitted energy from the energy source to the energy detector;
wherein upon detection of the emitted energy by the energy detector, the energy detector generates a signal for processing by the processor, the signal indicating that the at least one of the one or more gears has completed at least a portion of its full revolution.
58 . The device according to claim 51 , wherein the energy source and the energy detector are disposed on opposite sides of the at least one of the one or more gears.
59 . The device according to claim 51 , wherein the at least one of the one or more gears comprises a reflective surface; and
wherein the energy emitted by the energy source is reflected by the reflective surface for detection by the energy detector.
60 . The device according to claim 51 , wherein the energy source and the energy detector are disposed on the same side of the at least one of the one or more gears.
61 . The device according to claim 56 , wherein the auxiliary element comprises an encoder vane coupled to a shaft of the at least one of the one or more gears;
wherein upon rotation of the shaft, the encoder vane interrupts the energy emitted by the energy source.
62 . The device according to claim 61 , wherein the encoder vane is configured as at least one sector selected from a group consisting of: 180 degree sector, 90 degree sector and 45 degree sector.
63 . The device according to claim 47 , wherein the rotation sensor comprises:
a “Hall effect” sensor coupled to the processor;
one or more magnetic elements coupled to at least one of the one or more gears for exposing the “Hall effect” sensor to a magnetic field of the one or more magnetic elements.
64 . The device according to claim 47 , wherein the dispensing unit further comprises:
a reusable part comprising the driving mechanism, the rotation sensor and the electronic components;
a disposable part comprising the reservoir;
wherein upon connection of the reusable part and the disposable part, the dispensing unit becomes operational.
65 . The device according to claim 64 , wherein the disposable part further comprises the power supply.
66 . The device according to claim 51 , wherein the energy source emits the energy continuously.
67 . The device according to claim 51 , wherein the source of energy emits the energy periodically.
68 . The device according to claim 47 , wherein the rotation sensor and at least some of the electronic components are disposed on a carrier.
69 . The device according to claim 68 , wherein the carrier comprises a printed circuit board (‘PCB’).
70 . The device according to claim 47 , wherein the dispensing unit further comprises a piston capable of being displaced within the reservoir to deliver the therapeutic fluid to the body of the patient.
71 . The device according to claim 47 , wherein the dispensing unit further comprises at least one manual button for controlling at least one operation of the dispensing unit.
72 . The device according to claim 47 , further comprising a remote control for remotely controlling at least one operation of the dispensing unit.
73 . The device according to claim 47 , further comprising an alerting component for generating one or more alerts to the patient.
74 . The device according to claim 47 , wherein the dispensing unit comprises a reusable dispensing unit containing the driving mechanism and the rotation sensor.
75 . The device according to claim 74 , wherein at least one of the one or more gears of the driving mechanism includes one or more openings.
76 . The device according to claim 75 , wherein the rotation sensor comprises:
an energy source that passes emitted energy through the one or more openings in the at least one of the one or more gears;
an energy detector for detecting energy emitted by the energy source through the one or more openings;
wherein the energy source and the energy detector detect rotation of the at least one of the one or more gears and wherein the energy detector generates a signal.
77 . The device according to claim 78 , wherein the dispensing unit comprises a disposable dispensing unit detachably-connectable to the reusable dispensing unit.
78 . The device according to claim 77 , wherein the disposable dispensing unit comprises:
the reservoir;
a delivery tube in fluid communication with the reservoir;
an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir via the delivery tube; and
a stator elastically supported by a spring for interacting with the fluid delivery tube.
79 . The device according to claim 78 , wherein the driving mechanism of the reusable dispensing unit operatively couples with the delivery tube of the disposable dispensing unit.
80 . The device according to claim 79 , wherein the dispensing unit further comprises a power supply coupled to an electronic component, wherein upon connection of the reusable dispensing unit and the disposable dispensing unit, the dispensing unit is operational for transfer of the therapeutic fluid to the body of the patient through the outlet port.
81 . The device according to claim 49 , wherein a region of the shaft adjacent the worm comprises at least a portion that is flat and at least a portion that is spherical.
82 . The device according to claim 81 , wherein an energy source and an energy detector of the rotation sensor are adjacent to one another and positioned such that they each face the same side of the shaft.
83 . The device according to claim 82 , wherein energy emitted from the energy source is reflected from the flat side of the shaft and detected by the energy detector.
84 . The device according to claim 83 , wherein energy emitted from the energy source hits the spherical side of the shaft and scatters away from the energy detector.
85 . The device according to claim 50 , wherein the processor adjusts a speed of rotation of the rotary wheel according to a position of the one or more rollers relative to the delivery tube to maintain a uniform flow rate.