Access disconnection method using optical and other sensors

Abstract

A method for detecting movement or disconnection of a needle at an access site of a patient comprising: sensing for a presence of blood at the access site while a medical procedure is performed on the patient; separately sensing for a movement of (i) the needle or (ii) tubing connected to the needle; and sending a signal indicating movement or disconnection of the needle if one of (a) the presence of blood is sensed or (b) movement is sensed under (i) or (ii).

1 . A method for detecting movement or disconnection of a needle at an access site of a patient comprising:
 sensing for a presence of blood at the access site while a medical procedure is performed on the patient;   separately sensing for a movement of (i) the needle or (ii) tubing connected to the needle; and   sending a signal indicating movement or disconnection of the needle if one of (a) the presence of blood is sensed or (b) movement is sensed under (i) or (ii).   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , which further includes raising an alarm in response to sending the signal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , which further includes stopping the medical procedure in response to sending the signal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , which further includes failing to detect a feature of the needle or of the tubing connected to the needle to detect movement of the needle under (i) or (ii). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , which further includes placing the feature on the needle or on the tubing connected to the needle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the feature is one of a mark, an object, or a magnet. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , which further includes sensing the movement under (i) or (ii) optically, magnetically or capacitively. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , which further includes emitting light to aid in sensing for the presence of blood. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , which further includes emitting light in at least two different wavelengths to sense for the presence of blood. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , which further includes sensing for the presence of blood under (a) or for movement under (b) multiple times at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
         11 . A method for preventing improper placement of a needle used in a medical procedure, the method comprising:
 placing a feature on the needle or on tubing connected to the needle;   placing the needle in a position capable of aiding in performing the medical procedure;   sensing for the feature; and   enabling the medical procedure to be initiated if the feature is sensed.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , which further includes providing the feature as a mark, an object, or a magnet. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , which further includes optically, capacitively or magnetically sensing the feature. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , which further includes, before placing the needle in the position capable of initiating the medical procedure, determining expected information about the feature indicative of a proper placement of the needle. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein sensing for the feature includes sensing a location or orientation of the feature. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , which further includes comparing the sensed location or orientation to expected information and enabling the medical procedure to be initiated if the sensed location or orientation matches the expected information. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , which further includes placing at least two features on the needle or on the tubing connected to the needle, and sensing for a predetermined spacing between the at least two features. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , which further includes placing a plurality of features in a pattern on the needle or on the tubing connected to the needle, and sensing for the pattern. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , which further includes, after initiating the medical procedure, sensing for the feature again, and sending a signal indicating movement or disconnection of the needle if the feature is not sensed again. 
     
     
         20 . A method for preventing improper placement of a needle used in a medical procedure, the method comprising:
 placing a feature on the needle or on tubing connected to the needle;   placing the needle at a patient access site;   enabling the magnetic, optical or capacitive detection of the feature at the access site; and   enabling a medical procedure to be initiated if the feature is sensed.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , which further includes sensing for a presence of blood via a technique different from the magnetic, optical or capacitive sensing.