Occlusion detection

Abstract

A system for occlusion detection could include a syringe pump for a syringe containing a medication, wherein the syringe includes a plunger and the syringe pump includes a plunger driver. A bendable element could be integrally formed with the plunger driver, and a force sensor could also be integrally formed with the plunger driver. Upon occurrence of an occlusion, the plunger would exert a force backwardly against the bendable element, thereby deflecting the bendable element into contact with the force sensor to thereby generate a signal indicating the occurrence of the occlusion.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A system for occlusion detection, comprising:
 a syringe pump capable of accommodating a range of syringe diameters, the syringe pump including a plunger driver configured to apply a force to forwardly push a plunger within a barrel of a syringe loaded into said syringe pump;   a movable element operably coupled with the plunger driver, the movable element defining a moment arm between a focal point and a center of the force applied to the plunger, wherein the moment arm correspondingly increases with a decrease in a diameter of the syringe; and   a force sensor operably coupled with the plunger driver, wherein upon occurrence of an occlusion, the plunger exerts a force backwardly against the movable element, thereby deflecting the movable element into contact with the force sensor to generate a signal indicating the occurrence of the occlusion, and wherein a force applied to the force sensor remains acceptable for proper detection and operation of the sensor when a syringe having a relatively small diameter is loaded into the syringe pump, due to occurrence of a correspondingly greater moment arm on the movable element that is attributable to the relatively small diameter of the syringe.   
     
     
         12 . The system for occlusion detection of  claim 11 , wherein the moveable element is at least one of a bendable element, pivotable element and pivotable sliding element. 
     
     
         13 . The system for occlusion detection of  claim 11 , wherein the moveable element is integrally formed with the plunger driver. 
     
     
         14 . The system for occlusion detection of  claim 11 , wherein the moveable element is pivotably coupled to the plunger driver by a link. 
     
     
         15 . The system for occlusion detection of  claim 11 , wherein the moveable element is operably coupled to the plunger driver by a link residing within a spring-loaded slot. 
     
     
         16 . The system for occlusion detection of  claim 11 , wherein the force sensor is integrally formed with the plunger driver. 
     
     
         17 . The system for occlusion detection of  claim 11 , wherein the force applied to the force sensor increases in magnitude as syringe sizes decrease due to correspondingly greater moment arms on the moveable element. 
     
     
         18 . A system configured to enable faster occlusion detention in syringes having relatively smaller syringe diameters, the system comprising:
 a syringe pump capable of accommodating a range of syringe diameters, the syringe pump including a plunger driver configured to apply a force to forwardly push a plunger within a barrel of a syringe loaded into said syringe pump;   a movable element operably coupled to the plunger driver at a deflection point, the movable element defining a moment arm between the deflection point and a center of the force applied to the plunger, wherein the moment arm correspondingly increases with a decrease in a diameter of the syringe; and   a force sensor operably coupled to the plunger driver, wherein upon occurrence of an occlusion, the plunger exerts a force backwardly against the movable element, thereby deflecting the movable element about the deflection point into contact with the force sensor to generate a signal indicating the occurrence of the occlusion.   
     
     
         19 . The system for occlusion detection of  claim 18 , wherein the moveable element is at least one of a bendable element, pivotable element and pivotable sliding element. 
     
     
         20 . The system for occlusion detection of  claim 18 , wherein the moveable element is integrally formed with the plunger driver. 
     
     
         21 . The system for occlusion detection of  claim 18 , wherein the moveable element is pivotably coupled to the plunger driver by a link. 
     
     
         22 . The system for occlusion detection of  claim 18 , wherein the moveable element is operably coupled to the plunger driver by a link residing within a spring-loaded slot. 
     
     
         23 . The system for occlusion detection of  claim 18 , wherein the force sensor is integrally formed with the plunger driver. 
     
     
         24 . The system for occlusion detection of  claim 18 , wherein the force applied to the force sensor increases in magnitude as syringe sizes decrease due to correspondingly greater moment arms on the moveable element.