Capacitor detection for iv pump tube calibration

Abstract

A system and method for calibrating an IV pump infusion system tube comprises a fluid source, an infusion system comprising, an IV pump, a drive unit, a chamber with known constant volume, a control unit, and IV tubing with a known inner diameter tolerance, and a set of conductive plates. The system administers medicinal fluid, calculates the flow rate of the medicinal fluid in the chamber by measuring the time the capacitance level of the medicinal fluid changes from a capacitance level corresponding to a first (initial) position to a capacitance level corresponding to a second (filled) position, compares the calculated flow rate with a set flow rate of the IV pump input in the control unit prior to infusion, and adjusts the IV pump and flow rate based on the compared deviations for more accurate delivery to a patient. This configuration may therefore provide a more precise delivery rate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of calibrating a flow rate of an IV pump infusion system, comprising the steps of:
 setting a flow rate for an IV pump of the IV pump infusion system;   administering medicinal fluid to the IV pump infusion system;   measuring an amount of time taken for the medicinal fluid to change in capacitance level from a first capacitance level corresponding to an initial filling position to a second capacitance level corresponding to a second position in a chamber of the IV pump infusion system via two or more conductive plates;   calculating a flow rate of the medicinal fluid inside the chamber based on a volume of the chamber and the measured amount of time taken for the medicinal fluid to rise from the initial filling position to the second position;   comparing the calculated flow rate of the medicinal fluid inside the chamber with the set flow rate of the IV pump; and   adjusting the IV pump infusion system flow rate and volume of medicinal fluid administered based on a flow rate deviation.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the chamber has a constant volume. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein measuring the amount of time taken for the capacitance level to rise from the first capacitance level to the second capacitance level comprises:
 converting the detected capacitance levels into electric signals and comparing the electric signals with reference signals corresponding to the first position and the second position via a comparator.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive plates are coupled between the first position and the second position, and further configured to detect capacitance levels as the medicinal fluid rises. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive plates are rectangular plates coupled to the chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive plates are thin wires located along the sides of the chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive plates are circular dots coupled to the sides of the chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive plates are conductive coatings covering a portion of the chamber.