Detection System for Syringe Assembly

Abstract

Detection systems for a syringe assembly that provide precision in monitoring the amount of fluid contained within the syringe barrel, detecting motion of the plunger within the syringe barrel, detecting the position of the plunger within the syringe barrel, and/or monitoring the volume received within or delivered by the syringe assembly are disclosed. A detection system of the present disclosure allows a sensor in communication with a portion of a plunger assembly to sense the motion of a plunger rod relative to a syringe barrel and thereby volume received within or delivered by the syringe by reading gradations having an identifier directly as the plunger rod with sensor moves past each respective gradation with identifier.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device, comprising:
 a first tubular member defining an interior;   a second tubular member having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending therebetween, at least a portion of the second tubular member configured to be slidably disposed within the interior of the first tubular member;   a plurality of gradations located on a portion of the sidewall of the second tubular member, each of the plurality of gradations including an identifier; and   a sensor in communication with a portion of the second tubular member, wherein the sensor detects the identifier.   
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the first tubular member is a tube having a lumen and the second tubular member is a catheter. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned within a portion of the first tubular member. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is mounted on a portion of the first tubular member. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is formed as part of a portion of the first tubular member. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the gradations are located on an inner portion of the sidewall. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device of  claim 6 , further comprising human readable gradations on an outer portion of the sidewall. 
     
     
         8 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the gradations are located on an outer portion of the sidewall. 
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 8 , further comprising human readable gradations on an outer portion of the sidewall. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 9 , wherein the identifiers are part of the human readable gradations. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the identifiers are transparent. 
     
     
         12 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the identifier is magnetic, and the sensor is a magnetic sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the identifier is IR ink. 
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the identifier is UV ink. 
     
     
         16 . A catheter assembly, comprising:
 a tube defining a lumen;   a catheter having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending therebetween, at least a portion of the catheter configured to be slidably disposed within the lumen of the tube;   a plurality of gradations located on a portion of the sidewall of the catheter, each of the plurality of gradations including an identifier; and   a sensor that detects the identifier.   
     
     
         17 . The catheter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor is positioned within a portion of the tube. 
     
     
         18 . The catheter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor is mounted on a portion of the tube. 
     
     
         19 . The catheter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor is formed as part of a portion of the tube. 
     
     
         20 . The catheter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the gradations are located on an inner portion of the sidewall. 
     
     
         21 . The catheter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the gradations are located on an outer portion of the sidewall. 
     
     
         22 . The catheter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the identifiers are transparent. 
     
     
         23 . The catheter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the identifiers are magnetic, and wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor. 
     
     
         24 . The catheter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the identifier is IR ink. 
     
     
         25 . The catheter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor. 
     
     
         26 . The catheter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the identifier is UV ink. 
     
     
         27 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a marker located adjacent to a point of entry of at least one of the first tubular member and the second tubular member into a patient.   
     
     
         28 . The medical device of  claim 27 , wherein the marker is magnetic, and the sensor is a magnetic sensor. 
     
     
         29 . The medical device of  claim 27 , wherein the marker is IR ink. 
     
     
         30 . The medical device of  claim 29 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor. 
     
     
         31 . The medical device of  claim 27 , wherein the marker is UV ink. 
     
     
         32 . The catheter assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a marker located adjacent to a point of entry of at least one of the tube and the catheter into a patient.   
     
     
         33 . The catheter assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the marker is magnetic, and wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor. 
     
     
         34 . The catheter assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the marker is IR ink. 
     
     
         35 . The catheter assembly of  claim 34 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor. 
     
     
         36 . The catheter assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the marker is UV ink.