WO2011008621A1

WO2011008621A1 - Infra-red reflective air-in-line sensor systems

Info

Publication number: WO2011008621A1
Application number: PCT/US2010/041316
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Charles Cummings; Russell Paul Meyer; Andrew Peter Nelson
Original assignee: Nestec S.A.
Priority date: 2009-07-13
Filing date: 2010-07-08
Publication date: 2011-01-20

Abstract

Air bubble sensor systems and methods of using the air bubble sensor systems are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a sensor system comprising a detection chamber (40) constructed and arranged for attaching to a tube, and an infra-red reflective sensor comprising an infra-red light emitter (32) and an infra-red phototransistor receiver (34). The infra-red reflective sensor and the infra-red phototransistor receiver are positioned at or near the detection chamber. The infra-red light emitter can be a light emitting diode.

Description

TITLE

INFRA-RED REFLECTIVE AIR-IN-LINE SENSOR SYSTEMS

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to health and nutrition. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to devices and methods for detecting air in the fluid path of fluid pump systems.

[0002] The delivery of nutritional compositions to mammals, such as human patients, that cannot orally ingest food or other forms of nutrition is often of critical importance. For example, enteral bottles and containers having feeding tubes that deposit food directly into the gastrointestinal tract at a point below the mouth are often used to sustain life while a patient is unable, or refuses, to take food orally. Bottles and containers, feeding tubes and other artificial delivery systems and routes can be used temporarily during the treatment of acute medical conditions. For chronic medical conditions, such systems and routes can be used as part of a treatment regimen that lasts for the remainder of a patient's life. No matter the duration of use, these devices often provide the only means for feeding the patient.

[0003] The use of enteral feeding pumps, in conjunction with an enteral feeding tube set as part of an enteral feeding system, for the administering of medical fluids is also well known in the medical arts. The enteral feeding tube set will typically include several long sections of tubing, connected to a centralized, shorter section of tubing that can be incorporated into a pumping device. One common concern with the enteral feeding tube set is that it is undesirable for large quantities of air to be provided with the enteral feeding solution. In enteral systems, excessive air may irritate the digestive system of the patient and complicate other medical conditions.

[0004] Any air within the enteral feeding tube set can also render the volumetric calculations of the enteral feeding pump inaccurate. Having an unknown quantity of air passing through the tube set causes the enteral feeding system to be unable to accurately determine the actual amount of solution that has been delivered to the patient. As a result, over a period of time, the excessive amounts of air passing through the enteral feeding system can cause significant differences in the amount of enteral feeding solution the system indicates to be delivered and the actual amount delivered to the patient.

SUMMARY

[0005] The present disclosure relates to air bubble sensor systems and methods of using the air bubble sensor systems. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a sensor system including a detection chamber constructed and arranged for attaching to a tube, and an infra-red reflective sensor including an infra-red light emitter and an infra-red phototransistor receiver. The infra-red reflective sensor and the infra-red phototransistor receiver are positioned adjacent to the detection chamber. The infra-red light emitter can be a light emitting diode.

[0006] The detection chamber can include a molded, plastic chamber constructed and arranged to hold or receive a feeding tube. In an embodiment, at least a portion of the detection chamber includes an infra-red transparent surface. The detection chamber can include a transparent polyvinyl chloride material. In an embodiment, a portion of the detection chamber includes an infra-red reflective surface. Each end of the detection chamber can be constructed and arranged to attach to a tube. In an embodiment, a portion of the detection chamber has dark pigments to absorb light. In an embodiment, a portion of the detection chamber has dark pigments to absorb ambient light. In an embodiment, a portion of the detection chamber has carbon black pigments to absorb light. In an embodiment, a portion of the detection chamber has carbon black pigments to absorb ambient light. In an embodiment, the detection chamber has dark pigments to absorb light. In an embodiment, the detection chamber has dark pigments to absorb ambient light. In an embodiment, the detection chamber has carbon black pigments to absorb light. In an embodiment, the detection chamber has carbon black pigments to absorb ambient light.

[0007] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides an air bubble sensor system including 1) a cassette removably attachable to a pumping device with the cassette including at least one feeding/flexible tube, 2) a detection chamber attached to the feeding tube and attached to the cassette, and 3) an infra-red reflective sensor including an infra-red light emitting diode and an infra-red phototransistor receiver. The infra-red reflective sensor is positioned at or near the detection chamber.

[0008] A portion of the detection chamber can include an infra-red reflective surface. In an alternative embodiment, a portion of the cassette at or near the detection chamber includes an infra-red reflective surface. The detection chamber can be in the form of molded, plastic chamber constructed and arranged to hold the feeding tube. The pumping device can be an enteral feeding pump.

[0009] In an alternative embodiment, the present disclosure provides an air bubble sensor system including 1) an enteral feeding pump including an infra-red reflective sensor having an infra-red light emitting diode and an infra-red phototransistor receiver, 2) a cassette removably attached to the enteral feeding pump, the cassette including at least one feeding/flexible tube, and 3) a detection chamber attached to the removable cassette and the feeding tube, the infra-red reflective sensor being positioned at or near the detection chamber.

[0010] A portion of the detection chamber can include an infra-red reflective surface. In another embodiment, a portion of the cassette at or near the detection chamber includes an infrared reflective surface. The infra-red reflective light emitting diode and the infra-red phototransistor receiver can be positioned on the same side within the enteral feeding pump.

[0011] In yet another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of detecting air bubbles in a tubing for an enteral feeding system. The method comprises providing an air bubble sensing system including 1) a detection chamber constructed and arranged for attaching to a feeding tube, 2) an infra-red reflective sensor including an infra-red light emitting diode, and 3) an infra-red phototransistor receiver, the infra-red reflective sensor and the infra-red phototransistor receiver positioned at or near the detection chamber. The method further includes attaching the detection chamber to a feeding tube, and detecting an air bubble within the detection chamber by transmitting an infra-red light into the detecting chamber and detecting reflected infra-red light using the infra-red phototransistor receiver.

[0012] An advantage of the present disclosure is to provide an improved in-line sensor for detecting air bubbles in a tubing set.

[0013] Another advantage of the present disclosure is to provide an improved method for detecting air bubbles in a tubing set for enteral feeding. [0014] Yet another advantage of the present disclosure is to provide an improved sensor for detecting air bubbles that is cost-effective.

[0015] Still another advantage of the present disclosure is to provide an improved sensor for detecting air bubbles that is simple to operate.

[0016] Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a pumping device and cassette having a sensor system in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows the pumping device and the cassette of FIG. 1 with the cassette inserted into the pumping device.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a detection chamber in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 4 shows an infra-red reflective sensor using the detection chamber of FIG. 3 in another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The present disclosure relates to air bubble sensor systems and methods of using the air bubble sensor systems. The air bubble sensor systems utilize infra-red technology and can be incorporated in pumping devices. The pumping device can be part of an enteral administration device or system that administers nutritional compositions to a person or patient in need of same.

[0022] As used herein, the term "nutritional composition" includes, but is not limited to, complete nutritional compositions, partial or incomplete nutritional compositions, and disease or condition specific nutritional compositions. A complete nutritional composition (i.e. those which contain all the essential macro and micro nutrients) can be used as a sole source of nutrition for the patient. Patients can receive 100% of their nutritional requirements from such complete nutritional composition. A partial or incomplete nutritional composition does not contain all the essential macro and micro nutrients and cannot be used as a sole source of nutrition for the patient. Partial or incomplete nutritional compositions can be used as nutritional supplements.

[0023] A disease or condition specific nutritional composition is a composition that delivers nutrients or pharmaceuticals and can be a complete or partial nutritional composition. Disease or condition specific nutritional compositions are those designed to aid with a given situation, such as Impact® sold by Nestle Nutrition to decrease post-operative infections, Diabetisource AC® sold by Nestle Nutrition for people with diabetes or hyperglycemia, and Novasource® Pulmonary sold by Nestle Nutrition for those patients with pulmonary disease or those requiring ventilator support.

[0024] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, in an embodiment, the present disclosure provides an air bubble sensor system 10 including a cassette 20 removably attachable to a pumping device 30. Pumping device 30 can include an infra-red sensor system 31 having an infra-red reflective light emitting diode 32 and an infra-red phototransistor receiver 34 positioned as part of the air bubble sensor system within an inner section of pumping device 30. Infra-red light emitter 32 can be a light emitting diode.

[0025] Cassette 20 further includes a detection chamber 40 as part of the air bubble sensor system. Details of detection chamber 40 are shown in FIG. 3. Infra-red reflective light emitting diode 32 and infra-red phototransistor receiver 34 can be positioned to lay side-by-side and along the length of detection chamber 40 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0026] Pumping device 30 can be an enteral feeding pump. Non-limiting examples of pumping devices are described in U.S. Patent No. 6,659,976, which is incorporated herein by reference. Pumping device 30 can include a monitor/information screen 36 and a control pad 38 for operating pumping device 30. Monitor/information screen 36 and control pad 38 can also be used in conjunction with the air bubble sensor system in embodiments of the present disclosure. Pumping device 30 can further include a power button 50 and a release mechanism 52 for releasing cassette 20 from pumping device 30.

[0027] Cassette 20 can include a housing or support structure having any suitable shape such as the one shown in FIG. 1. Cassette 20 can be design to be inserted partially or wholly within pumping device 30 as seen in FIG. 2. The design of cassette 20 can help in loading an enteral feeding tube set into pumping device 30 without having to route/guide the tubes or stretch the tubes from the tube set over a rotor (e.g. part of a peristaltic pump) contained within pumping device 30. Non- limiting examples of alternative cassette configurations are described in U.S. Patent Nos. D504,506, D505,199, D455,489, D501.924 and D507,647, which are incorporated herein by reference. Cassette 20 can be made from any suitable rigid, semi-rigid or flexible material. Cassette 20 can also have a dark pigment added to its material. Cassette 20 can also have a carbon black pigment added to its material. Cassette 20 can also be designed such that it can be inserted into pumping device 30 only one way.

[0028] As seen in FIG. 1, cassette 20 includes a tube 22 attached to detection chamber 40 at a first end 24. Tube 22 can be flexible and have portions that are rigid or semi-rigid. Tube 22 can be a feeding tube and be constructed and arranged to be incorporated with the rotors of a pump (e.g. peristaltic pump) in pumping device 30.

[0029] Detection chamber 40 can be attached to a tube 60 leading away from cassette 20. Tube 22 can further include a second end 26 attached to a tube 62 leading away from cassette 20. As a result, fluid can flow through tube 22 in the direction from first end 24 to second end 26. Tube 60 can be connected to a nutritional composition source. Tube 62 can be connected to the person receiving the nutrition composition.

[0030] As illustrated in FIGS. 3-4, detection chamber 40 can have an elongated body including a first end 42 configured to be removably attachable to tube 60 and a second end 44 configured to be removably attachable to first end 24 of tube 22. It should be appreciated that detection chamber 40 can also be integrally attached (e.g. as a single piece) with tube 22 and/or tube 60.

[0031] Detection chamber 40 can further include a window 46 to allow infra-red light or energy from infra-red reflective sensor 31 to pass through. Window 46 can be made from any suitable optically clear material that allows infra-red light from infra-red reflective sensor 31 to pass. From their position in pumping device 30 (see FIG. 1), infra-red light emitter 32 and infrared phototransistor receiver 34 are positioned at or near window 46 when cassette 20 is inserted into detection chamber 30. In an embodiment, infra-red reflective light emitting diode 32 and infra-red phototransistor receiver 34 can be in a stacked position along the height of detection chamber 40 as illustrated in FIG. 4. [0032] Detection chamber 40 can be made from a molded, plastic chamber constructed and arranged to hold a tube on each end. For example, detection chamber 40 can be made from a transparent polyvinyl chloride material. In an embodiment, detection chamber 40 can be made from a polyvinyl chloride material, with a dark pigment added. In an embodiment, detection chamber 40 can be made from a polyvinyl chloride material, with a carbon black pigment added. In addition to window 46, any portion of detection chamber 40 can include an infra-red transparent surface or a solid surface to prevent transmission of infra-red light. In an embodiment, a portion of the detection chamber has dark pigments to absorb light. In an embodiment, a portion of the detection chamber has dark pigments to absorb ambient light. In an embodiment, a portion of the detection chamber has carbon black pigments to absorb light. In an embodiment, a portion of the detection chamber has carbon black pigments to absorb ambient light. In an embodiment, the detection chamber has dark pigments to absorb light. In an embodiment, the detection chamber has dark pigments to absorb ambient light. In an embodiment, the detection chamber has carbon black pigments to absorb light. In an embodiment, the detection chamber has carbon black pigments to absorb ambient light.

[0033] In an embodiment, an infra-red reflective surface 60 can be positioned behind window 46 to reflect infra-red light back to be detected by infra-red phototransistor receiver 34. Infra-red reflective surface 60 can be any suitable reflective surface such as a white paper or metallic surface. Infra-red reflective surface 60 can be incorporated as part of detection chamber 40. Alternatively, infra-red reflective surface 60 can be incorporated as part of cassette 20 at a location behind window 46 or an inner section of pumping device 30 at a location behind window 46 when cassette 20 is inserted into pumping device 30.

[0034] In an alternative embodiment, detection chamber 40 includes a second window 48 that assists in reflecting infra-red light back to the infra-red reflective sensor. Although window 48 is shown parallel to window 46 in FIG. 4, window 48 can be varied at any suitable angle to optimize the reflection of the infra-red light.

[0035] During operation, a nutritional composition passes through detection chamber 40 and through tube 22 to be administered to a person. Infra-red light emitter 32 emits an infra-red light that passes through window 46 and through the nutritional composition where it reflects off infra-red reflective surface 60. The strength of the reflected infra-red light can be monitored using infra-red phototransistor receiver 34. If there are changes to the strength of the infra-red signal, this can indicate that a discrepancy such as air bubbles appears within the nutritional composition. The strength of the reflected infra-red light or energy can vary depending on the contents of the nutritional composition and can be properly calibrated in view of same.

[0036] In another embodiment, detection chamber 40 can include an infra-red blocking material (not shown) to prevent the infra-red light from entering the chamber at an angle which interferes with the reflection signal. The infra-red blocking material can be any suitable material such as a black tape or a solid surface that prevents the transmission of infra-red light. The infrared blocking material can be incorporated as part of detection chamber 40 at any suitable location.

[0037] Infra-red sensor system 31 can be any suitable infra-red sensor system having an infra-red emitting and detection device. Non- limiting examples of infra-red sensor system 31 include infra-red sensors developed under the QRD series by Fairchild Semiconductor. Infra-red light emitter 32 and infra-red phototransistor receiver 34 can be supported or positioned on a support 56 (e.g. within pumping device 30). If support 56 is used, it should be made of a suitable optically clear material that allows infra-red light to pass (e.g. polycarbonate).

[0038] Infra-red light emitter 32 and infra-red phototransistor receiver 34 can be positioned in an suitable manner with respect to window 46 of detection chamber 40 and with respect to each other so that a desired amount of the infra-red light sent out by infra-red light emitter 32 and reflected in detection chamber 40 is detected by infra-red phototransistor receiver 34. Infra-red light emitter 32 and infra-red phototransistor receiver 34 can be placed next to detection chamber 40 in contact with window 46 or spaced apart a suitable distance ("D") from window 46 to optimize the infra-red light emission and detection. Infra-red light emitter 32 and infra-red phototransistor receiver 34 can be placed side-by-side in contact with each other or spaced apart.

[0039] In an alternative embodiment, the present disclosure provides a cassette that incorporates an infra-red reflective sensor including an infra-red light emitter and an infra-red phototransistor receiver. In this regard, the pumping device does not house the infra-red reflective sensor. However, the infra-red reflective sensor on the cassette can be constructed and arranged to interact with the pumping device so that the results of the infra-red reflective sensor can be displayed on a monitor of the pumping device.

[0040] In yet another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of detecting air bubbles in a tubing for an enteral feeding system. The method comprises providing an air bubble sensing system including 1) a detection chamber constructed and arranged for attaching to a feeding tube, 2) an infra-red reflective sensor including an infra-red light emitting diode, and 3) an infra-red phototransistor receiver, the infra-red reflective sensor and the infra-red phototransistor receiver positioned at or near the detection chamber. The detection chamber and the feeding tube can be incorporated as part of a cassette that can be attached to a pumping device.

[0041] The method further comprises attaching the detection chamber to a feeding tube, and detecting an air bubble within the detection chamber by transmitting an infra-red light into the detecting chamber and detecting reflected infra-red light using the infra-red phototransistor receiver. If air bubbles are detected in the detection chamber, the pumping device can be stopped, for example, during an enteral feeding cycle.

[0042] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A sensor system comprising:

a detection chamber so constructed and arranged for receiving a portion of a tube; an infra-red reflective sensor comprising an infra-red light emitter and an infrared phototransistor receiver, the infra-red reflective sensor being positioned so that an infra-red light can be transmitted to the detection chamber and detected by the infra-red phototransistor receiver.

2. The sensor system of Claim 1, wherein the infra-red light emitter is a light emitting diode.

3. The sensor system of Claim 1, wherein the detection chamber comprises a window for allowing infra-red light transmission and the infra-red reflective sensor is positioned by the window.

4. The sensor system of Claim 1, wherein the detection chamber comprises a molded, plastic chamber so constructed and arranged to hold a feeding tube.

5. The sensor system of Claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the detection chamber comprises an infra-red transparent surface.

6. The sensor system of Claim 1, wherein the detection chamber comprises a transparent polyvinyl chloride material.

7. The sensor system of Claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the detection chamber comprises an infra-red reflective surface.

8. The sensor system of Claim 1, wherein each end of the detection chamber is so constructed and arranged to attach to a tube.

9. An air bubble sensor system comprising:

a cassette removably attachable to a pumping device, the cassette comprising at least one feeding tube;

a detection chamber attached to the feeding tube and attached to the cassette; an infra-red reflective sensor comprising an infra-red light emitting diode and an infra-red phototransistor receiver, the infra-red reflective sensor being positioned so that an infrared light can be transmitted to the detection chamber and detected by the infra-red phototransistor receiver.

10. The air bubble sensor system of Claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the detection chamber comprises an infra-red reflective surface.

11. The air bubble sensor system of Claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the cassette by the detection chamber comprises an infra-red reflective surface.

12. The air bubble sensor system of Claim 9, wherein the detection chamber comprises a molded, plastic chamber so constructed and arranged to hold the feeding tube.

13. The air bubble sensor system of Claim 9, wherein the pumping device is an enteral feeding pump.

14. An air bubble sensor system comprising:

an enteral feeding pump comprising an infra-red reflective sensor having an infrared light emitting diode and an infra-red phototransistor receiver;

a cassette removably attached to the enteral feeding pump, the cassette comprising at least one feeding tube; and

a detection chamber attached to the removable cassette and the feeding tube, the infra-red reflective sensor being positioned so that an infra-red light can be transmitted to the detection chamber and detected by the infra-red phototransistor receiver.

15. The air bubble sensor system of Claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the detection chamber comprises an infra-red reflective surface.

16. The air bubble sensor system of Claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the cassette by the detection chamber comprises an infra-red reflective surface.

17. The air bubble sensor system of Claim 14, wherein the infra-red reflective light emitting diode and the infra-red phototransistor receiver are positioned on the same side within the enteral feeding pump.

18. A method of detecting air bubbles in a tubing for an enteral feeding system, the method comprising:

attaching a detection chamber to a feeding tube; and

detecting an air bubble within the detection chamber by transmitting an infra-red light into the detecting chamber and detecting reflected infra-red light using the infra-red phototransistor receiver.

19. The method of Claim 18, wherein the detection chamber and the feeding tube are incorporated as part of a cassette that can be attached to a pumping device.

20. The method of Claim 18, wherein an enteral feeding cycle is stopped if air bubbles are detected in the detection chamber.