JPH1147270A - Residue detector for drip infusion drug solution - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a residue detector for a drip infusion drug solution used for continuous drip infusion. SOLUTION: The residue detector for a drip infusion drug solution, a drip infusion container 21, a light emitting portion 1 that can be arranged so as to hold one detected portion of a passage 8 of a drug solution 20 from the drip infusion container and one kind of reference light that transmits less whether the drug solution 20 is present or not and one or more kinds of measuring light that changes its transmission greatly depending on the presence of the drug solution 20, a light receiving portion 2 that receives the reference light and the measuring light transmitted from the light emitting portion to the detected portion, and a calculator 6 that calculates a difference in light quantity between the reference light and the measuring light received by the light receiving portion.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for detecting the remaining amount of an infusion liquid. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improvement in a device for detecting the remaining amount of an infusion liquid, which notifies a caregiver or the like of a patient who is infusing the liquid when the infusion liquid reaches a predetermined capacity value.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a patient is infused at a medical site, it is detected that the remaining amount of the drug solution contained in the infusion container has become small, and the end of the infusion is notified to a caregiver of the patient by an electric signal. A detecting device for informing is considered. As shown in FIG. 4, such a detecting device 10 is inserted into a bearing 11 installed vertically in FIG. 4, and has a rod-shaped transmitting member 13 provided with a screw portion 12 at one end, and the transmitting device A spring 14 provided to surround the transmission device 13, an electric switch 15 at a position where the transmission device 13 comes into contact when the transmission device 13 rises, and a screw portion 12 of the transmission device 13.
And a nut which can be fitted into the nut.

[0003] The detecting device 10 formed in this manner is
Is used as follows. First, the position of the nut of the detecting device is set to a position corresponding to the amount of the remaining amount of the chemical solution to be detected. Next, an arm of a gantry (not shown) is suspended through a suspension hole 17 provided at the upper end of the detection device, and an S-shaped ring 19 is attached to an annular suspension portion 18 provided at the lower end of the detection device.
, The drip container 21 in which the drug solution 20 is stored in advance is suspended. At this time, due to the weight of the drip container, the transmission device 13 of the detection device is lowered. By continuing the infusion, the amount of the drug solution 20 stored in the drip container 21 is reduced, and therefore, the weight of the drip container 21 in which the drug solution is stored is reduced. And
The light-emitting element connected to the electric switch 15 by the transmission tool 13 being raised by the repulsive force of the spring 14 and contacting the electric switch 15
Notifying the caregiver that the remaining amount is low by emitting 22 light.

[0004]

However, as described above, since the conventional detection device is attached to the detection device together with the drip container, the weight differs depending on the type of the drip container even when the drip container is empty. Therefore, if the type of the drip container is different, the weight detected by the detecting device will be different even if the amount of the drug solution contained in the drip container is the same.

That is, the position where the nut is set must be changed depending on the type of the drip container in which the drug solution is stored.
There is a problem that it is not suitable for patients who perform continuous infusion.

Further, as described above, since the position for setting the nut differs depending on the type of the drip container, there is also a problem that it is difficult to adjust the setting position unless someone who is familiar with the operation of the detecting device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and has as its object to provide a device for detecting the remaining amount of an infusion liquid which is suitably used for continuous infusion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for detecting the remaining amount of a drip solution which can easily perform a setting for measuring the remaining amount of a drug solution to be detected, even if the user is not familiar with the operation. To provide.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for detecting a remaining amount of a liquid medicine for instillation, comprising the steps of: At least one of the detected portions of the flow path 8 can be disposed so as to be sandwiched between the reference light and the reference light having a small change in the amount of transmission regardless of the presence or absence of the chemical solution 20 and the change in the amount of transmission depending on the presence or absence of the solution 20. A light-emitting unit 1 for emitting one or more large measuring lights,
A light receiving unit 2 for receiving the reference light and the measuring light transmitted from the light emitting unit 1 through the inside of the detected part, and a calculating device 6 for calculating a difference between the light amounts of the reference light and the measuring light received by the light receiving unit 2. It is characterized by comprising.

As described above, by using the reference light having a small change in the transmission amount regardless of the presence or absence of the chemical solution and the measurement light having a large change in the transmission amount depending on the presence or absence of the chemical solution, when the detected portion is completely free of the chemical solution, the light receiving portion is stopped. The difference in the amount of light between the received reference light and the measurement light increases. Therefore, by calculating the difference between the light amounts of the reference light and the measurement light by the calculating device 6, it is possible to accurately detect whether or not the chemical solution exists in the detected part.

Further, even if the type of the drip container or the like is different, it is only necessary to sandwich and place the portion to be detected, so that no special operation is required, and the detected portion can be easily detected even by a person who is not familiar with the operation. Section.

According to the present invention, the reference light has a frequency that is difficult to be absorbed by the chemical solution, and the measurement light is easily absorbed by the chemical solution. If the chemical liquid 20 does not exist in the detected part, the measuring light is not absorbed by the chemical liquid, so that the amount of the measuring light received by the light receiving part increases, and therefore the light receiving part Since the difference between the reference light and the measurement light increases, it is possible to detect that the liquid medicine does not exist in the detected portion, which is preferable. Further, the calculating device 6 may be connected to a warning device 7 that issues a warning signal assuming that the remaining amount is smaller than a predetermined amount when the difference between the calculated light amounts is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, so that the caregiver is notified of the remaining amount of the chemical solution. It is preferable because it can be notified that the amount is small.

Further, in the device for detecting the remaining amount of the liquid medicine for infusion according to the present invention, the calculating device 6 and the warning device 7 are provided.
Is preferably connected wirelessly because it is possible to notify that the remaining amount of the drug solution is low even when the caregiver is away from the patient.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a partially omitted front view of an embodiment of a device for detecting the remaining amount of a drip solution according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partially omitted bottom view of the device for detecting the remaining amount of a drip solution according to the present invention. . In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a light emitting unit formed in a cylindrical shape and containing therein a light emitting element 3a and a light emitting element 3b. Here, the light emitting element 3a has a wavelength of 950 nm, for example.
The light-emitting element 3b generates light having a wavelength easily absorbed by moisture, in other words, a light having a frequency easily absorbed by moisture.
It is composed of, for example, a light-emitting diode that generates light having a wavelength that is difficult to absorb to a certain degree of moisture. These light emitting elements 3a and 3b are connected to a power supply (not shown) via cords 5a and 5a (see FIG. 2). The light-emitting side of the light-emitting unit 1, that is, the end of the light-emitting diodes 3a and 3b from which light is emitted, is adhered to the drip container 21 with an adhesive substance, such as rubber.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a light receiving portion formed in a cylindrical shape and containing therein a light receiving element 4a and a light receiving element 4b for receiving light from the light emitting section 1. Here, the light receiving element 4a receives only the same wavelength as the light emitting element 3a, for example, is constituted by a photodiode, and the light receiving element 4b receives only the same wavelength as the light emitting element 3b, for example, is constituted by a photodiode. still,
The light-receiving side of the light-receiving unit 2, that is, the end on the light-transmitting side of the light-emitting diodes 3a and 3b, is the same as the end of the light-emitting unit 1 in the drip container.
An adhesive substance such as rubber is adhered to 21.

The amount of light received from the light receiving elements 4a and 4b is connected to a calculating device 6 via codes 5b and 5b. In the calculating device 6, the light amount obtained by the light receiving element 4a and the light amount obtained by the light receiving element 4b are obtained. Calculate the difference with the amount of light. Further, a warning device 7 that emits a warning sound is connected to the calculation device 6 via a signal line 9.

The light emitting section 1 containing the above light emitting elements 3a and 3b
The light receiving unit 2 accommodating the light receiving elements 4a and 4b, the calculating device 6 and the warning device 7 constitute a device for detecting the remaining amount of the infusion liquid according to the present invention.

In addition, 8a in FIG. 1 shows a needle for taking out the drug solution 20 from the drip container 21, 8b shows a hose for transporting the drug solution taken out from the needle 8a to the patient, and the needle 8a and the hose
The flow path 8b of the chemical solution is formed from 8b.

The device for detecting the remaining amount of the liquid medicine for instillation configured as described above is used as follows. First, the drip solution
A drip container 21 in which 20 is stored in advance is hung on a gantry, etc.
1 and the light receiving unit 2 are to be warned that the amount of the chemical solution 20 is low or to be terminated, for example, the upper part of 1 cm from the bottom of the drip container 21 is the detected part, and the light emitting part 1 and the light receiving part 2 face the detected part. For example, the light emitting unit 1 is placed on one side of the drip container 21.
21a, and the light receiving unit 2 is attached to the other side surface 21b. That is, the remaining amount detecting device is disposed substantially horizontally so that the drip container 21 is sandwiched between the light emitting unit 1 and the light receiving unit 2.

Next, light is generated from the light emitting elements 3a and 3b in the light emitting section 1, and the light is received by the light receiving elements 4a and 4b in the light receiving section 2, respectively. The data on the amount of light received by the light receiving elements 4a and 4b is sent to the calculation device 6, and the difference is calculated.

Here, since the light from the light emitting element 3b is light having a wavelength that is hardly absorbed by moisture, the transmission amount is substantially constant regardless of the presence or absence of the chemical solution 20, that is, the change in the transmission amount is relatively small. , The light transmission amount. Therefore, hereinafter, the light emitting element
The light of 3b is called “reference light”.

On the other hand, the light of the light emitting element 3a is light having a wavelength that can be easily absorbed by moisture. Therefore, if the chemical solution 20 is present, the light is absorbed and the transmission amount is reduced, and the light reaches the light receiving element 4a. The amount of light decreases. However, when the liquid medicine 20 is used up, light is not absorbed and the amount of transmitted light increases, so that the amount of light increases.
As described above, the light of the light emitting element 3a has a large change in the amount of transmission depending on the presence of water, that is, the presence or absence of the chemical solution, and is effective light for measuring the presence or absence of the chemical solution.

As described above, if the chemical solution 20 exists above the light emitting unit 1 and the light receiving unit 2, the measuring light is almost absorbed in the chemical solution 20, and thus the light receiving amount of the measuring light in the light receiving element 4a. Is small, but the amount of reference light received is substantially constant. Accordingly, the difference between the light amounts of the measurement light and the reference light received by the light receiving elements 4a and 4b (calculated by the calculating device 6) is small and substantially constant.

If the liquid medicine 20 exists below the light emitting section 1 and the light receiving section 2, the measuring light is not absorbed by the liquid medicine 20, so that the light quantity of the measuring light received by the light receiving element 4a is the above-mentioned liquid medicine. It is larger than the amount of light in the case. Therefore, the light receiving element
The difference between the light amounts of the measuring light and the reference light received by the light receiving element 4a and the light receiving element 4b (calculated by the calculating device 6) becomes large.

Here, the calculating device 6 has a predetermined value, that is, the difference between the light amount of the measurement light received by the light receiving element 4a and the light amount of the reference light received by the light receiving element 4b when a chemical solution is present. Are stored in the storage device, and the difference between the light amount obtained by the light receiving element 4a and the light amount obtained by the light receiving element 4b calculated by the calculation device 6 is stored in the storage device. Is compared with the constant value. Then, as a result of the comparison, when the amount of light obtained by the light receiving element 4a and the light receiving element 4b exceeds the predetermined value, it is determined that the remaining amount of the drip solution in the drip container 21 is small, and the calculation device 6 transmits the code 9 via the code 9. Signals the connected warning device 7. The expression “the remaining amount is small” means that the remaining amount of the infusion liquid is smaller than a predetermined amount, for example, 50 ml, and also includes that the remaining amount is zero, that is, there is no remaining amount.

As described above, the infusion continues while the remaining amount detecting device is disposed in the infusion container 21, and the infusion time has elapsed,
When 20 is injected into the patient through the flow path 8, the remaining amount of the drug solution 20 decreases. Then, the liquid medicine 20 is more than the light emitting unit 1 and the light receiving unit 2.
Is reduced to the lower part, the difference between the light amounts of the measurement light and the reference light received by the light receiving element 4a and the light receiving element 4b calculated by the calculation device 6 increases. Therefore, the calculated value exceeds the fixed value set by the calculating device 6, so that a signal is issued from the calculating device 6 to the warning device 7 assuming that the amount of the drip solution in the drip container 21 is low, and the warning device 7 is turned on. Beep sounds.

In this way, the difference between the amount of received light of the reference light (light from the light emitting element 3b) received by the light receiving section 2 and the amount of received light of the measurement light (light from the light emitting element 3a) is calculated. When it exceeds, it can be detected that the remaining amount of the chemical solution is small.
Further, when it is detected that the remaining amount of the drug solution is low, a signal is sent to the warning device 7 and the warning device 7 emits a warning sound, so that the caregiver can notify the caregiver that the remaining amount of the drug solution is low.

Further, since the complicated operation is not performed by merely attaching the remaining amount detecting device so as to sandwich the chemical solution container 21, even a non-skilled person can easily use the remaining amount detecting device.

Further, two different types of light are emitted, one type is used as a reference light, and the other type is used as a measurement light. The remaining amount of the chemical is detected based on the difference between the reference light and the amount of the measurement light, thereby receiving external light. Even when the elements 4a and 4b receive light, the difference between the amounts of light received by both elements cancels out because both light receiving elements 4a and 4b receive external light. Therefore, even when external light is received, it is not erroneously detected that the remaining amount is small, and it is possible to accurately detect that the remaining amount is small.

In the above-described embodiment, the warning device 7 is connected to the calculation device 6 via the code 9.
As shown in (5), the calculation device 6 and the warning device 7 may be connected wirelessly.

With such wireless connection, even if the caregiver is away from the patient, the caregiver can carry the warning device 7 to determine that the remaining amount of the drip solution is small. Can be notified by a warning device 7. However, when using the remaining amount detection device and the warning device in a hospital by wireless connection, the frequency and transmission output of the radio wave should be selected so as not to cause a problem for medical equipment in the hospital. In addition, the remaining amount detecting device can be used safely even in a hospital.

In the above-described embodiment, the ends of the light emitting section 1 and the light receiving section 2 are formed of an adhesive material. Therefore, the light emitting section 1 and the light receiving section 2 are adhered to hold the drip container 21 therebetween. However, as another embodiment of the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion, as shown in FIG. 2, the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion may be formed in a shape surrounding the hose 8b.

By surrounding the hose 8b with the light emitting portion 1 and the light receiving portion 2 as described above, the remaining amount detecting device does not easily come off the hose 8b, and therefore, the accurate detection of the remaining amount of the chemical solution is performed. be able to.

In addition, by attaching the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit to the hose in this manner, the caregiver need only replace the drip container when performing continuous infusions, and does not need to reattach the remaining amount detection device. Therefore, the work required for replacing the drip container is reduced, and the burden on the caregiver is reduced.
Further, since the remaining amount detecting device is small, it is suitable for home medical treatment.

In each of the above embodiments, the light emitting elements 3a and 3b are each formed by a light emitting diode.
The light emitting element is not limited to this, and can be changed as appropriate, for example, one light emitting diode and the other natural light. Further, the light emitting element 3a generates light of a frequency that is easily absorbed by moisture, and the light emitting element 3b generates light of a frequency that is not easily absorbed by moisture. However, these may be reversed. The elements 5a and 5b may be mounted in reverse accordingly.

In the above-described embodiment, the warning device 7 emits a warning sound. However, the warning device can be appropriately changed to a warning by light, a vibration, a combination thereof, and the like.

In each of the above embodiments, one type of measurement light is used. However, the type of measurement light is not limited to one type, and two or more types may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the measurement light is constituted by light having a frequency easily absorbed by moisture, and the reference light is constituted by light having a frequency (wavelength) which is hardly absorbed by moisture. The light may be light having a frequency that is easily absorbed by a specific component in the infusion liquid, and the reference light may be light having a frequency that is difficult to be absorbed by the specific component in the infusion liquid. The point is that the measurement light is easily absorbed in the chemical solution, and therefore, is composed of light of a frequency at which the amount of transmission greatly changes due to the presence of the chemical solution, and the reference light is difficult to absorb in the chemical solution. Regardless, it is sufficient if the light is constituted by light whose change in the amount of transmission is small.

[0039]

According to the remaining amount detecting device of the present invention, the reference light having a small change in the transmission amount regardless of the presence or absence of the chemical solution and the measurement light having a large change in the transmission amount depending on the presence or absence of the chemical solution are used. When the detection section runs out of the chemical liquid, the difference in the light amount between the reference light and the measurement light received by the light receiving section increases. Therefore, by calculating the difference between the light amounts of the reference light and the measurement light by the calculating device 6, it is possible to accurately detect whether or not the chemical solution exists in the detected part.

Furthermore, even if the type of the drip container and the like are different, it is only necessary to sandwich the portion to be detected and arrange it, so that no special operation is required, and the detection can be easily performed by a person who is not familiar with the operation. Section. Therefore, even when performing continuous infusion, the caregiver's labor for installing the remaining amount detection device is extremely small.

According to the apparatus for detecting the remaining amount of a liquid medicine for infusion according to the present invention, the reference light has a frequency that is difficult to be absorbed by the liquid medicine, and the measurement light has a frequency that is easily absorbed by the liquid medicine. If the chemical liquid disappears in the detected portion, the measuring light is not absorbed by the chemical liquid, so that the amount of the measuring light received by the light receiving section increases, and therefore, the difference between the reference light and the measuring light received by the light receiving section increases. Therefore, it can be detected that the liquid medicine does not exist in the detection target portion.

Furthermore, if the calculating device is connected to a warning device that issues a warning signal assuming that the remaining amount is small when the difference between the calculated light amounts is equal to or more than a certain amount, it is possible for the caregiver to know that the remaining amount of the chemical solution is small. Can be notified by a warning device.

According to the device for detecting the remaining amount of the liquid medicine for infusion according to the present invention, if the calculation device and the warning device are connected wirelessly, even if the caregiver is away from the patient, the remaining amount of the liquid medicine can be reduced. Can be notified that there are few.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially omitted front view showing an embodiment of a device for detecting the remaining amount of a liquid medicine for infusion according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially omitted bottom view showing a device for detecting the remaining amount of an infusion liquid according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially omitted front view showing another embodiment of the device for detecting the remaining amount of a liquid medicine for infusion according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing an example of a conventional device for detecting the remaining amount of a drug solution.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 light emitting unit 2 light receiving unit 6
Calculation device 8 Flow path 20 Drip container 21
Chemical

Claims (3)

[Claims] An infusion container (21) and a flow path (8) for a chemical solution (20) from the infusion container (21) can be disposed so as to sandwich at least one of the detected parts, ), A light-emitting unit (1) that emits one type of reference light having a small change in the amount of transmission regardless of the presence or absence of the chemical solution (20), and one or more measurement lights having a large change in the amount of transmission due to the presence or absence of the chemical solution (20). ), A light receiving section (2) for receiving the reference light and the measuring light transmitted through the inside of the detected part, and the light receiving section
(6) A remaining amount detecting device for a drip infusion liquid, comprising: a calculating device (6) for calculating a difference between the reference light received in step (2) and the light amount of the measuring light. 2. The reference light has a frequency that is difficult to be absorbed by the liquid medicine (20), and the measurement light has a frequency that is easily absorbed by the liquid medicine (20). 3. The device for detecting the remaining amount of an infusion liquid according to claim 1, further comprising a warning device for issuing a warning signal when the difference between the calculated light amounts is equal to or more than a predetermined amount and generating a warning signal that the remaining amount is smaller than a predetermined amount. 3. The device for detecting the remaining amount of an infusion liquid according to claim 2, wherein the calculating device (6) and the warning device (7) are connected wirelessly.