WO2016071159A1

WO2016071159A1 - Infusion system

Info

Publication number: WO2016071159A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/074872
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frank Grube
Original assignee: Fresenius Vial Sas
Priority date: 2014-11-03
Filing date: 2015-10-27
Publication date: 2016-05-12

Abstract

A system (1) for performing a medical infusion operation for infusing a medical fluid into a patient comprises an infusion device (20), wherein the infusion device (20) comprises a powered-on state in which it is switched on for performing an infusion operation and a powered-off state in which it is switched off for reduced energy consumption. The system (1) further comprises an electronic paper display device (202) which is constituted to display operational information associated with the infusion device (20) in the powered-off state of the infusion device (20). In this way an infusion system is provided which allows for a permanent display of information related to an infusion device even when the infusion device is powered off.

Description

INFUSION SYSTEM

Description The invention relates to a system for performing a medical infusion operation for infusing a medical fluid into a patient according to the preamble of claim 1 .

The system comprises one or multiple infusion devices, such as volumetric pumps or syringe pumps serving to administer a medical fluid, for example a medication or nutrients, to a patient. The infusion device herein can be powered on and in a powered- on state is ready to perform an infusion operation. In a powered-off state, in contrast, functions of the infusion device are switched off such that the energy consumption of the infusion device is reduced to a minimum in order to conserve energy. When used within a hospital environment, an infusion device is identified and characterized by certain operational information. This information includes for example the allocation of the infusion device to a hospital service, the network address of the infusion device, and configuration data of the infusion device such as a drug library version installed on the infusion device, information about a software version or information about clinical protocols installed on the infusion device. When a care giver, for example a nurse, within a hospital chooses an infusion device for a certain clinical task, he or she will do that according to the characteristics of the infusion device.

For a care giver to be able to choose an infusion device according to the characteristics of the infusion device the operational information must be displayed on the infusion device. Herein it generally is not sufficient to display the information on a regular display device of the infusion device when the infusion device is switched on, because the care giver must be able to identify an infusion device and choose between different infusion devices in critical situations even when the infusion devices are switched off.

There hence is a desire to be able to display information on an infusion device in a permanent, static fashion independent on a power state of the infusion device. However, infusion devices may be set up to operate on a battery locally installed in the infusion device. Especially for those battery-operated infusion devices it is not possible to permanently have a power-consuming, conventional display switched on for displaying information.

It conventionally is common practice within a hospital environment to attach paper stickers to infusion devices which allow care givers to keep handwritten or printed informational remarks associated with an infusion device on the infusion device. This approach, however, has problems. Because paper stickers must be replaced if the status of an infusion device changes, the information displayed on a sticker may not represent the actual status of the infusion device if a replacement of a sticker erroneously has not taken place. In addition, handwritten remarks on a sticker may be hard to read and may not follow a common format such that they may be hard to interpret by a care giver other than the one who has left the remark on the sticker. Further, the quality of the sticker may degrade over time, for example due to a smearing of ink when it becomes wet. Finally, there also may be a hygienical issue with physical stickers attached to an infusion device.

US 201 1/0130636 A1 discloses a medical kit having a low-energy display screen, such as an e-ink screen.

US 2007/0030702 A1 teaches an operating lamp having a display which displays information even if the operating lamp is switched off.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a system which allows for a permanent display of information related to an infusion device even when the infusion device is powered off.

This object is achieved by an infusion device comprising the features of claim 1 . Accordingly, an electronic paper display device is provided which is constituted to display operational information associated with the infusion device in the powered-off state of the infusion device. By means of an electronic paper display device operational information can be displayed in relation to an infusion device in a permanent quasi-static fashion. An electronic paper display device herein emulates the appearance of ordinary ink on paper and - unlike conventional flat-panel displays which emit light - reflects light and makes information visible in this way. An electronic paper display device may be capable of holding static texts and images without requiring electric power such that the electronic paper display device can display operational information in the powered-off state of the infusion device without consuming energy.

An electronic paper display device of this kind may be implemented using different technologies. For example, the electronic paper display device may be an electrophoretic display forming images by re-arranging charged pigment particles using an applied electric field, or an electro-wetting display device in which the shape of a confined water-oil interface is controlled by an applied voltage, or an electro-fluidic display device using an aqueous pigment dispersion inside a reservoir.

In one embodiment, the infusion device comprises a housing, wherein the electronic paper display device is arranged on the housing and hence is integral to the infusion device. By means of the electronic paper display device information may hence be displayed immediately on the infusion device.

Alternatively or additionally, the system may also comprise an external module connected with the infusion device via a wired or wireless communication interface, wherein the electronic paper display device is part of the module and hence is external to the infusion device. The module may be set up to communicate with the infusion device for example via a wireless interface such as a WiFi, Bluetooth or infrared interface in order to display information associated with the infusion device at a location remote from the infusion device.

If the electronic paper display device is arranged on the infusion device, the electronic paper display device may represent a separate device in addition to a conventional display device of the infusion device. For example, the infusion device may comprise a first display device, which may be a conventional, backlit display device such as an LCD screen or the like, and a second display device which is constituted as an electronic paper display device. The first display device may be used during normal operation of the infusion device for example during an infusion process for displaying information relating to the infusion process. The second display device in the shape of the electronic paper display device, in contrast, displays characteristic information relating to the infusion device also in the powered-off state of the infusion device in which the other, first display device is switched off.

The electronic paper display device, in one embodiment, may alternatively be integrated in a conventional display device of the infusion device. A first portion of the display device, hence, may be a conventional, backlit display device, whereas a second portion of the display device is constituted as an electronic paper display device.

The electronic paper display device may be constituted to display operational information in the powered-on state as well as in the powered-off state of the infusion device. The electronic paper display device hence permanently displays operational information.

It, however, is also possible that the electronic paper display device displays its information only in the powered-off state of the infusion device.

In one embodiment, the infusion device comprises an input device. The input device may for example be constituted by a touch-sensitive screen and/or one or multiple buttons or knobs. By means of the input device control commands relating to the operation of the infusion device can be entered by a user to for example start an infusion process, to end an infusion process and/or to influence the operation of the infusion device.

Via the input device it, in one embodiment, may also be possible to change the information displayed on the electronic paper display device, wherein this requires a switching-on of the infusion device. If the infusion device is switched on and hence is in its powered-on state, a user can add and modify the information displayed on the electronic paper display device. Alternatively or in addition, the infusion device may comprise one or multiple communication interfaces for connecting the infusion device with one or multiple external devices or an external communication network. The communication interfaces may for example allow for a wired connection, for example an Ethernet connection, or for a wireless connection, for example for a WiFi, Bluetooth or infrared connection or another connection adhering to a common wireless communication protocol. Via the communication interface an external control device may be connected to the infusion device, beneficially allowing to modify the information displayed on the electronic paper display device even when the infusion device is in its powered-off state.

In this way an external control device may be used to program the information displayed on the electronic paper display device. An external control device of this kind may for example be a so-called infusion manager connected to a rack holding one or multiple infusion devices. The external control device however may also be another, non- dedicated control device such as a mobile computer or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) which can connect to the infusion device via a suitable communication interface and may access the infusion device for modifying the information displayed on the electronic paper display device.

The modification of the information displayed on the electronic paper display device may be triggered by a user by entering information to be displayed on the electronic paper display device via an input device of the infusion device or via an external control device. However, the modification of the information displayed on the electronic paper display device may also be triggered automatically without user interaction by the software of the infusion device or by a control software of an external control device. For example, if a software update is installed on the infusion device, an automatic update of the information displayed on the electronic paper display device may be caused. Or if another software function is installed on the infusion device, the electronic paper display device may be modified in order to display the change in the configurational setup of the infusion device. The information displayed on the electronic paper display device may for example relate to maintenance data, a serial number of the infusion device, software version information of software installed on the infusion device, and/or drug library information of a drug library installed on the infusion device. The information may for example be displayed via the electronic paper display device in text form or in a barcode which may be scanned by a suitable barcode reader for extracting the information from the electronic paper display device. The infusion device, in one embodiment, may be part of a system to which multiple infusion devices belong. The infusion devices beneficially are organized on one or multiple organization devices such as racks, which are constituted to mechanically hold the infusion devices and in addition provide an electrical connection to the infusion devices. The racks herein serve to organize the infusion devices in vertical stacks and provide an electric power supply to the infusion devices as well as a communication link for the infusion devices to communicate between each other and with external devices, for example via a hospital communication network. Part of a system of this kind may be a control device, also called infusion manager, which is connected to one of the organization devices and communicates with the organization devices and the infusion devices arranged thereon. The control device may for example comprise an input device such as a touch-sensitive display allowing a user to input control commands to control the infusion devices. By means of the control device it may also be possible to access the electronic paper display device of an infusion device arranged on the organization device in order to modify the information displayed on the electronic paper display device.

The idea underlying the invention shall subsequently be described in more detail with regard to the embodiments shown in the figures. Herein,

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a multiplicity of infusion devices arranged at a bed side of a patient in a hospital environment; and Fig. 2 show a schematic view of an infusion device having an electronic paper display device.

Fig. 1 shows in a schematic drawing a scenario as it typically can be found in a hospital environment, for example in an intensive care unit of a hospital. Next to the bed B of a patient a number of infusion devices 20 constituted for example as infusion pumps, such as syringe pumps or volumetric pumps, are located and connected to a patient via infusion lines 21 . The infusion devices 20 serve to administer a fluid such as a medication or nutrients contained in containers 5 via infusion lines 21 to the patient, the infusion lines 21 (especially in the environment of an intensive care unit of a hospital) possibly being vital to the patient such that they under all conditions must remain connected to the patient to ensure the required administration of medication, nutrients or the like. Typically, the infusion devices 20 constituted as infusion pumps are organized in a rack 2 to form a vertical stack of infusion devices 20 which is fixed for example to a stand 4. The stand 4 may comprise wheels such that the stand 4 at least to some extend is movable with respect to the patient's bed B or together with the patient's bed B. The stand 4 may comprise a pole 40 to which the rack 2 for carrying the infusion devices 20 is attached and comprises, at its top end, fastening means in the shape of hooks to fasten a number of containers 5 containing medication or nutrients or other fluids to be administered to the patient.

The rack 2 serves to arrange the infusion devices 20 in an organized fashion at the bedside of the patient. The rack 2 herein provides a power supply for the infusion devices 20, ensures a secure and reliable fixation of the infusion devices 20, and provides a communication of the infusion devices 2 among each other and with an external communication network and with external periphery devices such as a nurse call, a printer, a computer, a monitor or the like.

Conventionally, the infusion devices 20 can be fixed to the rack 2 and for this are mechanically and electrically connected to the rack 2 such that via the rack 2 each infusion device 20 can be supplied with power and may communicate with other infusion devices 20 and with external devices and/or an external communication network. The rack 2 hence serves as a communication spine providing a communication facility and an electric power supply and embedding the infusion devices 20 into a hospital environment including a hospital communication network and a hospital management system.

Within a system 1 as shown in Fig. 1 it is essential that a care giver, for example a nurse, can easily identify and characterize the infusion devices 20 according to their characteristic operational configuration. For this, for example the allocation of an infusion device 20 to a hospital service, the network address of the infusion device 20, configuration data of the infusion device 20 such as a version number of an installed drug library, a software version number or information relating to an installed clinical protocol must be displayed on the infusion device 20 and must be clearly visible such that the care giver can make out the information and can make use of it as necessary.

In this regard it is desired that such characteristic information is displayed on the infusion devices 20 also when the infusion devices 20 are not powered on. In particular in critical situations, for example within an intensive care unit, the care giver hence can quickly distinguish between the infusion devices 20 and their configurationally setup such that a suitable infusion device 20 for a particular infusion operation may be chosen. As shown in an embodiment in Fig. 2, in order to display characteristic information of this kind in a permanent fashion independent on the power state of an infusion device 20, the infusion device 20 comprises, in addition to a conventional, backlit display device 200, a secondary display device in the shape of an electronic paper display device 202. The electronic paper display device 202 displays information I in a reflective manner without using any backlight and without requiring any power in a static state.

The electronic paper display device 202 in particular is constituted to display information I even when the infusion device 20 is powered off and hence has assumed a powered- off state in which it consumes minimum energy and is not able to perform an infusion operation. In the powered-off state the conventional, backlit display device 200 is switched off and does not display information.

The infusion device 20, via a power supply connection 204, can be connected to an external power supply and in addition comprises an internal battery 203 for operating the infusion device 20 when the infusion device 20 is not connected to an external power supply. In the powered-off state no or very little energy is consumed such that the battery power is conserved when the infusion device 20 is not connected to an external power supply. Because the electronic paper display device 202 does not draw any energy in its static state, the display of the information I on the electronic paper display device 202 does not impact the battery life in the powered-off state of the infusion device 20.

The infusion device 20 may comprise communication interfaces 31 , 60, 70 for communicating with external control devices 3, 7 or an external communication network 6, for example a hospital communication network. Via the communication interfaces 31 , 60, 70 data may be exchanged with external devices 3, 7 such that control commands can be transmitted to the infusion device 20 and performance data for example during an ongoing infusion process may be feed back to the external devices 3, 7. Via the external devices 3, 7 or the communication network 6 it, in one embodiment, is also possible to modify the information I displayed on the electronic paper display device 202. Such modification may be possible in the powered-on state of the infusion device 20 or in the powered-off state. In the latter case it is not necessary to switch on the infusion device 20 for reprogramming the information I displayed on the electronic paper display device 202. The reprogramming of the information I may be triggered by a user or may take place automatically controlled by a control software of the external devices 3, 7 or by the software of the infusion device 20 itself.

Different kinds of information I may be displayed on the electronic paper display device 202. For example, the electronic paper display device 202 may display information in the shape of a barcode 11 which may be scanned and read by a suitable barcode reading device. In addition or alternatively, information I2 may be displayed in the shape of text such that a care giver, for example a nurse, can easily read the information I2. The information I may be of different content. In general, via the electronic paper display device 202 such information I is displayed which may be useful for identifying or characterizing the infusion device 20 and its configurational setup. The information I may for example comprise the network address, version numbers of installed software, an installed drug library or an installed clinical protocol, general maintenance data, a serial number of the device or the like.

The electronic paper display device 202 beneficially is water resistant such that the electronic paper display device 202 is insensitive to external influences. The electronic paper display device 202 may be placed on a housing 205 of the infusion device 20 and hence may be integral with the infusion device 20. In addition or alternatively, an electronic paper display device 202 may also be part of an external module 8, which is connected with the infusion device 20 via a suitable communication interface 80 such as a wired or wireless connection. The module 8 may be placed remote from the infusion device 20 and may, via the electronic display device 202, display information associated with the infusion device 20.

The information I displayed on the electronic paper display device 202 may be permanent in that it remains unchanged until it is modified by means of an external control device 3, 7, by means of the internal device software installed on the infusion device 20 or in any other way. In this regard, the external control device 3, 7 or the internal device software of the infusion device 20 may be constituted to reprogram the content of the information I if for example the configurational setup of the infusion device 20 changes, for example when a new software version is installed, a drug library is updated or the like. For modifying the content of the electronic paper display 202 - but not for statically displaying the content - energy is required.

The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but may be implemented also in an entirely different fashion.

In particular, an infusion device of the kind described herein not necessarily is installed on an organization device in the shape of a rack, but may be used also as a stand-alone device independent from other devices.

An infusion device of the kind concerned herein may for example be an infusion pump such as a volumetric pump or a syringe pump. An infusion device however may in general also be a device used for controlling other infusion devices for performing an infusion operation.

List of Reference Numerals

1 System

2 Organization device

20 Infusion device

200 Display

201 Button

202 Electronic paper display device

203 Battery

204 Power supply connection

205 Housing

21 Infusion lines

3 Control device (infusion manager)

30 Input device (touch-sensitive display)

31 Communication line

4 Stand

40 Pole

5 Infusion bags

6 Communication network

60 Connection interface

7 Programming device

70 Connection interface

8 Module

80 Connection interface

B Patient's bed

I Operational information

II Bar code

I2 Text information

Claims

Claims:

1 System (1 ) for performing a medical infusion operation for infusing a medical fluid into a patient, comprising:

- an infusion device (20), wherein the infusion device (20) comprises a powered-on state in which it is switched on for performing an infusion operation and a powered-off state in which it is switched off for reduced energy consumption, characterized by an electronic paper display device (202) which is constituted to display operational information associated with the infusion device (20) in the powered-off state of the infusion device (20).

System (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the electronic paper display device (202) is constituted to display, in a static state, operational information without any energy consumption.

3 System (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the infusion device (20) comprises a housing (205), wherein the electronic paper display device (202) is arranged on the housing (205).

System (1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the system (1 ) comprises an external module (8) connected with the infusion device (20) via a communication interface (80), wherein the electronic paper display device (202) is part of the module (8).

System (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the infusion device (20) comprises a first display device (200) and a second display device (202), wherein at least a portion of the second display device is constituted as an electronic paper display device (202).

6. System (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the infusion device (20) comprises an input device (200, 201 ), wherein the operational information displayed via the electronic paper display device (202) is modifiable via the input device (200, 201 ) in the powered-on state of the infusion device (20).

7. System (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the infusion device (20) comprises at least one communication interface (31 , 60, 70) for connecting the infusion device (20) with an external control device (3, 7) or an external communication network (6).

8. System (1 ) according to claim 7, characterized in that the communication interface (31 , 60, 70) is constituted to provide a wired connection or a wireless connection.

9. System (1 ) according to claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the operational information displayed via the electronic paper display device (202) is modifiable via the at least one communication interface (31 , 60, 70) in the powered-off state of the infusion device (20).

10. System (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic paper display device (202) is constituted to display a bar code and/or text information.

1 1 . System (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic paper display device (202) is constituted to display operational information relative to maintenance data, a serial number of the infusion device (20), software version information of software installed on the infusion device (20), and/or drug library information of a drug library installed on the infusion device (20).

12. System (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system (1 ) further comprises at least one organization device (2) for mechanically holding at least one infusion device (20) and for providing a communication link for the at least one infusion device (20).

13. System (1 ) according to claim 12, characterized by a control device (3) being communicatively connected with the at least one organization device (2) and the at least one infusion device (20) arranged on the at least one organization device (2), wherein the control device (3) comprises an input device (30) for inputting a control command for controlling the at least one infusion device (20).