Method and apparatus for infiltration detection during administration of intravenous fluids

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus for determining whether a medical solution being intravenously administered has infiltrated into the tissue of a patient are provided.
The method includes the steps of occluding the IV tube upstream from a venous access site and initiating a pressure drop within the IV tube, by modifying external contact with the IV tube.
In order to ascertain if there is infiltration, the pressure within the IV tube, and a time for the pressure to return to a base testing pressure after the pressure drop, are simultaneously monitored.
A time interval between the pressure drop and the return of fluid pressure to the testing base pressure is termed herein as a recovery interval.
A recovery interval greater than a predetermined time interval is an indication of an infiltration condition.
In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus are also provided for administering a supplemental fluid to a patient during IV infusion of a primary fluid, while detecting for an infiltration condition.
The infiltration detecting apparatus is adapted to removably engage a length of IV tube.
The IV tube is coupled at one end to a supply of a medical solution to be infused and at an opposite end to a venipuncture device at a venous access site.
The venipuncture device may be an infusion needle or a sharpened cannula tip.
The infiltration detection apparatus is portable and self contained and includes an internal power supply and a keypad for imputing operational instructions.
The infiltration detection apparatus also includes visual displays for displaying equipment condition and site status information, an audible alarm to indicate site status and equipment condition, and a microprocessor and associated circuitry.
The infiltration detection apparatus includes an occluder finger coupled to a stepper motor for occluding the IV tube upstream from the venous access site.
A fluid moving finger downstream from the occluder finger is coupled to another stepper motor