Importance

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Abstract

An infusion system includes fluid-delivery components for delivering a fluid from a separate source of the fluid into a patient, transducer components for producing a signal related to the pressure of the fluid in the fluid-delivery components, and identification components responsive to the signal for identifying pressure artifacts characteristic of patient activity. Gravity-fed infusion may be employed as well as infusion with a flow control device, and identification may be accomplished with a microprocessor for examining the waveform of the signal and identifying pressure artifacts characteristic of patient activity amidst pressure changes caused by fluid-delivery components so that site checking can be conducted during quiet periods, i.e., times of little patient acitivity. A method of detecting an abnormal infusion condition includes infusing a fluid into a patient through a conduit, with the pressure of the fluid in the conduit being subject to influence by patient activity, monitoring the fluid pressure in the conduit in order to detect pressure artifacts characteristic of patient activity, and performing a site check for abnormal infusion conditions at a time when no such pressure artifacts are detected.

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First Claim