Fluid analyzer and associated methods

Abstract

Devices, computer readable programs and methods for determining a patient parameter, including volume and / or flow rate of a fluid draining through a drain tube from a chest cavity of a patient, by using at least one pressure value at an end of the drain tube associated with a fluid collection canister and at least one pressure value within the drain tube at a location distant from the collection canister. The pressure values are processed with a non-linear solver to determine the patient parameter.

Description

[0001] related application [0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61 / 794,712, filed March 15, 2013, and U.S. Nonprovisional Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 212,336, filed March 14, 2014, the entire contents of which are adopted by Incorporated herein by reference. [0003] Statement Regarding Federal Funding [0004] None of the embodiments of the invention are contemplated or amenable to federal funding or grants. technical field [0005] Embodiments of the present invention relate to treatment equipment and methods in which it is desirable to know the amount of fluid removed from a fluid source, such as an individual's thorax. Background technique [0006] There are several disease states and injuries that require removal of fluid from the chest cavity of an affected individual. Clinicians monitor the amount of fluid removed in order to determine the progress of the healing process, the progression of the disease,...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

As the accuracy of strain gauges increases, strain gauges become more expensive and more susceptible to damage

Strain gages are particularly vulnerable to damage and have less resolution to weight changes if designed to be more reliable and stable

[0008] The monitoring of patients on the CDU by clinical staff, required to record the patient's fluid drainage volume levels, is cumbersome, time-consuming and therefore expensive, and is not measured or checked as often as it might otherwise be necessary

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