Patent ID: 9603999
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: A61M,G06T

Claim:
1. A method of operating an infusion pump, comprising: transmitting light through or around a drop of fluid suspended from an end of a drip tube for the infusion pump, the end of the drip tube located in a drip chamber for the infusion pump, wherein the drip tube is configured for connection to a source of the fluid; receiving, using an optical system for the pump, light transmitted through or around the drop; transmitting, to a specially programmed microprocessor and using the optical system, data regarding the received light; using the microprocessor to calculate a volume of the drop using the data; using the microprocessor, generating respective images of the end of the drip tube and the drop from the data; locating an apex of the drop, the apex being a portion of the drop at a furthest distance from the end of the drip tube; determining, using the location of the apex, an orientation of the drop with respect to the end of the drip tube; and, calculating, using the orientation of the drop with respect to the end of the drip tube, an orientation of the drip chamber.