Patent ID: 7377148
Filing Date: 2008-05-27
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A system for detection of gas bubbles in an intravenous liquid flowing in intravenous tubing, the system comprising: a body for retaining a section of intravenous tubing; a first electrode in the body positioned to engage a portion of the outer surface of intravenous tubing retained in the body; at least one ground electrode in the body positioned to engage a portion of the outer surface of the intravenous tubing in the body, the at least one ground electrode connected to ground; a reference capacitor having a fixed dielectric constant; a circuit coupled to the first electrode and operative to provide a charge on the first electrode and the reference capacitor and to provide a signal representing the capacitance of the tubing and liquid in the tubing; and a controller operative in response to the signal to provide an output indication of gas bubbles in the fluid in the tubing when the signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.