Patent Description:
Medical intravenous drip is driven by gravity mostly, the container is hanging on a stable drip stand and the liquid substance inside the container flows down naturally into intravenous. Currently, the intravenous drip is still monitoring manually, the alarm system is activated manually and required medical staffs handling while the drip ends or abnormal condition happened. An example of an intravenous drip monitoring device according to the prior art is disclosed in <CIT>.

Moreover, because an intravenous drip requires individually setting according to different types and brands of drugs, therefore the drip weight monitoring also need to adjust to meet different kinds of drip. However, it will increase the inconvenience of users. In the lack of efficient monitoring, the burden on medical staff will increase. Therefore, an intravenous drip real-time monitoring system and method is required.

An aspect of the disclosure is to provide an intravenous drip monitoring device according to the appended independent claim <NUM>.

Another aspect of the disclosure is to provide an intravenous drip monitoring system (not part of the invention). The intravenous drip monitoring system includes a first server, an intravenous drip monitoring device and an electronic device. The first server is communicatively connected with the intravenous drip monitoring device and the electronic device. The intravenous drip monitoring device is configured for detecting a drip monitoring information, and transmitting the drip monitoring information to the first server. The electronic device is configured for receiving a drip information transmitted from the first server, wherein the first server is configured for receiving the drip monitoring information transmitted from the intravenous drip monitoring device, and comparing the drip monitoring information and a setting information to calculate a time remaining and a flow rate of drip, and the first server is further configured for transmitting a control information to the intravenous drip monitoring device. Wherein the drip information includes the drip monitoring information, the time remaining and the flow rate of drip.

Another aspect of the disclosure is to provide an intravenous drip monitoring method (not part of the invention). The intravenous drip monitoring method includes operations of: detecting a drip monitoring information and transmitting the drip monitoring information to the first server by an intravenous drip monitoring device; comparing the drip monitoring information and a setting information to calculate a time remaining and a flow rate of drip by the first server; transmitting a drip information to an electronic device by the first server, wherein the drip information comprises the drip monitoring information, the time remaining and the flow rate of drip; and transmitting a control information to the intravenous drip monitoring device by the first server.

Intravenous drip real-time monitoring system and method are capable of improving the formerly intravenous drip monitoring system done by manual monitoring, utilizing the weight sensor to detect the weight of drip in real time and sending out an alert sound to caretaker remind him/her replace the drip. The intravenous drip real-time monitoring system will also send the setting information of drip from the cloud server to drip monitoring device. In some embodiments, this disclosure is able to real-time monitoring and convenient setting up the drip monitoring device.

It will be understood that, in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. Moreover, "electrically connect" or "connect" can further refer to the interoperation or interaction between two or more elements.

It will be understood that, in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, although the terms "first," "second," etc. may be used to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the embodiments.

It will be understood that, in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the terms "comprise" or "comprising," "include" or "including," "have" or "having," "contain" or "containing" and the like used herein are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to.

It will be understood that, in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the phrase "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that, in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, words indicating direction used in the description of the following embodiments, such as "above," "below," "left," "right," "front" and "back," are directions as they relate to the accompanying drawings. Therefore, such words indicating direction are used for illustration and do not limit the present disclosure.

It will be understood that, in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

Reference is made to <FIG>, which is a functional block diagram illustrating an intravenous drip monitoring system <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the intravenous drip monitoring system <NUM> includes a first server <NUM>, a second server <NUM>, a third server <NUM>, an intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM>. The first server <NUM> is communicatively connected with the second server <NUM>, the third server <NUM>, the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM>. The intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> is configured to detect a drip monitoring information, and to transmit the drip monitoring information to the first server <NUM>. The first server <NUM> is configured to transmit a drip information to the second server <NUM>, the third server <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM>. The third server <NUM> is configured to transmit a monitoring information to the first server <NUM>. The first server <NUM> is configured to compare the drip monitoring information and a setting information to calculate a time remaining and a flow rate of drip. The drip information includes the drip monitoring information, the time remaining and the flow rate of drip. The electronic device <NUM> is configured to transmit a control information to the first server <NUM>, and the first server <NUM> is configured to transmit the control information to the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM>.

The second server <NUM> can be implemented as a server inside the hospital, and the third server <NUM> can be implemented as a medical cloud server of other business. The electronic device <NUM> can be implemented as a smart phone, a tablet, or a wearable device used by patients, patient's family or medical staffs.

Reference is made to <FIG>, which is a functional block diagram illustrating an intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> includes a processor <NUM>, a weight sensor <NUM>, a communication module <NUM>, an alarm module <NUM> and a power supply module <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is electrically connected to the weight sensor <NUM>, the communication module <NUM>, the alarm module <NUM> and the power supply module <NUM>. The power supply module <NUM> is electrically connected to the weight sensor <NUM>, the communication module <NUM> and the alarm module <NUM>. The processor <NUM> can be connected to the first server <NUM> by wire. In another embodiment, the processor <NUM> can be wirelessly transmitted to the first server <NUM> through the communication module <NUM>.

Afterwards, the weight sensor <NUM> is configured to detect a weight information of drip, and to transmit the weight information to the processor <NUM>. The communication module <NUM> is configured to receive a warning value and control information transmitted from the first server <NUM>. The alarm module <NUM> is configured to generate a warning signal. The power supply module <NUM> is configured to supply the power source to the processor <NUM>, the weight sensor <NUM>, the communication module <NUM>, and the alarm module <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is configured to determine whether the weight information is less than or equal to the warning value, if the weight information is less than or equal to the warning value, the processor <NUM> is configured to enable or disable the alarm module <NUM> according to the control information.

In the embodiment, the processor <NUM> can be implemented by a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a central processing unit, a control circuit and/or a graphics processing unit. The communication module <NUM> can be implemented by a global system for mobile communication, a personal handy-phone system, a long term evolution, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access, a wireless fidelity, etc. The alarm module <NUM> can be implemented by a buzzer, a lightemitting device or a combination can generate alert message in the form of sound or flash light. The power supply module <NUM> can be implemented by battery or the power supply circuit. The electronic device <NUM> can be implemented by the mobile device, the wearable device or other devices that can receive signals and send out a message.

In another embodiment, reference is made to <FIG>, which is a functional block diagram illustrating an intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The difference between the embodiment shown in <FIG> and the embodiment shown in <FIG> is that the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> further includes a display module <NUM>, and the display module <NUM> is electrically connected to the processor141 and the power supply module <NUM>. The display module <NUM> is configured to display the drip monitoring information and a setting information. The power supply module <NUM> is further configured to supply the power source to the display module <NUM>. The display module <NUM> can be implemented by the display panel or the touch display panel.

The operation of the intravenous drip monitoring system <NUM> is described in detail in accompany with <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. Reference is made to <FIG> is a flow diagram illustrating an intravenous drip monitoring method <NUM>. The intravenous drip monitoring method <NUM> can be used in the intravenous drip monitoring system <NUM> shown in <FIG> and the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The intravenous drip monitoring method <NUM> includes following steps (The steps are not retired in the sequence in which the steps are performed. That is, unless the sequence of the steps is interchangeable, and all or part of the steps may be simultaneously, partially simultaneously, or sequentially performed).

Afterwards, the intravenous drip monitoring method <NUM> firstly executes step S310 to detect a drip monitoring information and to transmit the drip monitoring information to the first server <NUM> by the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM>. The step S310 further includes steps S311-S316, reference is made to <FIG>, which is a flow diagram illustrating step S310. As shown in <FIG>, the intravenous drip monitoring method <NUM> firstly executes step S311 to receive the setting information transmitted from the first server <NUM> by the processor <NUM>. The first server <NUM> store the setting information of different drips, the setting information includes an empty drip bag weight, the warning value, a drip initial weight, a medicine type, a medicine brand, and a burette type, or other information recorded in the medical advice. When users install the intravenous drip monitoring system <NUM> on drip, they may utilize the processor <NUM> to download the corresponding drip setting information from the first server <NUM> via the internet to control the weight sensor <NUM> according to the setting information.

Afterwards, the intravenous drip monitoring method <NUM> executes step S312 to detect a weight information of drip by the weight sensor <NUM> and step S313 to calculate the weight information by the processor <NUM>. When the drip is installed the intravenous drip monitoring system <NUM>, the weight sensor <NUM> is configured to detect the weight of drip, and transmit the weight information to the processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is configured to calculate the weight information from the weight sensor <NUM> continuously.

Afterwards, the intravenous drip monitoring method <NUM> executes step S314 and step S315 to determine whether the weight information is more than the warning value by the processor <NUM>, if not, sending an alert information by the processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is configured to detect whether the drip weight is less than or equal to the warning value in the setting information continuously, once the weight information is less than or equal to the warning value, the processor <NUM> is configured to send the alert information to the alarm module <NUM>.

Afterwards, the intravenous drip monitoring method <NUM> executes step S316 to transmit the weight information to the first server <NUM> by the processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is configured to transmit the drip monitoring information to the first server <NUM> continuously, the drip monitoring information includes the drip weight, the condition of the alarm module <NUM> (e.g. monitoring condition or alert condition), the identification number of drip, the battery level of the processor <NUM>, etc., and the first server <NUM> is configured to store the drip monitoring information in the memory.

After replacing the drip by the caregiver, the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> is configured to automatically detect and determine whether the weight information is same as previous weight information, if the weight information is same as the previous weight information, it can be realized that the setting information of the replaced drip is the same as the previous one, so there is no need to set the additional warning value. However, if the weight information is different from the previous weight information, it can be realized that the setting information of the replaced drip is different from the previous one, so it is need to enter another warning value. Alternatively, the caregiver can reset the warning value, if the drip with different setting information is replaced and the warning value is need to adjust.

Afterwards, the processor <NUM> is configured to transmit the drip monitoring information to the first server <NUM>. The drip monitoring information includes an identifier of the drip monitoring device, a name of the drip monitoring device, a status of the drip monitoring device, the warning value and the weight information. The name of the drip monitoring device can be set to the name of user, such as father's drip. The status of the drip monitoring device can be realized as current status of the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM>, for example, monitoring, warning, suspending, waiting, emptying, etc. The weight information is detected by the weight sensor <NUM>, for the sake of brevity, those descriptions will not be repeated here.

Afterwards, the intravenous drip monitoring method <NUM> firstly executes step S320 to calculate a time remaining and a flow rate of drip according to the drip monitoring information by the first server <NUM>. The step S320 further includes steps S321-S324, reference is made to <FIG>, which is a flow diagram illustrating step S320. As shown in <FIG>, the intravenous drip monitoring method <NUM> further executes step S321 to compare the weight information with the setting information to calculate the time remaining and the flow rate of drip by the first server <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is configured to transmit the weight information to the first server <NUM> real-time when the weight information is received. Then the first server <NUM> is configured to utilize the setting information to calculate the time remaining of drip. By comparing the initial drip weight and the real-time drip weight be able to calculate the remaining time of dripping. For example, the initial drip weight is <NUM>, after a minute, the remaining weight is <NUM>, and then the first server <NUM> can estimate the remaining time of dripping is <NUM> minutes.

Afterwards, the first server <NUM> is further configured to calculate the flow rate of drip according to the weight information. For example, the first server <NUM> can calculate the flow rate (weight information/ time) during a time period, wherein the time period can be set as <NUM> seconds or <NUM> seconds, however, the disclosure is not limited thereto. From the above, the flow rate of drip and the time remaining of drip are the information calculated by the first server <NUM>. The drip information includes the drip monitoring information obtained by the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM>, the time remaining and the flow rate of drip.

Afterwards, the intravenous drip monitoring method <NUM> executes step S322 to transmit the remaining time and the flow rate of drip to the electronic device <NUM> via the first server <NUM>. After calculate the remaining time, the first server <NUM> is configured to transmit the remaining time (<NUM> minutes) to the electronic device <NUM>, and therefore, the holder of electronic device may aware the remaining time of dripping. The electronic device <NUM> is installed reminding mechanism, for example, the electronic device <NUM> is configured to send alert information to remind the user (in this state may refer to nurse, caregiver or caretaker) to replace patient's drip.

Afterwards, the intravenous drip monitoring method <NUM> executes step S323 to determine whether the weight information is more than the warning value by the first server <NUM> and step S324 if the weight information is less than or equal to the warning value, sending the alert information to the electronic device <NUM> by the first server <NUM>. The first server <NUM> is configured to detect whether the weight information is less than or equal to the warning value, once the drip weight is less than or equal to the warning value, the first server <NUM> is configured to transmit the remaining time of drip and the alert information to the electronic device <NUM>. The first server <NUM> is configured to transmit the remaining time of drip and alert information to the corresponding electronic device <NUM> according to the identification number of drip included in the drip data. The alert information can be realized as reminding the caretaker replaces the patient's drip according to the alarm module condition.

When the electronic device <NUM> is not connected to the first server <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> is configured to calculate the remaining time continuously. For example, when the electronic device <NUM> hold by the caregiver is not communicated with the internet, the electronic device <NUM> is not connected to the first server <NUM> real-time. Therefore, the electronic device <NUM> could not receive the remaining time transmitted by the first server <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> will activate the countdown mechanism and calculate the remaining time continuously, until the electronic device <NUM> is connected with the first server <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> will adjust the remaining time according to the remaining time the first server <NUM> calculated.

The processor <NUM> is further configured to detect electricity of the power supply module <NUM> and to transmit an electricity information to the first server <NUM> via the communication module <NUM>. For example, when the power supply module <NUM> is implemented by battery, the processor can be utilized to detect the remaining electricity of the battery and to transmit the electricity information and the drip information to the first server <NUM>. The electricity information is used to remind the patient or the caregiver the battery status of the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM>, so that the patient or the caregiver can be reminded to replace the battery before the battery runs out.

The first server <NUM> is further configured to record the weight information during a time period, and calculate a weight difference between the current weight information and the previous weight information to determine whether the weight difference is more than a threshold. For example, the initial drip weight is <NUM>, after three minutes, the remaining weight is <NUM>, and after five minutes, the remaining weight is <NUM>. At this time, the processor <NUM> detects that the weight difference of the drip is -<NUM>, and the weight difference is more than the threshold, so the first server <NUM> determines that an abnormal condition is happened. The abnormal condition can be realized that someone pulls the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> to cause the weight difference, or the drip may be blocked so that the weight of drip does not change during the time period. The first server <NUM> can be utilized to detect whether the abnormal condition is still occurred (the weight difference exceed the threshold), if the abnormal condition is relieved, the first server <NUM> is configured to inform the processor <NUM> to disable the alarm module <NUM>. However, the abnormal condition is not relieved during the time period, the first server <NUM> is configured to inform the processor <NUM> to enable the alarm module <NUM>, and to remind the caregiver that the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> is happened the abnormal condition.

Afterwards, the intravenous drip monitoring method <NUM> further executes step S330 to transmit the drip information to a second server <NUM>, a third server <NUM> and an electronic device <NUM> by the first server <NUM> and the step S340 to receive a monitoring information transmitted from the third server <NUM> by the first server <NUM>. The first server <NUM> is configured to transmitted the drip information to the second server <NUM>, the third server <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM> after receiving the drip information. The third server <NUM> is configured to transmit the monitoring information to the first server <NUM>, wherein the monitoring information can be realized as the physiological information such as blood pressure information, heartbeat information, heart rate information and body temperature information, etc. For example, the first server <NUM> and the third server <NUM> can transmit information to each other. The third server <NUM> can be implemented by a cloud server that collects information such as heartbeat, blood pressure or body temperature, and then the third server <NUM> can exchange the data with the first server <NUM>.

Alternatively, the first server <NUM> is configured to transmit the drip information to the third server <NUM>, and the third server <NUM> can use the drip information for subsequent operations. For example, the drip information can be provided to the user severed by the third server <NUM>. The second server <NUM> can be implemented as a server inside the hospital. The second server <NUM> may not be able to share the data with patient personal information to the first server <NUM>, and thus the second server <NUM> only received the drip information transmitted from the first server <NUM>.

Alternatively, the first server <NUM> can transmit the drip information with the electricity information to the electronic device <NUM> to remind the patient or the caregiver the current battery status of the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM>.

In addition to receiving the drip monitoring information from the processor <NUM>, the first server <NUM> can also receive the setting information of the drip. For example, the setting information of drip may change due to the update of the capacity of drugs, replace the company, or the drug certificate is expired, and therefore the drip setting can be updated by the user interface (not shown in figure) of the first server <NUM>.

The first server <NUM> can be utilized to record the patient's drip data. For example, even the disease is identical, the amount of drip may be different due to age, gender or race, such as a <NUM>-<NUM> years old white male and a <NUM>-<NUM> years old Asian female may need different amount of drip. The first server <NUM> can be utilized to collect the unrecognized personal data and provide the information to medical institution or medical college for researching.

Afterwards, the intravenous drip monitoring method <NUM> further executes step S350 to receiving the control information transmitted from the electronic device <NUM> by the first server <NUM> and the step S360 to transmit the control information to the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> by the first server <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> is configured to transmit control information to the first server <NUM>, and the first server <NUM> is configured to transmit the control information to the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM>, and then the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> is configured to enable or disable the alarm module <NUM> according to the control information. For example, the first server <NUM> can open the authority to the caregiver, and the caregiver can transmit the control information to the first server <NUM> by using the electronic device <NUM>, thereby controlling the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> to enable or disable the alarm module <NUM> at a specific time. Therefore, the burden on the caregiver setting the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> at one time can be reduced by controlling multiple of the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM>.

Afterwards, for example, the caregiver can use the electronic device <NUM> to set the rest time from <NUM> am to <NUM> am, and then the alarm module <NUM> is in the disable status. When the weight information is less than or equal to the warning value, the alarm module <NUM> is not generate the alert sound or emit the alert light to remind the caregiver. However, the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> will still send the alert information to the electronic device <NUM> to remind the caregiver to check the drip.

Afterwards, there is an identification code on the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM>, and the electronic device <NUM> is configured to check the drip information and the electricity information according to the identification code. The identification code can be implemented by the one-dimensional barcode or QR code, however, the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the patient or the caregiver can directly use the electronic device <NUM> to scan the identification code and check the drip information and the electricity information of the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM>, and then they can know the status (the time remaining of drip, the flow rate of drip and the current weight information, etc) of the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM>. The caregiver may have higher authority to modify the drip information of the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM>, such as modifying the warning value.

Afterwards, when the electronic device <NUM> has used the identification code to check the drip information and the electricity information, the first server <NUM> is configured to record the identification information of the electronic device <NUM> and the identification number of the checked intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM>. The first server <NUM> automatically transmits the drip information and the electricity information of the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> to the electronic device <NUM>, and there is no need to rescan the identification code. For example, it is assumed that the caregiver need to care three patients, and the intravenous drip monitoring device <NUM> of three patients are the intravenous drip monitoring device A, the intravenous drip monitoring device B and the intravenous drip monitoring device C, respectively. When caregiver's electronic device <NUM> scans the identification code corresponding to the intravenous drip monitoring device A, the intravenous drip monitoring device B and the intravenous drip monitoring device C, respectively, caregiver's electronic device <NUM> can automatically receive the drip information and the electricity information corresponding to the intravenous drip monitoring device A, the intravenous drip monitoring device B and the intravenous drip monitoring device C.

Claim 1:
An intravenous drip monitoring device, comprising:
a processor (<NUM>);
a weight sensor (<NUM>) electrically connected to the processor (<NUM>), configured for detecting a weight information of drip, and transmitting the weight information to the processor (<NUM>);
a communication module (<NUM>) electrically connected to the processor (<NUM>), configured for transmitting a drip monitoring information to a first server (<NUM>);
an alarm module (<NUM>) electrically connected to the processor (<NUM>), configured for generating a warning signal;
a power supply module (<NUM>) electrically connected to the processor (<NUM>), the weight sensor (<NUM>), the communication module (<NUM>), and the alarm module (<NUM>), configured for supplying power source to the processor (<NUM>), the weight sensor (<NUM>), the communication module (<NUM>), and the alarm module (<NUM>);
wherein the processor (<NUM>) is configured for determining whether the weight information is less than or equal to a warning value, if the weight information is less than or equal to the warning value, controlling the alarm module (<NUM>) to generate the warning signal, characterized in that the communication module (<NUM>) is configured for receiving the warning value and a control information transmitted from the server (<NUM>) and the processor (<NUM>) is configured for enabling or disabling the alarm module (<NUM>) according to the control information.