A safe, accurate intravenous infusion control system

Abstract

Medical facilities use conventional intravenous (IV) infusion systems in cases where the patient needs some kind of programmed medicine or nutrition. Gravity controls the simplest and cheapest system. In this kind of system, however, the flow rate varies with the bottle's fluid volume and the hose's pressure. Adjusting the drip feed keeps the rate constant. This article details our development of a control system for conventional gravity-controlled infusion systems that guarantees a safe and accurate infusion process. The control system measures the current flow rate through an optical sensor in the drop window and controls it by compressing or decompressing the hose with a motor. We wanted the system to control conventional IV infusion systems with hardware and software. This kind of implementation creates a low-cost control system that resists software faults. Providing this kind of safety becomes crucial if the microcomputer is also used for other purposes. To analyze the various implementation possibilities, we used the PISH (integrated design of software and hardware) codesign methodology developed by our research group. This fault-tolerant system implemented in hardware and software and partitioned with a codesign methodology revolutionizes traditional IV infusion control systems.