Project Details

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Flow Detector for Low Flow Rate Applications

Company: B Braun Medical Inc

Major(s):
Primary: BME
Secondary: ME

Non-Disclosure Agreement: YES

Intellectual Property: YES

Modern healthcare has seen a shift to more at-home care than ever before. It offers patients the benefit of being in their own home, or even mobile around town, while continuing to receive their necessary treatments. One device that makes this possible is an elastomeric pump. The elastomeric pump is like a balloon filled with medication which slowly deflates over time to push the medication to the patient. One challenge when using these elastomeric pumps is being able to distinguish whether it is actively delivering medication. Flow rates set with these pumps can be as low as 2 ml/hr. As one can imagine, it is hard to visualize the elastomeric balloon deflating since the flow rate is so slow. In a fully functioning system, there is no clear way for the human eye to see the fluid moving that slowly through the tubing. When a home care patient is unsure if their medication is being delivered, they would need to call their doctor and have it checked by a medical professional. Ensuring they are getting the medication they need is critical, but false alarms can also occur, leading to unnecessary costs and stress for all involved. The challenge for the project team is to develop a low-cost flow sensor capable of detecting flow at this low rate. The sensor should include visual indicators for the patient to identify that their pump is working. Along with the elastomeric pump market, this type of sensor could be used in various applications like gravity delivery and piggyback sets.