WO2025048852A1

WO2025048852A1 - Syringe variance detection

Info

Publication number: WO2025048852A1
Application number: PCT/US2023/072910
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael K. WORKMAN; Brian M. Sullivan
Original assignee: Carefusion 303, Inc.
Priority date: 2023-08-25
Filing date: 2023-08-25
Publication date: 2025-03-06

Abstract

Certain aspects of the disclosure provide a syringe pump monitoring system, method, and computer readable media for automated detection and monitoring of changes in measurements of syringe to be used in syringe pumps. An expected measurement may be determined from the measurements of syringes used in syringe pumps and used to determine such changes in measurements. A syringe loaded into a syringe pump may be compared to reference measurements and expected measurements to identify the syringe type, and to enable accurate infusion.

Description

SYRINGE VARIANCE DETECTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a syringe pump monitoring system.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Infusion by automatically controlled syringe pump is becoming increasingly common in parenteral drug administration due to the improved safety and convenience offered by such devices.

[0003] Generally, a syringe pump may be configured with characteristics of a syringe that it is operating, such as the syringe’s physical characteristics, in order that a desired flow rate and volume of therapeutic fluid is provided via the syringe pump’s controlled operation of the syringe. A syringe type may be associated with a set of characteristics, such as barrel length, barrel interior diameter, barrel outer diameter, and others, and the syringe type may be an input to a syringe pump to more readily configure the pump for operation.

[0004] A key operating assumption for syringe pumps is that the configured characteristics for a syringe e.g., based on its type, are correct so that a desired flow and volume are achieved. However, this is not always the case because, for example, variances in physical characteristics of a syringe may be introduced in manufacturing, shipment, handling, and the like. Thus, when physical characteristics of a syringe vary from those assumed based on its type, so too do the flow and volume infused by a syringe pump when using the syringe. Variance in infused flow and volume may negatively affect the desired therapeutic treatment.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a need a need for improved methods for monitoring characteristics of syringes in order to enable accurate infusion by syringe pumps and thereby to improve patient safety.

SUMMARY

[0006] Certain aspects provide an infusion device, comprising: a display device; and one or more syringe measurement sensors; a memory, comprising: a plurality of sets of expected characteristic values, each set of expected characteristic values associated with a different syringe type; and a plurality of sets of calibrated characteristic values, each set of calibrated characteristic values associated with a different syringe type; a pump controller comprising a processor, wherein the pump controller is configured to: obtain a set of measured characteristic values for a syringe loaded in the infusion device from the one or more syringe measurement sensors; determine the set of measured characteristic values fail to correspond with the plurality of sets of calibrated characteristic values; determine a correspondence between the set of measured characteristic values and at least one set of expected characteristic values of the plurality of sets of expected characteristic values; control the display device to display a syringe type associated with the at least one set of expected characteristic values; and receive confirmation of the syringe type.

[0007] Certain aspects provide an method of operating an infusion device, wherein: the infusion device comprises: a display device; and one or more syringe measurement sensors; a memory, comprising: a plurality of sets of expected characteristic values, each set of expected characteristic values associated with a different syringe type; and a plurality of sets of calibrated characteristic values, each set of calibrated characteristic values associated with a different syringe type; a pump controller comprising a processor, and the method comprises: obtaining a set of measured characteristic values for a syringe loaded in the infusion device from the one or more syringe measurement sensors; determine the set of measured characteristic values fail to correspond with the plurality of sets of calibrated characteristic values; determining a correspondence between the set of measured characteristic values and at least one set of expected characteristic values of the plurality of sets of expected characteristic values; displaying, on the display device, a syringe type associated with the at least one set of expected characteristic values; and receiving confirmation of the syringe type.

[0008] Certain aspects provide a syringe monitoring server, comprising: a memory, comprising a plurality of sets of calibrated characteristic values, each set of calibrated characteristic values associated with a different syringe type; and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to: receive, from a plurality of infusion devices, one or more sets of measured characteristic values for one or more syringe types of a plurality of syringe types; determine, for each respective syringe type of the plurality of syringe types, based on one or more sets of measured characteristic values, a set of expected characteristic values for the respective syringe type; store, in the memory, the set of expected characteristic values for each respective syringe type of the plurality of syringe types; and send, to one or more of the plurality of infusion device, the set of expected characteristic values for each respective syringe type of the plurality of syringe types. [0009] Other aspects provide processing systems configured to perform the aforementioned methods as well as those described herein; non-transitory, computer-readable media comprising instructions that, when executed by a processors of a processing system, cause the processing system to perform the aforementioned methods as well as those described herein; a computer program product embodied on a computer readable storage medium comprising code for performing the aforementioned methods as well as those further described herein; and a processing system comprising means for performing the aforementioned methods as well as those further described herein.

[0010] The following description and the related drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative features of one or more aspects.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The appended figures depict certain aspects and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the scope of this disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 1A depicts an example syringe pump.

[0013] FIG. IB depicts an example graphical user interface for a syringe pump.

[0014] FIG. 2 depicts example characteristics of a syringe that may be used in a syringe pump.

[0015] FIG. 3 depicts an example of a syringe pump monitoring system.

[0016] FIG. 4 depicts an example flowchart for identifying and monitoring syringes.

[0017] FIG. 5 depicts another example flowchart for identifying and monitoring syringes.

[0018] FIG. 6 depicts an example method for identifying and monitoring syringes.

[0019] FIG. 7 depicts another example method for identifying and monitoring syringes.

[0020] FIG. 8 depicts an example computing device for implementing various aspects described herein.

[0021] FIG. 9 depicts another example computing device for implementing various aspects described herein.

[0022] To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the drawings. It is contemplated that elements and features of one embodiment may be beneficially incorporated in other embodiments without further recitation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Aspects of the present disclosure provide apparatuses, methods, processing systems, and computer-readable mediums for monitoring characteristics of syringes and thereby determining variances that may affect automatic determination of syringe and proper infusion by a syringe pump.

[0024] A syringe pump is generally an electromechanical device for controlling the operation of a syringe in order to infuse therapeutic fluids into a patient in a controlled and precise manner. FIG. 1A depicts an example of a syringe pump, and FIG. 2 depict various aspects of a syringe. In general operation, a syringe filled with therapeutic fluid is loaded into a syringe pump and the syringe pump is configured to actuate the syringe based on a syringe type. A clinician may select a syringe type in a control interface of the syringe pump manually, or, alternatively, the syringe pump may measure certain physical characteristics of the syringe to automatically determine and recommend the determined syringe type to the clinician for selection. Either way, selecting the syringe type enables the syringe pump to determine characteristics of the syringe (e.g., physical dimensions) and thereby to control the flow of the therapeutic fluid into the patient by automatic actuation of the syringe plunger. Generally, the syringe pump estimates the flow rate and volume of the infused fluid based on the determined characteristics of the syringe and the displacement of the syringe plunger.

[0025] While syringes have precise design dimensions, actual physical characteristics of a syringe may vary from sample to sample, such as through manufacturing variances, mishandling, post-manufacturing damage, and the like. Critically, this means that when a syringe is actually used in a syringe pump, one or more actual characteristics of a given syringe may differ from the expected characteristics given the syringe type. This presents multiple technical problems.

[0026] A first technical problem is that when a syringe’s characteristics vary too significantly from those expected based on the syringe type, the syringe pump may be unable to identify, or may misidentify, the syringe type. Notably, this may happen even where the particular variance does not affect the actual performance of the syringe. For example, where an inner diameter of the barrel of a syringe is correct, but the outer diameter of the barrel is too large (e.g., due to a manufacturing defect), the syringe type may not be automatically detected based on a characteristic measurement (e.g., of the outer diameter) performed by the syringe pump. This inability to automatically detect the syringe type costs a clinician time in manually verifying details and may lead to the types of human input errors that automatic detection of syringe type is meant to eliminate. Further, if the syringe type is misidentified based on the outer diameter of the barrel, the syringe pump may end up infusing at the wrong rate and/or volume (e.g., based on a syringe inner diameter associated with misidentified syringe type), which in-turn negatively affects the treatment provided to the patient.

[0027] A second technical problem is that conventional syringe pumps do not monitor syringe variances and do not provide such variances to any centralized monitoring system that can assess variances over time and over different locations, so there is way to identify systemic problems with various syringe types so that those syringe types may be avoided. For example, even when a variance with a given syringe is noted by a clinician, conventional syringe pumps provide no mechanism for recording that variance to a central monitoring service that would allow for identifying sustained trends. Such sustained trends may allow for identifying sustained changes in characteristics of various syringe types (such as if a new manufacturing process has led to a sustained change in physical dimensions) that can be used to re-characterize a syringe type for better automatic detection. Further, trends may allow for identifying manufacturers that produce inconsistent syringes and which may therefore be avoided.

[0028] Aspects described herein provide a technical solution to the aforementioned technical problems by improving automatic detection of syringe types by syringe pumps as well as providing syringe measurements and related data (e.g., a determined syringe type) to a central monitoring service for detection of actionable trends associated with the syringe type.

[0029] For example, as described in more detail below with respect to FIG. 3, automatic detection of syringe type by a syringe pump is improved by comparison of measured characteristics of a syringe (by a syringe pump) to both calibrated characteristic values (e.g., as provided by a manufacturer or by testing of a small sample set) and expected characteristic values (e.g., as provided by a central monitoring service) based on current data from a large number of deployed syringe pumps.

[0030] As another example, as described in more detail below with respect to FIG. 4, identification of actionable trends in measured syringe characteristics is enabled by providing measurement and related data (e.g., syringe type selection data) from syringe pumps to a central monitoring system that can aggregate the data, determine the trends, and take actions based on the trends, such as sending an alert to clinicians, hospitals, suppliers, etc. regarding a particular syringe type having sustained variances, or sending a revised set of expected characteristics to deployed syringe pumps to improve automatic syringe type detection. [0031] The preceding examples and others described herein therefore provide beneficial technical effects as well as improve patient safety by ensuring infusion by syringe pump is performed as expected by a clinician according to reliably identified syringe types.

Example Syringe Pump

[0032] FIG. 1 A depicts an example syringe pump 102. Syringe pump 102 includes a graphical user interface (GUI) 124 for displaying operational information, including the selected syringe type and the configured infusion (e.g., in terms of rate of infusion, volume infused, length of time of infusion, etc.). A user may operate syringe pump 102 through one or more buttons 122 in this example. Note that other examples may include other arrangements, such as touch-screen interfaces, or interfaces operable by remote device, such as by an application on a computing device.

[0033] Syringe 101 is shown next to syringe pump 102, rather than loaded in the pump, for clarity of illustration. Syringe pump 102 includes cradle 104 in which a barrel 103 of syringe 101 rests when mounted in the syringe pump 102. Sensor 128 detects volume markings along a barrel of syringe 101. Cradle 104 has a clamp 106 to securely hold the barrel 103 in a fixed position in cradle 104 to resist axial and lateral movement. Clamp 106 may pivot between an open position to permit loading or removal of syringe 101 and a closed position over cradle 104. Barrel clamp 106 may measure an outside diameter of the barrel 103 of syringe 101. Barrel flange 105 of syringe 101 resides in a barrel flange groove 108 in syringe pump 102 to immobilize barrel 103 from axial movement during movement of plunger 107 within barrel 103 of syringe 101. Barrel flange groove may measure an outside diameter and a thickness of the barrel flange 105 of syringe 101.

[0034] Plunger 107 can include push-button 109 having an inner side 111 and being interconnected with stopper 113 of plunger 107 by piston 115. When mounted in syringe pump 102, push-button 109 can be held by drive head 110 with a plunger retainer comprising a pair of pivotally mounted claws, first retainer claw 112 and second retainer claw 114, shown in the closed position in FIG. 1A. The retainer claws 112 and 114 can curve inwardly toward each other to grasp push-button 109 mounted in syringe pump 102.

[0035] A rotation knob 116 can be used to control the positions of the first and second retainer claws 112 and 114 to allow removal and insertion of the push-button 109 and to release the splitnut from the driveshaft to permit axial positioning of the drive head 110. Syringes can be provided for use with a syringe pump with different quantities of fluid, and the plunger can be located at different positions in relation to the barrel.

[0036] The drive head 110 can allow manual adjustment to accommodate syringes with different beginning plunger positions. A syringe inserted in the cradle 104 can align with the drive head 110 within a particular axial range. The points where the axial center lines of the syringes intersect the driver can change according to the size of the syringe but only in one direction along the drive head 110. A guide device 118 can extend from the drive head 110 to a point within a body of the syringe pump 102.

[0037] Syringe pump 102 can include a control panel 120 providing multiple buttons 122 for control of the syringe pump 102 as well as GUI 124 used to present pump-specific information to the operator. The buttons 122 can allow the operator to program the syringe pump 102 for the flow rate, the volume to be infused, and other pump parameters. GUI 124 can present the programmed flow rate, the amount of fluid remaining to be infused, as well as alarms and other information.

[0038] The drive head 110 can include a contact plate 126 that has a pushing surface that contacts the outer side 117 of the push-button 109 as the drive head 110 moves forward toward the barrel 103, pushing the plunger 107 into the barrel 103 of the syringe to expel the syringe contents through a fluid administration set tubing 119 to a patient.

[0039] When the contact plate 126 exerts force against the push-button 109, the force may be detected by force sensor 129 and transmitted to a processor for monitoring. In the case of friction between the stopper 113 and the barrel 103, the force exerted can increase and can be detected by force sensor 129.

[0040] Syringe pump 102 is configured with known syringe types containing information such as syringe inner diameter and stroke of the stopper 113. Syringe pump 102 determines the position of stopper 113 based on the movement of drive head 110 based on the syringe type and stored characteristics of the syringe type. Then, syringe pump 102 calculates the volume infused, time elapsed, volume remaining, and time remaining. As the drive head 110 continues to move, a flow rate is determined based on the characteristics of the syringe and the velocity of the drive head 110.

[0041] One or more sensors, such as sensor 128, barrel clamp 106, groove 108, claws 112, and 114, and force sensor 129, may measure various characteristics of syringe 101, to obtain a measured value for the characteristic, such as barrel length, barrel outside diameter, flange shape, flange size, plunger shape, plunger size (e.g., diameter), plunger tab thickness, volume per plunger distance moved, driver head height, etc. These sensors may include one or more of an optical sensor, a light source, a pressure sensor, a position sensor (e.g., magnetic linear position sensor indicating the plunger head), force sensor, and the like. Syringe pump 102 compares these measured characteristics against the stored characteristic values associated with the known syringe types to determine the syringe type, as discussed in further detail with respect to FIG. 4.

[0042] FIG. IB depicts an example graphical user interface (GUI) 124 on a syringe pump, such as syringe pump 102 in FIG. 1A, for displaying one or more syringe types for user selection.

[0043] As described below in FIG. 3, syringe pump 102 may automatically detect one or more syringe types associated with syringe 101. As depicted in FIG. IB, three types, Type A 130a, Type B 130b, and Type C 130c, (collectively “syringe types 130”), are displayed for a user to select the correct syringe type, enabling configuration and operation of the syringe pump 102. Note that in this example, three different syringe types are depicted, but in other examples, any number of different syringe types may be depicted. For example, if only one known syringe type corresponds to the measured characteristics of syringe 101, then only one syringe type may be presented. However, if there is uncertainty or multiple types of syringes corresponds to the measured characteristics of syringe 101, then more options may be presented.

[0044] Beneficially, the syringe monitoring system described herein allows for providing additional feedback to a user that may help improve syringe type selection, and may also help improve patient safety. As described below in FIG. 3, while detecting the syringe types 130, syringe pump 102 may determine an alert to be displayed (e.g., 138a and/or 138b). Alerts such as 138a and 138b may indicate different potential issues with the detected syringe type to a user, such as known variances in manufacturing, low confidence in correspondence, etc., as described in further detail with respect to FIG. 4.

Example Syringe

[0045] FIG. 2B depicts example characteristics of syringe 200, some of which may be measured by a syringe pump for determining a syringe type automatically. The barrel length BL is the length of barrel 212, from tip 202 to flange 210. The inside diameter ID is the inner diameter of barrel 212, wherein plunger 208 fits. The outside diameter OD is the outer diameter of barrel 212, such as measured by barrel clamp 106 in FIG. 1A. The flange diameter FD is the diameter of flange 210. The plunger position PP is the position of a first end of plunger 208 within barrel 212, where the first end is the end closest to tip 202. As the syringe pump drives plunger 208 towards tip 202, fluid within barrel 212 is expelled.

Example Syringe Pump Monitoring System

[0046] FIG. 3 depicts an example syringe pump monitoring system to identify and monitor syringes, such as syringe 200 in FIGS. 2A-2B, used within a syringe pump, such as syringe pump 102 in FIG. 1A.

[0047] In this example, syringe pump 102 may be preconfigured with calibrated characteristic values associated with various syringe types, such as via syringe manufacturer 308, and/or as stored in syringe data store 310. Further, syringe pump 102 may be preconfigured with expected characteristic values, such as determined by monitoring server 306 (as described further below). These calibrated and expected characteristics values are used by syringe pump 102 for automatic detection of syringe types.

[0048] As above, syringe pump 102 is configured to measure characteristic data associated with syringe 101. For example, measured characteristic data may include measured physical characteristics of the syringe. Syringe pump then uses the measured characteristic values to detect one or more syringe types 130 based on, for example, the calibrated and expected characteristics values, such as described further with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4. Syringe pump is further configured to display the one or more syringe types to a user and receive a selection of the syringe type via, for example, GUI 124, as depicted in FIGS. 1A-B.

[0049] Syringe pump 102 is further configured to generate data related to the detection process, such as alerts based on comparison of the measured characteristic data to the calibrated and expected characteristic data, such as described below with respect to FIG. 4.

[0050] Syringe pump 102 is further configured to transmit data related to the detection process, such as measured characteristic data and syringe type selection data, to monitoring server 306. Syringe pump 102 may transmit this data as it is collected, such as in an instant report, or periodically, such as a daily or weekly report. Syringe pump 102 or monitoring server 307 may also include detection metadata to put detection data in context, such as a syringe pump ID to uniquely identify syringe pump 102, a location of syringe pump 102, a medical practice or facility in which syringe pump 102 is deployed, a firmware and/or software version of syringe pump 102, operational data (e.g., hours in use) associated with syringe pump 102, and others. Such metadata may be used by monitoring server 306 to determine location, region, practice, facility, or similar specific variances. For example, a manufactured lot of syringes having a defect may have gone to one region and variances may be detected with respect to that region such that alerts are only sent to that region.

[0051] Monitoring server 306 is configured to store the data received from syringe pump 102 or the medical center 312 or generated by the monitoring server 306 based thereon in syringe data store 310, such as described in FIG. 5. Monitoring server 306 is further configured to analyze the aggregated data in order to, for example, determine expected characteristic values for different syringe types, and to determine deviations between measured, calibrated, and/or expected characteristic data for syringe types.

[0052] Monitoring server 306 is further configured to transmit syringe type data (e.g., expected characteristic values for different syringe types) to syringe pump 102. In this way, syringe pump 102 may be frequently updated and learn to detect syringe types more reliably. Syringe type data may also include syringe type alerts, such as alerts regarding deviations by analyzing the data received from syringe pump 102. Syringe type data may also include updated calibrated characteristic values from syringe manufacturer 308 or from another testing organization. Syringe type data may yet further include notices from a manufacturer that may then be displayed to a user of syringe pump 102, such as a recall notice or a new directive for use. These are just some examples, and many other are possible.

[0053] Monitoring server 306 is further configured to transmit syringe type data and metrics to syringe manufacturer 308 and/or medical center 312. In some cases, additional data, such as syringe type information, such as syringe size, manufacturer, lot, batch, production data, UPC code, etc., clinician, and information about the syringe pump, such as location, manufacturer, identifier, firmware or software, etc., may be obtained from syringe manufacturer 308 and medical center 312 for use by monitoring server 306.

[0054] Network 304 is generally representative of any number and type of data networks that allow data exchange between syringe pump 302, monitoring server 306, syringe manufacturer 308, and/or medical center 312.

[0055] Although only one syringe pump 102 is depicted in FIG. 3, a syringe pump monitoring system may exchange data as described above with any number of syringe pumps 102. Indeed, as more syringe pumps 102 provide data to monitoring server 306, the power of the analytics performed by monitoring server may grow. Example Syringe Type Determination Flow

[0056] FIG. 4 depicts an example flow 400 for identifying syringe types by a syringe pump, such as syringe pump 102 as described with respect to FIGS. 1A and IB.

[0057] Flow 400 optionally begins at step 402 with obtaining syringe characteristic data from a syringe pump monitoring server, such monitoring server 306 in FIG. 3. The syringe characteristic data may be, for example, calibrated characteristic values and/or expected characteristic values for various syringe types. In some cases, a syringe pump may be preconfigured with calibrated characteristic values for any number of syringe types and may later receive expected characteristic values for one or more of the configured syringe types after a monitoring server has built up sufficient data, and assuming the data varies from the calibrated characteristic values (e.g., by some threshold). The characteristic data may also include alerts, notes, or other data for clinicians associated with syringe types, which may be displayed on within a graphical user interface, such as described above with respect to FIG. IB.

[0058] Syringe characteristic data may be obtained in various manners. For example, syringe characteristic data may be obtained periodically, such as daily, weekly, etc. Syringe characteristic data may also be obtained based on conditions, such as when a syringe pump is powered on, after a certain number of infusions, etc. Syringe characteristic data may also be “pushed” to a syringe pump when a syringe pump monitoring server detects a change in expected characteristic values (e.g., as described below with respect to FIG. 5), or when new data is received from a manufacturer (such as new calibrated characteristic values), etc. In some embodiments, the syringe pump “pulls” syringe characteristic data from a monitoring server by querying the monitoring server for updated data. Syringe characteristic data, beneficially, then, may be frequently updated (e.g., real-time or scheduled) so that a syringe pump is always working with the latest data, which improves clinician efficacy, therapeutic treatment, and patent safety.

[0059] Expected characteristic values may be generated using various statistical techniques (e.g., as described with respect to step 506 of FIG. 5) and based on aggregated measured characteristic values for each characteristic associated with a syringe type. In some cases, the aggregated measured characteristic values may be time filtered, such as only using data from the previous 6 months (or any other amount of time), to generate expected characteristic values.

[0060] For example, analysis of measured characteristic values for a barrel length characteristic of a particular syringe type may indicate a 1% increase in barrel length over the last 6 months, compared to the calibrated characteristic value for barrel length for the syringe type. The expected characteristic value for the barrel length of the syringe type may thus be set 1% higher compared to the calibrated characteristic value. Beneficially, when a syringe pump updated with the expected barrel length characteristic value measures a barrel length for a syringe type that is 1% larger it can still be matched, even though the barrel length fails to correspond to the calibrated characteristic value. Note that in some cases an expected characteristic value may be defined in terms of one or more statistical values, such as a mean and standard deviation, rather than a point value. In some cases, determining a syringe type based on such values may be based on whether a measured value falls within a range defined by the statistical values, rather than based on a determined difference between two point values. As an example, a characteristic value range may be defined as a range of values between a first quartile and a third quartile of all reference values. These are just some examples, and others are possible.

[0061] In some embodiments, a subset of available expected characteristic values for a given syringe type is used for comparison with measured characteristic values to determine syringe type. For example, a subset of expected characteristic values may be associated with certain safety threshold, such as an allowable deviation of infusion rate, infusion volume, or the like. In other words, there may be an established relationship between a deviation in a characteristic, such as barrel outer diameter, and an infusion rate, volume, etc. given a fixed displacement of the plunger. A safety threshold may prevent a deviation in the barrel outer diameter value to avoid a related deviation in infusion performance. In some cases, the subset may be subject to alerts whereas other characteristics may not be (e.g., where those characteristics may not directly affect infusion performance).

[0062] In another example, a subset of expected characteristic values may be those not associated a safety threshold. An expected characteristic value within the second subset may grossly deviate from the safety threshold. For example, a syringe with a measured characteristic within the second subset may be indicative of a gross change to the syringe, such that an infusion with the syringe may not match expected infusion rate, volume, and the like. In some aspects, an expected characteristic value in the second subset may be indicative of large changes to a syringe type, such as a change in manufacturing (e.g., a defect in certain manufactures, lots, regions, methods, materials, etc.) of the syringe type, which may affect the accuracy of the syringe pump.

[0063] At step 404, a user loads a syringe, such as syringe 101 in FIG. 1A, into a syringe pump, such as syringe pump 102 in FIG. 1A. [0064] Flow 400 then proceeds to step 406 with the syringe pump measuring one or more characteristic values (e.g., a set of measured characteristic values) of the loaded syringe, such as with sensor 128, barrel clamp 106, groove 108 claws 112 and 114, and force sensor 129 of FIG. 1A. As above, the one or more characteristics may include, for example, the barrel length, barrel outside diameter, flange shape, flange size, plunger shape, plunger size, and head height. In the following description, a set of multiple measured characteristic values is used as an example, but FIG. 4 may be performed with a single measured characteristic value.

[0065] At step 408, the measured characteristic values are compared to corresponding calibrated characteristic values for known syringe types to determine one or more corresponding syringe types.

[0066] In some embodiments, a similarity metric (or difference metric) may be determined between the measured characteristic values and corresponding calibrated characteristic values for different syringe types to find a closest match and/or matches within a threshold similarity (or difference). The similarity metric may be based on, for example, a comparison of feature vectors having each individual characteristic measurements as a feature (or element) of the vector. In some embodiments, a confidence value may be determined for any corresponding syringe type(s) based on the similarity (or difference) metric. For example, the confidence value may be inversely proportional to a difference metric and proportional to a similarity metric. In some embodiments, a confidence value may be determined for any corresponding syringe type(s) based on the number of measured characteristic values corresponding calibrated characteristic values for the syringe type. In some embodiments, a confidence value may be determined for any corresponding syringe type(s) based on a difference value between measured characteristic values and corresponding calibrated characteristic values for the syringe type. In some embodiments, a confidence value may be determined for any corresponding syringe type(s) using different weights for each measured characteristic value based on the characteristic. If, at step 408, the measured characteristic values correspond to calibrated characteristic values associated with one or more syringe types configured in the syringe pump, such as based on a similarity or difference metric, a threshold, or similar, then flow 400 moves to step 412, described below. If, at step 408, the measured characteristic values fail to correspond to calibrated characteristic values associated with any syringe types configured in the syringe pump, then flow 400 moves to step 410.

[0067] At step 410, the measured characteristic values are compared to corresponding expected characteristic values for one or more syringe types configured in the syringe pump. If, at step 410, the measured characteristic values for the syringe correspond toes expected characteristic values for one or more syringe types configured in the syringe pump, then flow 400 moves to step 412, as described below. If, at step 410, the measured characteristic values for the syringe fail to correspond to any syringe types configured in the syringe pump, then flow 400 moves to step 416, as described below.

[0068] At step 412, these syringe type(s) are presented to a user for selection (or confirmation) (e.g., by way of graphical user interface 124 in FIG. IB). As above, in some cases, only one syringe type may be displayed to a user for confirmation, while in other cases, multiple syringe types may be displayed for the user to select one. Additionally, alerts associated with the displayed syringe type(s) may be displayed, such as depicted in FIG. IB. In some embodiments, an indicator of confidence may also be displayed with syringe types.

[0069] In some embodiments, the syringe types may be displayed in an order of most likely syringe type to least likely syringe type, such as based on a confidence associated with each syringe type. For example, the loaded syringe is determined to be Type A with 95% confidence, Type B with 80% confidence, and Type C with 65% confidence. Type A is listed first, (e.g., syringe type 130a) Type B second (e.g., syringe type 130b), and Type C third (e.g., syringe type 130c), such as depicted in FIG. IB. In some embodiments, the confidence associated with each syringe type is also displayed.

[0070] In some embodiments, each of the one or more syringe types is displayed with a confirmation, such as a “YES” or a “NO” to be selected. The syringe types may be displayed one at a time in an order of most likely syringe type to least likely syringe type, such as based on a confidence associated with each syringe type. For example, the loaded syringe is determined to be Type A with 95% confidence, Type B with 80% confidence, and Type C with 65% confidence. Type A is displayed on a first screen and prompts the user to confirm (e.g., select “YES” or “NO) the syringe type. If the user selects “NO” to Type A, then Type B is displayed on a second screen and prompts the user to confirm the syringe type. If the user selects “NO” to Type B, then Type C is displayed on a third screen and prompts the user to confirm the syringe type. In some embodiments, the confidence associated with each syringe type is also displayed.

[0071] In some embodiments, the display of the one or more syringe types associated with the loaded syringe includes an alert (e.g., alert 138a, or alert 138b of FIG. IB). For example, an alert may be displayed as an icon, a warning message, etc. The alert may be (or include) an audible alarm, such as a tone, ringer, etc. Various aspects of an alert may change in intensity, volume, color, message, etc., relative to the message or type of alert.

[0072] In some embodiments, an alert may indicate one or more of the sets of measured characteristic values corresponds (or not) to one or more of a set of calibrated characteristic values. For example, an alert may increase in intensity when one or more of the set of measured characteristic values corresponds to an upper limit of one or more of a set of calibrated characteristic values.

[0073] In some embodiments, an alert may indicate one or more of the sets of measured characteristic values corresponds (or not) to one or more of a set of expected characteristic values. For example, an alert may indicate the set of measured characteristic values corresponds to a set of expected characteristic values and not the set of calibrated characteristic values for the syringe type.

[0074] In some embodiments, an alert may indicate one or more of the set of measured characteristic values corresponds (or not) to one or more of a subset of expected characteristic values. For example, an alert may flash when one or more of the set of measured characteristic values corresponds to one or more of the set of gross deviation expected characteristic values.

[0075] In some embodiments, an alert may indicate the identified syringe type for the loaded syringe is not compatible with syringe pump, such as an off-label or third party syringe, an unsupported syringe type, etc.

[0076] In some embodiments, an alert may indicate the syringe pump function may be altered, such as an altered infusion rate, a force required by the syringe pump to infuse the syringe, etc. associated with the set of measured characteristic values. For example, an alert may indicate that based on the comparison between the set of measured characteristic values and the expected characteristic values at step 410, the infusion rate of the syringe may be inaccurate.

[0077] Flow 400 then proceeds to step 414 where the user is prompted to confirm a syringe type. If, at step 414, the user is able to confirm a syringe type, then flow 400 moves to step 418, described below. If, at step 414, the user is not able to confirm a syringe type, then flow 400 moves to step 416, described below.

[0078] At step 416, the syringe pump determines that a syringe type of the loaded syringe is not automatically identifiable. The syringe pump denies infusion. [0079] At step 418, the syringe pump determines that the syringe type of the loaded syringe is automatically identifiable.

[0080] From steps 416 and 418, flow 400 proceeds to step 420 with transmitting the syringe data to the syringe monitoring server, which may be processed as described with respect to FIG. 5. The transmitted data may include data associated with the syringe, such as the set of measured characteristic values, time of measurement, clinician operating the pump, an indication that the syringe type could not be automatically identified, etc., and data associated with the syringe pump, such as the location of the syringe pump, syringe pump identification, syringe pump firmware or software version, etc.

[0081] Additionally, from step 418, flow 400 proceeds to step 420 where the syringe pump performs the infusion according to the syringe type. Note that additional steps (not depicted) may be performed before performing the infusion.

[0082] In an alternative embodiment, rather than determining one or more corresponding syringe types via steps 408 and 410, a machine learning model may be trained to process the measured characteristic values measured at step 406 and determine one or more corresponding syringe types to be displayed to the user at step 412. Beneficially, the data collected by a syringe monitoring server based on flow 400 acts as labeled training data for such a model.

[0083] In an alternative embodiment, a syringe pump may obtain additional syringe characteristic data based on an identifier or other marking disposed on the syringe. For example, a syringe pump may have an optical or wireless reader configured to detect an identifier on the syringe indicating the syringe type, such as a barcode, a QR code, RFID tag, etc.

[0084] In an alternative embodiment, a syringe pump may obtain additional syringe characteristic data from an electronic medical record notation, hospital or pharmacy order, etc.

[0085] The transmitted data may include the set of measured characteristic values for the loaded syringe; the identified syringe type for the syringe; syringe type information, one or more indications of the comparison of the set of measured characteristic values to one or more sets of calibrated characteristic values; one or more indications of the comparison of the set of measured characteristic values to one or more sets of expected characteristic values, and information about the syringe pump.

[0086] Beneficial technical effects of flow 400 include an increase in the number of syringes automatically identified by a syringe pump, an increase in confidence of syringe identification, a reduction in incorrect identifications, and the display of critical information to a user during the syringe type confirmation flow based on data collected and analyzed by a syringe monitoring server.

[0087] For example, by comparing the measured characteristic values to expected characteristic values in addition to calibrated characteristic values, a syringe type may be identified more often and even when there is a variation of one or more characteristics of the syringe from the calibrated norm. The correct syringe type may then be displayed for a user to confirm, reducing syringe type selection errors, such as where a user selects a syringe type similar to the correct syringe, but not the correct syringe because the correct syringe is not listed. By improving the identification of syringe types, safety of the infusion process is improved.

[0088] Note that flow 400 is just one example, and other flows including fewer, additional, or alternative steps, consistent with this disclosure, are possible.

Example Syringe Pump Monitoring System

[0089] FIG. 5 depicts example flow 500 for monitoring syringes by a monitoring server, such as monitoring server 306 in FIG. 3.

[0090] Flow 500 begins at step 502 with receiving and storing syringe data from a syringe pump, such as described with respect to step 420 of FIG. 4.

[0091] Flow 500 then proceeds to step 504 with determining whether sufficient data associated with a syringe type has been received in order to determine metrics associated with a syringe, such as expected characteristic values for the syringe. In one example sufficiency of the data may be determined through a statistical significance test. Note generally that step 504 may be performed iteratively for all syringe types stored by the syringe server.

[0092] If, at step 504, insufficient data has been received, then flow 500 proceeds to step 514 to continue monitoring for syringe data from one or more syringe pumps. Flow 500 then returns to step 502 when new syringe data is received.

[0093] If, at step 504, sufficient data has been received, then flow 500 proceeds to step 506 with generating a syringe characteristic metric based on the received syringe data. A syringe characteristic metric may be generated based on the received syringe data using, for example, a statistical technique, or another process. Generally, a metric is associated with a characteristic of a syringe type (e.g., barrel outer diameter), such as a mean, median, mode, standard deviation, quartile, range, or the like associated with measured values for that characteristic. As above, a metric may be a point value or a range defined, for example, by statistical values. A syringe characteristic metric may be an expected characteristic value used by a syringe pump, such as described above with respect to step 410 of FIG. 4.

[0094] In some embodiments, generating a syringe characteristic metric includes training a model to evaluate a set of syringe characteristics, such as a set of characteristic values measured by a syringe pump (e.g., at step 404 of FIG. 4), to identify the syringe type. The model may be trained using the received syringe data, including, for example, measured characteristic values and confirmed syringe types (e.g., step 414 of FIG. 4).

[0095] Syringe characteristic metrics may beneficially indicate a change in one or more characteristics of a syringe type, such as manufacturing variation, defects, damage, etc.

[0096] Flow 500 then proceeds to step 508 with determining whether the syringe characteristic metric (e.g., an expected barrel outer diameter) is within a safety threshold. A safety threshold may be based on a relationship between a particular syringe characteristic and its effect, for example, on an infusion rate, infusion volume, or other infusion operational considerations. For example, the barrel outer diameter may have a significant effect on infusion volume assuming a related change to inner diameter given the square relationship between radius and volume (F = nr²K). Thus, if a metric such as expected barrel outer diameter exceeds a safety threshold relative to a reference point, such as the calibrated barrel outer diameter (e.g., the expected barrel outer diameter is more than 3% greater than the calibrated barrel outer diameter), then an alert may be generated based on the deviation.

[0097] If, at step 508, the syringe characteristic metric is not within a safety threshold, then flow 500 proceeds to step 510 with transmitting an alert to syringe pumps, such as in syringe pump data (e.g., step 402 in FIG. 4). Additionally, the alert may be transmitted, for example, to syringe pump manufacturers, syringe manufacturers, medical institutions, regulators, or others. The alert may identify the variance of one or more syringe characteristics for a particular syringe type. Flow 500 then proceeds to step 512, described below.

[0098] If, at step 508, the metric is within a safety threshold, then flow 500 proceeds to step 512.

[0099] At step 512, the monitoring server transmits the syringe characteristic metric to the syringe pump(s), such as in syringe pump data (e.g., step 402 in FIG. 4). Syringe identification metrics may transmitted periodically or based on triggering conditions. Additionally, a syringe pump may query the monitoring server for syringe characteristic metrics.

[0100] Flow 500 then proceeds to step 514 with continuing to monitor for syringe data from one or more syringe pumps.

[0101] Beneficially, flow 500 determines one or more syringe characteristic metrics associated with syringes monitored by one or more syringe pumps, such as through flow 400 of FIG. 4. These metrics may indicate sustained trends, for example, a change to a large number of syringes of a syringe type, such as, change in manufacturing (e.g., a defect in certain manufactures, lots, regions, methods, materials, etc.) of the syringe type, which may affect the accuracy of the syringe pump.

[0102] Note that flow 500 is just one example, and other flows including fewer, additional, or alternative steps, consistent with this disclosure, are possible.

Example Syringe Pump Monitoring System

[0103] FIG. 6 depicts an example method for identifying syringes for example, by a syringe pump, such as syringe pump 102 of FIG. 1A.

[0104] Method 600 begins at step 602 with obtaining a set of measured characteristic values for a syringe loaded in an infusion device from one or more syringe measurement sensors, such as at step 406 of FIG. 4.

[0105] In some embodiments, wherein the one or more syringe measurement sensors comprise one or more of: a syringe barrel length measurement sensor; a syringe outer diameter measurement sensor; a plunger tip location sensor; or a flange diameter measurement sensor.

[0106] Method 600 then proceeds to step 604 with determine the set of measured characteristic values fail to correspond with the plurality of sets of calibrated characteristic values, such as at step 408 of FIG. 4.

[0107] Method 60 then proceeds to step 606 with determining a correspondence between the set of measured characteristic values and at least one set of expected characteristic values of the plurality of sets of expected characteristic values, such as at step 410 of FIG. 4.

[0108] Method 600 then proceeds to step 608 with displaying, on the display device, a syringe type associated with the at least one set of expected characteristic values, such as at step 412 of FIG. 4. [0109] Method 600 then proceeds to step 610 with receiving confirmation of the syringe type, such as at step 418 of FIG. 4.

[0110] In some embodiments, method 600 further comprises displaying an alert associated with the syringe type on the display device.

[oni] In some embodiments, method 600 further comprises determining the correspondence between the set of measured characteristic values and two or more sets of expected characteristic values of the plurality of sets of expected characteristic values; and displaying, on the display device, a syringe type associated with each of the two or more sets of expected characteristic values.

[0112] In some embodiments, method 600 further comprises displaying, on the display device, the syringe type associated with each of the two or more sets of expected characteristic values in an order based on a confidence associated with each syringe type, such as depicted in FIG. IB.

[0113] In some embodiments, method 600 further comprises displaying, on the display device, a confidence level associated with each syringe type. In some embodiments, method 600 further comprises transmitting to a syringe monitoring server: the set of measured characteristic values for the syringe loaded in the infusion device; and the confirmed syringe type.

[0114] In some embodiments, method 600 further comprises determining a correspondence between the set of measured characteristic values and at least one set of calibrated characteristic values of the plurality of sets of calibrated characteristic values; and displaying, on the display device, a syringe type associated with the at least one set of calibrated characteristic values

[0115] In some embodiments, method 600 further comprises performing an infusion based on the confirmed syringe type, such as at step 422 of FIG. 4.

[0116] In some embodiments, method 600 further comprises receiving the plurality of sets of expected characteristic values from a syringe monitoring server, such as at step 402 of FIG. 4.

[0117] Note that method 600 is just one example, and other flows including fewer, additional, or alternative steps, consistent with this disclosure, are possible.

Example Syringe Pump Monitoring System

[0118] FIG. 7 depicts another example method for monitoring syringes for example, by a monitoring server, such as monitoring server 306 of FIG. 3. [0119] Method 700 begins at step 702 with receiving, from a plurality of infusion devices, one or more sets of measured characteristic values for one or more syringe types of a plurality of syringe types, such as at step 502 of FIG. 5.

[0120] Method 700 then proceeds to step 704 with determining, for each respective syringe type of the plurality of syringe types, based on one or more sets of measured characteristic values, a set of expected characteristic values for the respective syringe type.

[0121] Method 700 then proceeds to step 706 with storing, in the memory, the set of expected characteristic values for each respective syringe type of the plurality of syringe types, such as at step 506 of FIG. 5.

[0122] Method 700 then proceeds to step 708 with sending, to one or more of the plurality of infusion device, the set of expected characteristic values for each respective syringe type of the plurality of syringe types, such as at step 508 of FIG. 5.

[0123] In some embodiments, method 700 further comprises determine an alert for at least one syringe type of the plurality of syringe types based on the set of expected characteristic values for the respective syringe type; and send, to one or more of the plurality of infusion device, the alert in syringe characteristic data.

[0124] Note that method 700 is just one example, and other flows including fewer, additional, or alternative steps, consistent with this disclosure, are possible.

Example Computing Device

[0125] FIG. 8 depicts an example computing device 800 for a medical device that implements various features and processes described herein, such as syringe pump 102 in FIG. 3. For example, the computing device 800 may perform one or more steps of any of flow 400 or method 600. The computing device 800 may include one or more processors 804, memory 806, one or more input components 810, one or more output components 812, and one or more communication interfaces 808. Each of these components may be coupled by a bus 802.

[0126] Computing device 800 may perform these processes based on processor 804 executing software instructions stored by a computer-readable medium, such as memory 806. A computer- readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium) is defined herein as a non- transitory memory device. A memory device includes memory space located inside of a single physical storage device or memory space spread across multiple physical storage devices. Software instructions may be read into memory 806 from another computer-readable medium or from another device via communication interface 808. When executed, software instructions stored in memory 806 may cause processor 804 to perform one or more processes described herein.

[0127] Memory 806 may include data storage or one or more data structures (e.g., a database, etc.). Computing device 800 may be capable of receiving information from, storing information in, communicating information to, or searching information stored in the data storage or one or more data structures in memory 806.

[0128] Memory 806 may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), and/or other types of dynamic or static storage devices (e.g., flash memory, magnetic memory, optical memory, etc.), that stores information and/or instructions for use by one or more processors 804. For example, memory 806 may include may include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magnetooptical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks.

[0129] Memory 806 may include an identification component 814 configured to identify a syringe type of a syringe, such as described in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6.

[0130] Memory 806 may include one or more sets of calibrated characteristic values 816 for identification of a syringe type, such as described in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6.

[0131] Memory 806 may include one or more sets of expected characteristic values 818 for identification of a syringe type, such as described in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6.

[0132] Memory 806 may include sensor data 820 associated with syringes, such as sets of measured characteristic values, identified syringe types, and data associated with the identification of the syringe type.

[0133] One or more processors 804 may include a processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU), etc.), a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and/or any processing component (e.g., a field- programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.), that may be programmed to perform a function, such as described herein. [0134] One or more input components 810 may include a component that permits computing device 800 to receive information, such as via user input (e.g., a touch screen display, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a switch, a microphone, etc.). Further, one or more input components 810 may include a sensor for sensing information (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) component, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an actuator, etc.).

[0135] One or more output components 812 may include a component that provides output information from computing device 800 (e.g., a display, a speaker, one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs), etc.).

[0136] Communication interface 808 may include a transceiver-like component (e.g., a transceiver, a separate receiver and transmitter, etc.) that enables computing device 800 to communicate with other devices, such as via a wired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination of wired and wireless connections. Communication interface 808 may permit device 800 to receive information from another device and/or provide information to another device. For example, communication interface 808 may include an Ethernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, an infrared interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a Wi-Fi interface, a cellular network interface, and/or the like.

Example Computing Device

[0137] FIG. 9 depicts an example computing device 900 for a medical device that implements various features and processes described herein, such as monitoring server 306 in FIG. 3. For example, the computing device 900 may perform one or more steps of any of flow 500 or method 700. The computing device 900 may include one or more processors 904, memory 906, one or more input components 910, one or more output components 912, and one or more communication interfaces 908. Each of these components may be coupled by a bus 902.

[0138] Computing device 900 may perform these processes based on processor 904 executing software instructions stored by a computer-readable medium, such as memory 906. A computer- readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium) is defined herein as a non- transitory memory device. A memory device includes memory space located inside of a single physical storage device or memory space spread across multiple physical storage devices. Software instructions may be read into memory 906 from another computer-readable medium or from another device via communication interface 908. When executed, software instructions stored in memory 906 may cause processor 904 to perform one or more processes described herein.

[0139] Memory 906 includes data storage or one or more data structures (e.g., a database, etc.). Computing device 900 may be capable of receiving information from, storing information in, communicating information to, or searching information stored in the data storage or one or more data structures in memory 906.

[0140] Memory 906 includes random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), and/or other types of dynamic or static storage devices (e.g., flash memory, magnetic memory, optical memory, etc.), that stores information and/or instructions for use by one or more processors 904. For example, memory 906 may include may include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magnetooptical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks.

[0141] Memory 906 includes metric component 914 for generating syringe characteristic metrics, such as described in FIGS. 5 and 7.

[0142] Memory 906 includes syringe characteristic data 916, such as provided to a syringe pump.

[0143] Memory 906 includes safety data 918, such as safety threshold data, alert data, and the like, associated with the safety of syringes and syringe pumps, such as described in FIGS. 5 and 7.

[0144] One or more processors 904 may include a processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU), etc.), a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and/or any processing component (e.g., a field- programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.), that may be programmed to perform a function, such as described herein.

[0145] One or more input components 910 may include a component that permits computing device 900 to receive information, such as via user input (e.g., a touch screen display, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a switch, a microphone, etc.). Further, one or more input components 910 may include a sensor for sensing information (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) component, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an actuator, etc.). [0146] One or more output components 912 may include a component that provides output information from computing device 900 (e.g., a display, a speaker, one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs), etc.).

[0147] Communication interface 908 may include a transceiver-like component (e.g., a transceiver, a separate receiver and transmitter, etc.) that enables computing device 900 to communicate with other devices, such as via a wired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination of wired and wireless connections. Communication interface 908 may permit device 900 to receive information from another device and/or provide information to another device. For example, communication interface 908 may include an Ethernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, an infrared interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a Wi-Fi interface, a cellular network interface, and/or the like.

Example Clauses

[0148] Implementation examples are described in the following numbered clauses:

[0149] Clause 1 : An method of operating an infusion device, wherein: the infusion device comprises: a display device; and one or more syringe measurement sensors; a memory, comprising: a plurality of sets of expected characteristic values, each set of expected characteristic values associated with a different syringe type; and a plurality of sets of calibrated characteristic values, each set of calibrated characteristic values associated with a different syringe type; a pump controller comprising a processor, and the method comprises: obtaining a set of measured characteristic values for a syringe loaded in the infusion device from the one or more syringe measurement sensors; determining a correspondence between the set of measured characteristic values and at least one set of expected characteristic values of the plurality of sets of expected characteristic values; displaying, on the display device, a syringe type associated with the at least one set of expected characteristic values; and receiving confirmation of the syringe type.

[0150] Clause 2: The method of clause 1, wherein the method further comprises displaying an alert associated with the syringe type on the display device.

[0151] Clause 3 : The method of any one of clauses 1 -2, wherein the method further comprises: determining the correspondence between the set of measured characteristic values and two or more sets of expected characteristic values of the plurality of sets of expected characteristic values; and displaying, on the display device, a syringe type associated with each of the two or more sets of expected characteristic values. [0152] Clause 4: The method of any one of clauses 3, wherein the method further comprises displaying, on the display device, the syringe type associated with each of the two or more sets of expected characteristic values in an order based on a confidence associated with each syringe type.

[0153] Clause 5: The method of any one of clauses 1-4, wherein the method further comprises displaying, on the display device, a confidence level associated with each syringe type.

[0154] Clause 6: The method of any one of clauses 1-5, wherein the method further comprises transmitting to a syringe monitoring server: the set of measured characteristic values for the syringe loaded in the infusion device; and the confirmed syringe type.

[0155] Clause 7 : The method of any one of clauses 1-6, wherein the method further comprises: determining a correspondence between the set of measured characteristic values and at least one set of calibrated characteristic values of the plurality of sets of calibrated characteristic values; and displaying, on the display device, a syringe type associated with the at least one set of calibrated characteristic values.

[0156] Clause 8: The method of any one of clauses 1-7, wherein the method further comprises performing an infusion based on the confirmed syringe type.

[0157] Clause 9: The method of any one of clauses 1-8, wherein the method further comprises receiving the plurality of sets of expected characteristic values from a syringe monitoring server.

[0158] Clause 10: The method of any one of clauses 1-9, wherein the one or more syringe measurement sensors comprise one or more of: a syringe barrel length measurement sensor; a syringe outer diameter measurement sensor; a plunger tip location sensor; or a flange diameter measurement sensor.

[0159] Clause 11 : A syringe monitoring server, comprising: a memory, comprising a plurality of sets of calibrated characteristic values, each set of calibrated characteristic values associated with a different syringe type; and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to: receive, from a plurality of infusion devices, one or more sets of measured characteristic values for one or more syringe types of a plurality of syringe types; determine, for each respective syringe type of the plurality of syringe types, based on one or more sets of measured characteristic values, a set of expected characteristic values for the respective syringe type; store, in the memory, the set of expected characteristic values for each respective syringe type of the plurality of syringe types; and send, to one or more of the plurality of infusion device, the set of expected characteristic values for each respective syringe type of the plurality of syringe types. [0160] The syringe monitoring server of clause 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to: determine an alert for at least one syringe type of the plurality of syringe types based on the set of expected characteristic values for the respective syringe type; and send, to one or more of the plurality of infusion device, the alert in syringe characteristic data.

[0161] Clause 13: A processing system, comprising: a memory comprising computerexecutable instructions; and a processor configured to execute the computer-executable instructions and cause the processing system to perform a method in accordance with any one of Clauses 1-10.

[0162] Clause 14: A processing system, comprising means for performing a method in accordance with any one of Clauses 1-10.

[0163] Clause 15: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program code for causing a processing system to perform the steps of any one of Clauses 1-10.

[0164] Clause 16: A computer program product embodied on a computer-readable storage medium comprising code for performing a method in accordance with any one of Clauses 1-10.

Additional Considerations

[0165] The preceding description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various embodiments described herein. The examples discussed herein are not limiting of the scope, applicability, or embodiments set forth in the claims. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments. For example, changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements discussed without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Various examples may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, the methods described may be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Also, features described with respect to some examples may be combined in some other examples. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover such an apparatus or method that is practiced using other structure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to, or other than, the various aspects of the disclosure set forth herein. It should be understood that any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein may be embodied by one or more elements of a claim. [0166] As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspect described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects.

[0167] As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of’ a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combination with multiples of the same element (e.g., a-a, a-a-a, a-a-b, a-a-c, a-b-b, a-c-c, b-b, b-b-b, b-b-c, c-c, and c-c-c or any other ordering of a, b, and c).

[0168] As used herein, the term “determining” encompasses a wide variety of actions. For example, “determining” may include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, “determining” may include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also, “determining” may include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing and the like.

[0169] The methods disclosed herein comprise one or more steps or actions for achieving the methods. The method steps and/or actions may be interchanged with one another without departing from the scope of the claims. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions is specified, the order and/or use of specific steps and/or actions may be modified without departing from the scope of the claims. Further, the various operations of methods described above may be performed by any suitable means capable of performing the corresponding functions. The means may include various hardware and/or software component(s) and/or module(s), including, but not limited to a circuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or processor. Generally, where there are operations illustrated in figures, those operations may have corresponding counterpart means-plus-function components with similar numbering.

[0170] The following claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims. Within a claim, reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.

Claims

1. An infusion device, comprising: a display device; one or more syringe measurement sensors; a memory, comprising: a plurality of sets of expected characteristic values, each set of expected characteristic values associated with a different syringe type; and a plurality of sets of calibrated characteristic values, each set of calibrated characteristic values associated with a different syringe type; and a pump controller comprising a processor, wherein the pump controller is configured to: obtain a set of measured characteristic values for a syringe loaded in the infusion device from the one or more syringe measurement sensors; determine the set of measured characteristic values fail to correspond with the plurality of sets of calibrated characteristic values; determine a correspondence between the set of measured characteristic values and at least one set of expected characteristic values of the plurality of sets of expected characteristic values; control the display device to display a syringe type associated with the at least one set of expected characteristic values; and receive confirmation of the syringe type.

2. The infusion device of claim 1, wherein the pump controller is further configured to control the display device to display an alert associated with the syringe type.

3. The infusion device of claim 1, wherein the pump controller is further configured to: determine the correspondence between the set of measured characteristic values and two or more sets of expected characteristic values of the plurality of sets of expected characteristic values; and control the display device to display a syringe type associated with each of the two or more sets of expected characteristic values.

4. The infusion device of claim 3, wherein the pump controller is further configured to control the display device to display the syringe type associated with each of the two or more sets of expected characteristic values in an order based on a confidence associated with each syringe type.

5. The infusion device of claim 1, wherein the pump controller is further configured to control the display device to display a confidence level associated with each syringe type.

6. The infusion device of claim 1, wherein the pump controller is further configured to transmit to a syringe monitoring server: the set of measured characteristic values for the syringe loaded in the infusion device; and the confirmed syringe type.

7. The infusion device of claim 1, wherein the pump controller is further configured to: determine a confidence value for the correspondence between the set of measured characteristic values and a set of expected characteristic values or the syringe type; and control the display device to display an indicator of the confidence value for the syringe type.

8. The infusion device of claim 1, wherein the pump controller is further configured to perform an infusion based on the confirmed syringe type.

9. The infusion device of claim 1, wherein the pump controller is further configured to receive the plurality of sets of expected characteristic values from a syringe monitoring server.

10. The infusion device of claim 1, wherein the one or more syringe measurement sensors comprise one or more of: a syringe barrel length measurement sensor; a syringe outer diameter measurement sensor; a plunger tip location sensor; or a flange diameter measurement sensor.

11. A method of operating an infusion device, wherein: the infusion device comprises: a display device; one or more syringe measurement sensors; a memory, comprising: a plurality of sets of expected characteristic values, each set of expected characteristic values associated with a different syringe type; and a plurality of sets of calibrated characteristic values, each set of calibrated characteristic values associated with a different syringe type; and a pump controller comprising a processor, and the method comprises: obtaining a set of measured characteristic values for a syringe loaded in the infusion device from the one or more syringe measurement sensors; determine the set of measured characteristic values fail to correspond with the plurality of sets of calibrated characteristic values; determining a correspondence between the set of measured characteristic values and at least one set of expected characteristic values of the plurality of sets of expected characteristic values; displaying, on the display device, a syringe type associated with the at least one set of expected characteristic values; and receiving confirmation of the syringe type.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises displaying an alert associated with the syringe type on the display device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises: determining the correspondence between the set of measured characteristic values and two or more sets of expected characteristic values of the plurality of sets of expected characteristic values; and displaying, on the display device, a syringe type associated with each of the two or more sets of expected characteristic values.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises displaying, on the display device, the syringe type associated with each of the two or more sets of expected characteristic values in an order based on a confidence associated with each syringe type.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises displaying, on the display device, a confidence level associated with each syringe type.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises transmitting to a syringe monitoring server: the set of measured characteristic values for the syringe loaded in the infusion device; and the confirmed syringe type.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises: determining a confidence value for the correspondence between the set of measured characteristic values and a set of expected characteristic values or the syringe type; and displaying, on the display device, an indicator of the confidence value for the syringe type. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises performing an infusion based on the confirmed syringe type.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises receiving the plurality of sets of expected characteristic values from a syringe monitoring server.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more syringe measurement sensors comprise one or more of: a syringe barrel length measurement sensor; a syringe outer diameter measurement sensor; a plunger tip location sensor; or a flange diameter measurement sensor.

20. A syringe monitoring server, comprising: a memory, comprising a plurality of sets of calibrated characteristic values, each set of calibrated characteristic values associated with a different syringe type; and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to: receive, from a plurality of infusion devices, one or more sets of measured characteristic values for one or more syringe types of a plurality of syringe types; determine, for each respective syringe type of the plurality of syringe types, based on one or more sets of measured characteristic values, a set of expected characteristic values for the respective syringe type; store, in the memory, the set of expected characteristic values for each respective syringe type of the plurality of syringe types; and send, to one or more of the plurality of infusion devices, the set of expected characteristic values for each respective syringe type of the plurality of syringe types.

21. The syringe monitoring server of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine an alert for at least one syringe type of the plurality of syringe types based on the set of expected characteristic values for the respective syringe type; and send, to one or more of the plurality of infusion devices, the alert in syringe characteristic data.