title: A new infusion pathway monitoring system utilizing electrostatic induced potential.
abstract: We have developed a new infusion pathway monitoring system employing linear integrated circuits and a low-power 8-bit single chip microcomputer. The system is available for hospital and home use and it constantly monitors the intactness of the pathway. The sensor is an electro-conductive polymer electrode wrapped around the infusion polyvinyl chloride infusion tube. This records an AC (alternating current) voltage induced on the patient's body by electrostatic coupling from the normal 100 volt, 60 Hz AC power line wiring field in the patient's room. If the injection needle or infusion tube becomes detached, then the system detects changes in the induced AC voltage and alerts the nursing station, via the nurse call system or PHS (personal handy phone System).
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Engineering, International Trinity College, Hiroshima 730-0014, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.forename: Yoshiharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yonezawa
authors.forename: Hidekuni
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Ishio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ninomiya
authors.forename: Kouji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sada
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Alien W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: W Morton
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Caldwell
mesh_terms: D000669:Amplifiers, Electronic; D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055672:Static Electricity