Intravenous fluid monitoring

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods related to monitoring intravenous fluids during administration to a subject are disclosed. These apparatus, systems and methods provide near real-time monitoring of the identity of one or more components of an intravenous fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for determining the composition of an intravenous fluid, the method comprising:
 contacting a first pair of electrodes of a device for multi-parametric testing of intravenous fluid with an intravenous fluid;   optically examining the intravenous fluid with an optical sensor to determine an optical property of the intravenous fluid;   determining a multi-parametric profile from the intravenous fluid, wherein the multi-parametric profile comprises   a first parameter comprising a complex admittance or impedance signal from the intravenous fluid, and   a second parameter comprising the optical property of the intravenous fluid;   comparing the multi-parametric profile to stored expected parameter values to determine the identity and concentration of one or more components of the intravenous fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein comparing the multi-parametric profile comprises simultaneously determining the concentration and identity of one or more components of the intravenous fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first parameter comprises an electrical admittance or impedance measurement taken at a plurality of frequencies. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein optically examining comprises optically examining the intravenous fluid with one or more of: an optical transmission sensor, an absorbance sensor, a spectrometer; a colorimeter, or a turbidity sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining a multi-parametric profile from the intravenous fluid further comprises determining a third parameter comprising a second complex admittance or impedance signal from the intravenous fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein comparing the multi-parametric profile to stored expected parameter values to determine the identity and concentration of one or more components of the intravenous fluid comprises simultaneously determining both the identity and the concentration of one or more components of the intravenous fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein comparing the multi-parametric profile to stored expected parameter values to determine the identity and concentration of one or more components of the intravenous fluid comprises determining the identity and concentration of all of the components of the intravenous fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising connecting the testing device to an intravenous infusion device for infusion of fluid into the vascular system of a patient. 
     
     
         9 . A multi-parametric intravenous fluid monitoring apparatus for determining the composition of an intravenous fluid, the apparatus comprising:
 a substrate adapted for fluidic interface with source of intravenous fluid prepared for delivery into a patient;   a first sensor element on the substrate comprising a pair of electrodes configured to measure the complex admittance or impedance of the intravenous fluid;   a second sensor element comprising an optical sensor; and   a processor configured to receive data from the first sensor element and the second sensor element, wherein the processor comprises a comparator configured to compare parameters derived from the first and second sensor element with stored expected parameter values to determine the identity and the concentration of one or more components of the intravenous fluid.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the optical element comprises one of: a transmission sensor, an absorbance sensor, a spectrometer; a colorimeter, or a turbidity sensor 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first sensor element comprises an electrical admittance or impedance sensor configured to determine the complex admittance or impedance over a range of frequencies. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a third sensor element on the substrate comprising a pair of electrodes configured to measure the complex admittance or impedance of the intravenous fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processor comprises stored expected parameter values able to uniquely identify one or more pharmaceuticals in a carrier solution, wherein the carrier solution comprises one of: D5W, 3.3% Dextrose/0.3% saline, Half-normal saline, Normal saline, and Ringers lactate, and the one or more pharmaceuticals comprises one or more of: an anticoagulant, a metabolically-active hormone, an anticoagulant, and an analgesic. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first sensor element comprises a third electrode. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the substrate is within a housing comprising one or more conduits and having a first end adapted for fluid communication with the fluid source and a second end adapted for fluid communication with an intravenous infusion device for infusion of fluid into the vascular system of the patient.