Abstract: The system and methods obtain a set of multiple data samples and derive an average of the data samples in the set (SET.sub.AVE). The systems and methods derive a standard deviation for the data samples in the set (SET.sub.STD). The systems and methods compare each of the data samples to SET.sub.STD and either reject the data sample, if the absolute difference between the data sample is greater than or equal to k * SET.sub.STD, where k is a selected value greater than zero, or retain the data sample, if the absolute difference between the data sample is less than k * SET.sub.STD. The systems and methods repeat the foregoing steps until the absolute difference between every data sample remaining in the set is less than k * SET.sub.STD. The systems and methods then derive a filtered average for the set FSET.sub.AVG, where FSET.sub.AVE is the SET.sub.AVG for the data set in which the absolute difference between every data sample remaining in the set is less than k * SET.sub.STD.

Abstract: An infusion device includes an infusion pump for delivering a liquid through an infusion conduit from a separate source of the liquid into a patient, a bubble detector for detecting the presence of an air bubble in the infusion conduit, and control circuitry responsive to the bubble detector for determining if the size of the air bubble is unacceptable. The control circuitry is configured to determine if during the time the air bubble is detected it advances a distance indicative of the unacceptable size, one embodiment counting the steps of a linear peristaltic infusion pump for that purpose.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fast, efficient and precise method and apparatus for compounding a large number of solutions for use in hyperalimentation therapy. The apparatus includes a host computer which maintains a data base of prescriptions to be compounded, and a high speed compounding apparatus connected to the host computer for compounding mixtures of base solutions in response to information supplied by the host computer from the prescription data base.Information can be entered concerning patients or prescriptions through a video display tube into the host computer data base. The host computer also includes provisions for a library of prestored standard prescriptions which can be recalled and associated with a given patient. A group of prescriptions to be compounded is first sorted in accordance with the types of specified base solutions and optionally sorted again based on the concentration of base solutions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of collecting a desired end-point weight amount of material first conveys the material into the collection container until a predetermined weight amount is collected. The predetermined weight amount is less than the desired end-point weight amount by a selected initial weight offset amount. An additional incremental amount of material is next conveyed into the container for a predetermined fixed time period. In doing so, the method and apparatus gauge the particular flow characteristics of the associated flow system. A further additional incremental amount of material is conveyed into the collection container for another time period, the length of which reflects the anticipated flow characteristics of the system, based upon the performance of the system during the preceding period. The method and apparatus repeat this sequence until the then-existing weight amount equals or exceeds the desired end-point weight amount.

Abstract: A process is provided for detecting if a temperature sensor (18) is correctly located in a heating conduit at a point that is remote from the heater (28). Power is applied to the heater (28) in a predetermined manner. The change in the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor (18) is observed. If the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor (18) has changed in a certain manner, a signal is provided indicating that the temperature sensor (18) is located correctly. If, during observation, the temperature sensed has not changed in the certain manner, an alarm signal is provided.

Abstract: A heater-scale having a curved supporting member upon which a bag of fluid to be heated can be placed, has a distributed two-dimensional heating element affixed to a lower surface thereof. The curved member is supported by a load cell for generating an electrical signal proportional to the weight of the bag on the heater member, a thermistor is in contact with the fluid whose temperature is to be maintained, a thermistor is affixed to the heater member, and a control system senses the weight and temperature of the bag of fluid as well as the temperature of the heater member for the purpose of nonlinearly adjusting the electrical current supplied to the heater element as fluid is removed from or variable temperature fluid is added to the bag so as to maintain the bag at a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A switch and decoder circuit and method of reading same includes a 4 to 16 line decoder latch for selectively enabling up to 14 manually settable switches, each of which generates a BCD code in response to a switch setting, a plurality of thumb wheel switches each of which is selectively enabled by the decoder latch are connected in parallel to a data bus which can then be sensed by associated circuitry. Two pseudoswitches are provided which may be selectively enabled by the decoder latch and which gate onto the address bus two known, non-BCD codes for hardware checking purposes. A control program in an associated processing unit through input/output circuitry can select a switch whose outputs are to be sensed, read asserted and negated values for the switch, compare the values to a predetermined range of allowable values, and cycle the pseudoswitches to determine whether or not the hardware is functioning properly.

Abstract: The present invention provides an accurate method and apparatus for monitoring the drop flow rate from a fluid source. The method and apparatus allows for an intermittent drop flow rate by accumulating a weighted drop period rate error factor which is adjusted for each drop period detected.A drop period window is adjusted by each drop period and is utilized to determine if the current drop period is within the window indicating a normal operation. Drop periods outside the window cause a factor to be added to the accumulated error factor and drop periods within the window cause a factor to be subtracted from the accumulated error factor. This allows good periods to offset bad periods, so that minor fluctuations in the drop periods during normal operation can be ignored.

Abstract: The present invention provides an economical quick and accurate method and apparatus for transferring and monitoring a preselected amount of fluid from a fluid source container to a receiving container. The method and apparatus monitors the flow rate of the fluid to be transferred by measuring the weight change of the receiving container per unit time.A weight sensor monitors the weight of the receiving container at various time intervals. The weight information received by the control module at the various time intervals is compared to each other and to predetermined values for the detection of no flow, low flow or high flow conditions.

Abstract: Dynamically changing time-multiplexed numbers are presented by reading data one digit at a time, storing the digits, repeating the reading sequence at least twice and comparing the stored digits from each reading sequence against the stored digits from the previous reading sequence. If two consecutive reading sequences are not identical, the reading sequence is repeated at least twice again.