THE CHAN'S FLUID DEPLETION MONITORING DEVICE

APPAREIL DE SURVEILLANCE DE LA DEPLETION DE LIQUIDE DU CHAN

English Abstract

This invention is a fluid depletion monitoring device. It is used to remind people to change
a solution bag before it runs out completely. The inventor works in an ophthalmology
operating room of a Toronto hospital. Phaco Emulsification is a fairly new technique in
cataract extraction surgery (removal of an opaque lens from the eye). A small piece of
instrument called ultra-sound-handpiece from the emulsifier is inserted into the eyeball. By
using ultrasound, the opaque lens is fragmented into micro particles and aspirated out, and
at the same time, a balanced salt solution (BSS) is infused into the eye in order to keep the
eyeball in shape. This mechanism of aspiration and infusion must be maintained at all times
otherwise the eyeball will collapse and serious complications will occur.

French Abstract

L'invention consiste en un appareil de surveillance de la déplétion des liquides. L'appareil sert à rappeler au personnel de changer un sac à solution avant qu'il ne se vide complètement. L'inventeur travaille dans une salle d'opération en ophtalmologie, dans un hôpital de Toronto. La phaco-émulsification est une technique relativement nouvelle utilisée en chirurgie d'extraction de la cataracte (enlèvement d'un cristallin opaque de l'oeil). On insère dans le globe oculaire un petit instrument de l'émulsificateur, appelé pièce à main à ultrasons. Le cristallin opaque est fragmenté en microparticules par ultrasons et aspiré à l'extérieur, pendant qu'on infuse en même temps dans l'oeil une solution saline équilibrée (BSS) pour maintenir la forme du globe. Ce mécanisme d'aspiration et d'infusion doit être maintenu en tout temps, sinon le globe oculaire s'effondre, donnant lieu à de graves complications.

Description

CA 02213648 1997-10-14
Economical constraint and budget cuts are a worldwide phenomenon. With the cut-back on
human resources, this device will provide a reliable watch for all the health care providers
in today's operating room environment. Most of all it will benefit the safety of the patient.
This prototype (~'ig. 2 & 3 ) has been tested in the operating room for three months and
has proved to be very satisfactory. Should it get into mass production, the whole unit can
be re-designed much smaller. The buzzer, the banery and the OII/Off switch can be put
into one housing. This device can also be used for other industrial or medical applications
such as monitoring for intravenou~s (I~,~') fluid depletion.
The device consists of the I'ollowing (Fi~g. 1):
* One string (a) to hang the device to the post.
* One magnetic bar (b).
One magnetic closed circuit switch (c) with two wires (h) conneGted to (d), (e) & (f).
* One 12V magne~c buzzer (d).
* One 12V batte~ (e).
* One On/Off switch (f).
The body (g) with two a~rus.
MECHANISM OF THE DEVICE: (Fig. 1, 4, 5)
With the batteIy (e) in situ, and the switch (f) on, the whole unit forms a closed circuit.
When the plastic bag is fiJIl with fluid (Fig.4), it will keep the magnetic bar (b) and the
m~etil~ switch (c) apart (2" to 2.5"). There is no action. When the bag (Fig.5) is almost
empty, it will collapse, and the two aIms will force (b) and (c) to within 1/2"; close enough
for the m~tic field to activate the buzzer (d).
By adjusting the string ~a) up or down, the desire fluid level l"o~ J.~g can be adjllsted