US 12,420,051 B2
Methods and system for anesthetic vaporizer drop detection
Charles Andrew, Greensboro, NC (US); Sandeep Punjalkatte Baliga, McFarland, WI (US); Karl N Knauf, Madison, WI (US); and Russell J Kuzelka, McFarland, WI (US)
Assigned to GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC, Waukesha, WI (US)
Filed by GE Precision Healthcare LLC, Waukesha, WI (US)
Filed on Oct. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/451,441.
Prior Publication US 2023/0124901 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. A61M 16/18 (2006.01); A61M 16/00 (2006.01); G01P 15/00 (2006.01); G01P 15/18 (2013.01); G16H 40/20 (2018.01); G16H 40/67 (2018.01)
CPC A61M 16/18 (2013.01) [G16H 40/20 (2018.01); G16H 40/67 (2018.01); A61M 16/0087 (2013.01); A61M 16/186 (2013.01); A61M 2205/18 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3553 (2013.01); A61M 2205/581 (2013.01); A61M 2205/583 (2013.01); G01P 15/00 (2013.01); G01P 15/18 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for an anesthetic vaporizer, comprising:
measuring acceleration vectors with an accelerometer coupled within the anesthetic vaporizer, wherein the accelerometer is powered by a first power source that provides continuous electrical power to the accelerometer, and wherein the anesthetic vaporizer is powered by a second power source that provides electrical power while the anesthetic vaporizer is powered on and not while the anesthetic vaporizer is powered off;
determining a quantitative acceleration of the anesthetic vaporizer and an orientation of the anesthetic vaporizer during the quantitative acceleration based on the acceleration vectors measured by the accelerometer;
adjusting, via a controller, an acceleration threshold based on the orientation of the anesthetic vaporizer, wherein adjusting the acceleration threshold comprises increasing the acceleration threshold by a first predetermined amount responsive to a first orientation of the anesthetic vaporizer, and decreasing the acceleration threshold by a second predetermined amount responsive to a second orientation of the anesthetic vaporizer;
activating a sensor responsive to the quantitative acceleration exceeding the acceleration threshold; and
outputting an alert responsive to the quantitative acceleration exceeding the acceleration threshold.