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An apparatus and method are provided to verify the composition of a medical fluid in a fluid infusion channel by comparison with clinician-entered input. Light is transmitted through the channel and detected by a sensor that generates signals representative of the spectral data of the light detected

An apparatus and method are provided to verify the composition of a medical fluid in a fluid infusion channel by comparison with clinician-entered input. Light is transmitted through the channel and detected by a sensor that generates signals representative of the spectral data of the light detected. A processor compares the spectral data of the light detected to the spectral data associated with the expected contents of the channel to verify that the correct fluid is being infused.

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We claim: 1. An apparatus for verifying the composition of a fluid contained within a fluid infusion channel, wherein the channel includes a channel wall and an interior through which the fluid is conducted, the apparatus comprising: a source of light located and configured so as to direct light th

We claim: 1. An apparatus for verifying the composition of a fluid contained within a fluid infusion channel, wherein the channel includes a channel wall and an interior through which the fluid is conducted, the apparatus comprising: a source of light located and configured so as to direct light through the fluid contained within the channel; a light sensor located so as to receive the light that was directed through the fluid contained within the channel after it has passed through the fluid, the light sensor providing light sensor signals representative of spectral data of the actual composition of the fluid contained within the channel; and a processor that is adapted to compare the spectral data of the actual composition of the fluid with spectral data of an expected composition of the fluid contained within the channel, and further comprising predetermined spectral data representative of the composition of the channel wall; wherein the processor is further adapted to adjust the spectral data of the actual composition of the fluid within the channel with the predetermined spectral data representative of the channel wall. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a memory in which is stored the spectral data of the expected composition of the fluid contained within the channel; wherein the processor accesses the memory to obtain the spectral data of the expected composition of the fluid contained within the channel. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an input device with which an indication of the expected composition of the fluid is input to the processor. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the channel is operated on by a pumping mechanism of an infusion pump; wherein the source of light and the light sensor are disposed at locations on the infusion pump upstream from the pumping mechanism. 5. An apparatus for verifying the composition of a fluid contained within a fluid infusion channel, wherein the channel includes a channel wall and an interior through which the fluid is conducted, the apparatus comprising: a source of light located and configured so as to direct light through the fluid contained within the channel; a light sensor located so as to receive the light that was directed through the fluid contained within the channel after it has passed through the fluid, the light sensor providing light sensor signals representative of spectral data of the actual composition of the fluid contained within the channel; a processor that is adapted to compare the spectral data of the actual composition of the fluid with spectral data of an expected composition of the fluid contained within the channel; and a reference element having approximately the same composition as the composition of the channel wall; a reference light located and configured so that it directs light through the reference element; and means for sensing the reference light that was directed through the reference element after it has passed through the reference element, the reference light sensor providing light sensor signals representative of spectral data of the actual composition of the reference element; wherein the processor is further adapted to adjust the spectral data of the actual composition of the fluid within the channel with the spectral data of the actual composition of the reference element. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the reference light is generated by the source of light. 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for sensing the reference light comprise the light sensor. 8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a first beam forming device that is configured to form the reference light as a separate reference beam from the light source and is further configured so as to direct the reference beam through the reference element; and wherein the light sensor is located so as to receive the reference beam after it has passed through the reference element and provide sensor signals representative of the reference element spectral data. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the light sensor comprises a second beam forming device configured so as to receive the reference beam after it has passed through the reference element and provide the reference beam to the light sensor. 10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a memory in which is stored a plurality of spectra data representative of possible expected fluid compositions contained within the channel; an input device with which the expected composition of the fluid contained within the fluid channel is input to the processor; wherein in response to the input device the processor accesses the memory to obtain the spectral data of the expected composition of the fluid contained within the channel. 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the processor is adapted to access additional spectra in the memory in the event that the spectral data of the expected composition does not match the spectral data of the actual composition and make a further comparison of spectral data from the memory to the spectral data of the actual composition, and in the event that a match is detected, indicate the spectral data that matched. 12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the processor is further adapted to synthesize spectral data for the expected fluid composition from spectral data in the memory. 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is further adapted to provide an alarm signal in the event that the spectral data of the actual composition does not match the spectral data of the expected composition. 14. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the processor controls the pumping mechanism; the processor is further adapted to prevent the pumping mechanism from operating in the event that the spectral data of the actual composition does not match the spectral data of the expected composition. 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the processor is further adapted to permit an operator of the pump to override the processor in the event that the spectra do not match. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a memory; wherein the processor is further adapted to store in the memory an override of the processor and fluid verification data. 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the processor is further adapted to communicate with a hospital server located remotely from the processor, events relating to comparisons of spectral data. 18. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a reader device in communication with the processor adapted to read an identification device related to the fluid, the identification device including an indication of expected composition of the fluid. 19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the identification device contains spectral data of the expected composition of the fluid. 20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the identification device contains an indication of the expected fluid composition and the processor is adapted to retrieve spectral data consistent with the expected fluid composition. 21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the identification device comprises a bar code and the reader comprises a bar code scanner. 22. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the identification device comprises an RFID tag and the reader comprises an RFID reader. 23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the identification device comprises a wireless information device and the reader comprises a compatible reader of the wireless information device. 24. A method for verifying the composition of a fluid contained within a fluid infusion channel, wherein the channel includes a channel wall and an interior through which the fluid is conducted, the method comprising: directing light through the fluid contained within the channel; sensing the light that was directed through the fluid contained within the channel after it has passed through the fluid and providing light sensor signals representative of spectral data of the actual composition of the fluid contained within the channel; and comparing the spectral data of the actual composition of the fluid with spectral data of an expected composition of the fluid contained within the channel, further comprising receiving predetermined spectral data representative of the expected composition of the channel wall; adjusting the spectral data of the actual composition of the fluid within the channel with the predetermined spectral data representative of the channel wall; and wherein when the adjusted spectral data of the actual composition of the fluid within the channel does not match the expected composition of the fluid contained within the channel, initiating a signal indicating that the actual composition of the fluid within the channel is inconsistent with the expected composition of the fluid contained within the channel. 25. The method of claim 24 further comprising: storing the spectral data of the expected composition of the fluid contained within the channel in a memory; accessing the memory to obtain the spectral data of the expected composition of the fluid contained within the channel. 26. A method for verifying the composition of a fluid contained within a fluid infusion channel, wherein the channel includes a channel wall and an interior through which the fluid is conducted, the method comprising: directing light through the fluid contained within the channel; sensing the light that was directed through the fluid contained within the channel after it has passed through the fluid and providing light sensor signals representative of spectral data of the actual composition of the fluid contained within the channel; and comparing the spectral data of the actual composition of the fluid with spectral data of an expected composition of the fluid contained within the channel, further comprising: directing light through a reference element, the reference element having approximately the same composition as the composition of the channel wall; receiving light that was directed through the reference element after it has passed through the reference element, the received light being representative of spectral data of the actual composition of the reference element; adjusting the spectral data of the actual composition of the fluid within the channel with the spectral data of the actual composition of the reference element; and wherein when the adjusted spectral data of the actual composition of the fluid within the channel does not match the expected composition of the fluid contained within the channel, initiating a signal indicating that the actual composition of the fluid within the channel is inconsistent with the expected composition of the fluid contained within the channel. 27. The method of claim 24 further comprising: storing a plurality of spectral data of possible expected fluid compositions contained within the channel; inputting the expected composition of the fluid contained within the fluid channel; accessing the spectral data of the expected composition of the fluid contained within the channel from the plurality of spectral data. 28. The method of claim 27 further comprising accessing additional spectral data in the event that the spectral data of the expected composition does not match the spectral data of the actual composition and further comparing spectral data to the spectral data of the actual composition, and in the event that a match is detected, indicating the spectral data that matched. 29. The method of claim 27 Further comprising synthesizing spectral data for the expected fluid composition from spectral data. 30. The method of claim 24 wherein the signal is an alarm. 31. The method of claim 24 further comprising reading an identification device related to the fluid, the identification device including an indication of expected composition of the fluid. 32. The method of claim 31 further comprising reading an identitication device that contains spectral data of the expected composition of the fluid. 33. The method of claim 31 further comprising reading a bar code identification device with a bar code scanner. 34. The method of claim 31 further comprising reading an RFID tag with an RFID reader. 35. The method of claim 31 further comprising reading a wireless information device with a compatible wireless reader. 36. The method of claim 24, wherein the signal is a control signal to cease infusion.