EARLY DETECTION OF EXTRAVASATION OF INTRAVENOUS CYTOTOXIC DR

INTRAVENOUS, OR INTRA-ARTERIAL, ADMINISTRATION OF LIQUIDS SUCH AS ONCOTHERAPEUTIC DRUGS COMMONLY USES A HOLLOW NEEDLE OR CATHETER INSERTED INTO A SUPERFICIAL ARTERY OR VEIN. HOWEVER, PATIENT MOVEMENTS MAY DISLODGE THE NEEDLE/CATHETER FROM THE VEIN OR ARTERY, PERMITTING AN ACCUMULATION OF LIQUID IN THE PERIVASCULAR TISSUE WITH CONCOMITANT DISCOLORATION, DISCOMFORT, AND POSSIBLE EXTENSIVE DESTRUCTION OF TISSUE. AT PRESENT, DETECTION OF THIS CONDITION REQUIRES SUFFICIENT INFILTRATION OF LIQUID TO PRODUCE PAIN, SWELLING, DISCOLORATION, OR A CESSATION OF LIQUID ADMINISTRATION DUE TO THE BUILDUP OF LIQUID PRESSURE WITHIN THE LOCAL TISSUE. THE PROPOSED PROGRAM FOR EARLY DETECTION OF EXTRAVASATION UTILIZES PASSIVE, NONINVASIVE MICROWAVE RADIOMETRY. THE LIQUID BEING ADMINISTERED IS TYPICALLY AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE THAN NORMAL BODY TEMPERATURE, PRODUCING AN EASILY DETECTABLE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENTIAL IN THE REGION OF THE ACCUMULATION. THIS DETECTED CHANGE MAY BE USED TO TERMINATE LIQUID INFUSION OR PROVIDE AN ALARM INDICATIVE OF AN UNDESIRABLE LIQUID INFILTRATION. THE COMMERCIAL APPARATUS DEVELOPED THROUGH THE USE OF MICROWAVE INTEGRATION CIRCUIT TECHNOLOGY CAN BE SMALL IN SIZE AND LOW IN COST.