| abstract |
A fluid detection assembly (228, 228C, 328) for detecting fluid contamination within a medical device (210, 210C, 310) includes a first pair of sensing leads (238, 238C, 338) and a controller (240, 340). The first pair of sense leads (238, 238C, 338) includes a first input sense lead (242, 242C) and a first spaced apart sense lead (244, 244C) which are in fluid communication with the lead. with each other. The first input sense wire (242, 242C) conducts a first electrical signal (454A, 454B) and the first sense wire at the output (244, 244C) receives the first electrical signal (454A, 454B). The controller (240, 340) receives the first electrical signal (454A, 454B) from the first output sense wire (244, 244C) and determines a first propagation delay (456, 458). The controller (240, 340) can determine a type of fluid contamination, such as blood or saline, based on the first propagation delay (456, 458). The fluid detection assembly (228, 228C, 328) may include a second pair of sensing leads (346) spaced from the first pair of sensing leads (238, 238C, 338). |