US3623052A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic infusion apparatus
Assignee: Decca Ltd
•
Filing: 1969-11-07
•
Granted: 1971-11-23
•
Expires: 1989-11-07
Abstract
Abstract An automatic infusion apparatus in which a timer is started each time a drip of infusion fluid is delivered. A circuit including two AND gates responds to the timer and to a drip detector to determine qualitatively whether the next drip occurs before or after a timing period. Each AND gate triggers a respective monostable timing circuit controlling a motor for altering an adjustable valve to adjust the drip rate by a single increment. The motor is prevented from operating if the next drip occurs slightly after the timing period.
Inventors
- 👤 Basil Harry Royston Spiller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:15
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/14; A61M5/168; A61M5/16886; A61M5/1689; G; G05; G05D; G05D7/00; G05D7/06; G05D7/0617; G05D7/0629; G05D7/0635; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
In infusion apparatus comprising means for forming infusion fluid into successive drips and a delivery device for said infusion fluid, said delivery device including adjustable means responsive to corrective signals for varying the drip rate and thereby the rate at which the infusion fluid is delivered, control apparatus comprising: means for detecting the drips; a timer; means for starting the timer in response to the occurrence of a drip, said timer providing a predetermined timing period; and control means, coupled to said means for detecting and said timer, for tending to correct the drip rate in response to disparity between the occUrrence of a subsequent drip and the end of the said timing period, said control means including first means for causing a predetermined drip rate decreasing adjustment, independent in magnitude of said disparity, to said adjustable means when said subsequent drip occurs before the end of the timing period and second means for causing a predetermined drip rate increasing adjustment, independent in magnitude of said disparity, to said adjustable means when said subsequent drip occurs after the end of the timing period.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
In infusion apparatus comprising means for forming infusion fluid into successive drips and a delivery device for said infusion fluid, said delivery device including adjustable means responsive to corrective signals for varying the drip rate and thereby the rate at which the infusion fluid is delivered, control apparatus comprising: means for detecting the drips; a timer; means for starting the timer in response to the occurrence of a drip, said timer providing a predetermined timing period; and control means, coupled to said means for detecting and said timer, for tending to correct the drip rate in response to disparity between the occUrrence of a subsequent drip and the end of the said timing period, said control means including first means for causing a predetermined drip rate decreasing adjustment, independent in magnitude of said disparity, to said adjustable means when said subsequent drip occurs before the end of the timing period and second means for causing a predetermined drip rate increasing adjustment, independent in magnitude of said disparity, to said adjustable means when said subsequent drip occurs after the end of the timing period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a further timer means defining a further period after the end of the said timing period, and means responsive to said further timer means for inhibiting any change in the drip rate if the said subsequent drip occurs within said further period.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said control means comprises means responsive to the occurrence of the said subsequent drip to provide a control signal, means under the control of the timer to provide a first signal during the timing period and a second signal after the end of the timing period, a first logical AND circuit for producing an output signal in response to the control signal and the said first signal, and a second logical AND circuit for producing an output signal in response to the control signal and the said second signal, and in which the adjustable means includes drive means, means responsive to the output signal from said first AND circuit for feeding always the same predetermined drive signal to said drive means and means responsive to the output signal from said second AND circuit for feeding always the same predetermined drive signal to said drive means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising means under the control of the timer arranged to provide a third signal at times other than during a further period after the end of said timing period, said AND circuits being operative to cause changes in the drip rate only during their reception of the third signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the delivery device includes a flexible tube, said adjustable means includes a clamp on said tube and a motor for driving said clamp, and the control means includes two circuits each triggerable to provide a fixed duration signal to said motor, one of the said two circuits being arranged to be triggered if the said subsequent drip occurs within the timing period and the other circuit is arranged to be triggered if the said subsequent pulse occurs after the end of the said further period.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a further timer means defining a further period after the end of said timing period and means responsive to said further timer means for inhibiting the triggering of said two circuits if said subsequent pulse occurs within said further period.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which means are provided for varying the said timing period.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means coupled to said timer for varying said timing period and means coupled to said further timer means for varying the said further period.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the timer comprises a capacitor, a triggerable constant current generator for charging the capacitor and means responsive when the voltage across the capacitor attains a predetermined value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a further timer is arranged to be reset and restarted in response to each drip and an alarm under the control of the further timer is operative if the further timer reaches the end of its timing period.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a diode pump integrator is arranged to be fed with a pulse in response to each drip and an alarm responds to an excessively high integration stored by the diode pump integrator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-22 | 1975-05-24 | 1975-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-22 | 1979-05-24 | 1979-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-22 | 1983-05-24 | 1983-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |