US4056333A — Intravenous feeding pump failure alarm system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 118 words

In combination with an intravenous feeding pump having: a. pumping chamber having an inlet and an outlet, b. inlet valve means disposed in the inlet and outlet valve means disposed in the outlet, c. a plunger serving as a pumping member projecting through the wall of said chamber and having an outer end portion always extending out of said chamber whereby the plunger can be reciprocated between first and second positions in said chamber, d. resilient biasing means for returning said plunger to the first position, e. a pump actuator having means adapted to urge the outer end of said plunger to the second position against the force of the resilient biasing means and; an alarm system comprising:

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 118 words

In combination with an intravenous feeding pump having: a. pumping chamber having an inlet and an outlet, b. inlet valve means disposed in the inlet and outlet valve means disposed in the outlet, c. a plunger serving as a pumping member projecting through the wall of said chamber and having an outer end portion always extending out of said chamber whereby the plunger can be reciprocated between first and second positions in said chamber, d. resilient biasing means for returning said plunger to the first position, e. a pump actuator having means adapted to urge the outer end of said plunger to the second position against the force of the resilient biasing means and; an alarm system comprising:

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

means for sensing failure of said plunger to return to its inoperative position, and 2. signal means operated by said sensing means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

means for sensing failure of said plunger to return to its inoperative position, and 2. signal means operated by said sensing means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 95 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal means comprises: (a) a sensing arm movable to one position by said actuator as the actuator moves the plunger to said second position and movable to another position by the force of said resilient biasing means; (b) a switch held in one position by conjoint movement of the sensing arm and the actuator means and movable to another position when said sensing arm and said actuator means move independently of each other and wherein the signal means operated by movement of said switch to said another position.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 114 words

In combination with an intravenous feeding pump having: a. a pumping chamber, b. an inlet into and an outlet from said pumping chamber and an inlet valve disposed in the inlet and an outlet disposed in the outlet, c. a plunger serving as a pumping member projecting through the wall of said chamber whereby the plunger can be pushed inwardly into said chamber, and d. an elastic sheath tightly enclosing the interior section of said plunger, which sheath is sealed to the wall of said chamber to provide an air-tight seal therewith, and e. a pump actuator having a rocking arm effective to depress the outer end of said plunger; an alarm system comprising:

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 114 words

In combination with an intravenous feeding pump having: a. a pumping chamber, b. an inlet into and an outlet from said pumping chamber and an inlet valve disposed in the inlet and an outlet disposed in the outlet, c. a plunger serving as a pumping member projecting through the wall of said chamber whereby the plunger can be pushed inwardly into said chamber, and d. an elastic sheath tightly enclosing the interior section of said plunger, which sheath is sealed to the wall of said chamber to provide an air-tight seal therewith, and e. a pump actuator having a rocking arm effective to depress the outer end of said plunger; an alarm system comprising:

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 105 words

means for sealing the inlet to said pumping chamber upon termination of fluid flow into said inlet, 2. a sensing arm rocked to one position by said actuator arm as the latter moves to project the plunger into said pumping chamber but returned to the other position only by the force of the elastic sheath, 3. a switch held in one position by the conjoint movement of the auxiliary arm and the rocking arm but set to the other position by the separation of the rocking arm and the sensing arm, and 4. signal means operated by the change in the condition of said switch.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 105 words

means for sealing the inlet to said pumping chamber upon termination of fluid flow into said inlet, 2. a sensing arm rocked to one position by said actuator arm as the latter moves to project the plunger into said pumping chamber but returned to the other position only by the force of the elastic sheath, 3. a switch held in one position by the conjoint movement of the auxiliary arm and the rocking arm but set to the other position by the separation of the rocking arm and the sensing arm, and 4. signal means operated by the change in the condition of said switch.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 45 words

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the inlet to said pumping chamber is provided with a very soft and resilient tubular section and a float in said section adapted to seal said inlet in the event the supply of fluid to be pumped is exhausted.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the switch is mounted upon one of said arms, and the other of said arms carries a member adapted to bear upon said switch.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the sensing arm is rotatably mounted on said rocking arm.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 230 words

In an intravenous fluid delivery system for use with a container of I.V. fluid, means forming a drip chamber, said drip chamber having a wall with at least a portion of the same which is transparent, said means forming a drip chamber including a resilient lower member having an outlet formed therein, means carried by the drip chamber adapted to form a connection to said container whereby I.V. fluid can pass from the container into the drip chamber, a ball-like member disposed within said drip chamber and being capable of floating in said I.V. fluid, said ball-like member being of a size so it is capable of closing said outlet when drip chamber is empty of I.V. fluid and is disposed in a vertical direction with the outlet extending downwardly, means forming a pump chamber having an inlet and an outlet, inlet valve means disposed in the inlet, outlet valve means disposed in the outlet, means for connecting the outlet of the drip chamber to the inlet of the pump chamber, means connecting the outlet to a patient, a plunger serving as a pumping member, means for causing reciprocatory movement of said plunger for causing movement of I.V. fluid through said pump chamber from said inlet to said outlet of said pump chamber and means for sensing when the reciprocatory movement of said plunger ceases and for giving an alarm.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 230 words

In an intravenous fluid delivery system for use with a container of I.V. fluid, means forming a drip chamber, said drip chamber having a wall with at least a portion of the same which is transparent, said means forming a drip chamber including a resilient lower member having an outlet formed therein, means carried by the drip chamber adapted to form a connection to said container whereby I.V. fluid can pass from the container into the drip chamber, a ball-like member disposed within said drip chamber and being capable of floating in said I.V. fluid, said ball-like member being of a size so it is capable of closing said outlet when drip chamber is empty of I.V. fluid and is disposed in a vertical direction with the outlet extending downwardly, means forming a pump chamber having an inlet and an outlet, inlet valve means disposed in the inlet, outlet valve means disposed in the outlet, means for connecting the outlet of the drip chamber to the inlet of the pump chamber, means connecting the outlet to a patient, a plunger serving as a pumping member, means for causing reciprocatory movement of said plunger for causing movement of I.V. fluid through said pump chamber from said inlet to said outlet of said pump chamber and means for sensing when the reciprocatory movement of said plunger ceases and for giving an alarm.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 20 words

A system as in claim 7 together with lever arm means for moving said plunger in at least one direction.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus as in claim 8 together with resilient means for moving said plunger in a direction opposite said one direction.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 40 words

A system as in claim 9 wherein said means for moving said plunger in the opposite direction is of insufficient strength to move said plunger in said opposite direction when greater than a predetermined vacuum occurs in said pumping chamber.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 179 words

In an alarm apparatus for use with an intravenous fluid delivery system including a pump having a pumping chamber and an inlet and an oulet in communication with the pumping chamber, inlet valve means disposed in the inlet, outlet valve means disposed in the outlet, a plunger serving as a pumping member, means for causing reciprocatory movement of said plunger to cause movement of intravenous fluid through said pumping chamber from the inlet through said outlet and means for sensing when the reciprocatory movement of said plunger ceases and for giving an alarm when such a condition is sensed, said means for causing reciprocatory movement including lever arm means for moving said plunger in at least one direction, said means for sensing the reciprocatory movement of said plunger including means for sensing the movement of said lever arm, resilient means for moving said plunger in the opposite direction, said resilient means being of insufficient strength to return said plunger in the opposite direction when a vacuum condition is created in said pumping chamber in excess of a predetermined value.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 179 words

In an alarm apparatus for use with an intravenous fluid delivery system including a pump having a pumping chamber and an inlet and an oulet in communication with the pumping chamber, inlet valve means disposed in the inlet, outlet valve means disposed in the outlet, a plunger serving as a pumping member, means for causing reciprocatory movement of said plunger to cause movement of intravenous fluid through said pumping chamber from the inlet through said outlet and means for sensing when the reciprocatory movement of said plunger ceases and for giving an alarm when such a condition is sensed, said means for causing reciprocatory movement including lever arm means for moving said plunger in at least one direction, said means for sensing the reciprocatory movement of said plunger including means for sensing the movement of said lever arm, resilient means for moving said plunger in the opposite direction, said resilient means being of insufficient strength to return said plunger in the opposite direction when a vacuum condition is created in said pumping chamber in excess of a predetermined value.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 190 words

In an alarm apparatus for use with an intravenous fluid delivery system including a pump having a pumping chamber and an inlet and an outlet in communication with the pumping chamber, inlet valve means disposed in the inlet, outlet valve means disposed in the outlet, a drip chamber in communication with the inlet of the pumping chamber, said drip chamber having a wall with at least a portion of the same being transparent, said means forming a drip chamber including a resilient lower member having an outler formed therein, a ball-like member disposed in the chamber and being capable of floating in the intravenous fluid, said ball-like member being capable of closing said oulet in said drip chamber when said drip chamber is empty of intravenous fluid and is vertically disposed with the outlet extending downwardly, a plunger serving as a pumping member, means for causing reciprocatory movement of said plunger to cause movement of intravenous fluid through said pumping chamber from the inlet through said outlet and means for sensing when the reciprocating movement of said plunger ceases and for giving an alarm when such a condition is sensed.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 190 words

In an alarm apparatus for use with an intravenous fluid delivery system including a pump having a pumping chamber and an inlet and an outlet in communication with the pumping chamber, inlet valve means disposed in the inlet, outlet valve means disposed in the outlet, a drip chamber in communication with the inlet of the pumping chamber, said drip chamber having a wall with at least a portion of the same being transparent, said means forming a drip chamber including a resilient lower member having an outler formed therein, a ball-like member disposed in the chamber and being capable of floating in the intravenous fluid, said ball-like member being capable of closing said oulet in said drip chamber when said drip chamber is empty of intravenous fluid and is vertically disposed with the outlet extending downwardly, a plunger serving as a pumping member, means for causing reciprocatory movement of said plunger to cause movement of intravenous fluid through said pumping chamber from the inlet through said outlet and means for sensing when the reciprocating movement of said plunger ceases and for giving an alarm when such a condition is sensed.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said resilient lower member is of sufficient length so that it can be manually manipulated.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 182 words

In a method for initiating an alarm for use with an intravenous liquid delivery system including a pump and a drip chamber having an inlet and an oulet in which the lower portion of the drip chamber is defined by a deformable member having an oulet therein and in which a ball capable of floating in the liquid is provided in the drip chamber, connecting the drip chamber to a source of intravenous liquid, repeatedly squeezing the deformable member defining the drip chamber to cause intravenous liquid to enter into the drip chamber and to at least partially fill the drip chamber so that the ball floats in the liquid in the drip chamber and permits the liquid to flow through the outlet to the pump, supplying intravenous liquid to the patient by the use of the pump, creating a vacuum condition in the pump when all of the liquid has been dispensed from the drip chamber by permitting the ball to close off the oulet in the drip chamber and initiating an alarm in response to creating of the vacuum condition.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 182 words

In a method for initiating an alarm for use with an intravenous liquid delivery system including a pump and a drip chamber having an inlet and an oulet in which the lower portion of the drip chamber is defined by a deformable member having an oulet therein and in which a ball capable of floating in the liquid is provided in the drip chamber, connecting the drip chamber to a source of intravenous liquid, repeatedly squeezing the deformable member defining the drip chamber to cause intravenous liquid to enter into the drip chamber and to at least partially fill the drip chamber so that the ball floats in the liquid in the drip chamber and permits the liquid to flow through the outlet to the pump, supplying intravenous liquid to the patient by the use of the pump, creating a vacuum condition in the pump when all of the liquid has been dispensed from the drip chamber by permitting the ball to close off the oulet in the drip chamber and initiating an alarm in response to creating of the vacuum condition.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1980-10-31	1981-05-02	1981-11-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1984-10-31	1985-05-02	1985-11-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1988-10-31	1989-05-02	1989-11-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Intravenous feeding pump failure alarm system

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