US4328800A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated intravenous fluid regulating and administering apparatus
Assignee: ALDERSON LABORATORIES Inc A CORP OF
•
Filing: 1980-10-30
•
Granted: 1982-05-11
•
Expires: 2000-10-30
Abstract
Abstract Automated dispensing apparatus is disclosed for administering intravenous fluid to a patient under gravity pressure at a controlled volumetric rate, such that deviations from a desired fluid volumetric rate are automatically corrected. In accordance with the invention the area and maximum width of each fluid drop are measured with two intersecting light beams. Apparatus, responsive to each of the light beams, generates signals representative of drop area and width, and these two parameters are combined to obtain a signal proportional to drop volume. The measured drop volume signal is compared with a rate control signal to automatically correct the fluid flow rate.
Inventors
- 👤 Alvin J. Marx
- 👤 Darold C. Wobschall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/14; A61M5/168; A61M5/16886; A61M5/1689
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
An intravenous fluid regulator apparatus comprising: means for generating a first signal representing a desired rate of introduction of drops of intravenous fluid to a patient, means for sensing the volume of each of said drops of fluid, said sensing means including at least two light sources, radiation emanating from each of said sources being selected to lie along light paths perpendicular to each other, said light paths intersecting at a sensing point through which each fluid drop passes, means responsive to said sensing means for generating a second signal bearing a relation to drop volume, and for operatively combining said first and second signals to produce a fluid introduction rate control signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
An intravenous fluid regulator apparatus comprising: means for generating a first signal representing a desired rate of introduction of drops of intravenous fluid to a patient, means for sensing the volume of each of said drops of fluid, said sensing means including at least two light sources, radiation emanating from each of said sources being selected to lie along light paths perpendicular to each other, said light paths intersecting at a sensing point through which each fluid drop passes, means responsive to said sensing means for generating a second signal bearing a relation to drop volume, and for operatively combining said first and second signals to produce a fluid introduction rate control signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An intravenous fluid regulator apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein there is further included means for detecting a fluid drop prior to the time said fluid drop passes through said sensing point and means responsive to said detecting means for enabling said sensing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An intravenous fluid regulator in accordance with claim 2, wherein there is further included means for determining the maximum width of said fluid drop as it passes through said sensing point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
An intravenous fluid regulator in accordance with claim 3, wherein said sensing means further includes means responsive to one of said light sources for producing a signal proportional to the area of a fluid drop, means responsive to the other of said light sources for producing a signal proportional to the maximum width of said fluid drop and means for operatively combining said proportional area signal and said proportional width signal to produce said second signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
An intravenous fluid regulator in accordance with claim 4, wherein said first and second signal combining means include means for accumulating a count signal in response to said second signal, means for decreasing said accumulated count signal in response to said first signal and means for varying said fluid introduction rate control signal in response to the magnitude of said accumulated count signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
An intravenous fluid regulator in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sensing point lies within a drop chamber, said drop chamber having clear plastic walls coated with an anti-fogging agent to prevent distortion of the radiation emanating from said light sources.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
An intravenous fluid regulator in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sensing point lies within a drop chamber, said drop chamber having clear plastic walls and means for heating said clear plastic walls a predetermined number of degrees above ambient temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
An intravenous fluid regulator in accordance with claims 6 or 7, wherein said drop chamber is cylindrical in shape with a top aperture to admit said fluid drops, a bottom aperture to exit said fluid drops, and an apertured member dividing said drop chamber into upper and lower chamber portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
An intravenous fluid regulator in accordance with claim 8, wherein said sensing point lies within said upper chamber and said bottom chamber contains accumulated fluid, said apertured member comprising a coarse wire mesh, whereby said fluid drops are dispersed when passing through said apertured member and splashback into said upper chamber is reduced.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An intravenous fluid regulator in accordance with claims 6 or 7, wherein said drop chamber has glass walls.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3609379A
Cited
US4001801A
Cited
US4002996A
Cited
US4114144A
Cited
US4111198A
Cited
US4173224A
Cited
US4181130A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-05-10 | 1985-11-09 | 1986-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-05-10 | 1989-11-09 | 1990-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-05-10 | 1993-11-09 | 1994-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |