Patent US1851362A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4375813A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Medical fluid flow rate controlling device
Assignee: Delmed Inc
•
Filing: 1981-02-10
•
Granted: 1983-03-08
•
Expires: 2001-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A medical fluid flow rate controller and method for its use are disclosed. The controller is particularly suited for intravenous liquid administration and comprises three chambers in series between the intravenous liquid source and the patient. The first and second chambers are movable vertically with respect to each other and are gas phase pressure-equalized. Accordingly, the pressure differential available for flow from the first to the second chamber through the flow restrictor employed is known. Thus, the device may be precalibrated and marked with flow rates corresponding to different relative heights of the first chamber. Liquid entering the second chamber is pulled through a hydrophilic membrane into the third because the third operates at a lower pressure than the second. That configuration prevents the patient's movements from affecting the pre-set flow rate between the first and second chambers.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen R. Hessel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/14; A61M5/168; A61M5/16804; A61M5/16818; A61M5/141
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
264 words
An apparatus for controlling the flow rate of an intravenously administered medical liquid to a patient from a supply of medical liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a first chamber means for containing a portion of said liquid and a gas, having a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a gas phase connection, said liquid inlet designed to receive liquid from the supply of medical fluid; (b) a second chamber means for containing a portion of said liquid and a gas, having a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a gas phase connection, said first chamber means having means for moving said first chamber means vertically with respect to the second chamber; (c) gas phase pressure equalization means connected to the gas phase connections for equalizing the gas phase pressures in said first and second chambers; (d) first liquid connecting means fluidly connecting the liquid outlet of the first chamber to the liquid inlet of the second chamber, said first liquid connecting means having at least one flow restrictor in the fluid flow path through which a known quantity of liquid flows when a given differential pressure exists across it; (e) a third chamber means having a liquid outlet from which liquid passes to the patient and a liquid inlet for receiving liquid from the second chamber; and (f) second liquid connecting means fluidly connecting the liquid outlet of the second chamber to the liquid inlet of the third chamber, said second liquid connecting means having a membrane valve in the flow path which when wet passes liquid but not gas under normal operating conditions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
264 words
An apparatus for controlling the flow rate of an intravenously administered medical liquid to a patient from a supply of medical liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a first chamber means for containing a portion of said liquid and a gas, having a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a gas phase connection, said liquid inlet designed to receive liquid from the supply of medical fluid; (b) a second chamber means for containing a portion of said liquid and a gas, having a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a gas phase connection, said first chamber means having means for moving said first chamber means vertically with respect to the second chamber; (c) gas phase pressure equalization means connected to the gas phase connections for equalizing the gas phase pressures in said first and second chambers; (d) first liquid connecting means fluidly connecting the liquid outlet of the first chamber to the liquid inlet of the second chamber, said first liquid connecting means having at least one flow restrictor in the fluid flow path through which a known quantity of liquid flows when a given differential pressure exists across it; (e) a third chamber means having a liquid outlet from which liquid passes to the patient and a liquid inlet for receiving liquid from the second chamber; and (f) second liquid connecting means fluidly connecting the liquid outlet of the second chamber to the liquid inlet of the third chamber, said second liquid connecting means having a membrane valve in the flow path which when wet passes liquid but not gas under normal operating conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a cannula is used as a flow restrictor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second and third chambers are in the same housing and the fluid inlet to the second chamber is fluidly connected to a dropping needle positioned above the membrane filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flow restrictor provides the only significant pressure drop in the liquid flow path comprising the liquid outlet of the first chamber, the first liquid connecting means, and the liquid inlet to the second chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein indicia on the device for different vertical heights of the first chamber correspond to precalibrated liquid flow rates through the flow restrictor.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
290 words
An apparatus for controlling the flow rate of an intravenously administered medical liquid to a patient, from a supply of medical liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a first chamber means for containing a portion of said liquid and a gas, having a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a gas phase connection, into the gas containing part of the first chamber means said liquid inlet designed to receive liquid from the supply of medical fluid; (b) a second chamber for containing a portion of said liquid and a gas, having a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a gas phase connection, into the gas containing part of the second chamber, said first chamber means having means for moving said first chamber means vertically with respect to the second chamber; (c) gas phase pressure equalization means for fluidly connecting the gas phase connections of the first and second chambers so as to equalize the gas phase pressures in the first and second chambers; (d) first liquid connecting means fluidly connecting the liquid contact of the first chamber to the liquid inlet of the second chamber, said first liquid connecting means having at least one cannula in the fluid flow path through which a known quantity of liquid flows when a given differential pressure exists across it; (e) a third chamber having a liquid outlet from which liquid passes to the patient and a liquid inlet for receiving liquid from the second chamber means; and (f) second liquid connecting means fluidly connecting the liquid outlet of the second chamber to the liquid inlet of the third chamber, said second liquid connecting means having a membrane valve in the flow path which when wet passes liquid but not gas under normal operating conditions.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
290 words
An apparatus for controlling the flow rate of an intravenously administered medical liquid to a patient, from a supply of medical liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a first chamber means for containing a portion of said liquid and a gas, having a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a gas phase connection, into the gas containing part of the first chamber means said liquid inlet designed to receive liquid from the supply of medical fluid; (b) a second chamber for containing a portion of said liquid and a gas, having a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a gas phase connection, into the gas containing part of the second chamber, said first chamber means having means for moving said first chamber means vertically with respect to the second chamber; (c) gas phase pressure equalization means for fluidly connecting the gas phase connections of the first and second chambers so as to equalize the gas phase pressures in the first and second chambers; (d) first liquid connecting means fluidly connecting the liquid contact of the first chamber to the liquid inlet of the second chamber, said first liquid connecting means having at least one cannula in the fluid flow path through which a known quantity of liquid flows when a given differential pressure exists across it; (e) a third chamber having a liquid outlet from which liquid passes to the patient and a liquid inlet for receiving liquid from the second chamber means; and (f) second liquid connecting means fluidly connecting the liquid outlet of the second chamber to the liquid inlet of the third chamber, said second liquid connecting means having a membrane valve in the flow path which when wet passes liquid but not gas under normal operating conditions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the second and third chambers are in the same housing and the fluid inlet to the second chamber is fluidly connected to a dropping needle positioned above the membrane valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the cannula provides the only significant pressure drop in the liquid flow path comprising the liquid outlet of the first chamber, the first liquid connecting means, and the liquid inlet to the second chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein indicia on the device for different vertical heights of the first chamber correspond to precalibrated liquid flow rates through the cannula.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
298 words
An apparatus for controlling the flow rate of an intravenously administered medical liquid to a patient from a supply of medical liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a first chamber means for containing a portion of said liquid and a gas, having a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a gas phase connection, said liquid inlet designed to receive liquid from the supply of medical fluid; (b) a housing having a second chamber means for containing a portion of said liquid and a gas, with a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a gas phase connection, said first chamber means having means for moving said first chamber means vertically with respect to the second chamber; (c) gas phase pressure equalization means for fluidly connecting the gas phase connections of the first and second chambers so as to equalize the gas phase pressures in those chambers; (d) first liquid connecting means fluidly connecting the liquid outlet of the first chamber to the liquid inlet of the second chamber, said first liquid connecting means having at least one cannula in the fluid flow path through which a known quantity of fluid flows when a given differential pressure exists across it, the cannula providing the only significant pressure drop in the liquid flow path comprising the liquid outlet of the first chamber, the first liquid connecting means, and the liquid inlet to the second chamber; (e) a third chamber means in the housing having a liquid ouetlet from which liquid passes to the patient and a liquid inlet for receiving liquid from the second chamber; and (f) a membrane valve between the liquid outlet of the second chamber and the liquid inlet of the third chamber, the membrane valve capable of passing liquid when wet but not gas under normal operating conditions.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
298 words
An apparatus for controlling the flow rate of an intravenously administered medical liquid to a patient from a supply of medical liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a first chamber means for containing a portion of said liquid and a gas, having a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a gas phase connection, said liquid inlet designed to receive liquid from the supply of medical fluid; (b) a housing having a second chamber means for containing a portion of said liquid and a gas, with a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a gas phase connection, said first chamber means having means for moving said first chamber means vertically with respect to the second chamber; (c) gas phase pressure equalization means for fluidly connecting the gas phase connections of the first and second chambers so as to equalize the gas phase pressures in those chambers; (d) first liquid connecting means fluidly connecting the liquid outlet of the first chamber to the liquid inlet of the second chamber, said first liquid connecting means having at least one cannula in the fluid flow path through which a known quantity of fluid flows when a given differential pressure exists across it, the cannula providing the only significant pressure drop in the liquid flow path comprising the liquid outlet of the first chamber, the first liquid connecting means, and the liquid inlet to the second chamber; (e) a third chamber means in the housing having a liquid ouetlet from which liquid passes to the patient and a liquid inlet for receiving liquid from the second chamber; and (f) a membrane valve between the liquid outlet of the second chamber and the liquid inlet of the third chamber, the membrane valve capable of passing liquid when wet but not gas under normal operating conditions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
84 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising: (a) means to connect a supply of secondary liquid to the device; (b) means to control the flow of secondary liquid from the device to the patient; (c) means to automatically halt the flow of primary liquid to the patient when secondary liquid flows; and (d) means to automatically restart the flow of primary liquid to the patient after secondary liquid flow ends and at the same rate of primary flow existing prior to secondary liquid flow.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of controlling the flow of medical liquid to a patient comprising utilizing the apparatus of claim 1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of controlling the flow of medical liquid to a patient comprising utilizing the apparatus of claim 6.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of controlling the flow of medical liquid to a patient comprising utilizing the apparatus of claim 10.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1205410A
Cited
US1338782A
Cited
US1427455A
Cited
US1844342A
Cited
US2090273A
Cited
US2254833A
Cited
US2479786A
Cited
GB817387A
Cited
US2954028A
Cited
US2865534A
Cited
US2989052A
Cited
US2971366A
Cited
US3001397A
Cited
US3198009A
Cited
US3034504A
Cited
US3017885A
Cited
US3037384A
Cited
US3049918A
Cited
US3101710A
Cited
US3157481A
Cited
US3216418A
Cited
US3207372A
Cited
US3166107A
Cited
US3241365A
Cited
US3227173A
Cited
US3277708A
Cited
US3298367A
Cited
US3299904A
Cited
US3316935A
Cited
US3321970A
Cited
US3460526A
Cited
US3340871A
Cited
US3450164A
Cited
GB1182016A
Cited
US3487808A
Cited
US3498316A
Cited
US3550619A
Cited
US3604420A
Cited
US3605496A
Cited
US3690318A
Cited
US3626938A
Cited
US3677248A
Cited
US3667464A
Cited
US3805612A
Cited
US3756233A
Cited
US3826137A
Cited
US3759098A
Cited
US3785378A
Cited
US3803914A
Cited
US3807397A
Cited
US3838599A
Cited
US3851526A
Cited
US3938539A
Cited
US3851668A
Cited
US3796245A
Cited
US3931818A
Cited
US3941126A
Cited
US3967620A
Cited
US4056100A
Cited
US4079737A
Cited
US3998097A
Cited
US3963024A
Cited
US4043332A
Cited
US3949745A
Cited
US4136692A
Cited
US4099527A
Cited
US4136693A
Cited
US4256103A
Cited
US4223695A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-03-07 | 1986-09-06 | 1987-03-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-03-07 | 1990-09-06 | 1991-03-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-03-07 | 1994-09-06 | 1995-03-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |