Flow controller for IV chamber

Claim 1

A device for controlling flow from an IV chamber to IV tubing comprising: a hollow cylindrical body forming an IV chamber; a plug integrally mounted on one end of said body and having an upper surface forming part of the IV chamber, said plug having a flow bore defined therethrough to be in fluid communication with the interior of said body; a tapered IV tube connector attached to said plug and having a fluid passage defined therethrough to be axially aligned with and in fluid communication with said flow bore to receive fluid therefrom, said tube connector having a shoulder defined interiorly within said fluid passage; a plunger rod bore defined in said plug to extend radially outward from said flow bore to the outside surface of said plug; a plunger rod movably positioned within said plunger rod bore to be moved into and out of said flow bore transversely of said flow bore; a flexible tube mounted within said flow bore to be contacted by said plunger rod, said flexible tube having one end thereof flush with said plug upper surface and another end thereof abutting said fluid passage shoulder and contacting the inner surface of said flow bore over the entire surface of said flow bore whereby said flexible tube is supported over the entire surface thereof except that surface area located adjacent to said plunger rod bore; and plunger rod moving means mounted on said body for moving said plunger rod into said flow bore to reduce the rate of fluid flow through said flexible tube, said plunger rod moving means including a skirt rotatably mounted on said cylindrical body to surround said plug, said skirt having a groove defined therein which is located to receive one end of said plunger rod, said groove being circumferentially crescent-shaped in transverse cross-section.

Claim 2

A device for controlling flow from an IV chamber to IV tubing comprising: a hollow cylindrical body forming an IV chamber; a plug integrally mounted on one end of said body and having an upper surface forming part of the IV chamber, said plug having a flow bore defined therethrough to be in fluid communication with the interior of said body; a tapered IV tube connector attached to said plug and having a fluid passage defined therethrough to be axially aligned with and in fluid communication with said flow bore to receive fluid therefrom, said tube connector having a shoulder defined interiorly within said fluid passage; a plunger rod bore defined in said plug to extend radially outward from said flow bore to the outside surface of said plug; a plunger rod movably positioned within said plunger rod bore to be moved into and out of said flow bore transversely of said flow bore; a flexible tube mounted within said flow bore to be contacted by said plunger rod, said flexible tube having one end thereof flush with said plug upper surface and another end thereof abutting said fluid passage shoulder and contacting the inner surface of said flow bore over the entire surface of said flow bore whereby said flexible tube is supported over the entire surface thereof except that surface area located adjacent to said plunger rod bore; and plunger rod moving means mounted on said body for moving said plunger rod into said flow bore to reduce the rate of fluid flow through said flexible tube, said plunger rod moving means including a skirt rotatably mounted on said cylindrical body to surround said plug, said skirt having a groove defined therein which is located to receive one end of said plunger rod, said groove being circumferentially crescent-shaped in transverse cross-section.