US5211201A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intravenous fluid delivery system with air elimination
Assignee: Deka Products LP
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Filing: 1991-11-15
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Granted: 1993-05-18
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Expires: 2011-11-15
Abstract
Abstract An air elimination system is provided for an intravenous fluid delivery system for intravenous injection of fluid into a patient. An air-detection apparatus (5) is disposed in an intravenous fluid line (3). A return line (8) is attached to a point in the line (3) below the air-detection apparatus (5). The other end of the return line (8) is attached to a chamber (1, 2, 12) where air may be separated from the fluid. The separation chamber may be a drip chamber (12), a metering chamber (2) or the intravenous supply (1). When air is detected, a valve (11) or valves (7, 9) are switched, so that the intravenous fluid is prevented from flowing to the patient, and so that, when a pump (4) is turned on, the fluid is pumped through the return line (8) to the separation chamber (1, 2, 12).
Inventors
- 👤 Dean L. Kamen
- 👤 Valentine Faust
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/14; A61M5/162; A61M39/00; A61M39/22; A61M5/168; A61M5/16804; A61M5/16809; A61M5/16813; A61M5/16831; A61M5/16854; A61M5/16859; A61M5/36; A61M5/365; F; F04; F04B; F04B43/00; F04B43/02; F04B43/04; F04B43/043; F04B43/12; F04B43/14; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/004; F16K31/005; G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/05; G01F1/34; G01F17/00; G01P; G01P13/00; G01P13/0006; G01P13/0066; A61M2005/1401; A61M2005/1403; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/12; A61M2205/15; A61M39/24; A61M39/26; A61M39/28; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/2931; Y10T137/3003; Y10T137/3021; Y10T137/304
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
An air elimination system, for an intravenous fluid delivery system for intravenous injection of fluid into a patient, comprising: an intravenous line; separation means for permitting the separation of air from the fluid; air-detection means, disposed in the intravenous line, for detecting air in the fluid, and emitting a fault-condition signal; a return line connecting the separation means to a point in the intravenous line downstream of the air-detection means; valve means, disposed in the intravenous line and return line, for permitting (i) flow through the return line or (ii) to the patient; pump means for urging fluid through the return line upon activation; and control means, in communication with the air-detection means, for (i) setting the valve means to permit flow through the return line and activating the pump means, so as to move air and fluid from the air-detection means to the separation means, in response to a fault-condition signal, and otherwise (ii) setting the valve means to permit flow to the patient.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
An air elimination system, for an intravenous fluid delivery system for intravenous injection of fluid into a patient, comprising: an intravenous line; separation means for permitting the separation of air from the fluid; air-detection means, disposed in the intravenous line, for detecting air in the fluid, and emitting a fault-condition signal; a return line connecting the separation means to a point in the intravenous line downstream of the air-detection means; valve means, disposed in the intravenous line and return line, for permitting (i) flow through the return line or (ii) to the patient; pump means for urging fluid through the return line upon activation; and control means, in communication with the air-detection means, for (i) setting the valve means to permit flow through the return line and activating the pump means, so as to move air and fluid from the air-detection means to the separation means, in response to a fault-condition signal, and otherwise (ii) setting the valve means to permit flow to the patient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the air-detection means includes flow-measurement means for measuring fluid flow rate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the pump means includes a pump disposed in the intravenous line upstream from the valve means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the separation means includes a metering chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the separation means includes a drip chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein portions of the air-detection means, the valve means and the pump means are formed in an integral device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the separation means includes an intravenous fluid reservoir.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 7, wherein the return line and portions of the air-detection means, the valve means and the pump means are formed in an integral device.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for eliminating air from an intravenous fluid delivery system, having a chamber where air may separate from the fluid, a pump, an intravenous line and an air detector, comprising the steps of: detecting air in the fluid; emitting a signal when a specified amount of air is detected in the fluid; providing a first valve in the intravenous line; providing a return line from a point in the intravenous line between the pump and the first valve; providing a second valve in the return line; closing the first valve in response to the signal; opening the second valve in response to the signal; and using the pump to urge fluid through the return line to the chamber in response to the signal.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for eliminating air from an intravenous fluid delivery system, having a chamber where air may separate from the fluid, a pump, an intravenous line and an air detector, comprising the steps of: detecting air in the fluid; emitting a signal when a specified amount of air is detected in the fluid; providing a first valve in the intravenous line; providing a return line from a point in the intravenous line between the pump and the first valve; providing a second valve in the return line; closing the first valve in response to the signal; opening the second valve in response to the signal; and using the pump to urge fluid through the return line to the chamber in response to the signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 9, further including the step of providing an intravenous fluid reservoir as the chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the step of emitting a signal is performed when any air is detected in the fluid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 6, wherein the pump means includes a pump disposed in the intravenous line upstream from the valve means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 7, wherein the pump means includes a pump disposed in the intravenous line upstream from the valve means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein the pump means includes a pump disposed in the intravenous line upstream from the valve means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-17 | 1996-11-16 | 1997-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-17 | 2000-11-16 | 2001-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-17 | 2004-11-16 | 2005-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |