US5582590A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flow control device for infusion systems
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-04-28
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Granted: 1996-12-10
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Expires: 2013-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A device for controlling the flow of a medicinal substance in an infusion tube by means of a valve comprising a sealing means and a circuit (24) for controlling the position of the sealing means. The valve includes a chamber (10) with an inlet (12) and an outlet (14), a bi-metallic strip (16) arranged within the chamber (10) and secured to one of its walls (18), a ball (20) secured to the bi-metallic strip (16) for partially or entirely sealing off the inlet (12), and a control circuit (24) for controlling the voltages (V1, V2) applied to said strip (16) in order to provided continuous and accurate control of the flow of medicinal substance through the valve.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Lue Hauser
- 👤 Daniel Guyomar
- 👤 Jean D. Sauzade
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/14; A61M5/168; G; G05; G05D; G05D7/00; G05D7/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
Apparatus for controlling the flow of a therapeutic solution through an infusion line, comprising; a closed chamber having an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, an infusion line having an upstream portion and a downstream portion, said upstream portion being connected to said inlet aperture and adapted to connect said inlet aperture to a source of therapeutic solution, said downstream portion being connected to said outlet aperture and adapted to receive a therapeutic solution from said chamber, a bimetal device having a first portion located within said chamber and having a second portion located outside of said chamber, a ball-shaped valve member attached to said first portion of said bimetal device in a manner to cooperate with said first aperture, and voltage control means connected to said second portion of said bimetal device for variably controlling a current flow through said first portion of said bimetal device, said current flow operating to cause said first portion of said bimetal device to bend a variable amount in accordance with a magnitude of said current flow, said first portion of said bimetal device thereby operating to variably control the position of said ball-shaped valve member relative to said first aperture, so as to variably seal said first aperture and thereby variably control flow of said therapeutic solution from said upstream portion to said downstream portion in accordance with said magnitude of current flow through said first portion of said bimetal device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
Apparatus for controlling the flow of a therapeutic solution through an infusion line, comprising; a closed chamber having an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, an infusion line having an upstream portion and a downstream portion, said upstream portion being connected to said inlet aperture and adapted to connect said inlet aperture to a source of therapeutic solution, said downstream portion being connected to said outlet aperture and adapted to receive a therapeutic solution from said chamber, a bimetal device having a first portion located within said chamber and having a second portion located outside of said chamber, a ball-shaped valve member attached to said first portion of said bimetal device in a manner to cooperate with said first aperture, and voltage control means connected to said second portion of said bimetal device for variably controlling a current flow through said first portion of said bimetal device, said current flow operating to cause said first portion of said bimetal device to bend a variable amount in accordance with a magnitude of said current flow, said first portion of said bimetal device thereby operating to variably control the position of said ball-shaped valve member relative to said first aperture, so as to variably seal said first aperture and thereby variably control flow of said therapeutic solution from said upstream portion to said downstream portion in accordance with said magnitude of current flow through said first portion of said bimetal device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bimetal device comprises two blades of piezoelectric material having a metal strip located between said two blades, and wherein said voltage control means applies a first voltage between said metal strip and one of said two blades and applies a second voltage between said metal strip and the other of said two blades.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for controlling the flow of a therapeutic solution through an infusion line, comprising; providing a closed chamber having an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, providing an infusion line having an upstream portion and a downstream portion, connecting said upstream portion of said infusion line to said inlet aperture, connecting said downstream portion to said outlet aperture, providing a bimetal device having a first portion located within said chamber and having a second portion located outside of said chamber, attaching a ball-shaped valve member to said first portion of said bimetal device in a manner to cooperate with said first aperture, and connecting voltage control means to said second portion of said bimetal device for variably controlling current flow through said first portion of said bimetal device and thereby variably controlling the position of said ball-shaped valve member relative to said first aperture.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for controlling the flow of a therapeutic solution through an infusion line, comprising; providing a closed chamber having an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, providing an infusion line having an upstream portion and a downstream portion, connecting said upstream portion of said infusion line to said inlet aperture, connecting said downstream portion to said outlet aperture, providing a bimetal device having a first portion located within said chamber and having a second portion located outside of said chamber, attaching a ball-shaped valve member to said first portion of said bimetal device in a manner to cooperate with said first aperture, and connecting voltage control means to said second portion of said bimetal device for variably controlling current flow through said first portion of said bimetal device and thereby variably controlling the position of said ball-shaped valve member relative to said first aperture.
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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) | 1999-12-10 | 2000-06-10 | 2000-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-10 | 2004-06-10 | 2004-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-10 | 2008-06-10 | 2008-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |