EP0112699A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Flow rate monitor with optical sensing chamber
Assignee: Valleylab Inc
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Filing: 1983-12-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-12-16
Abstract
Abstract A flow monitor including an optical sensing chamber and an electronic controller which allows determination of exact drop volumes and flow rates. In one embodiment, the flow monitor forms part of a gravity fed volumetric controller in an IV system. In another embodiment, the flow monitor takes the form of a urinary output monitor in a urine collection system. Basically, the flow monitor comprises a microcontroller which responds to parametric information fed into the system through a keyboard and variable information detected by a novel drop diameter detector. The electronic controller, in response to the parametric and variable information being fed into it, is able to determine the precise volume of IV solution or urine passing through the respective systems. In the volumetric controller, the microcontroller causes a linear actuator to control the diameter of a flexible pinch tube found in the IV system. Under one mode of operation, the diameter of the pinch tube is regulated to control drop size. In another mode of operation, the diameter of the tube is regulated to control the time interval between drops. By selectively combining the two modes of operation, a precise volume of IV fluid may be administered to a patient. Also forming part of the system are audible and visual alarms to alert the user any malfunctions in need of correction.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R. Steuer
- 👤 David D. Harris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:18
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/14; A61M5/168; A61M5/16886; A61M5/1689; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/20; A61B5/207; A61B5/208; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A flow monitor for measuring precise volumes of fluid, said monitor comprising: a sensing chamber including a hollow housing defining a cavity; lens means for causing the light to pass through said cavity as a plane of light defined by a series of parallel light rays; and dropforming means for introducing fluid as a series of drops into said cavity, said orifice means oriented so that said drop under gravity pass through said plane of light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A flow monitor for measuring precise volumes of fluid, said monitor comprising: a sensing chamber including a hollow housing defining a cavity; lens means for causing the light to pass through said cavity as a plane of light defined by a series of parallel light rays; and dropforming means for introducing fluid as a series of drops into said cavity, said orifice means oriented so that said drop under gravity pass through said plane of light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The flow monitor of claim 1, wherein said lens means comprises a pair ' of opposed walls of said housing, said walls defining a portion of said cavity, said walls being configured as a pair of opposed lenses so chosen to cause a light beam passing through them to be arranged as said series of parallel light rays defining said plane of light perpendicular to the path defined by the passing drops.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The flow monitor of claim 1, further comprising means for producing a light beam; means for directing said light beam through said lens means; and means for receiving said light beam after it passes through said lens means and for producing a signal proportional to the intensity of said light beam after it passes through said lens means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The flow monitor of claim 1, further comprising means for receiving said signal; means for evaluating said signal to determine the precise volume of the drop as it passes through said plane of light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
192 words
The flow monitor of claim 1, further comprising: sensing means for sensing the passage of drops of fluid through said chamber; measuring means for measuring the volume of drops sensed by said sensing means; means for determining whether the volume of each drop as measured by said measuring means is within a predetermined range of drop volumes; a flexible tubing having one end in fluid communication with said chamber and the other end adapted to be connected in fluid communication with a source of fluid; actuator means responsive to control signals for altering the cross-sectional size of the hollow interior of said flexible tubing, the size of the drops formed by said dropforming means being proportional to the size of the cross-section of said flexible tubing; and control means for issuing said control signals to cause said actuator means to operate in such fashion that, while the system is administering IV solution, the time interval between drops is altered when the volume of the measured drops is within said predetermined range and the volume of said drops is altered when the volume of the measured drops is outside of said predetermined range.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The flow monitor of claim 1, further comprising: means for issuing a drop volume signal indicative of the volume of a drop passing through said plane of light; and means for compensating said drop volume signal for errors introduced by electronic and mechanical operation of said intravenous administration system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The flow monitor of claim 1, further comprising: light sensitive means within said housing for sensing the passage of drops of IV solution through said chamber; and means for disrupting the flow of drops through said chamber upon the introduction of ambient light into said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The flow monitor of claim 3, further comprising a flexible tubing the cross section of which may be altered, said tubing having one end in fluid communication with said sensing chamber and the other end adapted to be connected in fluid communication with a source of fluid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The flow monitor of claim 8, further comprising anvil means touching an extericr portion of said tubing; and movable plunger means positioned opposite sand anvil means with said tubing being interposed therebetween, said plunger being operable to move toward and away from said anvil to alter the cross section of said tubing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The flow monitor of claim 9, further comprising stepper motor means for causing said plunger to move in a desired direction in predetermined increments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The flow monitor of claim 8, further comprising means for receiving said signal; means for evaluating said signal to determine the precise volume of the drop as it passes through said parallel light array; and control means responding to said signal for altering the cross section of said tubing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The gravity intravenous administration system of claim 11, wherein said control means alters the interval between drops.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The gravity intravenous administration system of claim 11, wherein said control means maintains the time interval between drops constant while altering the volume of the individual drops.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
110 words
An intravenous administration system comprising: the flow monitor of claim 1; sensing means for sensing the passage of drops of fluid in the form of IV solution through said chamber; a flexible tubing having one end in fluid communication with said chamber and the other end adapted to be connected in fluid communication with a source of IV solution; actuator means responsive to control signals for constricting and opening the hollow interior of said flexible tubing; and control means for issuing said control signals to cause said actuator means to operate in . such fashion that, while the system is administrating IV solution, said hollow interior is never completely constricted.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 14, further comprising means in fluid communication with said drip chamber for introducing said IV solution into the body of a user.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 15, further comprising detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the flow of IV solution through said system and for issuing a signal indicative of that abnormality, said control means being responsive to said signal issued by said detecting means for causing said actuator to constrict said flexible tubing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 16, wherein said abnormality is air in said system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein, prior to the passage of drops through said sensing chamber, a first control signal issued by said control means causes said actuator means to completely constrict said flexible tubing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a second control signal issued by said control means causes said actuator means to release the constriction of said flexible tubing in predetermined amounts until a drop is detected by said sensing means,
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein further control signals are issued by said control means for causing said actuator means to constrict and open the hollow interior of said flexible tubing to produce drops of varying sizes within said chamber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein further control signals are issued by said control means for causing said actutor means to constrict and open the hollow interior of said flexible tubing to produce drops at varying time intervals within said chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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