US4981467A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for the detection of air in fluid delivery systems
Assignee: Baxter International Inc
•
Filing: 1990-02-27
•
Granted: 1991-01-01
•
Expires: 2010-02-27
Abstract
Abstract An infusion device includes an infusion pump for delivering a liquid through an infusion conduit from a separate source of the liquid into a patient, a bubble detector for detecting the presence of an air bubble in the infusion conduit, and control circuitry responsive to the bubble detector for determining if the size of the air bubble is unacceptable. The control circuitry is configured to determine if during the time the air bubble is detected it advances a distance indicative of the unacceptable size, one embodiment counting the steps of a linear peristaltic infusion pump for that purpose.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald E. Bobo, Jr.
- 👤 Alan A. Figler
- 👤 Jeffrey L. Frank
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 21:48
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M31/00; A61M5/00; A61M5/36; A61M5/365
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
An infusion device, comprising: infusion pump means for delivering a liquid through an infusion conduit from a separate source of the liquid into a patient; bubble detector means for detecting the presence of an air bubble in the infusion conduit; and control means responsive to the bubble detector means for determining if the size of the air bubble is unacceptable; which control means is configured to determine if during the time the air bubble is detected it advances a distance indicative of the unacceptable size.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
An infusion device, comprising: infusion pump means for delivering a liquid through an infusion conduit from a separate source of the liquid into a patient; bubble detector means for detecting the presence of an air bubble in the infusion conduit; and control means responsive to the bubble detector means for determining if the size of the air bubble is unacceptable; which control means is configured to determine if during the time the air bubble is detected it advances a distance indicative of the unacceptable size.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An infusion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the control means is configured to monitor operation of the infusion pump in order to determine the distance the air bubble advances during the time it is detected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
An infusion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the infusion pump is a linear peristaltic infusion pump and the control means is configured to count the steps of the infusion pump as an indication of the distance the air bubble advances.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
An infusion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the control means includes microprocessor circuitry.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An infusion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the control means is configured to stop the infusion pump if the size of the air bubble is unacceptable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An infusion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the control means is configured to activate an alarm if the size of the air bubble is unacceptable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An infusion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the bubble detector means includes an ultrasonic bubble detector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An infusion device as recited in claim 7, wherein the ultrasonic bubble detector is a fixed-length bubble detector.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of detecting an air bubble of unacceptable size in an infusion conduit through which liquid is being delivered into a patient, the method comprising: providing an infusion device having an infusion pump for delivering the liquid through the infusion conduit and a bubble detector arranged to detect the presence of an air bubble in the infusion conduit; determining if during the time the air bubble is detected it advances a distance indicative of the unacceptable size.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of detecting an air bubble of unacceptable size in an infusion conduit through which liquid is being delivered into a patient, the method comprising: providing an infusion device having an infusion pump for delivering the liquid through the infusion conduit and a bubble detector arranged to detect the presence of an air bubble in the infusion conduit; determining if during the time the air bubble is detected it advances a distance indicative of the unacceptable size.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the step of determining if the air bubble advances a distance indicative of the unacceptable size includes monitoring infusion pump operation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the step of providing includes providing an infusion device having a linear peristaltic infusion pump and the step of determining if the air bubble advances a distance indicative of the unacceptable size includes counting the steps of the infusion pump.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4720636A
Cited
US4673927A
Cited
US4797655A
Cited
US4784643A
Cited
US4762518A
Cited
US4764166A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-31 | 1994-07-02 | 1995-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-31 | 1998-07-02 | 1999-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-31 | 2002-07-02 | 2003-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |