IV regulator with integral flushing mechanism

• US 20080091150A1
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian Lee Lipford, Christopher Klassen, Eric Schneider, Todd Murphy
• Original Assignee: Brian Lee Lipford, Christopher Klassen, Eric Schneider, Todd Murphy
• Inventors: Lipford, Brian Lee, Klassen, Christopher, Murphy, Todd, Schneider, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,976,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/250
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1403 Flushing or purging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/286 Wedge clamps, e.g. roller clamps with inclined guides
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16809 by repeated filling and emptying of an intermediate volume pressure infusion using positive displacement pumps A61M5/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line

Abstract

The present invention describes IV regulators that allow interruption of normal controlled-flow for a safe and convenient bolus flush, either for a specific period of time or for a specific volume of saline flush. Two time-controlled IV regulators are shown, one employing a pneumatic cylinder counter-opposed by elastic band(s) for administering a bolus flush, and one employing a compressible lever and torsion spring counter-opposed by a rotary damper. In both cases the mechanisms disengage the roller-clamp from the IV tube for a predetermined amount of time to fully open fluid flow there through for a bolus flush before return to the regulated-flow position. The volume-controlled flow regulator employs two internal bladders and allows one bladder to fill while the other bladder drains (and vice versa) by flipping a slider paddle-type toggle, thus enabling the administration of a set volume of flush fluid.

Claims

1. A flow regulator for IV tubing, comprising:

a housing having an IV tube running through it;

a roller-clamp seated in said housing and accessible to selectively adjust fluid flow through said IV tubing;

a manual actuator mounted to said housing for temporarily disengaging said roller-clamp from said IV tubing to administer a bolus flush.

2. The flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein said manual actuator administers a bolus flush for a predetermined period of time.

3. The flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein said manual actuator administers a pre-determined volume of bolus flush.

4. The flow regulator according to claim 2, wherein said manual actuator comprises a pneumatic cylinder.

5. The flow regulator according to claim 4, wherein said manual actuator comprises a pneumatic cylinder counter-opposed by a biasing mechanism.

6. The flow regulator according to claim 5, wherein said biasing mechanism comprises at least one elastic band.

7. The flow regulator according to claim 2, wherein said manual actuator comprises a torsion spring.

8. The flow regulator according to claim 6, wherein said manual actuator comprises a torsion spring counter-opposed by a biasing mechanism.

9. The flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein said manual actuator administers a bolus flush for a predetermined period of time.

10. The flow regulator according to claim 2, wherein said manual actuator comprises a compressible lever pivotally mounted on a pivot pin to said main housing, a torsion spring mounted on said pivot pin to bias said compressible lever toward a normally closed position engaging IV tubing between itself and said roller-clamp, thereby allowing adjustment of a flow rate through said IV tube, and a rotary damper in engagement with said compressible lever to oppose said torsion spring bias for a predetermined amount of time, thereby allowing said compressible lever to be pivoted to disengage said roller-clamp from said IV tube and fully open fluid flow there through for said predetermined time before return to said closed position for flushing said IV tube.

11. The flow regulator according to claim 2, wherein said manual actuator comprises a plunger slidably mounted in a chamber and under bias to a home position, a one way valve for allowing air into said chamber, a bleed outlet for allowing air to slowly escape said chamber, and at least one thumb tab for allowing a user to slide said plunger to a second position in which said chamber is filled with air.

12. A flow regulator for IV tubing, comprising:

a housing having an IV tube running through it;

a roller-clamp seated in said housing and accessible there from to selectively adjust fluid flow through said IV tubing; and

a manual actuator mounted to said housing for selectively disengaging said roller-clamp from said IV tubing to administer a bolus flush, said actuator further comprising a plunger slidably mounted in a chamber and maintained under bias toward a home position, a one way valve for allowing air into said chamber, a bleed outlet for allowing air to slowly escape said chamber, and at least one thumb tab for allowing a user to slide said plunger to a second position in which said chamber is filled with air.

13. A flow regulator for IV tubing, comprising:

an enclosed housing having an inlet at one end for a first IV tube and a second IV tube, and an outlet at another end for a third IV tube and a fourth IV tube;

a pair of expandable/collapsible bladders resident in said housing, a first bladder in fluid communication at one end with said first IV tube and at another end with said third IV tube, and the second bladder in fluid communication at one end with said second IV tube and at another end with said fourth IV tube; and

a slider paddle pivotally mounted to said housing and pivotable between a first position clamping off said first and fourth IV tubes and opening said second and third IV tubes to allow said first bladder to drain while said second bladder fills, and a second position clamping off said second and third IV tubes and opening said first and fourth IV tubes to allow said second bladder to drain while said first bladder fills.

14. A flow regulator for IV tubing, comprising:

a main housing section having an IV tube running through it;

a roller-clamp rotatably seated in said main housing section;

a compressible lever pivotally mounted to said main housing section at a pivot pin and extending there past to selectively engage said IV tubing;

a torsion spring mounted on said pivot pin to bias said compressible lever toward a normally closed position engaging said roller-clamp, thereby allowing adjustment of a flow rate through said IV tube; and

a rotary damper in engagement with said compressible lever to oppose said torsion spring bias for a predetermined amount of time, thereby allowing said compressible lever to be pivoted to disengage said roller-clamp from said IV tube and fully open fluid flow therethrough for said predetermined time before return to said closed position for flushing said IV tube.

15. A flow regulator for IV tubing, comprising:

an enclosed housing having an inlet at one end for a first IV tube and a second IV tube, and an outlet at another end for a third IV tube and a fourth IV tube;

a pair of expandable/collapsible bladders resident in said housing, a first bladder in fluid communication at one end with said first IV tube and at another end with said third IV tube, and the second bladder in fluid communication at one end with said second IV tube and at another end with said fourth IV tube; and

a slider paddle pivotally mounted to said housing and pivotable between a first position clamping off said first and fourth IV tubes and opening said second and third IV tubes to allow said first bladder to drain while said second bladder fills, and a second position clamping off said second and third IV tubes and opening said first and fourth IV tubes to allow said second bladder to drain while said first bladder fills.