NONGRAVITATIONAL INFUSION ASSEMBLY

• US 3,595,232 A
• Filed: 08/19/1968
• Issued: 07/27/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leibinsohn Saul
• Original Assignee: Leibinsohn Saul
• Inventors: LEIBINSOHN SAUL
• Application Number:
  US04/753,405
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• US Class Current: 604/134
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/148 flexible, e.g. independent bagsA61M5/155 takes precedence

Abstract

A combined container and fluid dispensing assembly housing a compressible bag of fluid. A slidably mounted pressure bar under control of suitable biasing means is caused to bear against the compressible bag of fluid to provide a substantially constant pressure upon the bag, causing the fluid to be dispensed at a substantially constant pressure throughout the infusion operation. In the inactive state, the housing protects the compressible bag of fluid against any possible damage and further provides additional storage space for the infusion set. No observation or control need be exerted upon the device during an infusion operation in order to maintain fluid flow at a constant rate.

Claims

1. Means for urging fluid from the outlet port of a compressible container at a substantially constant pressure comprising:

a housing having a hollow interior for receiving said compressible container;

an elongated pressure bar;

a first elongated guideway provided along a first side of said housing for guiding a first end of said pressure bar along said first side;

an opening being provided in a second side of said housing located a spaced distance from said elongated guideway, said opening being adapted to receive the second end of said pressure bar;

biasing means coupled between the housing and the first end of said pressure bar for urging said pressure bar to move through the hollow interior of the housing and against said collapsible container;

the second end of said pressure bar being adapted to slide through said opening and be pivoted about said opening as the first end of said pressure bar is urged along said guideway by said biasing means;

said pressure bar first end including guide means for cooperating with said guideway for retaining said pressure bar within said guideway as the pressure bar is moved therealong.

2. The means of claim 1 wherein said container is a collapsible plastic bag containing a fluid to be dispensed, said bag being positioned with the region defined by said pressure bar and a wall of the housing lying between said guideway and said opening for undergoing compression by said pressure bar.

3. The means of claim 2 wherein said housing first side, said housing wall and said pressure bar form a triangular-shaped interior region for housing said compressible bag.

4. The means of claim 3 wherein said collapsible bag has a triangular configuration generally conforming to said triangular-shaped interior region enclosing said bag.

5. The means of claim 4 wherein said biasing means is a tensioned elastic member stretched between a point on said housing adjacent said opening and the first end of said pressure bar for urging the first end of said pressure bar in a first direction along said guideway.

6. The means of claim 5 wherein the housing first side and wall intersect to form a corner;

said elastic member extending around said corner;

said corner being notched;

a roller assembly being positioned within said notched corner so that said elastic member is entrained around the exposed curved periphery of said roller assembly for equalizing the tension along the length of the stretched elastic member.

7. The means of claim 5 wherein said housing first side and wall are joined to form a corner;

said elastic member extending around the outside of said corner;

said elastic member being contained within a hollow elongated sleeve at least one portion of which engages said corner to enable free sliding of said elastic member within said sleeve to equalize the tension along the length of said stretched elastic member.

8. The device of claim 4 wherein said biasing means is a tensioned elastic member stretched between a point on said housing adjacent said second opening and the first end of said pressuRe bar for urging the first end of said pressure bar downwardly along said guideway.

9. The means of claim 1 further comprising hook means secured to said housing for suspending said means from a suitable support.

10. The means of claim 1 wherein said biasing means is a tensioned elastic member stretched between a point on said housing adjacent said opening and the first end of said pressure bar for urging the first end of said pressure bar in a first direction along said guideway.

11. The means of claim 1 wherein said housing is provided with a pair of notches adjacent a first end of said guideway;

a pin being releaseably inserted within said notches and across the path of movement of said pressure bar first end for preventing movement of said pressure bar from said first end of said guideway to the opposite end thereof;

the removal of said pin enabling movement of said pressure bar in a first direction along said guideway.

12. A device for dispensing fluids at a substantially constant pressure comprising:

a hollow housing defined by a pair of flat spaced parallel face plates, each of said plates having a substantially triangular-shaped configuration truncated at the corners, said plates being joined along a first side by a continuous sideplate;

a flat bracing member located at a first one of the truncated corners opposite said sideplate for maintaining said face plates in spaced parallel alignment in conjunction with said continuous sideplate;

a first opening being provided in said housing and being defined by one edge of said bracing member and the interior surfaces of said face plates adjacent said bracing member;

a second opening being provided in the remaining truncated corners of the face plates and being defined by said face plates and said sideplate;

each of said face plates being provided with inwardly bent flanges directed towards one another along the sides of said face plates adjacent said first truncated corners forming an elongated guideway communicating with said first opening;

an elongated substantially rigid pressure bar having a first end extending through said first opening and a second end extending through said second opening;

said pressure bar being provided with a pair of notches near said first end forming a narrow neck portion;

said notches being adapted to be slidably received and guided by said flanges;

biasing means being stretched around the outer surfaces of said continuous sideplate and said flanges and having a first end coupled to said sideplate adjacent the said remaining truncated corners and a second end coupled to the first end of said pressure bar for urging said pressure bar along said guideway toward the corner formed by the juncture of said sideplate and said flanges;

a collapsible plastic bag containing a fluid and being adapted to assume a triangular shape generally conforming to the triangular shape of said face plates, said bag being positioned within the interior space defined by said housing and said pressure bar;

said bag having an outlet port located adjacent one end of said sideplate for emitting the fluid contained therein as said pressure bar is urged along said guideway by said biasing means.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the housing is provided with a notch in said corner at which said sideplate and said flanges are joined;

a roller assembly being positioned in said notch for slidably guiding said stretched biasing means around said notched corner for equalizing the tension along the length of the stretched biasing means.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein said housing is formed of a rigid plastic material;

a graduated scale being provided along the side of said housing adjacent said guideway for determining the amount of fluid dispensed by observing the scale reading closest to the position of the pressure bar first end.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said housing is formed of a transparent material.

16. The devicE of claim 14 wherein the plastic housing is transparent to facilitate observation of the scale reading and the pressure bar.

17. The device of claim 12 further comprising an infusion set for coupling the outlet port of the bag to an object to receive said fluid;

the interior region of the housing on the side of said pressure bar opposite said collapsible bag being provided for storing said infusion set.