Variable infusion control device

• US 3,877,428 A
• Filed: 04/30/1973
• Issued: 04/15/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles E. Seagle, Gordon S. Reynolds, James L. Sorenson, Karl A. Pannier Jr
• Original Assignee: Charles E. Seagle, Gordon S. Reynolds, James L. Sorenson, Karl A. Pannier Jr
• Inventors: Seagle, Charles E., Reynolds, Gordon S., Pannier, Karl A. Jr., Sorenson, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/355,841
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 128/214R,214C,214.2,227,274 251/205,208,125 138/42,43,46
• US Class Current: 604/248
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16877 Adjusting flow; Devices for setting a flow rate

Abstract

A novel infusion control device for selectively controlling the rate of administration of fluids parenterally to a patient. The control device provides attachment fittings which allow it to be placed at any point along a supply tube between a reservoir and the patient. A rotatable metering plate defines a capillary flow path between the input and output ports of the control device. The metering plate is axially rotatable with respect to the input and output ports to vary the effective length of the flow path so as to regulate the flow rate essentially uniformly between full flow and zero flow conditions.

Claims

1. A variable infusion device for administering liquids parenterally to a patient comprising:

a fluid receiving means;

a fluid delivering means nonrotatably joined to the fluid receiving means; and

metering means interposed between the fluid receiving means and the fluid delivering means and comprising a single metering plate the periphery of which is exposed and hand rotatable about an axis, a capillary formed in at least one face of the metering plate, the capillary comprising;

at least two grooves of uniform cross-sectional area;

each groove being formed along an arc of constant radius, the arc traversing less than 360* about the axis; and

means providing fluid communication between the grooves;

rotation of the metering plates altering the effective length of the capillary by a distance greater than the arcuate displacement of the metering plate.

2. A varaible infusion device for administering fluids parenterally to a patient comprising:

a fluid receiving means;

a fluid delivering means nonrotatably joined to the fluid receiving means;

at least first and second capillaries formed as coplanar grooves, such having a uniform cross-sectional area and lying in a plane transverse to the axis of the fluid receving means and the fluid delivering means, the first capillary having a first constant radius about an axis and defining an arc, the first capillary being in fluid communication with the fluid receiving means, the second capillary having a second constant radius about the axis and defining an arc, the second capillary being in fluid Communication with the fluid delivering means; and

a fluid metering means comprising a channel transversely bridging the first and second capillaries to provide fluid communication therebetween, the channel being arcuately displaceable along the arc of the capillaries.