Alarm system for intravenous infusion procedure
First Claim
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1. An intravenous infusion arrangement comprising a container;
- a drop chamber, provided with a drip tube, fluid from said container being conducted by gravity flow into said drop chamber to produce a fluid pool therein and from the chamber through a pipe leading to a hollow needle; and
an alarm system to provide a warning signal when the fluid supply from the container approaches exhaustion, said system including;
a. a float disposed in said chamber which is caused to assume a position therein depending on the depth of said pool, the float having transverse dimensions which are smaller than those of the chamber interior to define a space therebetween which provides an uninterrupted flow passage to said pipe regardless of the position of the float, said chamber having a collapsible upper section and a rigid lower section,b. a permanent magnet sealed within said float,c. a magnetically-responsive proximity switch means attached to said chamber to produce a switching action only when the position of said float is indicative of the approach of fluid exhaustion, andd. an alarm circuit coupled to said switch means to produce a warning signal when said switching action occurs.
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Abstract
An alarm system operative in conjunction with a venocylsis set which includes a drop chamber coupled to the output of a fluid bottle. The alarm system is provided with a float disposed in the drop chamber and responsive to the level of fluid pool therein. A proximity switch sensitive to the float position is removably attached to the exterior of the drop chamber to produce a switching action when the fluid level falls below a predetermined value. An alarm circuit is coupled to the proximity switch to generate a warning signal when the switching action occurs.
67 Citations
6 Claims
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1. An intravenous infusion arrangement comprising a container;
- a drop chamber, provided with a drip tube, fluid from said container being conducted by gravity flow into said drop chamber to produce a fluid pool therein and from the chamber through a pipe leading to a hollow needle; and
an alarm system to provide a warning signal when the fluid supply from the container approaches exhaustion, said system including;a. a float disposed in said chamber which is caused to assume a position therein depending on the depth of said pool, the float having transverse dimensions which are smaller than those of the chamber interior to define a space therebetween which provides an uninterrupted flow passage to said pipe regardless of the position of the float, said chamber having a collapsible upper section and a rigid lower section, b. a permanent magnet sealed within said float, c. a magnetically-responsive proximity switch means attached to said chamber to produce a switching action only when the position of said float is indicative of the approach of fluid exhaustion, and d. an alarm circuit coupled to said switch means to produce a warning signal when said switching action occurs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- a drop chamber, provided with a drip tube, fluid from said container being conducted by gravity flow into said drop chamber to produce a fluid pool therein and from the chamber through a pipe leading to a hollow needle; and
Specification