Method and apparatus for controlling the dispensing of fluid
First Claim
1. Apparatus for controlling the intravenous adimistration of fluid to a patient, comprising:
- (a) conduit means for delivering fluid at a hydrostatic pressure from a source of fluid, the source of fluid having a supply of predetermined increments of fluid;
(b) metering means for receiving a predetermined increment of fluid from the conduit means and for emptying the predetermined increment of fluid without adding substantial pressure to the hydrostatic pressure, the metering means having a metering chamber with movable means in the metering chamber for varying the size of the metering chamber so that the metering means is operable in receiving and emptying the increments of fluid without air passing through the metering chamber; and
(c) control means for actuating the metering means between a first condition for receiving one predetermined increment of fluid and a second condition for emptying the one predetermined increment of fluid, said control means being separate from the metering means and operating without contacting the fluid, said control means providing a first time interval for the metering means in its first condition receiving fluid at the hydrostatic pressure to fill the metering means with the predetermined increment of fluid and providing a second time interval for the metering means in its second condition to allow administration of the predetermined increment of fluid from the metering means for having a desired dose of fluid administered to the patient at a predetermined rate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is disclosed for controlling the dispensing of fluid from a source at a hydrostatic pressure involving the sequential measuring and dispensing of predetermined volumetric increments of fluid from the source of fluid during different ones of a series of time intervals. Apparatus is also provided for controlling the dispensing of fluid, including metering means for receiving a predetermined increment of fluid and for emptying the predetermined increment of fluid, conduit means for delivering fluid from a source of fluid to the metering means, and control means for actuating the metering means between a condition for receiving one predetermined increment of fluid and a condition for emptying the predetermined increment of fluid.
112 Citations
62 Claims
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1. Apparatus for controlling the intravenous adimistration of fluid to a patient, comprising:
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(a) conduit means for delivering fluid at a hydrostatic pressure from a source of fluid, the source of fluid having a supply of predetermined increments of fluid; (b) metering means for receiving a predetermined increment of fluid from the conduit means and for emptying the predetermined increment of fluid without adding substantial pressure to the hydrostatic pressure, the metering means having a metering chamber with movable means in the metering chamber for varying the size of the metering chamber so that the metering means is operable in receiving and emptying the increments of fluid without air passing through the metering chamber; and (c) control means for actuating the metering means between a first condition for receiving one predetermined increment of fluid and a second condition for emptying the one predetermined increment of fluid, said control means being separate from the metering means and operating without contacting the fluid, said control means providing a first time interval for the metering means in its first condition receiving fluid at the hydrostatic pressure to fill the metering means with the predetermined increment of fluid and providing a second time interval for the metering means in its second condition to allow administration of the predetermined increment of fluid from the metering means for having a desired dose of fluid administered to the patient at a predetermined rate. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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2. Apparatus for controlling the intravenous administration of fluid to a patient, comprising:
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(a) conduit means for delivering fluid at a hydrostatic pressure from a source of fluid, the source of fluid having a supply of predetermined increments of fluid; (b) metering means for receiving a predetermined increment of fluid from the conduit means and for emptying the predetermined increment of fluid without adding substantial pressure to the hydrostatic pressure, the metering means having a metering chamber with movable means in the metering chamber for varying the size of the metering chamber so that the metering means is operable in receiving and emptying the increments of fluid without air passing through the metering chamber; and (c) control means for actuating the metering means between a first condition for receiving one predetermined increment of fluid and a second condition for emptying the one predetermined increment of fluid, said control means being separate from the metering means and operating without contacting the fluid, said control means repetitively activating the metering means between the first and second conditions for having a dose of fluid from the source of fluid administered to the patient at a predetermined rate of administration.
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33. Apparatus for controlling the intravenous administration of fluid to a patient from a source of fluid having a supply of predetermined increments of fluid comprising:
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a reservoir chamber adapted to receive a portion of fluid from the source at a first hydrostatic pressure and to hold the fluid at a second hydrostatic pressure; a metering unit having a metering chamber for receiving a predetermined increment of fluid from the reservoir chamber and for emptying the predetermined increment of fluid without adding substantial pressure to the second hydrostatic pressure, the metering unit having movable means in the metering chamber for varying the size of the metering chamber so that the metering means is operative in receiving and emptying the increments of fluid without air passing through the metering chamber; inlet means connected between the reservoir chamber and the metering chamber; outlet means connected to the metering chamber for emptying fluid; and a control unit for actuating the metering unit between a condition for the metering chamber to receive one predetermined increment of fluid and a condition for the metering chamber to empty the one predetermined increment of fluid;
the metering unit being operable such that, when the first hydrostatic pressure of fluid in the source decreases below a predetermined level as fluid is drained from the source, the second hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the reservoir chamber is only sufficient to have the metering chamber receive a portion of a predetermined increment of fluid from the reservoir chamber. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method of controlling the dispensing of a desired dose of fluid from a source of fluid providing a hydrostatic pressure for intravenous administration during a determined time period, which comprises the steps of:
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(a) determining the size of each of a number of predetermined volumetric increments of fluid to be dispensed; (b) determining desired time intervals for dispensing of each predetermined volumetric increment so that the number of volumetric increments required to comprise the desired dosage can be dispensed in the determined time period; (c) sequentially filling and draining a metering chamber having movable means in the metering chamber for varying the fluid capacity of the metering chamber in response to fluid being received and drained from the metering chamber without air passing through the metering chamber, the metering chamber being filled and drained with each one of the predetermined volumetric increments of fluid without adding substantial pressure to the hydrostatic pressure during different ones of the time intervals until the desired dosage has been dispensed; and (d) controlling the filling and draining of the metering chamber by a control unit separate from the metering chamber and out of contact with the fluid passing through the metering chamber.
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50. A method of controlling the rate of dispensing of a desired dose of a fluid from a source of fluid providing a hydrostatic pressure for intravenous administration during a predetermined time period, which comprises the steps of:
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(a) providing a receptacle of predetermined volume having movable means in the receptacle for varying fluid capacity of the receptacle in response to fluid received from the source of fluid in a predetermined increment determined by the receptacle corresponding to the predetermined volume, the fluid being filled and drained from the receptacle without adding substantial pressure to the hydrostatic pressure and without air passing through the receptacle; (b) providing desired time intervals for dispensing of each of the predetermined volumetric increments from the receptacle; (c) sequentially filling and draining the receptable with each one of the predetermined volumetric increments from the source of fluid during different ones of the time intervals; and (d) controlling the filling and draining of the receptacle by a control unit separate from the receptacle and out of contact with the fluid passing through the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53)
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54. A method of controlling the dispensing of a desired dose of a fluid from a source of fluid providing a hydrostatic pressure for intravenous administration during a determined time period, which comprises the steps of:
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(a) measuring the fluid from the source into predetermined volumetric increments for dispensing the fluid; (b) providing sequentially first time intervals for measuring and second time intervals for dispensing of each one of the predetermined volumetric increments of fluid; (c) repetitively filling and draining a metering chamber having a fluid capacity of predetermined volumetric increments and having movable means in the metering chamber for varying the fluid capacity of the metering chamber in response to fluid being received and drained from the metering chamber without air passing through the metering chamber, the metering chamber being filled and drained with each of the ones of the predetermined volumetric increments of fluid without adding substantial pressure to the hydrostatic pressure during different ones of the first and second time intervals to administer the desired dose of fluid; and (d) controlling the filling and draining of the metering chamber by a control unit separate from the metering chamber and out of contact with the fluid passing through the metering chamber. - View Dependent Claims (55)
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56. Apparatus for controlling the intravenous administration of fluid to a patient, comprising:
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(a) conduit means for delivering fluid at a hydrostatic pressure from a source of fluid, the source of fluid having a supply of predetermined increments of fluid; (b) metering means for receiving a predetermined increment of fluid from the conduit means and for emptying the predetermined increment of fluid without adding substantial pressure to the hydrostatic pressure, the metering means having a metering chamber with movable means in the metering chamber for varying the size of the metering chamber so that the metering means is operable in receiving and emptying the increments of fluid without air passing through the metering chamber; and (c) control means for actuating the metering means between a first condition for receiving one predetermined increment of fluid and a second condition for emptying the one predetermined increment of fluid, said control means being separate from the metering means and operating without contacting the fluid, said control means repetitively activating the metering means between the first and second conditions for having a dose of fluid from the source of fluid administered to the patient at a predetermined rate of administration, the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the conduit means supplied to the metering means being sufficient to fill the metering means with the predetermined increment of fluid while the metering means is in the first condition. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59)
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60. Apparatus for controlling the intravenous administration of fluid to a patient, comprising:
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(a) conduit means for delivering fluid at a hydrostatic pressure from a source of fluid by gravity, the source of fluid having a supply of predetermined increments of fluid to provide a desired dose; and (b) metering means having a metering chamber for receiving a predetermined increment of fluid from the conduit means and for emptying the predetermined increment of fluid without adding substantial pressure to the hydrostatic pressure, the metering means having movable means in the metering chamber for varying the size of the metering chamber so that the metering means is operable in receiving and emptying the increments of fluid without air passing through the metering chamber, the metering means being adapted to be positioned with respect to the source of fluid so that the metering chamber receives fluid at a sufficient pressure to fill the metering chamber during each receiving interval while the desired dose is being administered; and (c) control means for actuating the metering means between a first condition for receiving one predetermined increment of fluid and a second condition for emptying the one predetermined increment of fluid, said control means repetitively activating the metering means between the first and second conditions for having a dose of fluid from the source of fluid administered to the patient at a predetermined rate of administration.
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61. Apparatus for controlling the intravenous administration of fluid to a patient, comprising:
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(a) conduit means for delivering fluid at a hydrostatic pressure from a source of fluid, the source of fluid having a supply of predetermined increments of fluid; (b) metering means for receiving a predetermined increment of fluid from the conduit means and for emptying the predetermined increment of fluid without adding substantial pressure to the hydrostatic pressure, the metering means having a metering chamber with movable means in the metering chamber for varying the size of the metering chamber so that the metering means is operable in receiving and emptying the increments of fluid without air passing through the metering chamber; and (c) control means for actuating the metering means between a first condition for receiving one predetermined increment of fluid and a second condition for emptying the one predetermined increment of fluid, said control means being separate from the metering means and operating without contacting the fluid, said control means repetitively activating the metering means between the first and second conditions for having a dose of fluid from the source of fluid administered to the patient at a predetermined rate of administration, the metering means operating with the control means to empty the predetermined increment of fluid while the metering means is in the second condition. - View Dependent Claims (62)
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Specification