Intravenous infusion regulation system with reciprocal metering means

• US 4,191,184 A
• Filed: 05/31/1978
• Issued: 03/04/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey A. Carlisle
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey A. Carlisle
• Inventors: Carlisle, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/911,280
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 128/214 R, 128/214 B, 128/214 E, 128/214 F, 128/214.2, 128/227, 128/DIG. 12, 128/DIG. 13, 27/24, 222/61, 222/249, 222/250, 73/239-240
• US Class Current: 604/153
• 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: Y10S 128/12 Pressure infusion

Abstract

An infusion regulation system for regulating, monitoring, and control of the intravenous infusion of fluids into an animate body. A delivery tube receives and diverges from a fluid supply inlet tube and converges to deliver fluid to an outlet tube to the cannula. A transverse, intermediately positioned volume control tube having a movable control member therein is ported to said divaricated delivery tube. Regulated valve members operate in diagonally paired tandem fashion to control and restrict the flow through the system in an alternating and traverse course. Means for monitoring instantaneous flow through the tubing network allow resistance/pressure changes to be noted and acted upon, either with clinical alarms or through servo mechanisms. Means for selectively increasing the infusate driving pressure allow servo controlled high pressure infusions as well as low pressure, gravity driven infusions.

Claims

1. An intravenous infusion system capable of regulating flow from an infusate fluid supply means through a disposable tubing supply network into animate bodies, most notably medical patients, comprising:

a reciprocal metering means allowing discrete, known quantities of said fluid to move at specific intervals through said disposable tubing supply network;

circuit means for regulating the frequency and number of said discrete fluid quantities passed into the patient;

means for selectively externally increasing the available driving pressure of said infusate;

means for monitoring fluid velocity during moments of infusion through said tubing means;

means for computing and displaying clinical status conditions based on said fluid velocity;

wherein said reciprocal metering means comprise;

a fluid volume control apparatus capable of receiving an inlet tube from an infusion supply means and an outlet tube connected to a cannula for infusion of fluids into animate bodies comprising;

a ported, divaricated delivery tube which receives and diverges into portions from said inlet tube and converges and receives said outlet tube;

a transverse volume control tube, ported at its ends, intermediately disposed between said diverging portions of said divaricated delivery tube, said diverging portions being ported therewith with said control tube having internal dimensions such that each infusion cycle will deliver less than 1.0 ml of infusate;

means associated with said diverging portions of said delivery tube for restricting and regulating fluid flow through said delivery tube being positioned such that said volume control tube port connections are interposed therebetween;

means for alternately operating said infusion flow regulation and restriction means in a diagonally paired tandem fashion;

a control member movably positioned in a substantially fluid tight relation within said control tube, and optical detection means positioned about each end of said control tube at the connection of said delivery tube portions for detection of said control member;

and wherein said means for monitoring fluid velocity during moments of infusion comprise;

electrical output means from said optical detectors which are measured by the controlling circuitry in relation to the initiation of each infusion cycle to determine the time taken for said control member to leave the presence of one said detector means and travel through said volume control tube into the presence of said detection means at the other end of said control tube;

and wherein said means for externally increasing the available driving pressure of said infusate fluid comprises;

a motor-driven eccentric means and an associated occluding means, such as a roller or peristaltic pump, for squeezing said inlet tube in a well-known time-space relationship, causing fluid to be propagated in a single direction through said tubing network;

an electromechanical switch to selectively activate and deactivate said motor-driven eccentric means and said associated occluding means;

and wherein said circuit means for regulating the frequency and number of said discrete fluid quantities delivered to the patient consists of a programmed microprocessor and associated interface and input/output circuit means;

and wherein said means for computing clinical status conditions provides distinct indications for infusion rate, volume infused, and abnormally slow flow through said volume tube.

2. The apparatus as recited in or claim 1 wherein said means for externally increasing the available driving pressure of said infusate fluid is modulated with a servo feedback mechanism based on said fluid velocities and said occluding means, to provide variable degrees of pressure assist.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the servo mechanism consists of a position controlled motor mechanically linked to said occluding means and controlled by said microprocessor circuit means, wherein said motor position is determined by a mathematical function of said fluid velocity and a preprogrammed constant value in the system, said function providing a stable feedback mechanism to minimize the level of infusion pressure necessary for a given infusion rate.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 further including a rechargeable battery power source for all circuitry, motors, indicators;

a digital keyboard data entry device; and

display indications for flow rate, volume infused, total volume to be infused, purge state, low battery charge, incorrect keyboard entry, volume limit alarm, slow flow alarm, pump assist indication, and for electronic self-test displays.