Device for use in detecting occlusion in an infusion system

• US 4,244,365 A
• Filed: 03/26/1979
• Issued: 01/13/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cutter Laboratories, Inc. (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Cutter Laboratories, Inc. (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: McGill, Lee E., Watkins, Susan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kruter, J. L.
• Application Number:
  US06/023,927
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 128/214 E, 128/DIG. 13, 340/616, 340/626, 340/611, 340/619, 73/749
• US Class Current: 604/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure

Abstract

An overpressure device is disclosed for use in a liquid infusion set for the purpose of detecting excessive pressures which may occur during infusion. The device comprises a tubular member with an inlet and an outlet, a closed pressure chamber and a bridging portion containing a small bore passage which connects the pressure chamber with the tubular member. In a preferred form, the interconnecting passage takes a tortuous path. An optical sensor positioned on the pressure chamber will detect the presence of liquid at a predetermined position in the chamber, when the liquid rises as a result of excessive pressure in the set, and respond by stopping the flow of liquid in the set.

Claims

1. In an infusion set for administering parenteral solutions, the set having flexible tubing with means for connecting to a supply of parenteral solution at one end and to an infusion needle at the other end, an intermediate portion of the tubing to which pumping means can be associated for driving the solution through the set, the set having an overpressure device connected to the tubing at a point between the pumping means and the infusion needle, the improvement in the overpressure device which comprises a tubular member with an upper portion and a lower portion having an inlet at its upper portion and an outlet at its lower portion with the inlet and the outlet being connected with the tubing at the point between the pumping means and the infusion needle, the over-pressure device including a pressure chamber generally vertically inclined, closed at its upper end and joined at its lower end to an intermediate position on the tubular member by a transverse bridging portion which contains an interconnecting passage whose bore is substantially smaller than bores of either the pressure chamber or the tubular member, whereby in an overpressure condition a portion of the solution will be forced through the interconnecting passage and rise into the pressure chamber to a point where transmitted light from an optical sensor positioned at the pressure chamber is deflected by the meniscus of the solution, interrupting the light being sensed by a receiver of the optical sensor and communicating the interruption to the pumping means to cause inactivation of the pumping means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the bore of the interconnecting passage takes a tortuous path.

4. The device of claim 1 further including engagement means for positioning the device to device retaining means associated with the pumping means.

3. The device of claim 3 wherein the bridging portion further contains a small reservoir which communicates with the interconnecting passage.

5. In an infusion set for administering parenteral solutions, the set having flexible tubing with means for connecting to a supply of parenteral solution at one end and to an infusion needle at the other end, an intermediate portion of the tubing to which pumping means can be associated for driving the solution through the set, the set having an overpressure device connected to the tubing at a point between the pumping means and the infusion needle, the improvement in the overpressure device which comprises a tubular member with an upper portion and a lower portion having an inlet at its upper portion and an outlet at its lower portion with the inlet and the outlet being connected with the tubing at the point between the pumping means and the infusion needle, the overpressure device including a pressure chamber generally vertically inclined, closed at its upper end and joined at its lower end to an intermediate position on the tubular member by a transverse bridging portion which contains an interconnecting passage whose bore is substantially smaller than bores of either the pressure chamber or the tubular member, the inter-connecting passage taking a tortuous path and with the bridging portion further containing a small reservoir which communicates with the interconnecting passage, whereby in an overpressure condition a portion of the solution will be forced through the interconnecting passage and rise into the pressure chamber to a point where transmitted light from an optical sensor positioned at the pressure chamber is deflected by the meniscus of the solution, interrupting the light being sensed by a receiver of the optical sensor and communicating the interruption to the pumping means to cause inactivation of the pumping means.