Apparatus for controlling the flow of intravenous fluid to a patient

• US 4,300,552 A
• Filed: 04/04/1980
• Issued: 11/17/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALARIS Medical Systems, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: IMED Corp (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Cannon, Raymond E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Artis, Henry K.
• Application Number:
  US06/137,557
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 128/214 R, 128/214 E, 128/214 F, 128/214 C, 251/4, 137/513.5, 138/43.4, 138/43, 138/45, 138/46
• US Class Current: 604/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1689 Drip counters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7848 Permits flow at valve interface

Abstract

Apparatus is included in a system for controlling the flow of intravenous fluid from a source to a patient. Such apparatus is manually adjustable to vary the rate of such fluid flow. Desired rates of fluid flow may also be set in such system when the apparatus is included in the system. The system then overrides any previous manual adjustment of such apparatus and adjusts the rate of fluid flow in accordance with any such setting. When a desired rate of fluid flow has been preset into the system, the system then operates to adjust the rate of fluid flow in an instantaneous basis so that the desired rate of fluid flow maintained.

The apparatus is removably disposed in the system for controlling the flow of fluid to the patient. Even after the adjustment by the system of the rate of fluid flow in accordance with any setting, the apparatus may be removed from the system to provide a rate of fluid flow in accordance with the manual adjustment of the apparatus.

A plug member in the apparatus defines a passage communicating at a first position with an inlet line and, at a displaced position in a particular direction, with an outlet line. A resilient member such as a diaphragm may be disposed in the particular direction in the passage and may be displaced in a transverse direction from the inlet and outlet lines. A rod constrains the diaphragm in the transverse direction.

Claims

1. In combination for controlling the rate of flow of fluid to a patient,

means for providing for a source of fluid,

means defining an inlet line from the souce and an outlet line to the patient,

means disposed between the inlet line and the outlet line for defining a passage communicating with the inlet and outlet lines,

resilient means defining a particular periphery of, and communicating with, the inlet and outlet lines for controlling the size of the passage in accordance with the positioning of the resilient means, and

a button disposed in the channel between the inlet line and the outlet line,

means adjustably positioned and coupled to the resilient means for varying the positioning of the resilient means in the passage in accordance with such adjustable positioning, to control the rate at which fluid flows through the inlet line to the outlet line,

one of the resilient means, the button and the coupling means being provided with a channel to control the rate at which the fluid flows through the passage between the inlet and outlet lines in accordance with the variations in the positioning of the resilient means.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the resilient means constitutes a diaphragm defining the particular periphery and the diaphragm is pressed into the passage by the adjustably positioned means to control the size of the passage in accordance with such pressure.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein

the adjustably positioned means are manually adjustable and

means are included in the adjustably positioned means for adjustably setting the flow of fluid to any value desired and

means are responsive to the adjustable setting of the desired flow of fluid for adjusting the positioning of the adjustably positioned means in accordance with such setting.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein

the adjustably positioned means constrains the diaphragm into the passage in accordance with the adjustments in the position of the adjustably positioned means and the channel is disposed in the button.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein the button is provided with a channel in at least one position and wherein the diaphragm is positioned to be constrained into the channel in accordance with the positioning of the adjustably positioned means to facilitate the flow of fluid through the passage and the inlet and outlet lines at the controlled rate.

6. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein the button is provided with at least a pair of channels and the channels are provided with different sizes to become closed at progressive times as the diaphragm is progressively constrained and to become opened in a reverse relationship at progressive times as the constraint on the diaphragm is progressively released.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein the button extends laterally across the passage and provides a barrier against the flow of fluid and wherein a plurality of channels are provided at laterally spaced positions in the button.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein each of the channels has a different cross-sectional area than the other channels.

9. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein the channel is disposed in the diaphragm.

10. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein the channel is disposed in the coupling means.

35. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein

the means defining the inlet and outlet lines and the passage and the adjustably positioned means are disposed in a cassette and the cassette includes the passage for receiving fluid from the inlet line and passing fluid to the outlet line and the error signal means includes transducer means for sensing the rate of flow of fluid through the passage.

39. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the means defining the inlet and outlet lines and the passage and the adjustably positioned means are disposed in a cassette and the cassette includes the passage for receiving fluid from the inlet line and passing fluid to the outlet line and the error signal means include transducer means for sensing the rate of flow of fluid through the passage.

40. The combination set forth in claim 39 wherein

resilient means are disposed in the cassette to define the passage and wherein the adjustably positioned member constrains the resilient means to control the size of the passage and wherein means are responsive to the signals from the transducer means for adjusting the constraint of the adjustably positioned means against the resilient means.

41. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein the channel in the button is substantially V-shaped.

11. In combination for controlling the rate of flow of intravenous fluid to a patient,

first means defining an inlet line,

second means spaced from the first means and defining an outlet line,

the first and second means being spaced by a cavity, and

third means disposed in the cavity and defining a sealed passage of adjustable volume for the flow of fluid from the first means into the second means, the first means and the second means being disposed on the same side of the passage defined by the third means,

the third means including resilient means disposed in the cavity for controlling the flow of fluid through the passage in accordance with the constraint of the resilient means and further including adjustable means disposed against the resilient means to control the flow of fluid through the passage,

a button disposed in the passage to block the flow of fluid through the passage between the inlet and outlet lines, and

at least one channel in the button to cooperate with the diaphragm in providing a controlled flow of fluid between the inlet and outlet lines.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein

the resilient means includes a resilient diaphragm sealing the passage along a particular periphery and the adjustably positioned means includes a pusher rod disposed against the diaphragm at a position within the area encompassed by the button and further includes a knob pressing the pusher rod against the diaphragm and rotatable to adjust the force exerted by the pusher rod against the diaphragm.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein

the button is disposed laterally across the passage at a position between the inlet and outlet lines and a plurality of channels are disposed at laterally spaced positions along the button and each of the channels is provided with an individual cross-sectional configuration.

14. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein

the channels are provided at the outer configuration of the button and each of the channels is provided with a different cross-sectional area than the other channels in the plurality and the diaphragm is movable into the channels to close sequentially the channels of progressively increasing cross-sectional area.

15. The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein

the button is provided with a looped configuration and is disposed around one of the inlet and outlet lines.

16. The combination set forth in claim 15 wherein

the channel is disposed in the button at a position between the inlet and outlet lines.

42. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein the channel is substantially V-shaped.

17. In combination for controlling the rate of flow of intravenous fluid to a patient,

a cassette,

means defining a passage in the cassette for the flow of fluid,

resilient means defining in the cassette a particular boundary of the passage for controlling the size of the passage in accordance with variations in force exerted against the resilient means,

means disposed in the cassette and defining an inlet to the passage and an outlet from the passage,

manually operable control means extending through the cassette from a position outside of the cassette into direct engagement with the resilient means for producing an adjustable force against the resilient means in a direction to limit the size of the passage in accordance with such manual operation,

a housing constructed to support the cassette,

means disposed on the housing and settable to any desired rate of fluid flow, and

means disposed in the housing and operatively coupled to the control means and to the settable means and responsive to any setting of the settable means for overriding any manual positioning of the control means to position the control means in accordance with such setting.

18. The combination set forth in claim 17 wherein

the manually adjustable means include a plug member and a know threadedly disposed on the plug member and the settable means and the overriding means are disposed in a system for providing a controlled flow of drops of the intravenous fluid to the patient at a rate dependent upon the setting of the settable means and wherein the cassette is removable from the housing to provide for the flow of fluid through the passage in accordance with the manual adjustment of the control means.

19. The combination set forth in claim 18 wherein

the resilient means are constructed to be constrained in a direction transverse to the direction of fluid flow to limit the size of the passage and wherein the passage is defined by a button blocking the passage of the fluid between the inelt and outlet lines and the button is provided with at least one channel to provide for a controlled flow of fluid.

20. The combination set forth in claim 18 wherein

the channel in the button is substantially V-shaped and the overriding means include a drive member disposed to become coupled to the control means and the control means are constructed to be driven by the drive member and the overriding means further include a motor for driving the drive member and means for controlling the operation of the motor to obtain a drive of the drive member to a position dependent upon the setting of the settable means.

21. The combination set forth in claim 20 wherein

the button extends laterally across the passage at a position between the inlet and outlet lines and a plurality of channels are provided in the button at spaced positions laterally along the button and each of the channels has an individual cross-sectional area.

22. In combination for controlling the flow of fluid from a source to a patient,

a housing,

an inlet line in the housing,

an outlet line in the housing,

a cavity in the housing in communication with the inlet and outlet lines,

a resilient diaphragm disposed in the cavity to define a particular boundary of a passage extending between the inlet and outlet lines,

means extending into the cavity from a position external to the housing and coupled to the diaphragm to constrain the diaphragm in accordance with the operation of the coupling means,

a button disposed between the inlet and outlet lines and blocking the passage against the flow of fluid between the inlet line and the outlet line, and

means operably associated with a particular one of the button, the diaphragm and the coupling means and cooperating with at least another one of the button, the diaphragm and the coupling means to define a channel for a controlled flow of fluid through the inlet line, the passage and the outlet line.

23. The combination set forth in claim 22 wherein

the channel is disposed in the button and wherein the coupling means constitutes a rod disposd against the diaphragm and adjustably positioned to constrain the diaphragm for controlling the size of the package.

24. The combination set forth in claim 23 wherein

the button is disposed laterally across the passage and is provided with dimensions to block the flow of fluid through the passage and a plurality of chanels are provided at spaced positions laterally along the button.

25. The combination set forth in claim 24 wherein each of the channels is dimensioned to pass a different amount of fluid than the other channels and the diaphragm is progressively constrained to close sequentially the channels passing progressive amounts of fluid.

26. The combination set forth in claim 23 wherein

the button is disposed in a closed loop around one of the inlet and outlet lines and the channel is provided in the bottom at a position between the inlet and outlet lines.

27. The combination set forth in claim 22 wherein

the channel is disposed in the diaphragm at a position facing the button.

28. The combination set forth in claim 22 wherein

the coupling means constitutes a rod disposed against the diaphragm and the channel is disposed in the rod at a position facing the diaphragm.

29. The combination set forth in claim 23 wherein

a plurality of channels are provided in the button and the inlet line extends through the button and the channels have the relative configuration of spokes extending from spaced positions around the periphery of the button to one of the inlet and outlet lines and wherein the other one of the inlet and outlet lines is disposd outwardly in the passage from the button.

30. The combination set forth in claim 23 wherein

a plurality of channels are provided in the button and the inlet line extends through the button and the channels have the relative configuration of spokes extending from spaced positions around the periphery of the button to the inlet line and wherein the outlet line is disposed outwardly in the passage from the button.

31. The combination set forth in claim 23 wherein

the button has a recessed portion and the channel is disposed in the recessed portion of the button and the inlet and outlet lines are disposed outwardly from the button.

32. In combination for controlling the flow of fluid from a source to a patient,

means providing settings of desired rates of fluid flow,

means for providing for the flow of the fluid from the source to the patient,

means for sensing the rate at which the fluid flows from the source to the patient,

means responsive to the settings of the desired rate of fluid flow and to the sensings of the actual rate of flow fluid for producing error signals having characteristics representing any differences in the desired and actual rates,

means including an adjustably positioned member for controlling the rate of flow of the fluid through the control means in accordance with the adjustable positioning of the member,

means for removably receiving the control means, and

means responsive to the error signal, with the control means disposed in the receiving means, for adjusting the positioning of the member to minimize the error signal.

33. The combination set forth in claim 32 wherein

the control means includes a drive member for engaging the adjustably positioned member to adjust the position of the adjustably positioned member and further includes a motor responsive to the error signal for driving the drive member in a direction to minimize the error signal.

34. The combination set forth in claim 33 wherein

the control means defines a passage for the flow of fluid and a resilient member is disposed in the passage for controlling the size of the passage in accordance with the constraint of the resilient member and the adjustably positioned means adjustably constrains the resilient member in the passage in accordance with adjustments in its positioning.

43. The combination set forth in claim 32 wherein

the adjustably positioned member is manually adjustable to control the rate of fluid flow and wherein the positioning means overrides the manual adjustment of the adjustably positioned means to adjust the positioning of the member to minimize the error signal.

36. In combination for controlling the flow of fluid from a source to a patient,

means providing settings of desired rates of fluid flow,

means for providing for the flow of the fluid from the source to the patient,

means for sensing the rate at which the fluid flows from the source to the patient ,

means responsive to the settings of the desired rate of fluid flow and to the sensings of the actual rate of fluid flow for producing error signals having characteristics representing any differences in the desired and actual rates,

housing means,

the flow means including a cassette removably disposed in the housing means for controlling the flow of fluid from the source,

means including an adjustably positioned member included in the cassette for controlling the rate of flow of the fluid through the control means and the cassette in accordance with the adjustable positioning of the member, and

means responsive to the error signal for adjusting the positioning of the adjustably positioned member in a direction to minimize the error signal.

37. The combination set forth in claim 36 wherein

the control means includes a plug member defining a passage and further includes resilient means disposed in the passage to control the size of the passaage in accordance with the constraint of the resilient means and operatively coupled to the adjustably positioned member to become constrained in accordance with adjustments in the positioning of the member.

38. The combination set forth in claim 37 wherein the adjusting means includes a drive member coupled to the adjustably positioned means and further includes a motor operatively coupled to the drive member and responsive to the error signal for driving the drive member in a direction to minimize the error signal.

44. In combination for controlling the rate of flow of fluid to a patient,

means for providing for a source of fluid,

means defining an inlet line from the source and an outlet line to the patient,

means disposed between the inlet line and the outlet line for defining a passage communicating with the inlet and outlet lines,

a button disposed in the passage in blocking relationship to the flow of fluid through the passage between the inlet and outlet lines,

there being at least one channel in the external surface of the button,

resilient means disposed in the passage at a position facing the button for controlling the size of the passage in accordance with the positioning of the resilient means in the passage relative to the button, and

adjustably positioned means disposed in coupled relationship to the resilient means for constraining the resilient means to control the size of the passage in accordance with adjustments in the positioning of the adjustably positioned means.

45. The combination set forth in claim 44 wherein

the inlet and outlet lines are disposed on the same side of the passage and the resilient means faces the inlet and outlet lines.

46. The combination set forth in claim 45 wherein

the channel is substantially V-shaped and the resilient means constitutes a diaphragm adjustably disposed in the V-shaped channel in accordance with constraints imposed upon the diaphragm.

47. The combination set forth in claim 46 wherein

the fluid means, the inlet line, the outlet line, the passage, the button and the resilient means are disposed in a cassette and the adjustably positioned means extends from the cassette for manual adjustment.

48. In combination for controlling the flow of fluid from a source to a patient,

a housing,

an inlet line in the housing,

an outlet line in the housing,

a cavity in the housing in communication with the inlet and outlet lines,

a resilient diaphragm disposed in the cavity to define a particular boundary of a passage extending between the inlet and outlet lines,

means extending into the cavity from a position external to the housing and coupled to the diaphragm to constrain the diaphragm in accordance with the operation of the coupling means, and

a plurality of means disposed in the passage and cooperative with the diaphragm for controlling the flow of fluid through the passage between the inlet and outlet lines in accordance with the constraint of the diaphragm,

each of the means in the plurality being provided with parameters relative to the other means in the plurality to inhibit the flow of fluid through the passage with a different constraint of the diaphragm relative to the diaphragm constraint inhibiting the flow of fluid through the passage as a result of the operation of the other means in the plurality.

49. The combination set forth in claim 48 wherein

the different means in the plurality are disposed at individual positions in the passage.

50. The combination set forth in claim 49 wherein

the coupling means constitutes a rod extending into the housing from a position external to the housing and abutting the diaphragm to constrain the diaphragm in accordance with the movements of the rod.

51. The combination set forth in claim 50 wherein

each of the means in the plurality defines a channel providing a communication through the passage between the inlet and outlet lines and wherein the diaphragm is positioned to close each of the channels in accordance with the constraint on the diaphragm.

52. The combination set forth in claim 51 wherein

each of the channels in the plurality has an area different from the areas of the other channels in the plurality to provide for the closing of the different channels in accordance with progressive constraints of the diaphragm.