Apparatus for providing a controlled flow of intravenous fluid to a patient

• US 4,391,599 A
• Filed: 06/16/1981
• Issued: 07/05/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALARIS Medical Systems, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: IMED Corp (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Jenkins, Jon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US06/274,154
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 128/214 R, 128/214 E, 128/214 F, 128/214.2, 128/230, 128/273, 128/DIG. 12, 128/DIG. 13, 417/38, 417/43, 417/63, 417/435, 604/118, 604/122, 604/126, 604/152
• US Class Current: 604/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure

Abstract

Apparatus provides a controlled flow of fluid at particular rates from a source to a patient at controlled pressures of low value. The apparatus includes an input line connected to the source. An output line extends to the patient and implementing means such as a pump implements the flow of fluid from the input line to the output line at a particular rate. The source is disposed a particular distance above the implementing means to produce a particular pressure of the fluid at the implementing means and to provide this particular pressure to the fluid flowing to the patient.

A bypass line is connected across the implementing means. Means in the bypass line, such as a chamber and a flexible diaphragm in the chamber, isolate the input side of the bypass line against the flow of fluid to the output side of the bypass line.

Hydrophilic membrane means may be provided between the bypass line and the implementing means to provide for a passage of fluid from the input line to the bypass line and to prevent a passage of air bubbles from the bypass line to the input line. Hydrophilic membrane means may also be provided between the output line and the bypass line for similar purposes.

Means may be disposed in the output side of the bypass line to sense the presence of liquid. Such sensing of liquid indicates a pressure of fluid in the output line greater than the pressure of the fluid in the input line at the position of the implementing means. This may result from an obstruction in the output line or an improper operation of the implementing means. When the sensing means becomes operative, the operation of the implementing means is discontinued and aural and/or visual alarms are energized.

Claims

1. In combination for introducing fluid to a patient,

flow lines for providing a flow of fluid on a gravitational basis, the flow lines including an input line and an output line,

implementing means having an input for receiving fluid from the input flow line and having an output for directing fluid into the output flow line and disposed between the input and output flow lines and constructed and operative to pump fluid through the input and output flow lines,

means disposed in a parallel relationship with the implementing means between the input and output lines and including means for establishing a fluid-isolated relationship between the input and the output of the implementing means and for alleviating the pressure in the output line,

means associated with the flow lines and operatively associated with the parallel means at the end of the parallel means communicating with output line for sensing an obstruction at a relatively low pressure in the output line in accordance with the pressure of the fluid in the output line, and

means responsive to the sensing means for discontinuing the operation of the implementing means when the sensing means senses an obstruction at a relatively low pressure in the output flow line.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein

a source of fluid is provided and the flow lines are disposed to receive the fluid from the source and to pass the fluid to the patient and are disposed relative to the source to provide a build-up in pressure from the source and the sensing means are disposed in the parallel means relative to the flow lines to sense when the pressure of the fluid flowing to the patient increases to a value above the built-up pressure in the flow lines and wherein the parallel means are disposed relative to the input and output lines to trap air in the input line and prevent such air from passing into the output line.

3. In combination for introducing fluid to a patient,

a source of fluid,

an input conduit extending from the source to a first position,

pump means connected to the input conduit at the first position to pump fluid through the input conduit at a controlled rate,

an output conduit extending from the pump means to a second position below the first position,

means disposed in parallel with the pump between the input and output conduits, such parallel means including means for establishing a fluid-isolated relationship between the input and output conduits and for alleviating the pressure in the output line, and

means operatively associated with the parallel means for detecting pressures of the fluid in the output conduit above the pressures produced in the fluid by the differences in height between the first and second positions to control the further operation of the pump means.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3, including,

means responsive to the detection of fluid pressures in the output conduit above the pressures of the fluid at the first position for interrupting the operation of the pump in introducing fluid to the output conduit,

the parallel means being constructed to entrap air in the input conduit and prevent such air from passing to the output conduit.

5. In combination for introducing fluid to a patient,

a source of fluid,

an input line extending from the source to a first position,

an output line extending downwardly for connection to the patient,

implementing means connected at the first position to the input and output lines to pump the fluid from the source to the patient at a particular rate,

bypass means disposed between the input and output lines and operative to entrap air in the input line and prevent such air from passing to the output line, and

the bypass means including means for providing a fluid-isolated relationship between the input and output lines and for alleviating the fluid pressure in the output line, and

sensing means operatively associated with the bypass means to detect the pressure of the fluid in the output line and to interrupt the operation of the implementing means when the pressure of the fluid has risen to a value dependent upon the difference in height between the first position and the position of connection of the output line to the patient.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5, including,

switching means having open and closed states and operatively associated with the sensing means to become opened when the sensing means senses a pressure of the fluid in the output line at the particular level, the switching means being connected in a circuit with the implementing means to discontinue the operation of the implementing means.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein the implementing means constitutes a pump.

8. In combination for introducing fluid to a patient,

a source of fluid,

an input line extending from the source and disposed below the source to provide a particular pressure of the fluid from the source in accordance with the vertical distance of the input line below the source,

an output line extending downwardly to the patient,

implementing means connected to the input and output lines to pump fluid from the source to the patient at a particular rate,

sensing means operatively associated with the output line to detect the pressure of the fluid in the output line and to interrupt the operation of the implementing means when the pressure of the fluid has risen to at least the particular pressure,

switching means having open and closed states and operatively associated with the sensing means to become opened when the sensing means senses a pressure of the fluid in the output line at the particular level, the switching means being connected in a circuit with the implementing means to discontinue the operation of the implementing means,

the implementing means constituting a pump,

a bypass line connected across the implementing means and communicating with the input and output lines,

resilient means disposed in the bypass line to isolate the input side of the bypass line against the flow of fluid to the output side of the bypass line and to alleviate the pressure of the fluid in the output line, and

the sensing means being disposed at a particular position at the output side of the bypass line to sense the presence of fluid at this particular position in the bypass line and to provide for the opening of the switching means upon such a fluid pressure.

16. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein

the implementing means is a pump and

the isolating means is a chamber and a diaphragm extending across the chamber.

9. In combination for introducing fluid from a source to a patient,

flow lines for providing a flow of fluid on a gravitational basis,

means disposed in the flow lines and operative to implement a flow of fluid through the flow lines,

means associated with the flow lines for sensing an obstruction in the flow lines or an improper operation of the implementing means in accordance with the pressure of the fluid in the flow lines, and

means responsive to the sensing means for discontinuing the operation of the implementing means when the sensing means senses an obstruction in the flow lines or an improper operation of the implementing means,

the flow lines being disposed to receive the fluid from the source and to pass the fluid to the patient and being disposed relative to the source to provide a build-up in pressure from the source and the sensing means being disposed relative to the flow lines to sense when the pressure of the fluid flowing to the patient increases to a value above the built-up pressure in the flow lines,

the flow lines and the implementing means being connected in a series relationship and a bypass line being connected in a parallel relationship with the implementing means and means being included in the bypass line to inhibit the flow of fluid through the bypass line and the sensing means being disposed to sense the pressure of the fluid in the bypass line,

hydrophilic membrane means being disposed between the flow lines and the bypass line to provide for a passage of liquid from the flow lines to the bypass line and to prevent a passage of air bubbles from the bypass line to the flow lines.

10. In combination for introducing fluid from a source to a patient,

flow lines for providing a flow of fluid on a gravitational basis,

means disposed in the flow lines and operative to implement a flow of fluid through the flow lines,

means associated with the flow lines for sensing an obstruction in the flow lines or an improper operation of the implementing means in accordance with the pressure of the fluid in the flow lines, and

means responsive to the sensing means for discontinuing the operation of the implementing means when the sensing means senses an obstruction in the flow lines or an improper operation of the implementing means,

the flow lines being disposed to receive the fluid from the source and to pass the fluid to the patient and being disposed relative to the source to provide a build-up in pressure from the source and the sensing means being disposed relative to the flow lines to sense when the pressure of the fluid flowing to the patient increases to a value above the built-up pressure in the flow lines, the flow lines and the implementing means being connected in a series relationship and a bypass line being connected in a parallel relationship with the implementing means and means being included in the bypass line to inhibit the flow of fluid through the bypass line and the sensing means being disposed to sense the pressure of the fluid in the bypass line,

first hydrophilic membrane means being disposed between the input conduit and the bypass line to provide for a passage of liquid from the input conduit to the bypass line and to prevent a passage of air bubbles from the bypass line to the input conduit, and

second hydrophilic membrane means being disposed between the output conduit and the bypass line to provide for a passage of liquid from the output conduit to the bypass line and to prevent a passage of air bubbles from the bypass line to the output conduit.

11. In combination for introducing fluid to a patient,

a source of fluid,

an input line extending from the source and disposed below the source to provide a particular pressure of the fluid from the source in accordance with the vertical distance of the input line below the source,

an output line extending downwardly to the patient,

implementing means connected to the input and output lines to implement the flow of fluid from the source to the patient at a particular rate,

sensing means operatively associated with the output line to detect the pressure of the fluid in the output line and to interrupt the operation of the implementing means when the pressure of the fluid has risen to at least the particular pressure,

switching means having open and closed states and operatively associated with the sensing means to become opened when the sensing means senses a pressure of the fluid in the output line at the particular level, the switching means being connected in a circuit with the implementing means to discontinue the operation of the implementing means,

the implementing means constituting a pump,

a bypass line connected across the implementing means,

means disposed in the bypass line to isolate the input side of the bypass line against the flow of fluid to the output side of the bypass line, and

the sensing means being disposed at a particular position at the output side of the bypass line to sense the presence of the fluid at this particular position in the bypass line and to provide for the opening of the switching means upon such a fluid pressure,

first means providing a hydrophilic action in providing for a passage of liquid from the input line to the bypass line and in preventing a passage of air bubbles from the bypass line to the input line, and

second means providing a hydrophilic action in providing for a passage of liquid from the output line to the bypass line and in preventing a passage of air bubbles from the bypass line to the output line.

12. In combination for introducing fluid from a source to a patient,

flow lines for providing a flow of fluid on a gravitational basis,

implementing means disposed in the flow lines and operative to pump fluid through the flow lines,

means associated with the flow lines for sensing an obstruction in the flow lines or an improper operation of the implementing means in accordance with the pressure of the fluid in the flow lines, and

means responsive to the sensing means for discontinuing the operation of the implementing means when the sensing means senses an obstruction in the flow lines or an improper operation of the implementing means,

the flow lines being disposed to receive the fluid from the source and to pass the fluid to the patient and being disposed relative to the flow lines to sense when the pressure of the fluid flowing to the patient increases to a value above the built-up pressure in the flow lines,

the flow lines and the implementing means being connected in a series relationship and a bypass line being connected in a parallel relationship with the implementing means between the flow lines and being constructed to entrap air in the flow lines and means being included in the bypass line to prevent the flow of fluid through the bypass line and to alleviate the pressure of the fluid in the input line, the sensing means being disposed to sense the pressure of the fluid in the bypass line.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein

the sensing means is disposed on the output side of the bypass line to sense the pressure of the fluid passing to the patient and the implementing means constitutes a pump and the means included in the output line are resilient.

14. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein

the flow lines include an input line and an output line and the pump is connected to the output end of the input line and the input end of the output line and the bypass line is connected to the output end of the input line and the input end of the output line and the sensing means is responsive to the pressure of the fluid at the output end of the bypass line.

15. In combination for introducing fluid to a patient,

a source of fluid,

an input conduit extending from the source to a first position,

a pump connected to the input conduit at the first position to pump fluid from the conduit to a controlled rate,

an output conduit extending from the pump to a second position below the first position,

means for detecting pressures of the fluid in the output conduit,

means responsive to the detection of fluid pressures in the output conduit for interrupting the operation of the pump in introducing fluid to the output conduit when the pressure in the output conduit exceeds a pressure dependent upon the difference in height between the first and second positions,

a bypass line extending between the input and output conduits in bypass relationship to the pump,

a chamber disposed in the bypass line and a resilient diaphragm extended across the chamber to prevent the flow of fluid through the bypass line and to alleviate the fluid pressure in the output line, and

the detecting means being disposed in operatively coupled relationship to the bypass line to detect the pressures of fluid in the output conduit.