Infusion monitoring apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Infusion monitoring apparatus comprising:
- an infusion tube for conducting liquid;
sensing means responsive to fluid flow through said infusion tube for sensing the presence of gas bubbles in said liquid and for developing a control signal having a first characteristic representative of liquid flow through said infusion tube and a second characteristic representative of a gas bubble flowing through said infusion tube;
timing means for developing a series of timing signals having a rate proportional to the rate of fluid flow through said infusion tube;
counting means responsive to said second characteristic of said control signal and said timing signals for counting said timing signals during the presence of a gas bubble and for developing an alarm signal after a predetermined number of said timing signals have been counted;
and an alarm means responsive to said alarm signal for developing an alarm.
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Abstract
Apparatus for detecting the presence of gas bubbles passing through an infusion tube (10). Sensing means (24, 26) responsive to fluid flow through the infusion tube develop a signal having a characteristic representative of a gas bubble to start a counter (28) which counts timing signals which also drive the pumping means (12, 14, 22) which force infusion liquid through the infusion tube. After a predetermined number of timing signals have been counted corresponding to a gas bubble having a size which may cause injury to a patient being infused, an alarm (30) is actuated.
51 Citations
13 Claims
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1. Infusion monitoring apparatus comprising:
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an infusion tube for conducting liquid; sensing means responsive to fluid flow through said infusion tube for sensing the presence of gas bubbles in said liquid and for developing a control signal having a first characteristic representative of liquid flow through said infusion tube and a second characteristic representative of a gas bubble flowing through said infusion tube; timing means for developing a series of timing signals having a rate proportional to the rate of fluid flow through said infusion tube; counting means responsive to said second characteristic of said control signal and said timing signals for counting said timing signals during the presence of a gas bubble and for developing an alarm signal after a predetermined number of said timing signals have been counted; and an alarm means responsive to said alarm signal for developing an alarm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Infusion apparatus comprising:
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an infusion tube for conducting liquid; sensing means responsive to fluid flow through said infusion tube for sensing the presence of gas bubbles in said liquid and for developing a control signal having a first characteristic representative of liquid flow through said infusion tube and a second characteristic representative of a gas bubble flowing through said infusion tube; timing means for developing a series of timing signals; pumping means responsive to said timing signals for forcing prescribed amounts of liquid through said infusion tube at prescribed times corresponding to the occurrence of said timing signals; counting means responsive to said second characteristic of said control signal and said timing signals for counting said timing signals during the presence of a gas bubble and for developing an alarm signal after a predetermined number of said timing signals have been counted; and alarm means responsive to said alarm signal for developing an alarm. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification