Apparatus with force isolation for measuring weight of collected fluid and method
First Claim
1. Apparatus for measuring the weight of fluid entering a container of a system obtained from the downstream end of a fluid drainage tube, comprising:
- a weighing apparatus having a frame and a weighing mechanism which moves relative to the frame during changes of the weight being weighed thereby;
means for connecting the container to the weighing mechanism to be weighed thereby, said container moving with the weighing mechanism relative to the frame as increasing amounts of fluid are introduced into the container;
means for holding the downstream end of the tube against movement relative to the frame; and
means for coupling the drainage tube with the container for relative fluid communication therewith including means for substantially mechanically isolating the end of the tube from application of significant force to the container whereby the accuracy of the measurement of the weight of the container and its contents is not significantly affected by the coupling means.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A urinary output monitor for determining the volume of fluid in a urinary collection bag during the collection process having a weighing apparatus for weighing the contents of a collection bag and means for substantially isolating the end of a drainage tube from applications of significant forces to the collection container. The isolation mechanism is incorporated into the container assembly in the form of a conduit for interconnecting an inlet connector and an outlet connector which has sufficient flexibility to preclude it from conveying any significant force in a direction along its length which would adversely affect the weight measurement. Since varying forces applied to the weighing apparatus by drainage tube connectors of different catheters are eliminated by the isolation mechanism, fluid entered after offset determination for zeroing the weighing apparatus to compensate for bag weight is included in the total measurement.
24 Citations
26 Claims
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1. Apparatus for measuring the weight of fluid entering a container of a system obtained from the downstream end of a fluid drainage tube, comprising:
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a weighing apparatus having a frame and a weighing mechanism which moves relative to the frame during changes of the weight being weighed thereby; means for connecting the container to the weighing mechanism to be weighed thereby, said container moving with the weighing mechanism relative to the frame as increasing amounts of fluid are introduced into the container; means for holding the downstream end of the tube against movement relative to the frame; and means for coupling the drainage tube with the container for relative fluid communication therewith including means for substantially mechanically isolating the end of the tube from application of significant force to the container whereby the accuracy of the measurement of the weight of the container and its contents is not significantly affected by the coupling means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A container assembly for biological fluids, comprising:
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a hollow container body having an inlet opening for receipt of fluids therewithin, an inlet connector for connection with the end of a drainage tube, and means for substantially mechanically isolating the container body at the inlet opening from relative movement of the inlet connector, said isolating means including a flexible conduit for interconnecting the inlet connector and the inlet opening, said conduit having a flexibility sufficient to prevent it from mechanically conveying significant force in a direction along the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of weighing a volume of fluid, comprising the steps of:
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predetermining the weight of a fluid container; offsetting the determined weight of the container from a weighing apparatus to zero the weighing apparatus; connecting the downstream end of a drainage tube to an inlet opening of the fluid container by means for substantially mechanically isolating the container and the weighing apparatus from forces due to the interconnection of the container and the end of the tube; attaching the container to the weighing apparatus to be weighed thereby; entering the fluid to be weighed into the container through the drainage tube and said isolation means; and weighing the container and fluid therein. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification