Splash back reduction drip chamber
First Claim
1. A drip chamber defining a flexible plastic chamber having an interior surface, an inlet for communicating with drop former, and an outlet, the improvement comprising:
- splash back reduction means for reducing splash back of droplets in said chamber, said means including an irregular finish on at least a portion of said interior surface substantially adjacent an anticipated liquid surface level in said chamber, said irregular finish having peaks and valleys ranging from about 140 to 240 microns width, the heights from peaks to valleys ranging from about 140 to 240 microns.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical fluid administration set and a drip chamber (10) for use on the administration set are disclosed. The drip chamber (10) may be used with conventionally available drop counters whereby fluid flow can be monitored. The drip chamber (10) is intended for incorporation into a medical fluid administration set. At least a portion of the inside surface of the drip chamber (10) has a matte or satin finish (20) as distinguished from a glossy finish. The matte finish (20) alters the surface characteristics between solution residing in the drip chamber (10) and the drip chamber (10) itself, thereby preventing substantial upward splash back or bounce back of liquid drops impacting the surface of the fluid in the drip chamber (10) which splash back or bounce back can result in erroneous flow rate indications.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A drip chamber defining a flexible plastic chamber having an interior surface, an inlet for communicating with drop former, and an outlet, the improvement comprising:
splash back reduction means for reducing splash back of droplets in said chamber, said means including an irregular finish on at least a portion of said interior surface substantially adjacent an anticipated liquid surface level in said chamber, said irregular finish having peaks and valleys ranging from about 140 to 240 microns width, the heights from peaks to valleys ranging from about 140 to 240 microns. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An administration tubing set for delivering medical fluids to a patient, said set having conduit means to maintain components in flow communication and arranged along the conduit means in the following order:
- spike means for accessing a container, a drip chamber having an interior surface, the administration set terminating in connector means for connecting to patient access devices, the improvement comprising;
splash back reduction means for reducing splash back of droplets in said chamber, said means including an irregular finish on at least a portion of said interior surface adjacent an anticipated liquid surface level in said chamber said irregular finish having peaks and valleys ranging from about 140 to 240 microns width, the heights from peaks to valleys ranging from about 140 to 240 microns. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
- spike means for accessing a container, a drip chamber having an interior surface, the administration set terminating in connector means for connecting to patient access devices, the improvement comprising;
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9. A method for improving the accuracy of a drop counting device, said drop counting device being used to count drops of a liquid as the drops fall into a chamber, said chamber having a liquid in the bottom of the chamber, said method comprising the steps of:
- dropping liquid drops into said chamber, and reducing splash back of drops impacting the liquid in the bottom of the chamber, wherein said splash back reduction step includes providing at least a portion of the inside surface of the chamber with an irregular finish, said portion being adjacent an anticipated surface level of the liquid chamber, said portion having peaks and valleys ranging from about 140 to 240 microns, the height from peaks to valleys ranging from about 140 to 240 microns, said irregular finish being adjacent an expected liquid surface level.
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10. A drip chamber defining a flexible plastic chamber, an inlet for communicating with a drop former, and an outlet, the improvement comprising:
said drip chamber with at least a portion of its interior surface having a substantially circumferential band of irregular finish thereon, said irregular finish including peaks and valleys on the order of about 170 to 240 microns width, the heights from the peaks to the valleys being on the order of about 170 to 240 microns, said circumferential band being adjacent the anticipated liquid surface level. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An administration tubing set for delivering medical fluids to a patient, said set having conduit means to maintain components in flow communication and arranged along the conduit means in the following order:
- spike means for accessing a container, a drip chamber, the adminstration set terminating in connector means for connecting to patient access devices, the improvement comprising;
said drip chamber with at least a portion of its interior surface having a substantially circumferential band of irregular finish thereon, said irregular finish including peaks and valley on the order of about 140 to 230 microns width, the heights from the peaks to the valleys being on the order of about 140 to 230 microns, said circumferential band being adjacent the anticipated liquid surface level. - View Dependent Claims (16)
- spike means for accessing a container, a drip chamber, the adminstration set terminating in connector means for connecting to patient access devices, the improvement comprising;
Specification