IV rate meter

• US 4,681,569 A
• Filed: 03/22/1985
• Issued: 07/21/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ACI Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Edward J. Arkans, Stephen J. Coble
• Inventors: Arkans, Edward J., Coble, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olds, Theodore
• Application Number:
  US06/715,162
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 73/861.41, 604/65, 604/67, 604/245, 604/253
• US Class Current: 604/253
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1689 Drip counters

Abstract

A rate meter for use with an IV fluid administration system having a vertical transparent drip chamber, the rate meter having an elongated housing having a notch therein for receiving the drip chamber, and a spring bias moveable portion which engages the drip chamber so that the housing is held to the drip chamber in a horizontal manner, the housing having two light emitters positioned on one side of the drip chamber and a photodetector on the other side, the light path between the light emitters and the photodetector being affected by passages of drops of fluid through the drip chamber, circuitry for computing a volumetric flow rate based on the frequency of detected drops, an indicator for displaying the detected flow rate and a self-contained battery. The two light emitters are arranged to provide equal light intensity on the photodetector. The rate meter is further identified by the provision of an occluder element forming a part of the housing slideable portion which moves to intercept the light beam from one of the light emitters when the housing is removed from engagement with a drip chamber to provide an OFF signal employed by program instructions to de-energize most of the circuit components to thereby prolong battery life.

Claims

1. A rate meter for use with an IV fluid administration system which includes a vertical transparent cylindrical drip chamber, comprising:

an elongated housing formed of a base portion having a first end and a second end and a moveable portion, the base portion having a notch therein intermediate said housing ends and of depth less than the thickness of said housing base portion, one surface area of the notch being configured to engage a portion of the external surface of a drip chamber, the moveable portion being slideable between an open and a closed position, the housing moveable portion being of generally thin tubular configuration substantially surrounding said base portion and slideable on said housing base portion between said notch and said first end, the housing base and moveable portions providing a member of generally uniform cross-sectional configuration throughout the length thereof except for the notch therein when said moveable portion is slid to said open position, that is, towards said base portion first end to receive a cylindrical drip chamber therein, the moveable portion having an end surface configured to engage a portion of the external surface of a cylindrical drip chamber, whereby a drip chamber may be received in said notch when said moveable portion is in the open position;

resilient means biasing said moveable portion towards the closed position whereby a cylindrical drip chamber received in said notch is engaged by said moveable portion to removeably attach said housing to a cylindrical drip chamber; and

means within said housing for detecting drops of IV fluid passing through said drip chamber and for displaying the rate of fluid flow.

2. A rate meter according to claim 1 wherein said housing is of generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration.

3. A rate meter according to claim 1 including a fountain pen type clip affixed to a housing, the housing being dimensioned to permit the rate meter to be carried in a user'"'"'s pocket.