Monitor for detecting tube position and air bubbles in tube
First Claim
1. A device for detecting the presence of air in hollow cylindrical tubing, comprising:
- means for mounting a plurality of components therein, said mounting means including a recessed groove therein, said recessed groove for receiving a portion of the tubing;
a light source located in said mounting means on one side of said recessed groove, light from said light source being directed onto said tubing when the tubing is located in said recessed groove;
a tube/no tube light sensor located in said mounting means on the other side of said recessed groove from said light source, said tube/no tube light sensor receiving light from said light source whenever tubing is not located in said recessed groove, said tube/no tube light sensor receiving substantially no light from said light source whenever tubing is located in said recessed groove; and
a liquid in tube light sensor located in said mounting means, light from said light source which enters tubing located in said recessed groove being reflected off the inside of the tubing and directed onto said liquid in tube light sensor whenever air is contained in the tubing, substantially no light entering tubing located in said recessed groove being reflected off the inside of the tubing and being directed onto said liquid in tube light sensor whenever fluid is contained in the tubing, light entering tubing located in said recessed groove instead entering the fluid contained in the tubing.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for use to detect air in a fluid line between a medication infusion reservoir such as an IV bottle or bag and an IV injection set or a medication infusion pump is disclosed which utilizes a detector apparatus which clamps onto a segment of tubing. The detector uses a light source to generate light which is directed into the tubing, and two light detecting devices, one of which is used to determine whether or not the tubing is properly installed in the detector, and the other of which is used to detect the presence of air in the segment of tubing. The detector works equally well with transparent, translucent, or opaque fluids and includes means for ensuring that the detection system is functioning normally.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A device for detecting the presence of air in hollow cylindrical tubing, comprising:
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means for mounting a plurality of components therein, said mounting means including a recessed groove therein, said recessed groove for receiving a portion of the tubing; a light source located in said mounting means on one side of said recessed groove, light from said light source being directed onto said tubing when the tubing is located in said recessed groove; a tube/no tube light sensor located in said mounting means on the other side of said recessed groove from said light source, said tube/no tube light sensor receiving light from said light source whenever tubing is not located in said recessed groove, said tube/no tube light sensor receiving substantially no light from said light source whenever tubing is located in said recessed groove; and a liquid in tube light sensor located in said mounting means, light from said light source which enters tubing located in said recessed groove being reflected off the inside of the tubing and directed onto said liquid in tube light sensor whenever air is contained in the tubing, substantially no light entering tubing located in said recessed groove being reflected off the inside of the tubing and being directed onto said liquid in tube light sensor whenever fluid is contained in the tubing, light entering tubing located in said recessed groove instead entering the fluid contained in the tubing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A device for detecting the presence of air in hollow cylindrical tubing, comprising:
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means for mounting a plurality of components therein, said mounting means including a recessed groove therein, said recessed groove for receiving a portion of the tubing; a clamping arm pivotally mounted on said mounting means, said clamping arm including a clamping segment located over said recessed groove; means for biasing said clamping segment of said clamping arm toward said recessed groove; a light source located in said mounting means on one side of said recessed groove, light from said light source being directed onto said tubing when the tubing is located in said recessed groove; a tube/no tube light sensor located in said mounting means on the other side of said recessed groove from said light source, said tube/no tube light sensor receiving light from said light source whenever tubing is not located in said recessed groove, said tube/no tube light sensor receiving substantially no light from said light source whenever tubing is located in said recessed groove; first alarm means for generating an alarm signal whenever said tube/no tube light sensor receives substantial light from said light source to indicate that tubing is not located in said recessed area; a liquid in tube light sensor located in said mounting means, light from said light source which enters tubing located in said recessed groove being reflected off the inside of the tubing and directed onto said liquid in tube light sensor whenever air is contained in the tubing, substantially no light entering tubing located in said recessed groove being reflected off the inside of the tubing and being directed onto said liquid in tube light sensor whenever fluid is contained in the tubing, light entering tubing located in said recessed groove instead entering the fluid contained in the tubing; and second alarm means for generating an alarm signal whenever said liquid in tube sensor receives substantial light from the inside of the tubing.
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19. A method for detecting the presence of air in hollow cylindrical tubing, comprising:
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providing means for mounting a plurality of components therein, said mounting means including a recessed groove therein, said recessed groove for receiving a portion of the tubing; directing light from a light source located in said mounting means on one side of said recessed groove onto said tubing when the tubing is located in said recessed groove; detecting whether or not tubing is properly located in said recessed groove with a tube/no tube light sensor located in said mounting means on the other side of said recessed groove from said light source, said tube/no tube light sensor receiving light from said light source whenever tubing is not located in said recessed groove, said tube/no tube light sensor receiving substantially no light from said light source whenever tubing is located in said recessed groove; and detecting whether or not air is contained in the tubing with a liquid in tube light sensor located in said mounting means, light from said light source which enters tubing located in said recessed groove being reflected off the inside of the tubing and directed onto said liquid in tube light sensor whenever air is contained in the tubing, substantially no light entering tubing located in said recessed groove being reflected off the inside of the tubing and being directed onto said liquid in tube light sensor whenever fluid is contained in the tubing, light entering tubing located in said recessed groove instead entering the fluid contained in the tubing.
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Specification