Air detector for use in infusion pump
First Claim
1. In an air detector for detecting air bubbles or columns in an infusion solution flowing through a tube located in a pumping station, the tube extending from a supply bag of the infusion solution to a patient through the detector between a signal emitting member and a signal receiving member the air detector comprising:
- a stationary unit of the pumping station including;
a groove including a base and two side walls for receiving the tube;
an upper section of the groove being defined by a first side wall which flares outwardly from a tube-fixing section and a second side wall which is perpendicular to the base of the groove along its length in the tube-fixing section; and
a movable unit in pivoting relation to said stationary unit of the pumping station; and
a tube-abutting member movable into said groove when said movable unit is closed,whereby when said tube is pushed into said tube fixing section from the upper section by said tube abutting member, dislodgement of said tube from said groove is prevented by said second side wall.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air detector according to the present invention utilizes a unitary type sensor for detecting air bubbles or columns in an infusion solution flowing through a tube. Because of a unique design for a tube-receiving groove and a cooperating abutting member, the difficulty in loading a tube heretofore encountered with the use of unitary type sensor is obviated. Thus, the tube can be loaded in the air detector easily with good reliability.
148 Citations
9 Claims
-
1. In an air detector for detecting air bubbles or columns in an infusion solution flowing through a tube located in a pumping station, the tube extending from a supply bag of the infusion solution to a patient through the detector between a signal emitting member and a signal receiving member the air detector comprising:
-
a stationary unit of the pumping station including; a groove including a base and two side walls for receiving the tube; an upper section of the groove being defined by a first side wall which flares outwardly from a tube-fixing section and a second side wall which is perpendicular to the base of the groove along its length in the tube-fixing section; and a movable unit in pivoting relation to said stationary unit of the pumping station; and a tube-abutting member movable into said groove when said movable unit is closed, whereby when said tube is pushed into said tube fixing section from the upper section by said tube abutting member, dislodgement of said tube from said groove is prevented by said second side wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. An apparatus for detecting air bubbles in a liquid flowing through a tube comprising:
-
a stationary unit containing a groove that includes a base and a first and second oppositely located side walls; said first wall including an upper section that flares outwardly from the groove; said second wall being substantially perpendicular to said base along its entire length; a movable member including means for pivoting toward said stationary unit; and
a signal emitting member and a signal receiving member located opposite to each other in the groove; anda tube-abutting member operatively connected to said movable member, and movable into said groove, so that when the tube is pushed into said groove by the tube abutting member, dislodgement of the tube from said groove is prevented by said second side wall. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An apparatus for detecting air bubbles in liquid flowing through a tube comprising:
-
a groove for receiving said tube, said groove including a base and two side walls oppositely positioned to each other; one of the side walls including a flared out top portion, the other of said side walls being substantially perpendicular to said base from substantially along the entire length of the wall; and a movable member including a tube-abutting member sized to fit into the groove so that when the tube is pushed into the groove by the tube-abutting member dislodgement of the tube is prevented; and a signal emitting member and a signal receiving member located opposite to each other in the groove. - View Dependent Claims (9)
-
Specification