Intravenous fluid delivery system with air elimination
First Claim
1. An air elimination system, for an intravenous fluid delivery system for intravenous injection of fluid into a patient, comprising:
- an intravenous line;
separation means for permitting the separation of air from the fluid;
air-detection means, disposed in the intravenous line, for detecting air in the fluid, and emitting a fault-condition signal;
a return line connecting the separation means to a point in the intravenous line downstream of the air-detection means;
valve means, disposed in the intravenous line and return line, for permitting (i) flow through the return line or (ii) to the patient;
pump means for urging fluid through the return line upon activation; and
control means, in communication with the air-detection means, for (i) setting the valve means to permit flow through the return line and activating the pump means, so as to move air and fluid from the air-detection means to the separation means, in response to a fault-condition signal, and otherwise (ii) setting the valve means to permit flow to the patient.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air elimination system is provided for an intravenous fluid delivery system for intravenous injection of fluid into a patient. An air-detection apparatus (5) is disposed in an intravenous fluid line (3). A return line (8) is attached to a point in the line (3) below the air-detection apparatus (5). The other end of the return line (8) is attached to a chamber (1, 2, 12) where air may be separated from the fluid. The separation chamber may be a drip chamber (12), a metering chamber (2) or the intravenous supply (1). When air is detected, a valve (11) or valves (7, 9) are switched, so that the intravenous fluid is prevented from flowing to the patient, and so that, when a pump (4) is turned on, the fluid is pumped through the return line (8) to the separation chamber (1, 2, 12).
253 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An air elimination system, for an intravenous fluid delivery system for intravenous injection of fluid into a patient, comprising:
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an intravenous line; separation means for permitting the separation of air from the fluid; air-detection means, disposed in the intravenous line, for detecting air in the fluid, and emitting a fault-condition signal; a return line connecting the separation means to a point in the intravenous line downstream of the air-detection means; valve means, disposed in the intravenous line and return line, for permitting (i) flow through the return line or (ii) to the patient; pump means for urging fluid through the return line upon activation; and control means, in communication with the air-detection means, for (i) setting the valve means to permit flow through the return line and activating the pump means, so as to move air and fluid from the air-detection means to the separation means, in response to a fault-condition signal, and otherwise (ii) setting the valve means to permit flow to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14)
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9. A method for eliminating air from an intravenous fluid delivery system, having a chamber where air may separate from the fluid, a pump, an intravenous line and an air detector, comprising the steps of:
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detecting air in the fluid; emitting a signal when a specified amount of air is detected in the fluid; providing a first valve in the intravenous line; providing a return line from a point in the intravenous line between the pump and the first valve; providing a second valve in the return line; closing the first valve in response to the signal; opening the second valve in response to the signal; and using the pump to urge fluid through the return line to the chamber in response to the signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification