Sponge absorbed fluid measuring unit

• US 5,285,682 A
• Filed: 02/12/1993
• Issued: 02/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clara J. Micklish
• Original Assignee: Clara J. Micklish
• Inventors: Micklish, Clara J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/017,971
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 73/149, 73/866, 73/865.9, 73/38, 73/747, 73/749, 73/751, 73/865, 73/862.471, 73/862.454, 177/208, 177/209, 177/50, 141/83, 206/363, 206/459.1, 206/459.5, 206/370, 206/438, 128/767, 128/771, 210/85, 210/94, 210/95
• US Class Current: 73/149
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0804 Counting number of instruments used; Instrument detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0805 automatically, e.g. by means of magnetic, optical or photoelectric detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02042 Determining blood loss or bleeding, e.g. during a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/37 for absorbent articles, e.g. bandages, garments, swabs or towels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/162 by a liquid column
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/164 using a diaphragm, bellow as transmitting element
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/00 Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups electric measuring arrangements involving comparison with a reference value G01R17/00

Abstract

A device for measuring the amount of fluids absorbed by surgical sponges. The sponges are placed in a receiving cylinder. A flexible diaphragm at the bottom of the cylinder flexes or deflects from the weight. This deflection displaces a fluid in a base unit. The fluid is displaced into a graduated cylinder. The cylinder is graduated in simple volume units or can include compensation for the sponge weights. A counter is included which allows the number of sponges being measured to be counted.

Claims

1. A apparatus for measuring fluid volumes absorbed in a particular type of article, comprising:

a base unit having top, bottom and side surfaces, said top surface having two openings;

a fluid filling said base unit;

a receiving chamber having open top and bottom surfaces and located over a first of said base unit top surface openings the first top opening for receiving articles of the particular type to measure;

a graduated chamber having open top and bottom surfaces and located over the second of said base unit top surface openings, said graduated chamber having graduations indicating quantities of the fluid volume absorbed in the articles placed in said receiving chamber; and

a flexible diaphragm positioned at said first base unit top surface opening and deflecting towards said base unit bottom surface when articles to be measured are placed in said receiving chamber, thereby displacing said fluid located in said base unit from said base unit into said graduated chamber

2. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein said base unit top surface is multi-level and the second opening therein is raised with respect to said first opening therein.

3. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein said base unit includes a port for releasing fluid.

4. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein said base unit is formed by a plurality of pieces.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means mounted to the apparatus for counting the number of articles being measured.

6. The apparatus of claim 5,

wherein said counting means comprises a counter having a control for manual manipulation to increase the count and a control for resetting said counter.

7. The apparatus of claim 5,

wherein said counting means comprises means located in said receiving chamber for counting the articles placed in said receiving chamber and means for resetting the count.

8. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein said graduated chamber is translucent.

9. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein said graduated chamber is transparent.

10. An apparatus for measuring fluid volumes absorbed in a particular type of article, comprising:

a base unit having top, bottom and side surfaces, said top surface having two openings;

a fluid filling said base unit;

a receiving chamber having open top and bottom surfaces and located over a first of said base unit top surface openings, the first top opening for receiving articles to be measured;

a graduated chamber having open top and bottom surfaces and located over the second of said base unit top surface openings, said graduated chamber having graduations indicating quantities of the fluid volume absorbed in the articles placed in said receiving chamber; and

a flexible diaphragm positioned at said first base unit top surface opening and deflecting towards said base unit bottom surface when articles to be measured are placed in said receiving chamber, thereby displacing said fluid located in said base unit from said base unit into said graduated chamber,

wherein said graduated chamber graduations include corrections for the dry weight of the articles being measured.

11. An apparatus for measuring fluid volumes absorbed in a particular type of articles, comprising:

a receiving chamber having open top and bottom surfaces, the top opening for receiving articles of the particular type to be measured;

a flexible diaphragm positioned at the bottom opening of said receiving chamber and deflecting downwards away from said receiving chamber when articles to be measured are placed in said receiving chamber;

a graduated chamber having open top and bottom surfaces, said graduated chamber having graduations indicating quantities of the fluid volume absorbed in the articles placed in said receiving chamber;

a base unit having top, bottom and side surfaces, said base unit having means for receiving said receiving chamber, said graduated chamber and said flexible diaphragm at the top surface thereof and allowing fluid communication between said flexible diaphragm and said graduated chamber; and

a fluid filling said base unit, wherein when articles are placed in said receiving chamber, fluid is displaced into said graduated chamber as said flexible diaphragm deflects.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the graduated chamber graduations include corrections for the dry weight of the articles being measured.

13. An apparatus for measuring fluid volumes absorbed in a particular type of article, comprising:

a receiving chamber having open top and bottom surfaces, the top opening for receiving articles in the particular type to be measured;

a flexible diaphragm positioned at the bottom opening of said receiving chamber and deflecting downwards away from said receiving chamber when articles to be measured are placed in said receiving chamber;

a graduated chamber having open top and bottom surfaces, said graduated chamber having graduations indicating quantities of the fluid volume absorbed in the articles placed in said receiving chamber;

means connected to said bottom opening of said receiving chamber at said flexible diaphragm and to the bottom opening of said graduated chamber for allowing fluid communication between said receiving chamber and said graduated chamber; and

fluid filling said means for allowing fluid communication, wherein when articles are placed in said receiving chamber, fluid is displaced into said graduated chamber as said flexible diaphragm deflects.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the graduated chamber graduations include corrections for the dry weight of the articles being measured.