Device for monitoring and controlling an intravenous infusion system
First Claim
1. A device for monitoring an intravenous infusion system comprising at least one drip chamber for receiving droplets of a liquid for intravenous infusion, a delivery tube connected to said chamber, sensing means operatively associated with said drip chamber for sensing dripping droplets, an electronic unit including means for memorizing a droplet frequency, a droplet counter for counting the droplets sensed by said sensing means, a comparator means for comparing the frequency of droplets counted by said droplet counter with said memorized droplet frequency, relay means operable by said comparator means when said comparator means detects a difference between the frequency of droplets counted by said counter and said memorized droplet frequency, means operable by said relay means for terminating the flow of liquid through said delivery tube, said liquid flow terminating means including first (26) and third (28) relatively movable jaw means for selectively clamping closed said delivery tube (12), second jaw means (27) movable relative to said first jaw means (26) for clamping engagement to an associated support (12 or 13), second biasing means (30) for normally biasing said first (26) and third (28) jaws toward a clamping position relative to said delivery tube (12), first biasing means (29) for normally biasing said first (26) and second (27) jaws toward a clamping position relative to an associated support (12 or 13) and preloading said second biasing means (30), means (37, 38) for relatively moving said first (26) and third (28) jaws to a nonclamping position relative to said delivery tube (12), and means (35) for disabling said moving means (37, 38) whereby said preloaded second biasing means (30) biases said first (26) and third (28) jaws relatively toward each other to said clamping position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for monitoring an intravenous infusion system is provided which includes a drip chamber for receiving droplets of liquid for intravenous infusion delivered thereto by a delivery tube with the drips being sensed through an associated droplet sensing, counting, comparing and responding circuit system. Three relatively movable jaws are provided, two of which are relatively preloaded by a spring which is locked but can be releases by a brief energization of an electromagnet to terminate liquid flow through the delivery tube.
88 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A device for monitoring an intravenous infusion system comprising at least one drip chamber for receiving droplets of a liquid for intravenous infusion, a delivery tube connected to said chamber, sensing means operatively associated with said drip chamber for sensing dripping droplets, an electronic unit including means for memorizing a droplet frequency, a droplet counter for counting the droplets sensed by said sensing means, a comparator means for comparing the frequency of droplets counted by said droplet counter with said memorized droplet frequency, relay means operable by said comparator means when said comparator means detects a difference between the frequency of droplets counted by said counter and said memorized droplet frequency, means operable by said relay means for terminating the flow of liquid through said delivery tube, said liquid flow terminating means including first (26) and third (28) relatively movable jaw means for selectively clamping closed said delivery tube (12), second jaw means (27) movable relative to said first jaw means (26) for clamping engagement to an associated support (12 or 13), second biasing means (30) for normally biasing said first (26) and third (28) jaws toward a clamping position relative to said delivery tube (12), first biasing means (29) for normally biasing said first (26) and second (27) jaws toward a clamping position relative to an associated support (12 or 13) and preloading said second biasing means (30), means (37, 38) for relatively moving said first (26) and third (28) jaws to a nonclamping position relative to said delivery tube (12), and means (35) for disabling said moving means (37, 38) whereby said preloaded second biasing means (30) biases said first (26) and third (28) jaws relatively toward each other to said clamping position.
Specification