Apparatus for indicating fluid pressure within a conduit

• US 5,721,382 A
• Filed: 09/24/1996
• Issued: 02/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pescadero Beach Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Science Incorporated
• Inventors: Kriesel, Marshall S., Garrison, James M., Arnold, Steven, Kazemzadeh, Farhad
• Primary Examiner(s): Dombroske, George M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Noori, Max H.
• Application Number:
  US08/718,686
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 73/861.47, 73/700, 73/861.48, 73/861.52, 73/861.54, 73/272 R, 73/706
• US Class Current: 73/861.47
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/152 pressurised by contraction of elastic reservoirs containers for dispensing contents by contraction of an elastic bag provided therein, in general B65D83/0061
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16886 for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/08 Arrangements of scales, pointers, lamps or acoustic indicators, e.g. in automobile speedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/0026 by using deflection of baffle-plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/0066 by using differences of pressure in the fluid

Abstract

An apparatus for visually indicating fluid flow through a fluid system or apparatus such as a medical infusion device. The apparatus comprises a pair of thin, indicia bearing films disposed in an overlaying relationship. These films are shifted relative to each other by movement of mechanical actuators which are deflected solely by the pressure of the fluid within the fluid conduits of the system of the apparatus. The two films are stacked in closed proximity and are preferably constructed from a substantially transparent flexible material such as mylar. One surface of the inferior film is printed with a plurality of integrated symbols depicting various fluid flow conditions. The superior film functions as a mask over the inferior film and is printed with a pattern of diagonally extending, alternating clear and opaque stripes. The print ratio of the superior film permits viewing at any one time of only one of the symbols printed on the inferior film.

Claims

1. An apparatus for indicating fluid pressure within a fluid conduit having an outlet comprising:

(a) indicia-carrying means comprising first and second members having overlaying body portions, at least one of said members having indicating indicia viewable only upon relative sliding movement of said overlaying body portions of said member with respect to each other; and

(b) actuator means communicating with said outlet for moving said indicia-carrying means as a result of deflection thereof in response to fluid pressure being exerted on said actuator means.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said indicia-carrying means comprises a pair of indicia-carrying members disposed in an overlaying relationship, at least one of said members being yieldably deformable by said actuating means to cause relative movement between said members upon fluid pressure being exerted on said actuating means by fluid within the fluid conduit whereby said indicting indicia becomes viewable.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which each said indicia-carrying member includes a body portion and an edge portion and in which said apparatus further includes a platform to which said edge portion of said pair of indicia-carrying members are affixed, said platform having a central planar portion for supporting said thin films in an overlaying configuration wherein said body portions thereof are in close proximity.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which said platform includes an aperture and in which said actuator means comprises a yieldably deformable member aligned with said aperture, said deformable member being disposed proximate said outlet.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, further including a support plate disposed proximate said platform for supporting said pair of indicia-carrying members, said support plate having a depression aligned with said aperture in said platform, said deformable member being adapted to urge a portion of one of said thin films into said depression upon fluid pressure being exerted on said yieldably deformable member of said actuating means, whereby said body portion of said one of said thin films will be caused to move relative to said body portion of said other of said thin films.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which said support plate includes a viewing aperture disposed in alignment with said body portions of said pair of thin films.

7. An apparatus for visually indicating fluid pressure within first and second fluid conduits each having an outlet comprising:

(a) first and second thin films having generally planar portions disposed in an overlaying relationship, at least one of said first and second thin films having indicating indicia viewable upon relative sliding movement between said generally planar portions of said first and second films; and

(b) actuator means communicating with said fluid outlets of said first and second fluid conduits for moving portions of said first and second films relative to each other in response to fluid pressure being exerted on said actuator means by fluid within said first and second fluid conduits.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which each of said first and second thin films has a fixedly located edge portion and a body portion, said first and second thin films being yieldably deformable by said actuating means to cause relative movement between said body portions of said thin films upon fluid pressure being exerted on said actuating means by fluid within said first and second fluid conduits, whereby said indicating indicia becomes viewable.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 further including:

(a) a platform to which said edge portions of said first and second films are affixed, said platform having spaced apart first and second apertures; and

(b) a support plate disposed proximate said platform, said first and second films being disposed between said support plate and said platform, said support plate having spaced apart first and second depressions aligned with said apparatus in said base and a viewing aperture disposed intermediate said depressions.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which said actuator means comprises:

(a) a first actuator element aligned with said first aperture in said platform for moving a portion of said first film into said first depression in response to fluid pressure being exerted on said first actuator element by fluid within said first fluid conduit; and

(b) a second actuator element aligned with said second aperture in said platform for moving a portion of said second film into said second depression in response to fluid pressure being exerted on said second actuator element by fluid within said second fluid conduit.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 in which said first and second actuator elements comprise yieldably deformable, elements overlaying said first and second apertures in said platform.

12. An apparatus for visually indicating the existence of fluid under pressure with first and second conduits each having an outlet, said device comprising:

(a) a platform having first and second apertures;

(b) a first deformable actuator element aligned with said first aperture in said platform and being disposed between said outlet of said first conduit and said first aperture, said first actuator element being deformable from an initial configuration into an extended configuration in response to fluid under pressure within said first conduit;

(c) a second deformable actuator element aligned with said second aperture in said base and being disposed between said outlet of said second conduit and said second aperture, said second actuator element being deformable from an initial configuration into an extended configuration in response to the fluid under pressure within said second conduit;

(d) a support connected to said platform and having a first receiving channel indexable with said first aperture in said platform and a second receiving channel indexable with said second aperture in said platform; and

(e) a first yieldably deformable indicia carrying thin film having a generally planar body portion and an edge portion connected to said platform; and

(f) a second yieldably deformable indicia-carrying thin film having an edge portion and a generally planar body portion partially overlaying said body portion of said first thin film, said edge portion of said second thin film being connected to said platform, whereby by said first and second thin films are disposed intermediate said platform and said support for relative sliding movement between said generally planar body portions thereof by said actuator elements between first and second positions.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said support includes a viewing aperture for viewing a selected one of said first and second thin films.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which movement of said first thin film by said first actuator element permits viewing of a first indicia on said selected thin film through said viewing aperture and in which movement of said second thin film by said second actuator element permits viewing of a second indicia on said selected thin film through said viewing aperture.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which a third indicia is viewable through said viewing aperture when said first and second actuator elements are in said initial configuration.

16. A fluid pressure indicating device comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) stored energy means for forming in conjunction with said base a fluid reservoir having an outlet, said stored energy means comprising a distendable member superimposed over said base, said member being distendable as a result of fluid introduced into said fluid reservoir to establish internal stresses within said member tending to return said member toward a less distended configuration to force fluids from said reservoir through said outlet;

(c) a fluid conduit connected to said outlet of said reservoir for carrying fluid forced from said reservoir by said distendable member;

(d) a pair of thin films having edge portions and generally planar body portions disposed in an overlaying relationship, at least one of said thin films having indicating indicia viewable upon relative sliding movement between said body portions of said films; and

(e) actuator means communicating with said fluid conduit for engaging one of said edge portions of said thin films to move at least one of said thin films relative to the other in response to fluid pressure being extended on said actuator means by fluid carried by said fluid conduit.

17. A device as defined in claim 16 further including flow control means disposed between said outlet of said fluid reservoir and said pair of thin films for controlling the rate of fluid flow from said outlet toward said pair of thin films.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 in which each of said pair of thin films has a fixedly located edge portion and a body portion, at least one of said films being yieldably deformable by said actuating means to cause relative movement between said body portions of said thin films upon fluid pressure being exerted on said actuating means by fluid within said fluid conduit, whereby said indicating indicia becomes viewable.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18 further including:

(a) a platform to which said edge portions of said first and second films are affixed, said platform having spaced apart first and second apertures; and

(b) a support plate disposed proximate said platform, said first and second films being disposed between said support plate and said platform, said support plate having spaced-apart first and second depressions aligned with said apertures in said base and a viewing aperture disposed intermediate said depression.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 19 in which said actuator means comprises:

(a) a first actuator element aligned with said first aperture in said platform for moving a portion of said first film into said first depression in response to fluid pressure being exerted on said first actuator element by fluid within said first fluid conduits; and

(b) a second actuator element aligned with said second aperture in said platform for moving a portion of said second film into said second depression in response to fluid pressure being exerted on said second actuator element by fluid within said second fluid conduit.

21. An apparatus for visually indicating fluid pressure within first and second fluid conduits each having an outlet comprising:

(a) first and second thin films having edge portions and generally planar portions, said planar portions being disposed in an overlaying contacting relationship, at least one of said first and second thin films having indicating indicia viewable upon relative sliding movement between said generally planar portions of said first and second films; and

(b) actuator means communicating with said fluid outlets of said first and second fluid conduits for yieldably deforming said edge portion of one of said first and second thin films to slidably move said planar portions of first and second films relative to each other in response to fluid pressure being exerted on said actuator means by fluid within said first and second fluid conduits.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21 in which each of said first and second thin films is provided with indicating indicia viewable upon relative sliding movement of said generally planar portions.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 22 further including a platform to which said edge portions of said first and second films are affixed, said platform having spaced-apart first and second apertures.

24. An apparatus for indicating fluid pressure within a fluid conduit having an outlet comprising:

(a) indicia-carrying means comprising first and second members having edge portions and generally planar body portions, said body portions being in continuous overlaying contact and having indicating indicia viewable only upon relative sliding movement of said overlaying body portions of said member with respect to each other; and

(b) actuator means communicating with said outlet for actuating engagement with at least one of said edge portions of said first and second members for moving said indicia-carrying means as a result of deflection thereof in response to fluid pressure being exerted on said actuator means.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 24 further including a platform to which said edge portion of one of said first and second members is fixed, said platform having a central planar portion for supporting said body portions of said first and second members in an overlaying configuration.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 25 in which said platform includes an aperture and in which said actuator means comprises a yieldably deformable member aligned with said aperture, said deformable member being disposed proximate said outlet.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 26, further including a support plate disposed proximate said platform for supporting said first and second members, said support plate having a depression aligned with said aperture in said platform, said deformable member being adapted to urge a portion of one of said first and second members into said depression upon fluid pressure being exerted on said yieldably deformable member of said actuating means.