Flow monitoring device for medical application
First Claim
1. A fluid flow monitoring device comprising:
- a transparent fluid conducting means enclosing a stem body movable along the fluid conducting means and biased against a proximal interior shoulder of the fluid conducting means, said shoulder defining a fluid inlet; and
a signal emitter-sensor means positioned externally to the fluid conducting means for transmitting a signal across the fluid conducting means from an emitter of the emitter-sensor means, to a sensor of the emitter-sensor means, such that with the stem body in a first stem body position within the fluid conducting means, the signal is blocked, and with the stem body in a second stem body position within the fluid conducting means, the signal is not blocked, said second stem body position adapted by the stem body as a result of a fluid flow within the conducting means wherein the fluid flow is sensed by the emitter-sensor means as the stem body moves.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intravenous system for monitoring the flow of IV fluids to a patient is embodied in a wristwatch sized case for placement on the patient. The device includes a switch uses capable of detecting when flow starts or stops. In one embodiment, the range of flow rates which may trigger a signal is increased using a plurality of sensor elements. The flow indicator switch uses a conical fluid conducting means with a movable stem body which reacts to the motion of the IV fluid. A signal-emitter-sensor arrangement provides a means for converting physical displacement into an electrical signal indicating displacement of the movable member thus detecting when flow starts and stops, as well as the rate of flow. Collected information is stored in a data storage means and may be either displayed on a display means housed within the case, or alternately, the collected data may be uploaded to a computer.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A fluid flow monitoring device comprising:
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a transparent fluid conducting means enclosing a stem body movable along the fluid conducting means and biased against a proximal interior shoulder of the fluid conducting means, said shoulder defining a fluid inlet; and
a signal emitter-sensor means positioned externally to the fluid conducting means for transmitting a signal across the fluid conducting means from an emitter of the emitter-sensor means, to a sensor of the emitter-sensor means, such that with the stem body in a first stem body position within the fluid conducting means, the signal is blocked, and with the stem body in a second stem body position within the fluid conducting means, the signal is not blocked, said second stem body position adapted by the stem body as a result of a fluid flow within the conducting means wherein the fluid flow is sensed by the emitter-sensor means as the stem body moves. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification