Intravenous set flow volumetric measurement device

• US 6,599,282 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2001
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Burko Systems and Development Limited
• Original Assignee: Burko Systems and Development Limited
• Inventors: Burko, Zeev
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez, Manuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Han, Mark K.
• Application Number:
  US09/945,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20030045840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 604/65, 604/66, 604/246, 604/251, 604/252, 604/253, 604/254, 604/255, 604/256, 604/500, 604/507, 604/508, 604/28, 604/30, 604/48, 128/898, 128/DIG.13
• US Class Current: 604/507
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1689 Drip counters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/13 Infusion monitoring

Abstract

A method and device for volumetric measurement of a drop of fluid administered in a gravity intravenous set. Radiation, preferable infrared light is passed through from the exterior of the drip chamber of the intravenous set and is detected and quantified by a receiver on the other exterior side of the chamber. The radiation passing through the chamber when a drop is not passing through the radiation path is taken as the background radiation level. When a drop passes through the chamber, a loss in radiation passing through the receiver occurs. This relative loss is converted into volume with the aid of a lookup table.

Claims

1. A method for calculating a volume delivered through an intravenous set with a drip chamber configured for the flow of the fluid substantially along the drip chamber'"'"'s axis, method comprising the steps of:

(a) passing radiation from the exterior of the drip chamber through the drip chamber via a path generally perpendicular to the drip chamber axis to a sensor positioned on an opposite position on the exterior of the drip chamber;

(b) detecting and quantifying a background radiation value passing through the drip chamber;

(c) detecting and quantifying a radiation value passing through a drop falling through the drip chamber in order to obtain data indicative of a radiation loss due to said drop passing though said radiation path; and

(d) deriving a volume measurement for said drop using a lookup table, said lookup table formed by accumulating empirical data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said radiation is configured to function in pulsed mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said radiation is configured to function in continuous mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said radiation is light radiation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said radiation is infrared radiation.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling the flow of a fluid administered in a gravity infusion set using the volume calculated for a drop.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said empirical data is accumulated by weighing a plurality of drops passed through said radiation path and determining the volume of each drop in proportion to its specific gravity.