IV regulator with integral flushing mechanism

• US 7,976,515 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian Lee Lipford, Christopher Klassen, Eric Schneider, Todd Murphy
• Original Assignee: Brian Lee Lipford, Christopher Klassen, Eric Schneider, Todd Murphy
• Inventors: Lipford, Brian Lee, Klassen, Christopher, Murphy, Todd, Schneider, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAYMAN, IMANI N
• Application Number:
  US11/974,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20080091150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 604246-256
• US Class Current: 604/250
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1403 Flushing or purging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/286 Wedge clamps, e.g. roller clamps with inclined guides
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16809 by repeated filling and emptying of an intermediate volume pressure infusion using positive displacement pumps A61M5/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line

Abstract

The present invention describes IV regulators that allow interruption of normal controlled-flow for a safe and convenient bolus flush, either for a specific period of time or for a specific volume of saline flush. Two time-controlled IV regulators are shown, one employing a pneumatic cylinder counter-opposed by elastic band(s) for administering a bolus flush, and one employing a compressible lever and torsion spring counter-opposed by a rotary damper. In both cases the mechanisms disengage the roller-clamp from the IV tube for a predetermined amount of time to fully open fluid flow there through for a bolus flush before return to the regulated-flow position. The volume-controlled flow regulator employs two internal bladders and allows one bladder to fill while the other bladder drains (and vice versa) by flipping a slider paddle-type toggle, thus enabling the administration of a set volume of flush fluid.

Claims

1. A flow regulator for IV tubing, comprising:

a housing having an IV tube running through it;

a roller-wheel carried within said housing on a first side of said IV tube and adjustable therein to impart a controlled bias against said IV tube, thereby selectively adjusting fluid flow through said IV tubing;

an elongate pressure plate pivotally mounted in said housing on a second side of said IV tubing opposed to said first side, said pressure plate pivotable between a fixed first position in which it bears on said IV tube to provide a backing against the bias of said roller-wheel, and a second position in which said IV tube is released from the bias imparted by said roller-wheel; and

a manual actuator mounted to said housing and engaged to said pressure plate, said manual actuator comprising

a depressible member movable from a normally-closed position to an open position, said depressible member having a protruding release member disposed to engaged said pressure plate , and

a sustained return mechanism engaged to said depressible member for gradually returning said depressible member to said normally-closed position, and

said protruding release member engaging said pressure plate to maintain it in said fixed first position when said depressible member is in said normally-closed position, and releasing said pressure plate to pivot into said second position when said depressible member is in said open position, thereby temporarily administering a bolus flush.

2. The flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein said manual actuator administers a bolus flush for a predetermined period of time.

3. The flow regulator according to claim 1, wherein said manual actuator administers a pre-determined volume of bolus flush.

4. The flow regulator according to claim 2, wherein said manual actuator further comprises a pneumatic cylinder.

5. The flow regulator according to claim 4, wherein said pneumatic cylinder is counter-opposed by said return mechanism.

6. The flow regulator according to claim 5, wherein said return mechanism comprises at least one elastic band.

7. The flow regulator according to claim 2, wherein said manual actuator comprises a plunger slidably mounted in a chamber and under bias to a home position, a one way valve for allowing air into said chamber, a bleed outlet for allowing air to slowly escape said chamber, and at least one thumb tab for allowing a user to slide said plunger to a second position in which said chamber is filled with air.

8. A flow regulator for IV tubing, comprising:

a housing having an IV tube running through it;

a roller-clamp seated in said housing and accessible there from, said roller-clamp having a wheel and a backplate, said wheel engaged to said tubing and adjustably positioned a distance from said backplate to selectively adjust fluid flow through said IV tubing by compressing said tubing against said backplate; and

a manual actuator mounted to said housing and engaged to said roller-clamp for selectively disengaging said wheel from said IV tubing to administer a bolus flush by increasing said distance, said actuator further comprising

a plunger slidably mounted in a chamber and maintained under bias toward a home position,

a one way valve for allowing air into said chamber,

a bleed outlet for allowing air to slowly escape said chamber, and

at least one thumb tab for allowing a user to slide said plunger to a second position in which said chamber is filled with air.