Infusion status indicator
First Claim
1. An indicator device for indicating the status of a flow of a fluid through an infusion line, the indicator device comprising:
- a housing surrounding a cavity through which the fluid may flow, the housing having a fluid inlet adapted to be coupled to a portion of the infusion line from which the fluid would flow into the housing, a fluid outlet adapted to be coupled to a portion of the infusion line into which the fluid would flow out of the housing, and an indicator opening;
a flexible membrane disposed at the indicator opening in contact with the fluid in the cavity, the flexible membrane having a moveable membrane portion configured to move in relation to the indicator opening in response to pressure of the fluid in the cavity to provide distinguishable cues of a status of the flow of the fluid through the infusion line; and
a position indicator disposed in the vicinity of the center of the moveable membrane portion and on an exterior surface of the indicator device, the position indicator configured to provide, by reciprocating linear movement in response to the status of the flow of the fluid through the fluid line, a tactile indication of a position of the moveable membrane portion with respect to the indicator opening.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An infusion status indicator disposed in the medical infusion line includes a housing with an opening through which the status of the infusion may be determined. A flexible membrane is located at the opening to indicate the status of fluid in the cavity. A recessed flexible membrane indicates insufficient flow of medical fluid into the cavity from the fluid supply, a level flexible membrane indicates correct flow of fluid through the indicator, and a concave flexible membrane indicates an insufficient flow of medical fluid out of the cavity, possibly indicating an occlusion of the fluid line downstream of the indicator. Check valves may be included upstream and downstream of the cavity so that a bolus of fluid may be forced out of the cavity to the patient by pressing the flexible membrane into the cavity.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An indicator device for indicating the status of a flow of a fluid through an infusion line, the indicator device comprising:
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a housing surrounding a cavity through which the fluid may flow, the housing having a fluid inlet adapted to be coupled to a portion of the infusion line from which the fluid would flow into the housing, a fluid outlet adapted to be coupled to a portion of the infusion line into which the fluid would flow out of the housing, and an indicator opening; a flexible membrane disposed at the indicator opening in contact with the fluid in the cavity, the flexible membrane having a moveable membrane portion configured to move in relation to the indicator opening in response to pressure of the fluid in the cavity to provide distinguishable cues of a status of the flow of the fluid through the infusion line; and a position indicator disposed in the vicinity of the center of the moveable membrane portion and on an exterior surface of the indicator device, the position indicator configured to provide, by reciprocating linear movement in response to the status of the flow of the fluid through the fluid line, a tactile indication of a position of the moveable membrane portion with respect to the indicator opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An indicator device for indicating the status of delivery of a bolus of a fluid through an infusion line to a patient, the indicator device comprising:
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a housing surrounding a cavity through which the fluid may flow, the housing having a fluid inlet adapted to be coupled to a portion of the infusion line from which the fluid would flow into the housing, a fluid outlet adapted to be coupled to a portion of the infusion line into which the fluid would flow out of the housing, and an indicator opening; and a flexible membrane disposed at the indicator opening in contact with the fluid in the cavity, the flexible membrane having a moveable membrane portion configured to move in relation to the indicator opening in response to pressure of the fluid in the cavity such that the moveable membrane portion has a first position indicating a bolus is ready for delivery and a second position when a bolus is not available for delivery; and a position indicator disposed in the vicinity of the center of the moveable membrane portion and on an exterior surface of the indicator device, the position indicator configured to provide, by reciprocating linear movement in response to the status of the flow of the fluid through the fluid line, a tactile indication of a position of the moveable membrane portion with respect to the indicator opening. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification