Intravenous-line air-elimination system
First Claim
1. An air-elimination system, for a fluid delivery system for injection of intravenous fluid into a patient, comprising:
- separation means for permitting the separation of air from the intravenous fluid;
an intravenous line in fluid communication with the separation means;
air-detection means, disposed in the intravenous line, for detecting air in the fluid and emitting a fault-condition signal, the intravenous line having a first portion between the separation means and the air-detection means, and a second portion between the air-detection means and the patient;
valve means, disposed in the intravenous line'"'"'s second portion, for permitting or preventing flow to the patient;
pump means for urging fluid towards the separation means upon activation; and
control means, in communication with the air-detection means, for (i) setting the valve means to prevent flow to the patient and activating the pump means, so as to move the fluid containing air from the air-detection means to the separation means, in response to a fault-condition signal, and otherwise (ii) setting the valve means to permit flow to the patient.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air elimination system is provided for an intravenous fluid delivery system for intravenous injection of fluid into a patient. An air-detection apparatus is disposed in an intravenous fluid line. At the top end of the line is attached a chamber where air may be separated from the fluid. The separation chamber may be a drip chamber, a metering chamber or the intravenous supply. When air is detected, a valve or valves are switched, so that the intravenous fluid is prevented from flowing to the patient, and so that, when a pump is turned on, the fluid is pumped to the separation chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the volume of pump'"'"'s fluid capacity is greater than the volume of the fluid capacity of the intravenous line between the pump and the separation chamber so that the pump can force air back up the intravenous line all the way to the separation chamber.
173 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An air-elimination system, for a fluid delivery system for injection of intravenous fluid into a patient, comprising:
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separation means for permitting the separation of air from the intravenous fluid; an intravenous line in fluid communication with the separation means; air-detection means, disposed in the intravenous line, for detecting air in the fluid and emitting a fault-condition signal, the intravenous line having a first portion between the separation means and the air-detection means, and a second portion between the air-detection means and the patient; valve means, disposed in the intravenous line'"'"'s second portion, for permitting or preventing flow to the patient; pump means for urging fluid towards the separation means upon activation; and control means, in communication with the air-detection means, for (i) setting the valve means to prevent flow to the patient and activating the pump means, so as to move the fluid containing air from the air-detection means to the separation means, in response to a fault-condition signal, and otherwise (ii) setting the valve means to permit flow to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for eliminating air from an intravenous fluid delivery system, comprising the steps of:
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providing a separation chamber where air may separate from the fluid; providing an intravenous line downstream of the separation chamber; providing an air detector in the intravenous line; providing a pump in the intravenous line; providing a valve in the intravenous line downstream of the pump and the air detector; using the air detector to detect air in the fluid; generating a signal when a specified amount of air is detected in the fluid; closing the valve in response to the signal; using the pump to urge fluid upstream through the intravenous line to the separation chamber in response to the signal.
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5. A chamber for the removal of air bubbles in a liquid, the chamber comprising:
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a rigid portion defining part of the chamber; a flexible portion connected to the rigid portion and further defining the chamber such that, when external pressure is applied to the flexible portion, the flexible portion collapses toward the rigid portion forcing the liquid out of the chamber; and a port defined by the rigid portion and located at the upper end of the chamber, the port increasing in cross-sectional area nearer the chamber so as to reduce the likelihood that a bubble will stick to an edge of the port; wherein the port is shaped and sized so that, when the liquid is forced out from the chamber through the port, the liquid'"'"'s surface tension forces a bubble located at the port through the port without allowing the liquid to flow by the bubble easily.
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6. A control unit for receiving a cassette mounted in an intravenous line, the control unit comprising:
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a housing; means, located on the housing, for receiving and actuating the cassette; means, located on the housing, for mounting the control unit to a pole, such that a plurality of control units may be mounted one above the other on the same pole, in order to control several intravenous lines leading to a patient; AC means for receiving AC power from a wall outlet and converting the AC power to DC power, the AC means being connected to the control unit housing by a first cord for carrying DC power; and DC means for receiving DC power from a second control unit mounted on the same pole, wherein the second control unit is connected to a wall outlet, wherein the DC means receives the DC power through a second cord for carrying DC power. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A control unit for receiving a cassette mounted in an intravenous line, the control unit comprising:
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a housing; means, located on the housing, for receiving and actuating the cassette; means, located on the housing, for mounting the control unit to a pole; AC means for receiving AC power from a wall outlet and converting the AC power to DC power; internal-battery means for providing DC power when the AC means is disconnected from the wall outlet, the internal battery means being located inside the housing; and external-battery-receiving means for permitting an external battery pack to be connected to the housing'"'"'s exterior to provide power to the control unit in lieu of AC power from a wall outlet and from the internal-battery means.
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Specification