Apparatus for indicating fluid pressure in a conduit
First Claim
1. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:
- (a) a base;
(b) stored energy means for forming, in conjunction with said base a fluid reservoir having an outlet, said energy storage means comprising at least one generally planar, distendable member having a peripheral portion affixed to said base, said member being distendable as a result of pressure imparted by the fluids to be infused, to establish internal stresses, said stresses tending to move said member toward a less distended configuration;
(c) an outlet port in communication with said outlet of said fluid reservoir for dispensing fluids from the device; and
(d) fluid actuated indicator means disposed intermediate said fluid outlet of said reservoir and said outlet port for visually indicating fluid flow from said fluid reservoir.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for visually indicating fluid flow through a fluid system or apparatus such as a medical infusion device. The apparatus comprises a pair of thin, indicia bearing films disposed in an overlaying relationship. These films are shifted relative to each other by movement of mechanical actuators which are deflected solely by the pressure of the fluid within the fluid conduits of the system of the apparatus. The two films are stacked in closed proximity and are preferably constructed from a substantially transparent flexible material such as mylar. One surface of the inferior film is printed with a plurality of integrated symbols depicting various fluid flow conditions. The superior film functions as a mask over the inferior film and is printed with a pattern of diagonally extending, alternating clear and opaque stripes. The print ratio of the superior film permits viewing at any one time of only one of the symbols printed on the inferior film.
78 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:
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(a) a base; (b) stored energy means for forming, in conjunction with said base a fluid reservoir having an outlet, said energy storage means comprising at least one generally planar, distendable member having a peripheral portion affixed to said base, said member being distendable as a result of pressure imparted by the fluids to be infused, to establish internal stresses, said stresses tending to move said member toward a less distended configuration; (c) an outlet port in communication with said outlet of said fluid reservoir for dispensing fluids from the device; and (d) fluid actuated indicator means disposed intermediate said fluid outlet of said reservoir and said outlet port for visually indicating fluid flow from said fluid reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:
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(a) a base; (b) stored energy means for forming, in conjunction with said base a fluid reservoir having an outlet, said stored energy means comprising at least one distendable member superimposed over said base, said member being distendable as a result of pressure imparted by the fluids to be infused to establish internal stresses, said stresses tending to move said member toward a less distended configuration; (c) an outlet port in communication with said outlet of said reservoir for dispensing fluids from the device; and (d) flow control means disposed intermediate said outlet of said reservoir and said outlet port for controlling the rate of flow of fluid from the device, said flow control means comprising; (i) a permeable membrane; and (ii) support means for supporting said permeable membrane within the path of fluid flowing from said outlet of said reservoir toward said outlet port. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:
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(a) a base; (b) stored energy means for forming, in conjunction with said base a fluid reservoir having a fluid inlet and a outlet, said stored energy means comprising a distendable member superimposed over said base, said member being distendable to establish internal stresses, said stresses tending to return said member to less distended configuration to urge fluid flow through said fluid outlet; (c) an outlet port in communication with said outlet of said reservoir for dispensing fluids from the device; and (d) fluid actuated indicator means disposed intermediate said fluid outlet of said reservoir and said outlet port for visually indicating fluid flow from said fluid reservoir, said indicator means comprising; (i) a pair of thin films disposed in an overlaying relationship, at least one of said thin films having indicating indicia viewable upon relative movement of said films; and (ii) actuator means communicating with said fluid outlet for moving at least one of said thin films relative to the other in response to fluid pressure being exerted on said actuator means. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:
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(a) a base; (b) stored energy means for forming, in conjunction with said base, a fluid reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, said stored energy means comprising a distendable member comprising a plurality of prestressed, elastic members superimposed over said base said member being distendable to establish internal stresses tending to return said member toward a less distended configuration; (c) an outlet port in communication with said outlet of said fluid reservoir for dispensing fluids from the device; (d) a first fluid conduit in communication with said outlet of said reservoir; (e) flow control means disposed intermediate said outlet of said reservoir and said outlet port for controlling the flow of fluid from the device, said flow control means including a second fluid conduit in communication with said reservoir; and (f) fluid actuated indicator means disposed intermediate said outlet of said reservoir and said outlet port for visually indicating fluid flow from said outlet of said reservoir, said fluid actuated indicator means comprising; (i) first and second thin films disposed in an overlaying relationship, at least one of said first and second thin films having indicating indicia viewable upon relative movement between portions of said first and second films; and (ii) actuator means communicating with said fluid outlets of said first and second fluid conduits for moving portions of said first and second films relative to each other in response to fluid pressure being exerted on said actuator means by fluid within said first and second fluid conduits. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:
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(a) a base; (b) stored energy means for forming, in conjunction with said base, a fluid reservoir having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, said stored energy means comprising at least one distendable member superimposed over said base, said member being distendable, as a result of fluids being introduced through said fluid inlet to establish internal stresses, said stresses tending to return said member toward a less distended configuration; (c) an outlet port in communication with said outlet of said fluid reservoir for dispensing fluids from the device; (d) a first fluid conduit in communication with said outlet of said reservoir; (e) flow control means disposed intermediate said fluid outlet of said reservoir and said outlet port for controlling the rate of flow of fluid from the device, said flow control means including a second fluid conduit in communication with said outlet of said reservoir; and (f) indicator means disposed intermediate said flow control means and said outlet port for visually indicating fluid flow from said fluid reservoir, said indicator means comprising; (i) a pair of thin films disposed in an overlaying relationship, at least one of said thin films having indicating indicia viewable upon relative movement between said films; and (ii) actuator means communicating with said fluid outlet for moving at least one of said thin films relative to each other in response to fluid pressure being exerted on said actuator means. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification