Passive start drip chamber
AssigneeCareFusion 303, Inc.
InventorGeorge Mansour
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drip chamber is described that is used in medical infusion therapy, wherein the drip chamber utilizes valving to control flow of one or more fluids to a patient. The drip chamber includes a body forming a chamber, wherein fluid may enter via two or more flow ports, and an output port, where fluid may exit the chamber. A float controls fluid flow through one or more flow ports into the chamber such that the flow exiting the chamber may be limited to a single fluid or a combination of the fluids entering the chamber. The float is configured to be retained within the chamber, and the float moves within the chamber based on a level of fluid within the chamber. The control characteristics of the float are determinable by attributing specific buoyancy and dimensions to the float.
Claims18
A passive start drip chamber device comprising:
- a body having a top portion and a bottom portion, a chamber formed between the top and bottom portions of the body, a first input flow port at the bottom portion of the body, a second input flow port at the top portion of the body, and an output flow port;
- a first input flow path coupled to and extending from the first input flow port to the top portion of the body such that a fluid flow through the first input flow path enters the chamber through the top portion of the body;
- and
- a float positioned within the chamber, between the top portion of the body and the bottom portion of the body, the float configured to move between an occluding configuration, wherein the first input flow path is occluded, and an open configuration, wherein the first input flow path is not occluded, based on a level of fluid within the chamber.
A passive start drip chamber device comprising:
- a body having a top portion and a bottom portion, a chamber formed between the top and bottom portions of the body, a first input flow port at the bottom portion of the body, a second input flow port at the top portion of the body, and an output flow port, wherein a first input flow path is coupled to and extends from the first input flow port to a channel at a top portion of the body;
- and
- a float positioned within the chamber, between the channel and the output flow port, the float configured to move toward and away from the channel based on a fluid level within the chamber, such that in an occluding configuration, the channel is occluded by the float, and in an open configuration, the channel is not occluded.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.