Color changing and pressure sensing check valves
AssigneeCareFusion 303, Inc.
InventorLeyla Yamin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A check valve includes an upper housing defining an inlet of the check valve, and a lower housing having a seating portion and defining an outlet of the check valve. The check valve further includes a chamber interposed between and defined by the upper and lower housings for fluidly connecting the inlet and the outlet, and a flexible diaphragm mounted in the chamber. The flexible diaphragm selectively permits fluid flow in a first direction, and prevents fluid backflow in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The flexible diaphragm includes a color changing material, and when the flexible diaphragm is seated on the seating portion and bent due to force of the fluid flowing in the first direction, the flexible diaphragm exhibits a color change.
Claims20
A check valve, comprising:
- an upper housing defining a fluid inlet and having an internal surface, the internal surface comprising:
- a first portion defining a ceiling;
- and
- a second portion defining sidewalls of a chamber, each sidewall having a convex shape;
- a fluid outlet;
- a chamber fluidly connecting the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet;
- and
- a flexible diaphragm disposed in the chamber, the flexible diaphragm comprising a color changing material configured to exhibit a color change when the flexible diaphragm is one of bent, bowed and deformed by a fluid flow from the fluid inlet.
An intravenous (IV) set, comprising:
- a drip chamber configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid source;
- and
- a check valve fluidly coupled to the drip chamber, the check valve, comprising:
- an upper housing defining a fluid inlet and having an internal surface, the internal surface comprising:
- a first portion defining a ceiling;
- and
- a second portion defining sidewalls of a chamber, each sidewall having a convex shape;
- a fluid outlet;
- a chamber fluidly connecting the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet;
- and
- a flexible diaphragm disposed in the chamber, the flexible diaphragm comprising a color changing material configured to exhibit a color change when the flexible diaphragm is one of bent, bowed and deformed by a fluid flow from the fluid inlet.
An intravenous (IV) set, comprising:
- a primary fluid system;
- a first drip chamber coupled to the primary fluid system;
- a secondary fluid system;
- a second drip chamber coupled to the secondary fluid system;
- and
- a check valve coupled to the first drip chamber and to the second drip chamber, the check valve, comprising:
- an upper housing defining a fluid inlet and having an internal surface, the internal surface comprising:
- a first portion defining a ceiling;
- and
- a second portion defining sidewalls of a chamber, each sidewall having a convex shape;
- a fluid outlet;
- a chamber fluidly connecting the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet;
- and
- a flexible diaphragm disposed in the chamber, the flexible diaphragm comprising a color changing material configured to exhibit a color change when the flexible diaphragm is one of bent, bowed and deformed by a fluid flow from the fluid inlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.