Sliding flow controller
AssigneeCareFusion 303, Inc.
InventorWesley Underwood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flow controller having an internal tubing is provided. The flow controller may include an upper housing having a plurality of graduations, a lower housing engaged with and slidably coupled to the lower housing, and a cavity defined between the upper and lower housings for accommodating at least a portion of internal tubing. The flow controller may further include a flexible clamp having an upper section mounted in the upper housing and a lower section slidably disposed in the lower housing. The upper and lower housings may be slidably coupled relative to each other to transition the internal tubing from (i) an open position where a lumen of the internal tubing is uncompressed by the flexible clamp to (ii) a closed position where the lumen of the tubing is at least partially constricted by the flexible clamp.
Claims20
A flow controller, comprising:
- an upper housing including a plurality of graduations;
- a lower housing engaged with and slidably coupled to the upper housing linearly and without rotation;
- an internal tubing;
- a cavity defined between the upper and lower housings for accommodating at least a portion of the internal tubing;
- and
- a flexible clamp having an upper section mounted in the upper housing and a lower section slidably disposed in the lower housing, the upper and lower housings being slidably coupled relative to each other between an open position where a lumen of the internal tubing is uncompressed by the flexible clamp and a closed position where the lumen of the internal tubing is at least partially constricted by the flexible clamp,
- wherein the lower housing comprises a first side wall comprising an internal guide groove disposed on an interior surface of the first side wall and facing into the cavity and extending from a lower proximal face to a lower distal face, wherein a lower protrusion of the upper housing is slidably mounted in the internal guide groove within the lower housing to move the upper housing relative to the lower housing.
A flow controller for intravenous (IV) tubing, the flow controller comprising:
- an upper housing including a plurality of graduations;
- a lower housing comprising a ramped surface and slidably coupled to the upper housing linearly and without rotation;
- a flexible clamp mounted in the upper housing and extending into the lower housing;
- and
- a flexible internal tubing disposed in a cavity defined between the upper and lower housings, the flexible internal tubing extending through a guide portion of the flexible clamp, wherein the upper housing is configured to slide over the lower housing such that the flexible clamp compresses a portion of the flexible internal tubing,
- wherein the lower housing comprises a first side wall comprising a guide groove disposed in an interior surface of the first side wall facing into the cavity and extending from a lower proximal face to a lower distal face, wherein a lower protrusion of the upper housing is slidably mounted in the guide groove within the lower housing to move the upper housing relative to the lower housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.