Method and Apparatus for Controlling the Flow Rate of Fluid Discharge
AssigneeSafepush, LLC
InventorsKENNETH PAUL PERRY, JR., TONIA DANDRY AIKEN, JAMES BEAM AIKEN, TINA DANDRY MAYES
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for use in controlling a dispensing rate of medication or other substance via a syringe, including, without limitation, into a patient, intravenous line port or heparin lock. A fluid flow rate control apparatus has a housing defining an inner chamber with an inlet port and an outlet port. Sealing seats are formed at or near both the inlet and outlet ports, and a moveable sealing element, such as a ball, can move within the inner chamber between the sealing seats. A spring biases the ball toward the inlet port sealing seat.
Claims17
A fluid flow control apparatus comprising:
- a) a housing defining an internal chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
- b) a ball moveably disposed within said internal chamber, wherein said ball is at least as large as said fluid outlet;
- c) a compression spring disposed between said ball and said fluid outlet, wherein said compression spring biases said ball away from said fluid outlet when fluid flow rate in said internal chamber is less than a predetermined rate, but allows said ball to block said fluid outlet and interrupt flow through said fluid outlet when said fluid flow rate exceeds said predetermined rate.
A fluid flow control apparatus comprising:
- a) a housing having a first bore extending through said housing, wherein said first bore has an inlet and an outlet;
- b) a ball moveably disposed within said first bore between said inlet and said outlet;
- c) a ball seat disposed between said ball and said outlet;
- and
- d) a compression spring disposed between said ball and said ball seat, wherein said compression spring biases said ball away from said ball seat when fluid flow rate in said first bore is less than a predetermined rate, but allows said ball to engage with said ball seat and restrict fluid flow through said outlet when said fluid flow rate exceeds said predetermined rate.
A method of regulating flow rate of fluid administered by a syringe comprising:
- a) attaching a flow control apparatus to a fluid outlet of a syringe, wherein said flow control apparatus comprises:
- i) a housing having a first bore extending through said housing, wherein said first bore has an inlet and an outlet;
- ii) a ball moveably disposed within said first bore between said inlet and said outlet;
- iii) a ball seat disposed between said ball and said outlet;
- and
- iv) a compression spring disposed between said ball and said ball seat, wherein said compression spring biases said ball away from said ball seat;
- b) depressing a plunger of said syringe;
- c) directing fluid through said inlet and into said first bore;
- and
- d) compressing said spring and restricting fluid flowing through said outlet when a fluid flow rate through said first channel exceeds a predetermined flow rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.