Means for controlling fluid flow
OwnerEllis Whiteside Clarkeinventor
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Abstract
The invention provides means for controlling the flow of fluids such as parenteral fluids. It comprises a body and flexing means. The body defines a passageway with opposed flexible walls which can be held in contact throughout their cross-section except for a limited region of which the cross-section varies along the body. The limited region may be formed by tapered grooves in the walls. The flexing means retains the body flexed so that the walls thereof are held in contact over a localized area of limited axial length, due at least partly to the internal stresses set up in the body arising from its flexure. The body is movable lengthwise relative to the flexing means to alter the position of the localized area and thus to alter the rate of fluid flow through the body.
Claims13
Means for controlling fluid flow comprising a body defining a passageway having opposed flexible walls which for at least a portion of the axial length of the body are capable of being held in mutual contact throughout their cross-section except for a limited region, this region being a cross-sectional flow area which varies along the general direction of flow through the passageway, and flexing means operative to retain the body in a predetermined flexed state such that the walls are held in contact, over a localised area of limited axial length, due at least in part to the internal stresses set up in the body arising from the flexure of the body rather than to external clamping forces applied to the opposite sides of the walls immediately adjacent to said area, said flexing means being arranged that said body can be moved lengthwise relative to the flexing means so as to alter the position of said localised area while the body is maintained in said flexed state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.