Apparatus for controllably administering a parenteral fluid

An apparatus for administering a parenteral liquid from a parenteral liquid container to the patient comprising:

• a reservoir chamber;
• connection means for said fluid container in fluid-tight engagement with one end of said chamber, said connection means defining a fluid flow inlet passageway into said chamber;
• closure means in fluid-tight engagement with another end of said chamber, said closure means defining a fluid flow outlet passageway;
• fluid passage means extending into said chamber and in communication with said fluid flow inlet and outlet passageways;
• means defining a first and a second orifice in separate communication with said fluid passage means, said first and second orifices spaced from each other a predetermined distance, said first orifice positioned a greater distance inwardly in said chamber and away from said closure means defining said outlet passageway;
• means operatively associated with said first and second orifices and within said reservoir chamber to provide a reservoir of said liquid for flow through said second orifice after flow of said liquid through said first orifice and to substantially eliminate the flow of air into said first orifice;
• and
• means connected to said closure means defining said outlet passage for administering said liquid.

An apparatus for administering a parenteral liquid from a parenteral liquid container to the patient comprising:

• a reservoir chamber;
• connection means for said fluid container in fluid-tight engagement with one end of said chamber, said connection means defining a fluid flow inlet passageway into said chamber;
• closure means in fluid-tight engagement with another end of said chamber, said closure means defining a fluid flow outlet passageway;
• fluid passage means extending into said chamber and in communication with said fluid flow inlet and outlet passageways;
• means defining an orifice in communication with said fluid passage means and said fluid flow inlet and outlet passageways;
• means defining another orifice in separate communication with said fluid flow inlet and outlet passageways, said other orifice spaced from said fluid passage means and said orifice in communication with said fluid passage means;
• means operatively associated with both said orifices and within said reservoir chamber to provide a reservoir of said liquid for flow through said orifice in communication with said fluid passage means after flow of said liquid through said other orifice and to substantially eliminate the flow of air into said other orifice;
• and
• means connected to said closure means defining said outlet passage for administering said liquid.

An automatic flow regulator for delivering a fluid, such as a parenteral solution, from a source to a patient, the flow regulator comprising:

• a reservoir chamber for receiving fluid from the source;
• inlet means at one end of said reservoir chamber for associating with said source, and for delivering fluid from said source to said reservoir chamber;
• outlet means at the opposite end of said reservoir chamber for delivering fluid from said reservoir chamber to the patient;
• primary delivery means for conveying fluid from said reservoir chamber to said outlet means at a first flow rate;
• valve means positioned within said reservoir chamber and in the fluid path between said reservoir chamber and said primary delivery means, said valve means being for discontinuing the conveyance of fluid from said reservoir chamber to said outlet means and for preventing the passage of air through said primary delivery means when the level of fluid in said reservoir chamber drops, by continued infusion, below a predetermined threshold level;
• and secondary delivery means for continually conveying fluid from said reservoir chamber to said outlet means at a second flow rate less than said first flow rate, whereby the flow of fluid to said outlet means is from said primary delivery means and said secondary delivery means when the level of fluid is above said threshold level, but is only from said secondary delivery means when the level of fluid is below said threshold level.

An automatic flow regulator for delivering a fluid, such as a parenteral solution, from a source to a patient, the flow regulator comprising:

• a reservoir chamber for receiving fluid from the source;
• inlet means at one end of said reservoir chamber for associating with said source, and for delivering fluid from said source to said reservoir chamber;
• outlet means at the opposite end of said reservoir chamber for delivering fluid from said reservoir chamber to the patient;
• primary delivery means for conveying fluid from said reservoir chamber to said outlet means at a first flow rate, said primary delivery means including a mechanism for discontinuing the conveyance of fluid from said reservoir chamber to said outlet means when the level of fluid in said reservoir chamber drops, by continued infusion, below a predetermined threshold level;
• secondary delivery means for continually conveying fluid from said reservoir chamber to said outlet means at a second flow rate less than said first flow rate;
• wherein said mechanism includes valve means which closes to the passage of air when said level of fluid drops below said threshold level.