Flow control device for administration of intravenous fluids

An IV system for accurately establishing and maintaining pre-determined administration flow rates between a purge and "off" position from a source of fluid, said system comprising:

• (a) an in-line flow metering valve including:
• (i) a housing defining a fluid passageway having opposite upper and lower ends, said passageway including a valving surface;
• (ii) a metering member having a body axially moveable relative to said valving surface, said metering member defining a flow metering notch in one surface, said notch having a cross-sectional area which varies axially along said member for metering flow therealong, said metering member further defining a flow passageway for establishing a purge position, said metering member having a first closed position with said body blocking flow at said valving surface, a second purge position with flow across said valving surface at said flow passageway and a third metering position with flow across said valving surface through said notch, said second purge position establishing a greater flow rate than said third metering position;
• (iii) actuating means cooperative with said metering member to axially progressively displace said member relative to said valving surface to establish continuous and infinite flow metering along said notch portion of said flow passage in said third position whereby the user can establish a pre-determined flow rate;
• (b) a drip chamber;
• (c) means connecting said drip chamber to said source of fluid;
• (d) first flexible tubing means interconnecting said upper passageway to said drip chamber whereby said valve may be purged by inverting said valve;
• and
• (e) second flexible tubing means connected to said lower passageway and terminating at administration means.

A metering device for accurately establishing and maintaining predetermined flow rates between a purge and flow blocking positions in an IV system including a source of parenteral or IV fluid and a fluid delivery system, said metering device comprising:

• (a) a housing defining a fluid passageway having opposite ends, one end connectable to said fluid source and the other end connectable to said delivery system, said passageway including a valving surface;
• (b) a metering member having a body axially moveable relative to said valving surface, said metering member defining a flow metering notch in one surface, said notch having a cross-sectional area which varies axially along said member for metering flow therealong, said metering member further defining a flow passageway for establishing a purge position, said metering member having a first closed position with said body blocking flow at said valving surface, a second purge position with flow across said valving surface at said flow passageway and a third metering position with flow across said valving surface through said notch, said second purge position establishing a greater flow rate than said third metering position;
• (c) actuating means cooperative with said metering member to axially progressively displace said member relative to said valving surface to establish continuous and infinite flow metering along said notch portion of said passage in said third position whereby the user can establish a predetermined flow rate.

A metering device for accurately setting flow rates in an IV system including a source of IV or parenteral fluid, said valve comprising:

• (a) a housing having a generally planar back with opposite longitudinal sides and flanges at said sides to facilitate grasping by the user;
• (b) a fluid passageway within said housing;
• (c) a valve seat in said passageway having a valving surface;
• (d) a generally cylindrical metering member axially moveable relative to said valve seat, said metering member including a cam follower and said member further defining a flow passage in a surface having a cross-sectional area which varies axially along at least a section of said flow passage;
• (e) actuating cam means having a generally spiral cam surface cooperable with said cam follower;
• (f) biasing means urging said metering member into engagement with said cam surface in a direction to reduce flow;
• and
• (g) dial means moveable relative to said housing for imparting rotational movement to said actuating cam means whereby said cam surface axially displaces said member relative to said valving seat surface to progressively regulate flow from a closed to a purge position with flow metering occurring along said portion of said flow passage which varies in cross-sectional area.