Device for preserving continuity of intravenous flow
AssigneeBaxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc.
InventorDean L. Kamen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for reducing the rate of flow from a reservoir as the reservoir empties requires only a single chamber having an input, for receiving fluid from a reservoir, and an output port. There is a provision for sensing fluid level in the chamber, and a separate provision for reducing the flow through the output port when fluid level in the chamber has fallen to a predetermined level. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, fluid level is sensed by a float, which, after falling to a predetermined level, actuates a plunger that reduces flow through an aperature at the bottom of the chamber.
Claims8
A device for preserving continuity of fluid flow from a reservoir, such device comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber having an input for receiving fluid from the reservoir and an output port;
- a float, within the housing, responsive to the fluid level in the chamber;
- a mating valve and seat, located in the fluid path between the output port and the chamber;
- such valve being mechanically linked to the float, and disposed so as to mate at an area of contact with the seat when the fluid level has fallen to a predetermined level;
- such seat being formed as an annular face of the housing and defining an opening to the output port;
- at least one of the valve and the seat having a groove on its surface extending entirely across the area of contact, so that when the valve is seated there is permitted flow only at a reduce rate through the groove past the valve to the output port, whereby the flow of fluid abruptly shifts to a reduced rate when the fluid level has fallen to the predetermined level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.