Infusion of liquids into the human or animal body
AssigneeMakkinktech (PTY) Limited
InventorAndrew E. Makkink
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An infusion device includes an upstream pressure control device and a downstream flow control device. The device receives infusion liquid via an inlet and controls the level of liquid in a chamber by means of a float which can close both the inlet and an outlet. A filtered vent maintains atmospheric pressure in the chamber. The device receives infusion liquid at constant head via a flow pipe. A dripper delivers droplets into an airtight chamber. A taper needle renders an orifice adjustably open to a desired degree to deliver liquid at a selected rate. Screw threaded adjustment and calibration means allow calibrated adjustment. A flow pipe delivers a metered flow of infusion liquid for infusion into a human or animal body.
Claims12
A method of operating an infusion device infusing an infusing liquid into the human or animal body, the method including maintaining a constant level of said infusion liquid in a pressure control device which is in flow communication with, such as to be replenished from, a reservoir of said liquid, feeding said infusion under a constant liquid head commensurate with said constant level of said infusion liquid via a first flow line section, which is connected to a flow control device which is separate from and remote from and at a lower level to the pressure control device, dispensing by means of the flow control device the infusion liquid at a predetermined flow rate at a position correspondingly separate from, remote from and at a lower level to said constant level of said infusion liquid in said pressure control device, and conducting the infusion liquid at said predetermined flow rate, via a second flow line section to an infusion needle infusing said infusion liquid into the human or animal body.
An infusion device for use in infusing an infusion liquid into the human or animal body, the infusion device including
- a pressure control device including
- a chamber,
- an inlet into the chamber which inlet includes a connector for connecting the chamber in flow communication to a reservoir of infusion liquid,
- an outlet from the chamber, and
- a level control mechanism for controlling a level of said infusion liquid in the chamber at a constant level;
- a flow control device including an orifice and an adjustable restrictor arranged, adjustably, to restrict flow through the orifice to a desired degree such as to dispense the infusion liquid at a selected flow rate;
- a downstream or second flow line section connected at an upstream end thereof to the flow control device for receiving and conducting to an infusion needle the infusion liquid dispensed by the infusion device for infusion into the human or animal body;
- in which said infusion device includes an upstream or first flow line section connected at an upstream end thereof to said chamber of the pressure control device, the first flow line section leading to the flow control device separate from, remote from, and at a relatively lower level to, the pressure control device, a downstream end of said first flow line section being connected to the flow control device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.