Variable flow rate controller
AssigneeMedical Product Specialists
InventorsDongchul D. Hyun, Michael Fleury
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable flow rate controller is provided herein. The controller may have a linearly traversable switch such that the controller is primed to flush air bubbles out of the fluid system of the controller prior to administering fluidic medication to a patient. Moreover, the controller may have a plurality of valves which may be independently opened and closed by a caming surface. To close the valve, a first seal may be disposed between offset inlet and outlet to prevent fluid from flowing from the inlet to the outlet. To open the valve, the first seal is disposed on one side of both of the inlet and outlet. Fluid if permitted to flow from the inlet to the outlet.
Claims9
A variable fluid flow controller for providing a selected flow rate of fluid to a patient, the controller comprising:
- a controller inlet connectable to a fluid source;
- a plurality of valves, each valve having an outlet and an inlet, the inlets of the plurality of valves in fluid communication with the controller inlet, at least two valves of the plurality of valves traversable between an open position for permitting fluid to flow through the valve and a closed position for blocking fluid from flowing through the valve;
- a linearly traversable switch having a earning surface operative to simultaneously traverse at least two of the plurality of valves between the closed position and the open position, the switch sequentially traversable from a first off position to a second prime position, a third flow rate position and a fourth flow rate position wherein a flow rate is zero at the first off position and all valves are traversed to the open position in the prime position;
- a plurality of flow restrictors inline with the plurality of valves, at least two of the plurality of flow restrictors defining different fluid flow rates;
- and
- a controller outlet in fluid communication with the outlets of the plurality of valves and fluidically communicable with the patient.
A variable fluid flow controller for providing a selected flow rate of fluid to a patient, the controller comprising:
- a controller inlet connectable to a fluid source;
- a plurality of valves, each valve having an outlet and an inlet, the inlets of the plurality of valves in fluid communication with the controller inlet, at least two valves of the plurality of valves traversable between an open position for permitting fluid to flow through the valve and a closed position for blocking fluid from flowing through the valve;
- a switch having a earning surface operative to traverse only one of the plurality of valves to the open position and the remaining valves to the closed position, the switch being sequentially traversable from a first off position to a second prime position, a third flow rate position and a fourth flow rate position, a flow rate being zero at the first off position, the swtich being traverseable between the first off position and the third flow rate position only after being traversed to the second prime position;
- a plurality of flow restrictors in line with the plurality of valves, at least two of the plurality of flow restrictors defining different fluid flow rates;
- and
- a controller outlet in fluid communication with the outlets of the plurality of valves and fluidically communicable with the patient;
- wherein the switch is linearly traversable from the first off position to the second prime position, the third flow rate position and the fourth flow rate position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.