초록 ▼

An electronically controlled intravenous infusion set of the gravity feed type having a flow path including a drip chamber and an internal valve for regulating flow through the set. Electromagnetic valve operating structure, positioned outside the IV set, controls the internal valve in response to a

An electronically controlled intravenous infusion set of the gravity feed type having a flow path including a drip chamber and an internal valve for regulating flow through the set. Electromagnetic valve operating structure, positioned outside the IV set, controls the internal valve in response to an electronic control system. The electronic control system serves to open the valve to allow a drop to fall, and includes a control circuit. The control circuit includes an optical drop detector, associated with but positioned outside the drip chamber, which senses the falling drop and signals the control circuit to close the valve. The control circuit also includes a variable frequency clock and associated digital selectors for affording an attendant the ability to precisely select a desired drip rate. An alarm system, operating on digital principles, senses high drop rate or low drop rate conditions and, in response thereto, puts the control system into an alarm condition. The alarm system includes means for digitally adjusting the sensitivity thereof to provide high sensitivity at low drip rates but to decrease the sensitivity at higher rates so that premature alarm conditions are avoided.

대표청구항 ▼

An intervenous infusion set for use with a supply of intravenous fluid, said set comprising in combination, a drip chamber adapted to be connected to said supply, a length of IV tubing connected to said drip chamber and forming with said drip chamber a fluid flow passage, valve means within said pas

An intervenous infusion set for use with a supply of intravenous fluid, said set comprising in combination, a drip chamber adapted to be connected to said supply, a length of IV tubing connected to said drip chamber and forming with said drip chamber a fluid flow passage, valve means within said passage, electromagnetic valve operating means associated with said valve means, drop detector means associated with said drip chamber for sensing drops falling therethrough, a variable frequency clock, digital switch means coupled to said clock for digitally selecting the output frequency of said clock, said variable frequency clock including a time base generator having a preset frequency, a variable modulus counter, said digital switch means being coupled to said counter for allowing an attendant to select the moDulus thereof, and means for multiplying said preset frequency by the selected modulus of said counter for digitally selecting the output frequency of said clock, whereby a desired drop rate may be selected by manipulation of the digital switch means, switch means coupled to said valve operating means for controlling energization of said valve operating means, circuit means coupling said clock to said switch means for actuating said switch means to energize the valve operating means to open the valve at the rate selected by said digital switch means, said circuit means including means responsive to said drop detector means for deactuating said switch means to deenergize the valve operating means and thus enable said valve to close upon sensing of a drop by said drop detector means, and alarm means for detecting errors in the drop rate from that set on said digital switch means and entering an alarm mode in response thereto, said alarm means including means for preventing energization of said switch means whenever said alarm means is in said alarm mode. An intravenous infusion set for use with a supply of intravenous fluid, said set comprising in combination, a drip chamber adapted to be connected to said supply, a length of IV tubing connected to said drip chamber and forming with said drip chamber a fluid flow passage, valve means in the passage for controlling flow of fluid in said passage, circuit means including a timer for opening the valve means at a preselected rate to cause the falling of drops at said rate, and drop detector means associated with said drip chamber and operative upon said circuit means for closing the valve in response to sensing of a drop falling through said drip chamber, said drop detector means including light emitting means at one side of the drip chamber for illuminating at least a portion of said drip chamber, photosensor means at the other side of the drip chamber in opposed relation to said light emitting means for sensing the light from said light emitting means passing through said drip chamber, first circuit means driven by said photosensor means and responsive to the average light sensed by said photosensor means for regulating the intensity of said light emitting means, and second circuit means driven by said photosensor means and responsive to sudden transitions in light as produced by a falling drop and sensed by said photosensor means for producing a drop signal in response to the detection of a drop, whereby said photosensor means serves the dual function of detecting drops and compensating for varying levels of illumination received thereby.