초록 ▼

The invention is directed to an improved system for mounting a drop sensor onto a drip chamber having laterally projecting wing-like or flange-like extensions. A pair of mounting members, one fixed, one laterally movable, are provided on the drop sensor housing. The mounting members have inclined gu

The invention is directed to an improved system for mounting a drop sensor onto a drip chamber having laterally projecting wing-like or flange-like extensions. A pair of mounting members, one fixed, one laterally movable, are provided on the drop sensor housing. The mounting members have inclined guiding surfaces which cradle both ends of the lateral extensions on the drip chamber during the initial stages of mounting the drop sensor to the drip chamber and guide drop sensor movement with respect to the drip chamber to its final mounted position thereon. The mounting system is particularly adapted to dedicated IV set and drop sensor combinations.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for monitoring the flow of parenteral fluid to a patient through a fluid administration set which includes a drip chamber having an elongated, clear plastic body with means to drip parenteral fluid therein and having a pair of opposed lateral extensions at the upper portion thereof, the sys

A system for monitoring the flow of parenteral fluid to a patient through a fluid administration set which includes a drip chamber having an elongated, clear plastic body with means to drip parenteral fluid therein and having a pair of opposed lateral extensions at the upper portion thereof, the system comprising: a. a drop sensor having a housing with a first section at one end thereof containing a light source, a second section at the other end thereof containing a light sensor, and a sensor gap provided between the first and the second housing sections which has an optical pathway between the light source and the light sensor and which is adapted to receive the elongated, clear plastic body of the drip chamber; b. a fixed mounting member on one of said housing sections having one or more vertically inclined guiding surfaces which engage the end of one of the lateral extensions on the drip chamber and slide under the edges of the end of the extension during the mounting of the drop sensor to the drip chamber and having vertically and horizontally oriented means at the end of such guiding surfaces to engage the lateral extension on the drip chamber in contact therewith and position the fixed mounting member with respect thereto; c. a laterally movable mounting member on the other housing section having means to urge the movable mounting member toward the fixed mounting member, having one or more vertically inclined guiding surfaces divergently oriented to the inclined surfaces of the fixed mounting member which engage the end of the other lateral extension of the drip chamber and which slide under the edges of the lateral extension of the drip chamber when the drop sensor is mounted thereto and having means at the ends of the inclined guiding surfaces to engage the lateral extension on the drip chamber in contact therewith and position the movable mounting member with respect thereto; d. at least one of the lateral extensions on the upper portion of the drip chamber having a notch or recess on the end thereof; e. at least one of the vertically inclined guide surfaces comprising a projecting rib which interfits into the notch or recess provided in the lateral extension of the drip chamber; and f. a positioning surface on the drop sensor housing facing the sensor gap which contacts the elongated, clear plastic body of the drip chamber to ensure that drops of parenteral fluid dripping into the drip chamber intersect an optical pathway through the drip chamber body between the light source and the light sensor of the drop sensor.