Intravenous drip rate control device

• Main Authors: ARNOLD, JR.; JOHN E, KING; ROGER A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.01.1985
• Edition: 3
• Subjects: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROMTHE BODY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ARTCOLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

An intravenous drip rate control device includes a control valve having horizontally oriented valve members each provided with valve elements arranged in interdigitating relation with respect to each other. A drip rate sensor senses each intravenous drip and produces an electrical signal in response to each drip. A microprocessor unit compares the sensed drip rate to a preset drip rate and controls operation of an actuating unit which causes one of the valve members to shift toward and away from the other valve member. When one of the valve members is shifted toward the other valve member, a horizontal portion of the drip tube is progressively stretched to narrow the opening through the stretched portion of the tube and thereby reduce the drip rate. When the valve member is shifted away from the other valve member, the tension on the stretched portion of the tube will be progressively released, thereby increasing the opening in the tube and increasing the drip rate.