Rotatable flow indicator

Abstract

There is provided herein a flow indicating device for a fluid delivery system, the flow indicating device comprising a housing defining a chamber configured to contain a liquid therein; an inlet in fluid communication with the chamber; an outlet in fluid communication with the chamber; a flow restrictor provided at the inlet; and a compressible bulb comprising a hydrophobic material, the compressible bulb being in fluid communication with the chamber.

Description

Cross-references to related applications

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 581,783, filed on September 11, 2023, entitled “RotatableFlow Indicator,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] Background of the Invention Technical Field This disclosure generally relates to a flow indication device, and more specifically, to a flow indicator for a fluid delivery system.

[0003] Description of the prior art Fluid delivery systems are widely used to deliver therapeutic agents to patients via intravenous infusion. When delivering therapeutic agents intravenously, minimizing the amount of air in the delivery tubing is crucial. While some existing systems (e.g., those described in U.S. Patents 8,282,608 and 10,413,662) are designed to control or allow the release of air from the fluid delivery system, a preferred alternative is to minimize the amount of air that may be introduced. In detecting flow rate in a fluid delivery system, delivering small, precise amounts of air using simple devices is advantageous. Therefore, there is a need in the art for improvements to flow indication devices used in fluid delivery systems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This document provides a flow indicator for a fluid delivery system, the flow indicator comprising a housing defining a chamber configured to contain a liquid therein; an inlet in fluid communication with the chamber; an outlet in fluid communication with the chamber; a flow limiter disposed at the inlet; and a compressible bulb comprising a hydrophobic material in fluid communication with the chamber.

[0005] This document also provides a fluid delivery system comprising a fluid pump; a fluid conduit having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being in fluid communication with the fluid pump; and a flow indicator for the fluid delivery system, the flow indicator comprising a housing defining a chamber configured to contain a liquid therein; an inlet in fluid communication with the chamber; an outlet in fluid communication with the chamber; a flow restrictor disposed at the inlet; and a compressible bulb comprising a hydrophobic material, the compressible bulb being in fluid communication with the chamber. The flow indicator is disposed at the distal end of the fluid conduit and is in fluid communication with the pump. Attached Figure Description

[0006] Figure 1This is a cross-sectional view of a flow indicator device according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein; Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of a flow indicator device according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. Detailed Implementation

[0007] The following description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the described embodiments intended for carrying out the invention. However, various modifications, equivalents, variations, and substitutions will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Any and all of these modifications, variations, equivalents, and substitutions are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0008] In the following text, for descriptive purposes, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “lateral,” “longitudinal,” and their derivatives shall be used in connection with the present invention as oriented as shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the invention may employ various alternative variations unless explicitly stated otherwise. It should also be understood that the specific devices shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification are merely exemplary embodiments of the invention. Therefore, specific dimensions and other physical features associated with the embodiments disclosed herein should not be considered limiting.

[0009] It should be understood that any range of values ​​listed in this article is intended to include all values ​​and subranges contained therein. For example, the range “1 to 10” is intended to include all subranges (inclusive) between the stated minimum value of 1 and the stated maximum value of 10, that is, a minimum value equal to or greater than 1 and a maximum value equal to or less than 10.

[0010] This document provides apparatus and systems for fluid delivery, including the delivery of therapeutic compositions. The apparatus described herein allows for the detection of flow in the fluid delivery system, wherein the amount of air generated is minimized, thereby minimizing the amount of air that may be introduced into the fluid conduit. The advantages provided by the described apparatus include: minimizing air generation and minimizing air introduced into the fluid delivery system, and rapid and easy detection of flow rate in the fluid delivery system.

[0011] Turning Figure 1 and Figure 2 The diagram illustrates a flow indicator 100 for use with a fluid delivery system. The flow indicator 100 may include a housing 110, which may be made of any suitable material (e.g., plastic). Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, housing 110 can be made in any suitable shape, such as spherical, truncated conical, and / or dual-diameter arrangement. In a non-limiting embodiment, housing 110 is at least partially translucent, and in a non-limiting embodiment, housing 110 is at least partially transparent, allowing a user to see the chamber 111 defined by housing 110. Housing 110 may include one or more inlets 112 and one or more outlets 114 through which it is in fluid communication with chamber 111. In a non-limiting embodiment, one or more inlets 112 may be in fluid communication with fluid conduit 130, which itself may be in fluid communication with a pump (e.g., an intravenous pump). In a non-limiting embodiment, one or more inlets 112 may include flow restrictors 132. Suitable flow restrictors 132 may include those configured to generate droplets from a fluid source (e.g., a fluid conduit and / or intravenous pump in fluid communication with one or more inlets 112).

[0012] In a non-limiting embodiment, one or more outlets 114 may include a proximal end 116 and a distal end 118. One or more outlets 114 may be in fluid communication with a fluid conduit 140. A useful fluid conduit 140 may include a proximal end 142 disposed within a chamber 111, which may be aligned with the proximal end 116 of one or more outlets 114, and the proximal end 142 has an opening 143 therein. The distal end 144 of the conduit 140 may extend from one or more outlets 114, may be aligned with the distal end 118 of one or more outlets 114, and may be connected, for example, to an indwelling catheter to deliver fluid to a patient. In a non-limiting embodiment, the housing 110 may have a diameter (x), and the distance by which the proximal end 116 of one or more outlets 114 and / or the proximal end 142 of the fluid conduit 140 extends into the chamber 111 may be at least x / 2. In a non-limiting embodiment, the proximal end 116 of one or more outlets 114 and / or the proximal end 142 of the fluid conduit 140 extends at least to the center of the chamber 111.

[0013] Continue to refer to Figure 1 The flow indicator 100 includes a bulb 120, which may be made of a compressible (and optionally, elastic) material (e.g., rubber). In a non-limiting embodiment, the bulb 120 includes a hydrophobic membrane that separates the chamber 111 from the interior of the bulb 120, preventing any fluid from the chamber 111 from entering the interior of the bulb 120. In a non-limiting embodiment, this membrane prevents air introduced into the chamber 111 by pressing the bulb 120 from re-entering the interior of the bulb 120. In a non-limiting embodiment, the bulb 120 is positioned at a specific height relative to the opening 143.

[0014] In a non-limiting embodiment, the bulb 120 can be used to introduce air into the chamber 111 by compression. Air bubbles can be formed by introducing air into the chamber 111, and these bubbles are visible to the user. In a non-limiting embodiment, the user can rotate the flow indicator 100. Rotation of the flow indicator can position the bubbles introduced by the compressed bulb 120, allowing the user to visualize the flow through the flow restrictor 132. In this way, the flow rate through the restrictor 132 can be determined, allowing the user to determine the flow rate from the intravenous pump and / or the fluid conduit 130. In a non-limiting embodiment, due to the arrangement of the proximal end 142 of the fluid conduit 140 and / or the proximal end 116 of one or more outlets 114, air used to assist in visualizing the flow rate will not enter the fluid conduit 140 through the opening 143. Furthermore, due to the arrangement of one or more inlets 112 and one or more outlets 114, the orientation of the housing 110 is not important for fluid flow through the chamber 111.

[0015] Having described the invention, those skilled in the art will understand that the same operations can be performed within a broad and equivalent range of conditions, formulations, and other parameters without affecting the scope of the invention or any of its embodiments.

Claims

1. A flow rate indicating device for a fluid delivery system, the flow rate indicating device comprising: A housing defining a chamber configured to contain a liquid therein; The inlet is in fluid communication with the chamber; An outlet, which is in fluid communication with the chamber; A flow limiter is provided at the inlet; as well as A compressible bulb, comprising a hydrophobic material, wherein the compressible bulb is in fluid communication with the chamber.

2. The flow rate indicating device according to claim 1, wherein, The flow limiter is configured to cause fluid passing through it to droplets.

3. The flow rate indicating device according to claim 1, wherein, The outlet is located within the cavity.

4. The flow rate indicating device according to claim 3, wherein, The outlet extends inward into the chamber from a first position on the housing, the first position being opposite to a second position on the housing where the input is located.

5. The flow rate indicating device according to claim 4, wherein, The outlet extends at least halfway into the chamber toward the input.

6. A fluid transport system, the fluid transport system comprising: Fluid pump; A fluid conduit, the fluid conduit including a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being in fluid communication with the fluid pump; as well as A flow indicator device, wherein the flow indicator device is disposed at the distal end of the fluid conduit and is in fluid communication with the pump, the flow indicator device comprising: A housing defining a chamber configured to contain a liquid therein; The inlet is in fluid communication with the chamber; An outlet, which is in fluid communication with the chamber; A flow limiter, wherein the flow limiter is disposed at the inlet; and A compressible bulb, comprising a hydrophobic material, wherein the compressible bulb is in fluid communication with the chamber.

7. The fluid transport system according to claim 6, wherein, The flow limiter is configured to cause fluid passing through it to droplets.

8. The fluid transport system according to claim 6, wherein, The outlet is located within the cavity.

9. The fluid transport system according to claim 8, wherein, The outlet extends inward into the chamber from a first position on the housing, the first position being opposite to a second position on the housing where the input is located.

10. The fluid transport system according to claim 9, wherein, The outlet extends at least halfway into the chamber toward the input.

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