Modular intravenous assembly

Abstract

To provide a modular IV assembly that combines many IV component core functions into one device, thus reducing manufacturing complexity and costs, as well as improving usability by a user.SOLUTION: Modular intravenous (IV) assemblies are provided. The modular IV assembly includes: a drip chamber having a body and an inlet connector; a base housing coupled directly to a base portion of the drip chamber, the base housing having an inlet port in fluid connection with the drip chamber and a flow path cavity in fluid connection with the inlet port; and a flow control assembly coupled directly to a first portion of the base housing. Any of a filter assembly, an anti-run dry member, a check valve, and an air vent assembly may be included in the modular IV assembly. IV sets and methods of use are also provided.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Not applicable [Background technology]

[0002] Intravenous (IV) infusion sets typically include several components, each with a core function, such as a drip chamber, roller clamp, pinch clamp, filter, and check valve. These components are typically connected together by lengths of IV tubing to provide a complete IV infusion set that is packaged as a ready-to-use disposable IV set. Such IV infusion sets have a significant number of IV tubing connections, which results in a correspondingly greater risk of leaking connections as the number of IV tubing connections increases. Each separate component also presents the user with another interconnection point. These factors result in higher manufacturing complexity and cost. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] It would be desirable to provide a modular IV assembly that incorporates many IV component core functions into one device, thus reducing manufacturing complexity and cost and increasing usability for the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The present disclosure provides a modular IV assembly that combines the core functions of several IV infusion set components.

[0005] In one or more embodiments, a modular intravenous (IV) assembly is provided. The modular IV assembly includes a drip chamber having a body and an inlet connector. The modular IV assembly also includes a base housing directly coupled to a base portion of the drip chamber, the base housing having an inlet port in fluid communication with the drip chamber and a flow path cavity in fluid communication with the inlet port. The modular IV assembly further includes a flow control assembly directly coupled to a first portion of the base housing. The flow control assembly includes a roller housing, a roller, and a flow control membrane disposed between the roller and the flow path cavity in the base housing.

[0006] In one or more embodiments, the flow path cavity includes a first flow area having a constant width and a varying depth and a second flow area having a varying width and a constant depth. In one or more embodiments, the flow control assembly is configured to prevent fluid flow through the base housing when the roller is engaged with the flow control membrane adjacent a start of the first flow area. In one or more embodiments, the flow control assembly is configured to provide sufficient fluid flow through the base housing when the roller is engaged with the flow control membrane adjacent an end portion of the second flow area. In one or more embodiments, the flow control assembly is configured to provide increasing fluid flow through the base housing as the roller engaged with the flow control membrane moves from the end portion of the second flow area.

[0007] In one or more embodiments, the filter assembly is directly coupled to the second portion of the base housing. In one or more embodiments, the first portion and the second portion are on opposite sides of the base housing. In one or more embodiments, the filter assembly includes a filter housing directly coupled to the second portion of the base housing and a filter membrane disposed between the filter housing and the second portion of the base housing. In one or more embodiments, the filter membrane includes a hydrophilic material that prevents gas from passing through the filter membrane when the filter membrane is wetted. In one or more embodiments, the first surface of the filter membrane is disposed adjacent to and at a distance from the inner surface of the second portion of the base housing, and the space between the inner surface of the second portion and the first surface of the filter membrane is configured to provide a flow path for fluid from the flow control assembly to enter the second portion of the base housing. In one or more embodiments, the second surface of the filter membrane is positioned adjacent to and at a distance from the inner surface of the filter housing, and the space between the inner surface of the filter housing and the second surface of the filter membrane is configured to provide a flow path for fluid through the filter membrane.

[0008] In one or more embodiments, the run-dry prevention member includes one of a separate layer disposed on a filter membrane and an integrally formed material including the filter membrane. In one or more embodiments, the run-dry prevention member includes a filter housing directly connected to a second portion of the base housing, a fluid outlet housing directly connected to the filter housing, and a one-way check valve disposed between the outlet cavity on the outer surface of the filter housing and the fluid outlet housing, the one-way check valve configured to allow fluid to flow out of the outlet cavity through an exit port in the fluid outlet housing while preventing fluid from flowing in the opposite direction into the outlet cavity. In one or more embodiments, the fluid outlet housing, check valve, and outlet cavity are disposed in an upper portion of the base housing adjacent to the drip chamber. In one or more embodiments, the fluid outlet housing, check valve, and outlet cavity are disposed in a lower portion of the base housing.

[0009] In one or more embodiments, the air vent assembly is directly coupled to the second portion of the base housing, the first portion and the second portion being on opposite sides of the base housing, and the air vent assembly includes: a vent cavity disposed in the second portion of the base housing; a vent port disposed in the vent cavity, the vent port coupled to an air flow path in the base housing; and an air vent membrane disposed in the vent cavity. In one or more embodiments, the air vent membrane includes a small-pore hydrophobic material that allows gas to pass through the air vent membrane and out through the vent port while preventing liquid from passing through the air vent membrane and into the vent port. In one or more embodiments, the drip chamber includes a self-leveling assembly having a lower housing portion positioned adjacent to the base housing at the base portion of the drip chamber, a leveling outlet port aligned with the inlet port in the base housing, first and second leveling inlet ports positioned adjacent to opposite sides of the leveling outlet port, and a barrier disposed within the first leveling inlet port.

[0010] In one or more embodiments, an intravenous (IV) set is provided. The IV set includes a modular IV assembly having a drip chamber having a body and an inlet connector, a base housing directly coupled to a base portion of the drip chamber, the base housing having an inlet port in fluid communication with the drip chamber and a flow path cavity in fluid communication with the inlet port, and a flow control assembly directly coupled to a first portion of the base housing, the flow control assembly including a roller housing, a roller, and a flow control membrane disposed between the roller and the flow path cavity in the base housing. The IV set also includes a fluid container coupled to the inlet connector of the drip chamber by a first IV tubing. The IV set further includes a fluid delivery member coupled to the modular IV assembly by a second IV tubing.

[0011] In one or more embodiments, a method for delivering a medical fluid is provided. The method includes connecting a fluid container to a modular intravenous (IV) assembly by a first IV tube, the modular IV assembly including a drip chamber having a body and an inlet connector, a base housing directly coupled to a base portion of the drip chamber, the base housing having an inlet port in fluid communication with the drip chamber and a flow path cavity in fluid communication with the inlet port, and a flow control assembly directly coupled to the first portion of the base housing, the flow control assembly including a roller housing, a roller, and a flow control membrane disposed between the roller and the flow path cavity in the base housing. The method also includes connecting a fluid delivery member to the modular IV assembly by a second IV tube. The method further includes adjusting a fluid flow rate from the modular IV assembly to the fluid delivery member by moving a roller in the flow control assembly.

[0012] Additional features and advantages of the present disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the present disclosure. The objectives and other advantages of the present disclosure will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the description and claims set forth herein, as well as the appended drawings.

[0013] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the present disclosure as claimed.

[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate examples of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a typical assembled infusion set. [Figure 2]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular IV assembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the modular IV assembly of FIG. 2 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a front view of the modular IV assembly of FIG. 2 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the modular IV assembly of FIG. 2 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the modular IV assembly of FIG. 2 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged view of the modular IV assembly of FIG. 6 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a modular IV assembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a modular IV assembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a modular IV assembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a front view of a base housing of a modular IV assembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of the base housing of FIG. 11 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a flow control assembly of a modular IV assembly according to some aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 14] 14 is a graph showing the change in flow area based on the flow control assembly of FIG. 13. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a modular IV assembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the modular IV assembly of FIG. 15 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 17]FIG. 1 is a front view of a portion of an air vent assembly of a modular IV assembly, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 18] FIG. 1 is a front view of a drip chamber of a modular IV assembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a front view of the self-leveling assembly of the drip chamber of FIG. 18 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 20] 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the self-leveling assembly of FIG. 19. [Figure 21] 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the self-leveling assembly of FIG. 19. [Figure 22] 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the self-leveling assembly of FIG. 19. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The detailed description set forth below describes various configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the subject technology may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details to provide a thorough understanding of the subject technology. Accordingly, dimensions are provided with respect to particular embodiments as non-limiting examples. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject technology may be practiced without these specific details. In some cases, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the concepts of the subject technology.

[0017] It should be understood that the present disclosure includes examples of the subject technology and does not limit the scope of the appended claims. Various aspects of the subject technology are disclosed herein according to specific, but non-limiting examples. The various embodiments described in this disclosure can be implemented in different ways and variations according to a desired application or implementation.

[0018] An IV infusion set can be formed from any combination of infusion components and tubing. Typically, the infusion components and tubing are disposable products that are discarded after a single use. The infusion components and tubing can be formed from any suitable material (e.g., plastic, silicone, rubber). A challenge in manufacturing an IV infusion set is connecting the composite tubing and the infusion components to obtain a leak-free, reliable connection with the desired fluid flow. A challenge in using an IV infusion set is having many separate components, which presents the user with many interconnection points.

[0019] 1, a typical infusion set 30 may include a drip chamber 40, a check valve 50, a roller clamp 60, and a Y-junction 70, all connected together by tubing 20. A typical infusion set 30 may include additional infusion components (e.g., pinch clamp, filter) and may be formed from any combination of components and tubing 20.

[0020] According to some aspects of the present disclosure, a modular IV assembly incorporates core functions of IV components into one device, thus reducing the number of tubing connections required for an IV infusion set. According to some aspects of the present disclosure, a modular IV assembly provides a design that can be more easily automated than traditional IV infusion sets.

[0021] According to some aspects of the present disclosure, the modular IV assembly provides a design configuration that facilitates easy replacement and exchange of core functional components during the manufacturing process. According to some aspects of the present disclosure, the modular IV assembly provides the user with only one interconnection point.

[0022] A modular IV assembly 100, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, is shown in FIGS. 2-10. The modular IV assembly 100 includes a drip chamber 110, a flow control assembly 120, a filter assembly 130, an air vent assembly 140 (e.g., for the fluid path), an anti-run dry (ARD) member 150, and a check valve 160. Thus, the modular IV assembly provides a single device with many different features, such as run-dry prevention fluid flow, droplet visibility, flow control, fluid filtration, air venting (e.g., line degassing), and flow directional control from the check valve. The modular IV assembly 100 may have a large area below the drip chamber 110, thus providing an area for easy user gripping.

[0023] Drip chamber 110 has a body 112 formed from a material suitable for use in infusion procedures. For example, body 112 can be formed from a hard plastic that is not squeezable and therefore has a self-priming function. As another example, body 112 can be formed from a flexible plastic that is squeezable and therefore does not require a self-priming function. Body 112 can be transparent to allow droplets of fluid to be visible as they enter drip chamber 110. Drip chamber 110 is coupled to base housing 170. For example, body 112 can be an elongated cylinder having a base portion 113 coupled to drip chamber coupling portion 172 of base housing 170. Drip chamber coupling portion 172 includes an inlet port 173 that provides a fluid path from drip chamber 110 to base housing 170 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). Any size and shape is contemplated for drip chamber 110 and, accordingly, drip chamber coupling portion 172. An inlet connector 114 is coupled to the body 112. The inlet connector 114 may be configured to receive IV tubing, for example, from a fluid source (e.g., an IV bag). As another example, the inlet connector 114 may be configured to connect directly to an IV fluid container (e.g., a bag, a bottle) via a spike connection.

[0024] The flow control assembly 120 is coupled to the base housing 170. The flow control assembly 120 includes a roller housing 122, a roller 124, and a flow control membrane 126. The roller housing 122 is sized and shaped to couple with the base housing 170. The roller 124 is movably coupled to the roller housing 122. For example, the axle 125 of the roller 124 may be received in a channel 123 disposed in an opposing wall of the roller housing 122, and the axle 125 moves axially along the channel 123 when the roller 124 is moved. The flow control membrane 126 is sized and shaped to be received within the base housing 170. The flow control membrane 126 may be formed from a flexible material (e.g., an elastomer) such that the flow control membrane 126 can deflect into the fluid flow path 174 when the roller 124 engages the flow control membrane 126. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the flow control assembly may include a different control member other than roller 124, such as a lever, slider, or knob, for example.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 11-13, the base housing 170 may be formed from a rigid plastic, and the fluid flow path 174 is formed by a cavity 176 disposed within the surface of the base housing 170. The cavity 176 may vary in both width and depth to provide various fluid flow rates based on the position of the roller 124. For example, the cavity 176 shown in FIG. 12 has a first cross-section 174a having a length L1 of 15 mm and a width A of 0.75 mm, and a second cross-section 174b having a length L2 of 15 mm and a width C of 2.5 mm. The depth of the first cross-section 174a increases from zero at one end to a depth B of 0.5 mm at the other end. The depth of the second cross-section 174b is a constant depth B of 0.5 mm. Any of the widths A and C, depth B, and lengths L1 and L2 may be individually varied to tailor the cavity 176, and thus the fluid flow path 174, for a particular flow profile.

[0026] 13, the portion of the roller 124 that engages the flow control membrane 126 causes the flow control membrane 126 to deflect into the cavity 176, thereby blocking the fluid flow path 174 to varying degrees based on the position of the engaging portion of the roller 124 relative to the cavity 176. FIG. 14 shows a graph 1400 illustrating the change in flow area with respect to the length of travel of the roller 124 based on the values described above for A, B, C, L1, and L2. The flow area below the portion of the roller 124 that engages the flow control membrane 126 corresponds to the resulting fluid flow rate through the cavity 176, with the largest flow area resulting in a higher fluid flow rate and the smallest flow area resulting in a lower fluid flow rate.

[0027] For example, when roller 124 is positioned at the zero depth end of L1, the flow area is zero and fluid flow passage 174 is completely blocked (e.g., no fluid flows through fluid flow passage 174). When roller 124 is positioned at the junction of the second end of L1 and the first end of L2, the fluid flow area is 0.375 mm 2 and the fluid flow passage 174 is partially blocked, thus resulting in a 30% fluid flow rate. When the roller 124 is positioned at the second end of L2, the fluid flow area is 1.25 mm 2 , and the fluid flow path 174 is unobstructed, thus resulting in 100% fluid flow (e.g., fully open). As shown in FIG. 14 , a first portion of the graph corresponding to engagement of the roller 124 along length L1 represents a fine adjustment portion of the flow control assembly 120, while a portion of the graph corresponding to engagement of the roller 124 along length L2 represents a coarse adjustment portion of the flow control assembly 120. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, any number of flow variation areas may be provided, such as, for example, three or more. Accordingly, there may be more cavity cross-sections than first cross-section 174a and second cross-section 174b, such as, for example, three or more cavity cross-sections.

[0028] In contrast to the infusion set 30 shown in FIG. 1 , in which the drip chamber 40 and the roller clamp 60 are connected via tubing 20, the drip chamber 110 is directly connected to the base housing 170, and therefore no IV tubing is required to connect the drip chamber to the flow control assembly 120. Furthermore, because the flow control assembly 120 does not include or engage flexible IV tubing, fluid flow can be consistently delivered and maintained throughout the life of the modular IV assembly 100. For example, the hard plastic of the base housing 170 does not deform (e.g., drift) over time. In contrast, a typical roller clamp 60 involves restricting fluid flow within soft, flexible tubing 20 by deforming the tubing 20, which tends to relax (e.g., lose its elasticity) over time, making it increasingly difficult to accurately control fluid flow over time. Thus, the flow control assembly 120 is configured to provide consistent and precise control of fluid flow rate through the modular IV assembly 100 .

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 15-17 , the base housing 170 is also configured to couple with the filter assembly 130 on the opposite side of the base housing 170 from the flow control assembly 120. The filter assembly 130 includes a filter housing 132 that engages with a filter membrane 134 and sandwiches the filter membrane 134 to the base housing 170. The filter membrane 134 is formed from a hydrophilic material that prevents air from passing through the filter membrane 134 when the filter membrane 134 is wetted. Thus, only liquids can pass through the filter membrane 134 from the base housing 170. The material of the filter membrane 134 can be designed or selected for specific filtration characteristics to filter out specific components from the fluid passing through the filter assembly 130. For example, the filter membrane 134 can be formed to filter out particles larger than a certain size (e.g., 15 μm, 5 μm, 1.2 μm, 0.2 μm).

[0030] Base housing 170 also includes a portion in which air vent assembly 140 is disposed, on the same side as filter assembly 130. Air vent assembly 140 includes a vent port 142 within a vent cavity 146 in base housing 170 and an air vent membrane 144 disposed within vent cavity 146 and across vent port 142. Air vent membrane 144 is formed from a small-pore hydrophobic material that prevents liquid from passing through air vent membrane 144 while allowing gas (e.g., air) to exit fluid flow path 174 via vent port 142 (e.g., back to drip chamber 110).

[0031] ARD member 150 is shown in FIG. 5 as being integral with filter membrane 134. For example, the material of filter membrane 134 can be designed or selected to exhibit ARD and filtration characteristics. In some aspects of the present disclosure, ARD member 150 can be an ARD material and filter membrane 134 can be a different filtration material (e.g., integrally formed separate layers) that are combined together into one membrane having both filtration and ARD properties.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 5, check valve 160 is disposed between outlet cavity 162 on the exterior surface of filter housing 132 and fluid outlet housing 180. Check valve 160 may be formed from a flexible material and acts as a one-way valve that allows fluid to flow through outlet port 182 in fluid outlet housing 180 and out fluid port 164 in outlet cavity 162, while preventing fluid flow in the reverse direction from outlet port 182 to fluid port 164. Fluid outlet housing 180 also includes outlet port 184 configured to be coupled to IV tubing, such as IV tubing connected to an infusion pump or catheter. Check valve 160 and fluid outlet housing 180 may be disposed at the top end of base housing 170, as shown in FIG. 5, or at the bottom or base portion of base housing 170, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0033] In operation, as shown in FIG. 7 , the modular IV assembly 100 provides a fluid flow path 174 that begins with fluid entry from the drip chamber 110 and ends with fluid exit from the exit port 182. The fluid flow path 174 involves fluid flow through the flow control assembly 120 at a flow rate set by the position of the roller 124 relative to the cavity 176. The fluid exits the cavity 176 and flows into and contacts the filter membrane 134 and the ARD membrane 150. The fluid is filtered through the filter membrane 134 and exits into the filter housing 132 and through the fluid port 164. The fluid then flows over and / or through the check valve 160, through the exit port 182, and out the outlet port 184. Because air trapped in the fluid cannot pass through the filter membrane 134, the air instead passes through the air vent membrane 144, into the vent port 142, and out the base housing 170 portion of the modular IV assembly 100.

[0034] As shown in Figures 8-10, a modular IV assembly 100 can be configured to include any or all of the above-described components while maintaining the same or similar outer packaging and appearance. For example, Figure 8 shows a basic modular IV assembly 100 that includes only a drip chamber 110 and a flow control assembly 120, but does not include a filter assembly 130, an air vent assembly 140, an ARD member 150, or a check valve 160. Here, fluid flows from the drip chamber 110 into the base housing 170 and out the outlet port 184 at a flow rate set by the flow control assembly 120. Figure 9 shows a modular IV assembly 100 that is more integrated by adding a check valve 160 to the basic modular IV assembly 100 shown in Figure 8. Similarly, Figure 10 shows a modular IV assembly 100 that is even more integrated by adding a filter membrane 134 and an ARD member 150 to the modular IV assembly 100 shown in Figure 9. An air vent membrane 144 may be further added to any of the modular IV assemblies 100 described above. Accordingly, the exterior of any modular IV assembly 100 may be defined by the drip chamber 110, the roller housing 122, the base housing 170, the filter housing 132, and the fluid outlet housing 180. Here, the packaging outline of the modular IV assembly 100 may remain consistent with or without the internal components (e.g., the filter assembly 130, the air vent assembly 140, the ARD member 150, the check valve 160).

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 18-22 , the drip chamber 110 may include a self-leveling assembly 190 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The body 112 of the drip chamber 110 may act as both an air trap and a droplet visibility chamber. The self-leveling assembly 190 has an upper housing portion 191 and a lower housing portion 193, which may be disposed in the base portion 113 of the body 112. The self-leveling assembly 190 includes a leveling outlet port 192 that aligns with the inlet port 173 in the drip chamber connecting portion 172 of the base housing 170. The self-leveling assembly 190 also includes leveling fluid inlets 194, 196 disposed adjacent to the leveling outlet port 192. Here, leveling fluid inlet 194 has a shortened flow path and is located near upper housing portion 191 (e.g., away from base portion 113), while leveling fluid inlet 196 has an extended flow path and is located near lower housing portion 193 (e.g., near base portion 113). A barrier 198 (e.g., hydrophilic membrane, air check valve) is located within leveling fluid inlet 194.

[0036] 20, when the liquid level in drip chamber 110 obscures leveling fluid inlet 196 but not leveling fluid inlet 194, air trapped in body 112 is released through leveling outlet port 192. As shown in FIG. 21, when the liquid level in drip chamber 110 rises to obscure both leveling fluid inlet 196 and leveling fluid inlet 194, barrier 198 prevents air from passing, and only liquid (e.g., saline) then exits through leveling outlet port 192. Here, liquid can freely enter / pass through leveling fluid inlet 196 and may enter / pass through leveling fluid inlet 194 at a slower pace due to barrier 198. As shown in FIG. 22, when enough liquid is drawn up through the leveling outlet port 192 that the leveling fluid inlet 194 is again exposed to air within the body 112, air is prevented from passing through the barrier 198 while liquid continues to enter / pass only through the leveling fluid inlet 196.

[0037] For example, the barrier 198 may be a membrane formed from a hydrophilic material that prevents air from passing through the barrier 198 when the barrier 198 is wetted. Thus, in Figure 20, the barrier 198 is not yet wetted, so air can pass through and exit the leveling outlet port 192. When the barrier 198 is wetted in Figure 21, the barrier 198 prevents air from passing through. When the liquid recedes from the barrier 198 in Figure 22, the barrier 198 is still wet, so it continues to prevent air from passing through until the barrier is completely dry.

[0038] As another example, the barrier 198 may be an air check valve that allows air to pass through the barrier 198 while preventing liquid from passing through the barrier 198. Thus, in FIG. 20 , the barrier 198 is open to air in the body 112, so that air can pass through and exit the leveling outlet port 192. When the barrier 198 is submerged below the liquid level in FIG. 21 , the barrier 198 prevents liquid from passing through the leveling fluid inlet 194, and therefore liquid will only enter / pass through the leveling fluid inlet 196 and exit the leveling fluid outlet 192. When the liquid recedes from the barrier 198 in FIG. 22 , the pressure exerted by the liquid trapped above the barrier 198 within the self-leveling assembly 190 may prevent air from passing through the barrier 198, while liquid continues to enter / pass through the leveling fluid inlet 196 and exit the leveling outlet port 192.

[0039] Self-leveling assembly 190 eliminates the need to prime drip chamber 110 by squeezing flexible body 112 to force air out and allow fluid to enter through inlet connector 114. Thus, self-leveling assembly 190 provides for air to leave drip chamber 110 regardless of whether body 112 is flexible (e.g., flexible plastic) or rigid (e.g., hard plastic). Additionally, self-leveling assembly 190 may prevent micro-air bubbles from entering the fluid.

[0040] It is understood that any particular order or hierarchy of blocks in the disclosed process methods is an example of an example approach. Based on design or implementation preferences, it is understood that the particular order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes may be rearranged, or all of the blocks shown may be performed. In some implementations, any of the blocks may be performed simultaneously.

[0041] This disclosure is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. This disclosure provides various examples of the subject technology, and the subject technology is not limited to these examples. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects.

[0042] Reference to an element in the singular is intended to mean "one or more" and not "one and only one" unless specifically so stated. The term "some" refers to one or more unless specifically stated otherwise. Masculine pronouns (e.g., his) include feminine and neuter (e.g., her and its) and vice versa. Headings and subheadings, if any, are used merely for convenience and do not limit the invention.

[0043] The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example or illustration." Any aspect or design described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. In one aspect, various alternative configurations and operations described herein may be considered at least equivalent.

[0044] As used herein, the phrase "at least one of," following a list of items, when followed by the word "or" separating any of those items, modifies the list as a whole and not each item in the list. The phrase "at least one of" does not require the selection of at least one item; rather, the phrase allows for the inclusion of at least one of any one of the items, and / or at least one of any combination of the items, and / or at least one of each of the items. Illustratively, the phrase "at least one of A, B, or C" can refer to A only, B only, or C only, or any combination of A, B, and C.

[0045] The use of a phrase such as "aspect" does not imply that such aspect is essential to the subject technology or that such aspect applies to all configurations of the subject technology. Disclosure of an aspect may apply to all configurations or one or more configurations. An aspect may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as "aspect" may refer to one or more aspects, and vice versa. A phrase such as "embodiment" does not imply that such embodiment is essential to the subject technology or that such embodiment applies to all configurations of the subject technology. Disclosure of an embodiment may apply to all embodiments or one or more examples. An embodiment may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as "embodiment" may refer to one or more examples, and vice versa. A phrase such as "configuration" does not imply that such configuration is essential to the subject technology or that such configuration applies to all configurations of the subject technology. Disclosure of a configuration may apply to all configurations or one or more configurations. A configuration may provide one or more instances. A phrase such as a configuration may refer to one or more configurations, and vice versa.

[0046] In one aspect, unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, sizes, dimensions, and other specifications set forth herein, including those in the claims that follow, are approximate and not exact, and are intended to have a reasonable range consistent with the function to which they relate and the practice in the art to which they pertain.

[0047] It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps, operations, or processes disclosed is an illustration of example approaches. Based on design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps, operations, or processes may be rearranged. Some of the steps, operations, or processes may be performed simultaneously. Some or all of the steps, operations, or processes may be performed automatically, without user intervention. If any method claims follow, the various steps, operations, or process elements are presented in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

[0048] All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later become known to those skilled in the art are intended to be expressly incorporated herein by reference and encompassed by the claims. Furthermore, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be made available to the public, regardless of whether such disclosure is expressly recited in the claims. No element of a claim is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase "means for," or, in the case of a method claim, unless the element is recited using the phrase "step for." Moreover, to the extent terms such as "include," "have," and the like are used, such terms are intended to be inclusive in the same manner as the term "comprise," as "comprise" would be interpreted when used as a transitional phrase in a claim.

[0049] The title, background art, summary, brief description of the drawings, and abstract of this disclosure are hereby incorporated by reference into this disclosure and are provided as illustrative examples of the disclosure, not as a limiting description of the disclosure. This disclosure is submitted with the understanding that they will not be used to limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Furthermore, in the detailed description, it will be appreciated that the description provides illustrative examples, and that various features have been grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed subject matter requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the appended claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed structure or operation. The appended claims are hereby incorporated by reference into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as separately claimed subject matter.

[0050] The claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments described herein, but are to be accorded full scope consistent with the language of the claims and encompass all legal equivalents. However, none of the claims are intended, and should not be construed, to encompass subject matter that does not satisfy the requirements of 35 U.S.C. §§ 101, 102, or 103.

Claims

1. a drip chamber having a body and an inlet connector; a base housing directly coupled to a base portion of the drip chamber, the base housing having an inlet port in fluid communication with the drip chamber and a flow path cavity in fluid communication with the inlet port; a flow control assembly directly coupled to the first portion of the base housing, Roller housing, Laura, and a flow control assembly including a flow control membrane disposed between the roller and the flow cavity in the base housing; A modular intravenous (IV) assembly comprising:

2. 10. The modular IV assembly of claim 1, wherein the flow path cavity includes a first flow area having a constant width and a varying depth and a second flow area having a varying width and a constant depth.

3. 3. The modular IV assembly of claim 2, wherein the flow control assembly is configured to prevent fluid flow through the base housing when the roller is in engagement with the flow control membrane adjacent a starting position of the first flow area.

4. 3. The modular IV assembly of claim 2, wherein the flow control assembly is configured to provide sufficient fluid flow through the base housing when the roller is in engagement with the flow control membrane adjacent an end portion of the second flow area.

5. 3. The modular IV assembly of claim 2, wherein the flow control assembly is configured to provide increasing fluid flow through the base housing as the roller engaged with the flow control membrane moves from an end portion of the second flow area.

6. The modular IV assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a filter assembly directly coupled to the second portion of the base housing.

7. The modular IV assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are on opposite sides of the base housing.

8. The filter assembly includes: a filter housing directly coupled to the second portion of the base housing; 7. The modular IV assembly of claim 6, further comprising a filter membrane disposed between the filter housing and the second portion of the base housing.

9. 10. The modular IV assembly of claim 8, wherein the filter membrane comprises a hydrophilic material that prevents gases from passing through the filter membrane when the filter membrane is wetted.

10. 9. The modular IV assembly of claim 8, wherein a first surface of the filter membrane is positioned adjacent to and at a distance from an inner surface of the second portion of the base housing, and a space between the inner surface of the second portion and the first surface of the filter membrane is configured to provide a flow path for fluid from the flow control assembly into the second portion of the base housing.

11. 11. The modular IV assembly of claim 10, wherein the second surface of the filter membrane is positioned adjacent to and at a distance from an inner surface of the filter housing, and wherein a space between the inner surface of the filter housing and the second surface of the filter membrane is configured to provide a flow path for fluid through the filter membrane.

12. 10. The modular IV assembly of claim 8, further comprising a run-dry prevention member comprising one of a separate layer disposed on the filter membrane and an integrally formed material that includes the filter membrane.

13. a filter housing directly coupled to the second portion of the base housing; a fluid outlet housing directly connected to the filter housing; a one-way check valve disposed on the exterior surface of the filter housing between an outlet cavity and the fluid outlet housing, the one-way check valve configured to allow fluid to flow out of the outlet cavity through an exit port in the fluid outlet housing while preventing fluid from flowing in the opposite direction into the outlet cavity; 10. The modular IV assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

14. 14. The modular IV assembly of claim 13, wherein the fluid outlet housing, the check valve, and the outlet cavity are disposed in an upper portion of the base housing adjacent the drip chamber.

15. 14. The modular IV assembly of claim 13, wherein the fluid outlet housing, the check valve, and the outlet cavity are disposed in a lower portion of the base housing.

16. and an air vent assembly directly coupled to a second portion of the base housing, the first portion and the second portion being on opposite sides of the base housing, the air vent assembly comprising: a vent cavity disposed in the second portion of the base housing; a vent port disposed in the vent cavity, the vent port being coupled to an air flow path in the base housing; an air vent membrane disposed in the vent cavity.

17. 17. The modular IV assembly of claim 16, wherein the air vent membrane comprises a small-pore hydrophobic material that prevents liquid from passing through the air vent membrane and into the vent port while allowing gas to pass through the air vent membrane and out through the vent port.

18. The drip chamber further includes a self-leveling assembly, the self-leveling assembly comprising: a lower housing portion disposed adjacent the base housing at the base portion of the drip chamber; a leveling outlet port aligned with the inlet port in the base housing; a first leveling inlet port and a second leveling inlet port disposed adjacent opposite sides of the leveling outlet port; 10. The modular IV assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a barrier disposed within the first leveling inlet port.

19. a drip chamber having a body and an inlet connector; a base housing directly coupled to a base portion of the drip chamber, the base housing having an inlet port in fluid communication with the drip chamber and a flow path cavity in fluid communication with the inlet port; a flow control assembly directly coupled to the first portion of the base housing; 1. An intravenous (IV) set comprising a modular IV assembly, The flow control assembly includes: Roller housing, Laura, and a flow control membrane disposed between the roller and the flow path cavity in the base housing; Intravenous (IV) sets are also available. a fluid container connected to the inlet connector of the drip chamber by a first IV tubing; a fluid delivery member connected to the modular IV assembly by a second IV tube; An intravenous (IV) set comprising:

20. 1. A method of delivering a medical fluid, comprising: connecting a fluid container to a modular intravenous (IV) assembly by a first IV tubing, the modular IV assembly including: a drip chamber having a body and an inlet connector; a base housing directly coupled to a base portion of the drip chamber, the base housing having an inlet port in fluid communication with the drip chamber and a flow path cavity in fluid communication with the inlet port; and a flow control assembly directly coupled to a first portion of the base housing, the flow control assembly including a roller housing, a roller, and a flow control membrane disposed between the roller and the flow path cavity in the base housing; connecting a fluid delivery member to the modular IV assembly by a second IV tube; adjusting a fluid flow rate from the modular IV assembly to the fluid delivery member by moving the roller in the flow control assembly; A method comprising:

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