Drip Chamber Automatic Vent Shutoff Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IV drip systems face challenges in preventing air embolism and efficiently priming IV tubes, with existing solutions often requiring difficult positioning and being prone to user error in maintaining the air pocket size for accurate fluid infusion.
Innovation Solution
An automatic vent and shutoff system within the drip chamber that maintains a predetermined air pocket size by using a vent with a pickup tube and aquaphobic filter, which automatically adjusts to prevent fluid from passing through and allows air to vent out when necessary, ensuring the air pocket remains consistent regardless of the drip chamber's orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the IV bag is held at least 3 feet above the IV site and the drip chamber is held vertical, then the risk of air embolism is reduced, but it becomes difficult to achieve in emergency response scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The vent assembly automatically performs the function of air removal without requiring manual intervention or specific positioning. The pickup tube with aquaphobic filter self-regulates to maintain the air pocket, eliminating the need for operators to maintain specific orientations or heights during emergency response scenarios.
2Productivity
If conventional priming methods are used, then the IV tube set can be primed, but user error occurs in maintaining the air pocket size for accurate fluid infusion
Solution Approach 1:
The vent assembly with pickup tube and aquaphobic filter creates a self-regulating feedback mechanism. When the air pocket reaches the predetermined size (where the pickup tube intake opening is positioned), the system automatically shuts off venting, preventing over-priming. If fluid level drops, air automatically vents again to maintain the correct air pocket size, eliminating user error.
3Ease of operation
If the vent opening is directly exposed to the interior of the drip chamber, then air can vent freely, but IV fluid may pass through the vent causing loss of fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The vent assembly implements local quality by placing an aquaphobic filter at the intake opening of the pickup tube. This filter allows air to pass through freely for venting while blocking IV fluid from entering the vent system. The selective permeability property is applied locally at the vent intake point to achieve differential flow control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the risk of air embolism and simplifies the priming process by maintaining a consistent air pocket size, reducing user error and ensuring accurate fluid infusion rates, even in non-vertical orientations.
Implementation Method 1
the vent comprises an aquaphobic filter operatively coupled to the second end of the pickup tube near the intake opening, the aquaphobic filter configured to substantially prevent the IV fluid from passing therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for automatically setting and maintaining a fluid level in a drip chamber is described. A drip chamber according to one embodiment includes a drip chamber body defining an internal volume, an inlet tube configured for dripping fluid into the interior of the drip chamber, an outlet tube in fluid communication with the interior of the drip chamber, and an air vent configured to automatically prevent the venting of air out of the interior of the drip chamber if the fluid filling the interior of the drip chamber is above a predetermined fill level, and to automatically vent air out of the drip chamber when the fluid falls below the predetermined fill level, the predetermined fill level corresponding to a volume less than the internal volume of the drip chamber.