Flow Restrictor Plate with Segmented Passages for Medical Infusion

The flow restrictor is segmented into multiple discrete flow passages formed in a plate structure. This segmentation allows each passage to be independently sized and positioned, enabling precise flow rate control through geometric design rather than expensive precision machining of a single capillary tube. The plate can be manufactured using lower-cost processes like punching, drilling, or molding.

Instead of relying on a single complex capillary tube geometry, the invention uses multiple simplified flow passage copies in a plate. Each passage is a simplified geometric feature that can be easily manufactured, and the collective effect of multiple passages achieves the desired flow regulation. This copying approach replaces a single complex precision component with multiple simple, replicable features.

The invention transitions from controlling flow rate through tube diameter (one-dimensional approach) to controlling flow rate through passage geometry in a plate (two-dimensional approach). Flow passages can be narrow slits, holes, or complex shapes whose effective flow area is controlled by the plate thickness and passage cross-section. This dimensional change allows precise flow control without using extremely small diameters that are prone to clogging.

The plate structure acts as a thin film or barrier with controlled flow passages through it. This thin film approach allows for very precise flow restriction through the geometry of passages in the plate, while the passages can be designed with adequate dimensions to resist clogging. The plate can be made thin to minimize pressure drop while maintaining flow control precision through carefully designed passage geometry.