Flow rate monitor and totalizer with count display

Patent 4321461 Issued on March 23, 1982. Estimated Expiration Date:

April 18, 2000. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3163176

IV pump
Patent #: 3985133
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Automatic low throughput metering apparatus for selecting and controlling the flow rate of liquids
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Inventor: Moulet

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Inventor: Ubaud

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Inventors

Assignee

K/W/D Associates

Application

No. 06/141644 filed on 04/18/1980

US Classes:

377/21, Fluid flow222/59, Cutoff operated by rate of flow responsive mechanism340/608, Stoppage340/609, Counting377/53, With photoelectric sensor604/192, Having cover or protector for body entering conduit604/31, By self-acting means or condition responsive sensor604/65Material flow varying means controlled by condition responsive sensor

Examiners

Primary: Caldwell, Sr., John W.
Assistant: Myer, Daniel

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence

International Class

A61M 5/168 (20060101)

Abstract

A flow rate monitor of solid particles or liquid drops and totalizing count display apparatus including a pulsed infrared light source and receiver forming a monitoring beam of high immunity to ambient light, transversely passing through a sensing chamber. A particular application is wherein the system is applied to the drop chamber of an intravenous set having electronic circuitry for pulsing the infrared light source and pulsing the sensing period of the monitoring beam receiver and producing a drop signal for each drop and a visible light flash for each sensed drop. Circuitry responds to the drop signals for maintaining a count of the number of drops and activating a visible numerical display indicating the drop count according to a selected numeric function, and an additional numeric display is provided adjacent the total count display indicating a selected checkpoint number. Alarm means are provided to produce visible and audible alarms signaling a No-Drop condition when an absence of drops occurs, as well as an alarm when a preselected count is reached. Alarm means are also provided to yield an audible alarm when a low battery voltage is reached.