Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
Patent
1997-05-27
1999-03-23
Thornton, Krisanne
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
422106, 422919, 422920, 7386371, 7386415, 436180, B01L 302
Patent
active
058855327
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to burette apparatus.
This invention has particular but not exclusive application to burette apparatus for administering intravenous (IV) liquids, and is described hereinafter in relation to this application. However, this invention may find use in other applications, such as metering systems in industry or the like.
Medical burettes are used to provide a reasonable precise flow rate from IV supplies to patients and to provide a means of introducing secondary fluids via a septum or the like. The precision of flow rate arises out of the isolation of the relatively short burette volume from the head of the IV source between fillings of the burette. Burettes uses to administer IV fluids generally comprise a graduated cylinder adapted to receive a selected volume of liquid from a collapsible container via a manually operable valve. The cylinder then delivers the IV fluid to a drip metering chamber providing a visual indication of flow rate, and thence to a selectively occludable drip line to the patient.
A disadvantage of the conventional system is that medical staff are required to periodically replenish the burette volume, which cannot be made so large as to introduce a substantial variation between flow rates between full and empty condition of the burette. In any case, the typical 100 ml burette must be of a diameter such that secondary additions may be measured in against the graduations of the burette. In practice this tends to introduce a head pressure difference between the full and low conditions that has an undesirable effect on flow rates between the two conditions.
The present invention aims to substantially alleviate at least one of the above disadvantages and to provide burette apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a burette apparatus including: an outlet; within a range; outlet, and body member.
The burette body member may take any suitable form. For example, the body member may comprise a substantially transparent body member having its inlet in the region of the top and its outlet in the region of the bottom such that the fluid may be delivered by gravity. The body member may comprise a cylindrical portion adapted to be supported substantially vertically and upper and lower end closure portions including the inlet and outlet respectively.
The body member may be graduated such that the immediate liquid level therein may be determined. The body member may be provided with ancillary features such as secondary fluid injection points.
The inlet to the body member may include any suitable inlet assembly providing fluid connection to the liquid source. In the case of single use IV drip bags, the conventional delivery means for such fluids, the inlet assembly may include a flexible tube adapted to connect the burette inlet with the outlet of the bag, which is generally suspended in use above the burette. The inlet assembly may include vapour lock avoidance means, flow control valves and/or other conventional features of such assemblies.
The control means adapted to maintain the liquid level in said body member within a range may take the form of a condition responsive flow control assembly comprising a selectively operable closure means and operating means therefor, the operating means being responsive to the liquid level in the burette. For example, the control means may comprise an electronic level monitoring means and electromechanical valve means for selectively admitting said liquid.
Alternatively, the control means may comprise a float operated valve. For example, the control means may comprise a float located in said body member and adapted to operate a linear valve adapted to close the inlet upon a maximum fluid level being reached and to maintain the fluid level between that maximum and a minimum level. The linear valve may for example comprise a rubber or other resilient seat adap
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Belser Godried Ferdinand
Maltabes Angelo John
Moazzam Fariborz
Noonbeach Pty Ltd.
Thornton Krisanne
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