Membrane support for drip chamber

Abstract

A membrane support ( 10, 20 ) for assembly into a drip chamber ( 5 ), characterized by a support member ( 7 ) having a longitudinal axis ( 8, 27 ), two ends ( 9 ) and at least one support face distanced from both ends ( 9 ) and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis ( 8, 27 ), a membrane ( 16, 26 ) joined to the at least one the support face, and a support member outlet ( 11, 32 ) formed in the support member ( 7 ) and in fluid communication with the membrane ( 16, 26 ), the support member outlet ( 11, 32 ) being fluidly communicable with an outlet of a drip chamber ( 5 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A membrane support ( 10 ,  20 ) for assembly into a drip chamber ( 5 ), characterized by: 
 a support member ( 7 ) having a longitudinal axis ( 8 ,  27 ), two ends ( 9 ) and at least one support face distanced from both ends ( 9 ) and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis ( 8 ,  27 );    a membrane ( 16 ,  26 ) joined to said at least one said support face; and    a support member outlet ( 11 ,  32 ) formed in said support member ( 7 ) and in fluid communication with said membrane ( 16 ,  26 ), said support member outlet ( 11 ,  32 ) being fluidly communicable with an outlet of a drip chamber ( 5 ).    
     
     
         2 . The membrane support ( 10 ,  20 ) according to  claim 1  and further comprising a drain outlet ( 28 ) located at an upper portion of said support member ( 7 ), said support member ( 7 ) being formed with a conduit which fluidly connects said drain outlet ( 28 ) to said support member outlet ( 11 ,  32 ).  
     
     
         3 . The membrane support ( 10 ,  20 ) according to  claim 1  and further comprising a drip chamber ( 5 ), said membrane support ( 10 ,  20 ) being bonded to said drip chamber ( 5 ) with an adhesive, said adhesive not contacting said membrane ( 16 ,  26 ).  
     
     
         4 . The membrane support ( 10 ,  20 ) according to  claim 1  wherein said membrane ( 16 ,  26 ) is hydrophilic.  
     
     
         5 . The membrane support ( 10 ,  20 ) according to  claim 1  wherein said membrane ( 16 ,  26 ) is bacterially retentive.  
     
     
         6 . The membrane support ( 10 ,  20 ) according to  claim 1  wherein said membrane ( 16 ,  26 ) has a surface area of at least about 5 cm 2 .  
     
     
         7 . The membrane support ( 10 ,  20 ) according to  claim 1  wherein said support member outlet ( 11 ,  32 ) is connectable to downstream tubing of an infusion set.  
     
     
         8 . A membrane support ( 10 ,  20 ) for assembly into a drip chamber ( 5 ), characterized by: 
 a support member ( 7 ) having a longitudinal axis ( 8 ,  27 ), two ends ( 9 ) and at least one support face distanced from both ends ( 9 );    a membrane ( 16 ,  26 ) joined to said at least one said support face; and    a drain outlet ( 28 ) located at an upper portion of said support member ( 7 ).    
     
     
         9 . The membrane support ( 10 ,  20 ) according to  claim 8  and further comprising a support member outlet ( 11 ,  32 ) formed in said support member ( 7 ) and in fluid communication with said membrane ( 16 ,  26 ), said support member outlet ( 11 ,  32 ) being fluidly communicable with an outlet of a drip chamber ( 5 ), and wherein said support member ( 7 ) is formed with a conduit which fluidly connects said drain outlet ( 28 ) to said outlet.  
     
     
         10 . The membrane support ( 10 ,  20 ) according to  claim 8  and further comprising a drip chamber ( 5 ), said membrane support ( 10 ,  20 ) being bonded to said drip chamber ( 5 ) with an adhesive, said adhesive not contacting said membrane ( 16 ,  26 ).  
     
     
         11 . The membrane support ( 10 ,  20 ) according to  claim 8  wherein said membrane ( 16 ,  26 ) is hydrophilic.  
     
     
         12 . The membrane support ( 10 ,  20 ) according to  claim 8  wherein said membrane ( 16 ,  26 ) is bacterially retentive.  
     
     
         13 . The membrane support ( 10 ,  20 ) according to  claim 8  wherein said membrane ( 16 ,  26 ) has a surface area of at least about 5 cm 2 .  
     
     
         14 . The membrane support ( 10 ,  20 ) according to  claim 8  wherein said support member outlet ( 11 ,  32 ) is connectable to downstream tubing of an infusion set.  
     
     
         15 . A membrane support ( 10 ,  20 ) for assembly into a drip chamber ( 5 ), characterized by: 
 a support member ( 7 ) comprising an open-ended cylinder having a longitudinal axis ( 8 ,  27 ), two ends ( 9 ) and at least one support face distanced from both ends ( 9 ), generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ( 8 ,  27 ), said at least one support face extending inwards from an inner wall of said cylinder and having a peripheral rim;    a membrane ( 16 ,  26 ) joined to said peripheral rim of said at least one said support face; and    an outlet formed in said support member ( 7 ) and in fluid communication with said membrane ( 16 ,  26 ), said outlet being formed with a bore and being fluidly communicable with an outlet of a drip chamber ( 5 ).