Pressure activated IV set

Abstract

An IV set includes a drip chamber and a pressure activated valve. The drip chamber has an operable liquid height and an outlet orifice. The pressure activated valve is disposed proximate the outlet orifice of the drip chamber and includes a sealing orifice, a valve, and a biasing mechanism. The sealing orifice and the operable liquid height correspond to a head. The biasing mechanism biases the valve against the sealing orifice with a force less than the head of the operable liquid height to control the flow of liquid through the pressure activated valve.

1 . An IV set comprising: 
 a drip chamber having an outlet orifice; and    a pressure activated valve disposed proximate the outlet orifice of the drip chamber, the pressure activated valve comprising: 
 a sealing orifice;  
 a valve; and  
 a biasing mechanism that biases the valve against the sealing orifice with a force less than the pressure head between the sealing orifice and an operable liquid height in the drip chamber to control the flow of liquid through the pressure activated valve.  
   
   
   
       2 . The IV set of  claim 1 , further comprising an air vent connected to the drip chamber.  
   
   
       3 . The IV set of  claim 2 , wherein the air vent is connected to a sidewall of the drip chamber proximate to the operable liquid height.  
   
   
       4 . The IV set of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a spring.  
   
   
       5 . The IV set of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a magnet.  
   
   
       6 . The IV set of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a flexible arm.  
   
   
       7 . The IV set of  claim 1 , further comprising a tube having a first end and a second end connected to the pressure activated valve, wherein the IV set further comprises a tube attachment device for disposing the first end of the tube proximate to the drip chamber.  
   
   
       8 . The IV set of  claim 7 , wherein the tube attachment device comprises a clip.  
   
   
       9 . The IV set of  claim 7 , wherein the tube attachment device comprises a magnet.  
   
   
       10 . The IV set of  claim 7 , wherein the tube attachment device comprises a hook and loop fastener.  
   
   
       11 . The IV set of  claim 1 , further comprising a tube having a first end and a second end connected to the pressure activated valve, wherein the IV set further comprises an end plug removably attached to the first end of the tube, wherein the end plug comprises an air vent.  
   
   
       12 . An IV set comprising: 
 a drip chamber having an outlet orifice; and    a pressure activated valve disposed proximate the outlet orifice of the drip chamber, the pressure activated valve comprising: 
 a sealing orifice;  
 a valve for closing the sealing orifice; and  
 a means for biasing the valve against the sealing orifice with a force less than the pressure head between the sealing orifice and an operable liquid height in the drip chamber to control the flow of liquid through the pressure activated valve.  
   
   
   
       13 . The IV set of  claim 12 , further comprising an air vent connected to the drip chamber.  
   
   
       14 . The IV set of  claim 13 , wherein the air vent is attached to a sidewall of the drip chamber proximate to the operable liquid height.  
   
   
       15 . The IV set of  claim 12 , further comprising a tube having a first end and a second end connected to the pressure activated valve, wherein the IV set further comprises a tube attachment device for disposing the first end of the tube proximate to the drip chamber.  
   
   
       16 . The IV set of  claim 12 , further comprising a tube having a first end and a second end connected to the pressure activated valve, wherein the IV set further comprises an end plug removably attached to the first end of the tube, wherein the end plug comprises an air vent.  
   
   
       17 . A method for priming an IV set, the method comprising: 
 connecting the IV set to a source of a liquid, wherein the IV set comprises a drip chamber having an outlet orifice; and a pressure activated valve disposed proximate the outlet orifice of the drip chamber, the pressure activated valve comprising a sealing orifice, a valve for closing the sealing orifice, and a biasing mechanism that biases the valve against the sealing orifice with a force less than the pressure head between the sealing orifice and an operable liquid height in the drip chamber to control the flow of liquid through the pressure activated valve;    drawing the liquid into the drip chamber; and    moving the valve from the sealing orifice to permit the liquid to exit the pressure activated valve when the head of the liquid in the drip chamber exceeds the force of the biasing mechanism.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the IV set further comprises a tube connected to the pressure activated valve having an end remote from the pressure activated valve and a tube attachment device, wherein the method further comprises the step of disposing the end of the tube proximate the drip chamber.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the IV set further comprises an air vent, the method further comprising the step of venting air from the drip chamber.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the air vent is disposed proximate the operable liquid height of the drip chamber, the method further comprising the step of preventing air from exiting the air vent when the height of the liquid within the drip chamber reaches the height of the air vent.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of moving the valve against the sealing orifice to prevent the flow of liquid through the pressure activated valve when head of the liquid within the drip chamber is less than force of the biasing mechanism.