Microdrop drip chamber

Abstract

A disclosed drip chamber for an intravenous (IV) therapy system includes a container configured to hold an IV fluid, a drop former suspended over the container, and an inlet port disposed above the drop former and configured to receive the IV fluid from a reservoir. The drop former has an upper end, a lower tip, and an outer surface extending between the upper end and the lower tip. The inlet port is coupled to the outer surface to permit the IV fluid to descend down the outer surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drip chamber comprising:
 a container configured to hold an intravenous (IV) fluid;   a drop former suspended over the container and coupled to a liquid inlet port to receive the IV fluid from a reservoir; and   a gas inlet port coupled to the drop former via a fluidic pathway to permit an injected gas to stimulate a release of a drop of the IV fluid from the drop former.   
     
     
         2 . The drip chamber of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cap disposed on an upper side of the container;   wherein the drop former is suspended from the cap;   wherein the gas inlet port is disposed in the cap; and   wherein an outlet port is disposed at a lower end of the container, the outlet port being configured to couple to an IV line to deliver the IV fluid to a patient.   
     
     
         3 . The drip chamber of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tubing segment coupled to the gas inlet port and configured to convey the injected gas from a source to the gas inlet port.   
     
     
         4 . The drip chamber of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a compressed gas cartridge coupled to the gas inlet port and configured to inject the injected gas through the gas inlet port.   
     
     
         5 . The drip chamber of  claim 4 , wherein the compressed gas cartridge is configured to meter out the injected gas through the gas inlet port in a series of bursts synchronized with a predetermined drip rate. 
     
     
         6 . The drip chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the drop former comprises a tubular structure having an inner lumen through which the IV fluid from the liquid inlet port passes through to a distal tip of the tubular structure. 
     
     
         7 . The drip chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the drop former comprises one of a pin with a solid distal tip and a wire with a solid distal tip. 
     
     
         8 . The drip chamber of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a piezo electric sensor coupled to the container and configured to detect drops falling within the container.   
     
     
         9 . A drip chamber comprising:
 a container configured to hold an IV fluid;   a cap disposed on an upper side of the container;   a drop former suspended over the container and coupled to an inlet port to receive the IV fluid from a reservoir; and   an electrode disposed sufficiently close to the drop former to attract a polar molecule in the IV fluid based on a charge held in the electrode.   
     
     
         10 . The drip chamber of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a cap disposed on an upper side of the container,   wherein the drop former is suspended from the cap,   wherein the electrode is suspended from the cap and coupled to a wire extending at least partially through the cap to connect the electrode to a power supply, and   wherein an outlet port is disposed at a lower end of the container, the outlet port being configured to couple to an IV line to deliver the IV fluid to a patient.   
     
     
         11 . The drip chamber of  claim 9 , wherein the electrode is disposed in the container. 
     
     
         13 . The drip chamber of  claim 9 , wherein the electrode is at least part of the container. 
     
     
         14 . The drip chamber of  claim 9 , wherein the electrode is negatively charged. 
     
     
         15 . The drip chamber of  claim 9 , wherein the electrode is positively charged. 
     
     
         16 . The drip chamber of  claim 9 , wherein the electrode is coupled to a power supply configured to apply a charge to the electrode. 
     
     
         17 . The drip chamber of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a cap disposed on an upper side of the container, wherein the power supply is external to the cap and the container.   
     
     
         18 . The drip chamber of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a cap disposed on an upper side of the container, wherein the power supply is a battery housed within the cap.   
     
     
         19 . An IV administration set, comprising:
 a spike configured to couple to an IV bag containing a reservoir of IV fluid;   an IV line segment disposed distal to the spike, the IV line segment having a distal end terminating in a luer fitting; and   the drip chamber of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         20 . An IV administration set, comprising:
 a spike configured to couple to an IV bag containing a reservoir of IV fluid;   an IV line segment disposed distal to the spike, the IV line segment having a distal end terminating in a luer fitting; and   the drip chamber of  claim 9 .