Patent ID: 7361165
Filing Date: 2008-04-22
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. An IV rate flow regulator comprising: (a) a housing having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet extending upward and outward from the housing and connectable to a source of IV fluid, and an outlet extending downward from the housing and connectable to administration means; (b) said housing defining a metering orifice; (c) flow control member extending across said metering orifice; (d) control means cooperable with said flow control member to establish a predetermined rate of flow through said metering orifice to said housing outlet, said control means including a manually rotatable control dial positioned generally above the housing; (e) an annular land extending around an outlet orifice communicating with the housing outlet; (f) a membrane responsive to head pressure variations to control the rate of fluid flow through the outlet which substantially maintains said predetermined flow rate, said flexible membrane having an annular flange and a thinner central control section having a thickness approximately between 0.0125″ to 0.0175″, said thinner control section extending across the area defined by the annular flange; and (g) an indicator positioned on an outer surface of the inlet and positioned adjacent an outer edge of the dial to cooperate with indicia on the dial to indicate a flow rate setting of the regulator.