Abstract:
A manometer for measuring the hydrodynamic pressure of fluids parenterally administered to a patient is disclosed. The manometer includes a transparent housing that has a passage that accommodates continuous flow of fluid. A pressure-measuring chamber is formed in the housing with one end in fluid communication with the passage. The other end of the chamber communicates with an enclosed air space. The fluid flowing through the passage enters the pressure-measuring chamber and rises to a level which is dependent upon the pressure of the fluid flowing through the passage. A space-saving chamber is provided, which is in air communication with the pressure-measuring chamber, and which allows the housing to be reduced in size. Markings are provided on the housing which indicate the relative flow state of fluid flowing through the passage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to manometers for fluid infusion and, more particularly, to a manometer for measuring the hydrodynamic pressure of fluids parenterally administered to a patient. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Intravenous infusion of fluids into a patient is a routine hospital procedure. Typically, the intravenous infusion apparatus consists of an indwelling catheter that is connected through tubing to a fluid source, such as an elevated glass bottle or plastic bag. 
     Because of the resistance of the catheter and catheter tubing, and back pressure from the patient, it is sometimes necessary to supply a pressure source such as an electric fluid pump, such as the Harvard pump, or a pump-up pressure cuff. The pressure cuff is placed over the plastic bag containing the fluid and is inflated. In this manner the infusion fluid may be delivered at a particular pressure that is consistent with a desired flow rate for the infusion fluid. 
     In some situations it is important to provide a carefully controlled flow rate of the infusion fluid. For example, proper administration of some types of medication may require carefully controlled flow rates over long periods of time. Since flow rate is dependent upon the hydrodynamic pressure of the infusion fluid, fluid pressures must be continuously monitored. 
     In the past, one problem associated with parenteral administration of fluids to a patient has been measuring the hydrodynamic pressure of the fluid being infused into the patient. Typically, it has been assumed that the pressure exerted by the pressure cuff on the fluid-source bag is the same as the pressure exerted on the fluid at its point of infusion into the patient. The level of pressure at the pressure cuff is read directly from a gauge that is associated with the pressure cuff. 
     However, in practice, the hydrodynamic pressure of the fluid being infused into the patient is not the same as the hydrostatic pressure measured at the pressure cuff. The resistance of the tubing and catheter system and the back pressure of the patient all affect the hydrodynamic pressure of the fluid that is infused into the patient. 
     To eliminate these inaccuracies, hydrostatic manometers have been developed that may be directly placed in the tubing line and that may be operated to temporarily interrupt the fluid flow so that hydrostatic pressure measurements may be periodically taken. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,389 to Miller et al. 
     Although these types of in-line manometers provide somewhat accurate pressure readings of the infusion fluid, they do not permit continuous monitoring of hydrodynamic pressures. Since they instead measure hydrostatic pressure, such manometers require periodic interruption of the fluid flow, such as by a stopcock, to obtain a pressure reading. This is inconvenient in some situations and may even be hazardous if the required pressure level drops or rises significantly between readings, resulting in over- or underinfusion. 
     An in-line, hydrodynamic manometer for measuring infusion pressures is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,282,881 to Todd et al. This manometer uses a closed pressure-measuring chamber containing a nonexpansible volume of air, which is in communication with a passage through which fluid, whose pressure is to be measured, flows. Several problems exist with this manometer design. 
     First, there is only one closed pressure-measuring chamber, so the entire apparatus is rather large in order to accommodate a pressure-measuring chamber long enough to measure a given range of pressures. For example, the manometer, as illustrated in FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,282,881, is large enough to require support on a stand. 
     Second, traditionally there are numerous markings on the housing of the manometer, as shown in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,282,881, which correspond to various hydrodynamic pressure readings of the fluid flowing through the passage. Again, this results in the need for a relatively long pressure-measuring chamber and thus a relatively large manometer apparatus. Furthermore, because the pressure of intravenous infusions is typically low, from approximately 6 psi at the fluid source to approximately 0.3 psi at the patient&#39;s vein, clinical personnel generally do not care about, nor do they need to know, absolute hydrodynamic pressures during intravenous (“IV”) infusion of fluid. What is clinically important is whether and when the infusion is in one of three states: 1) flowing relatively freely; 2) obstructed by a distal blockage (i.e., downstream from the manometer, typically at the site of insertion of the IV catheter in the patient&#39;s vein); or 3) not flowing at all, either because the IV infusion is turned off or there is a proximal obstruction (i.e., upstream from the manometer, typically close to the fluid source and/or within the associated IV tubing). Thus, the traditional manometer scale with a wide array of absolute pressure markings is, generally, clinically unnecessary. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that what is needed is an in-line manometer that may be used to continuously monitor the hydrodynamic pressure of fluids that are parenterally administered to a patient, and that a) is small and lightweight enough to be suspended conveniently from catheter tubing without need for external support; b) has no moving parts and is disposable; c) has at least one additional closed chamber within the manometer, which is in continuity with a main pressure-measuring chamber, so as to reduce the overall size of the device; and d) has only two or three reference pressure markings on a transparent housing, for indicating the three clinically relevant infusion flow states described above. Such an invention is illustrated and described herein. 
     The manometer of the present invention provides for continuous, direct, in-line indication of the hydrodynamic pressure or flow of a parenterally administered fluid. The manometer has a passage that permits continuous flow of fluid therethrough. The manometer also consists of a pressure-measuring chamber. One end of the pressure-measuring chamber is in fluid communication with the open passage and the other end of the pressure-measuring chamber communicates with an enclosed air space. The fluid flowing through the passage will enter the pressure chamber and will rise to a level that is dependent upon the pressure of the fluid flowing through the open passage. Markings are placed upon the manometer so that the hydrodynamic pressure of the fluid flowing through the open passage may be easily determined with reference to the level of the fluid in the pressure-measuring chamber, thus providing an indication of the flow through the passage. 
     In a preferred form of the invention, the flow passage is larger than that which provides the desired flow rate. Instead a restriction having a very small orifice therethrough is positioned in the passage upstream and downstream of the entry to the pressure measuring chamber. The restrictors provide a known pressure drop and a known flow rate. This insures an accurate pressure reading even when the downstream pressure is close to atmospheric, and also provides the desired flow rate. 
     These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an illustration of the manometer apparatus in use with parenteral administration of fluid to a patient. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the manometer of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of the manometer shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a view of the inlet end of the manometer of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a view of the outlet end of the manometer of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the manometer of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the manometer of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the manometer of the invention, illustrating a curved space-saving chamber. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a modification of the manometers of FIGS.  1  and  8 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a manometer  1  in use during parenteral fluid administration, e.g., intravenous infusion. Fluid flows, for example, from the patient&#39;s parenteral infusion source, such as an intravenous bottle  5  or bag, through intravenous (“IV”) tubing  3 , and through the manometer  1 , to a patient&#39;s body  7 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 through 7, the manometer  1  includes a housing  2 , a fluid inlet  4 , and a fluid outlet  6  connected by a passage  8  through which fluid flows to the patient. A tubular pressure-measuring chamber or conduit  10  is in fluid communication with the passage  8  adjacent the outlet  6  and extends generally perpendicular to the passage  8 . The distal end  11  of the chamber  10  is closed, and defines a non-expandable volume. Also present is a tubular space-saving chamber  12  or closed end conduit, which is in air communication with the pressure-measuring chamber  10  at the proximal end  13  of the space-saving chamber  12 . In the embodiment shown, the chamber  12  extends generally away from the chamber  10 , somewhat parallel to the passage  8 . This provides a compact arrangement. 
     Fluid flows from the infusion source  5 , into the fluid inlet  4 , through the passage  8 , and out of the fluid outlet  6 , and into the patient&#39;s body  7 . Since the pressure-measuring chamber  10  is in fluid communication with the passage  8 , such that the hydrodynamic pressure of fluid within the passage  8  is translated to the closed pressure-measuring chamber  10 . 
     Markings or indicia  14  are provided on the housing  2  of the manometer  1 , which permit the pressure exerted on the fluid flowing through the passage to be read directly from the level of the fluid in the pressure-measuring chamber. In the embodiment shown, several markings  14  are present on the housing  2 . These include an “O” marking  20 , which indicates that no fluid is flowing through the passage; a rectangular marking  18 , which indicates that fluid is flowing through the passage  8 ; and an “X” marking  16 , which indicates that fluid pressure within the pressure-measuring chamber is high, most liklely because there is an obstruction to fluid flow located downstream from the passage  8 . 
     Whereas in previous hydrodynamic manometer systems, the pressure-measuring chamber needed to be relatively long, i.e., large in its long-axis dimension, in order to measure the pressure of fluid flowing into the patient, in the present invention the pressure-measuring chamber  10  can be relatively short because of the presence of a space-saving chamber  12 . In certain embodiments, the angle Y (shown in FIG. 2) formed between the long axes of the pressure-measuring chamber  10  and the space-saving chamber  12  is preferably about 90°, such that the chamber  12  extends roughly parallel to the passage  8 , thereby minimizing the size of the housing  2 . 
     One function of the space-saving chamber is to reduce the length of the long axis of the pressure measuring chamber  10 . The space-saving chamber  12  accomplishes this goal by allowing air communication with the pressure-measuring chamber  10 , such that the combined volume of air within the pressure-measuring chamber  10  and the space-saving chamber  12  is sufficient, through compression and expansion, to permit accurate detection of the flow states within the passage  8 . That is, the length of the chamber  10  is not by itself sufficient to trap a volume of air to adequately indicate pressure changes. 
     There are three clinically important flow states that are detected by the present system: 1) fluid in the passage  8  is flowing relatively freely; 2) flow through the passage  8  is obstructed by a distal blockage (i.e., downstream from the manometer, typically at the site of insertion of the IV catheter in the patient&#39;s vein); or 3) fluid is not flowing through the passage  8  at all, or is flowing at insubstantial flow rates, either because the IV infusion is turned off or there is a proximal obstruction (i.e., upstream from the manometer, typically close to the fluid source and/or within the associated IV tubing). 
     Detection of the flow states within the passage  8  is dependent upon the pressure of fluid that is within the passage  8 . As fluid pressure within the passage rises, a column of fluid rises within the pressure-measuring chamber  10  to a level which is dependent upon the pressure of the fluid flowing through the passage  8 . The flow state of fluid within the passage  8  can thence be determined by an examiner, typically a nurse or other caregiver, by ascertaining where the leading edge, or top, of the fluid column within the pressure-measuring chamber  10  is in comparison to certain reference markings that are associated with, and are present alongside, the pressure-measuring chamber  10 . 
     As seen from the drawings, the housing  2  has a thin, flat, rectangular configuration. It is preferably made of suitable transparent plastic that is relatively inexpensive, such that it is quite practical as a disposable item. The manometer  1  is small and lightweight and hence easily attached to infusion tubing  3  without any separate support, strain on the tubing  3 , or inconvenience to the patient. In a prototype form of the manometer  1 , the housing  2  is only about 3 centimeters long and about 2 centimeters wide. This places the longer centerline of the housing  2  only about 1 centimeter from the tubing  3  of FIG. 1, thus minimizing torque load on the tubing  3 . In thickness, the housing  2  is about the same as the outside diameter of the tubing  3  connected to the housing  2 , as seen from FIGS. 4,  6  and  7 . This is about 0.4 centimeters. 
     Through the use of the space-saving chamber  12 , the pressure-measuring chamber  10  can be significantly diminished in length along its long axis, relative to devices used in the prior art. In certain embodiments, the pressure-measuring chamber  10  is less than 3.0 centimeters in length along its long axis, as measured from the passage  8  to the distal end  11  of the pressure-measuring chamber  10 . In these embodiments, the pressure-measuring chamber  10  is less than 2 centimeters in length, the prototype being only about 1.5 centimeters along its long axis. In the arrangement shown, the space-saving chamber  12  is a little less than twice as long as the pressure-measuring chamber  10 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 8, in another embodiment, the space-saving chamber  12  is curved, resembling a partial arc or coil, which is in air communication with the pressure-measuring chamber  10  at the proximal end  13  of the space-saving chamber  12 . As seen, the end  13  extends away from the chamber  12  at an angle Y of about 90°, and its distal end curves toward the passage  8  and then back upon itself towards the chamber  10 , thus making about 180° turn. This arc or coil configuration design is space-saving, as it enables the reduction of the overall size of the housing  2 , while providing the necessary length for the chambers. 
     Also illustrated in FIG. 8 are several markings  14  on the housing  2  as in FIG.  2 . These markings  14  consist of an “O” marking  20 , which indicates that no fluid is flowing through the passage; a rectangular marking  18 , which indicates that fluid is flowing through the passage  8 ; and an “X” marking  16 , which indicates that there is an obstruction to fluid flow located downstream from the passage  8 . 
     While the above arrangements will function as described, greater accuracy of flow rate and pressure indications may be desirable, particularly with low flow rates. For example, the difference in the pressure at the entrance to the space  10  and in the patient&#39;s vein is dependent on the resistance to flow in the tubing between the space  10  and the patient. While this is a fixed resistance for the tubing selected, tubing of various sizes and various lengths and materials may be utilized. Also, while venous pressure is quite low, it does vary. Hence, both of these variables would affect the level of the liquid rising into the space  10 . 
     With low flow rates, it is necessary to carefully calculate the resistance to flow in the passage  8 . Rather than calculating the characteristics of the plastic manometer body to obtain the desired flow rate, FIG. 9 illustrates a modification of the above arrangements that provides the desired accuracy regarding flow rates and greater accuracy on pressure indications by the manometer. As shown, a restrictor  30  is positioned in the passage  8  upstream from the entry to the space  10 , and a similar restrictor  32  is positioned in the passage  8  downstream of the entry to the space  10 . Each of these restrictors comprises a glass tube  34  and a surrounding annular seal  36 , preferably made of silicon rubber. The glass tube  34  has a very small inner diameter, such as in the range of 0.001 to 0.004 inches. In a production version of the device, the diameter is in the range of 0.001 to 0.002 inches. The OD of that device is approximately 0.050 inches. The length of the glass tube is selected to provide a desired pressure drop across each of the restrictors and a desired flow rate. With the diameter of the passage  8  being so large relative to the orifice in the restrictor, the resistance to low downstream from the restrictor  32  is very low, essentially atmospheric. 
     In a production version of the device, the length of the restrictors was selected to be about 0.3 inches. Assuming an input pressure to the manometer is about 6 psi, the restrictor  30  was selected to create a pressure drop of about 3 psi. That pressure applied to the space  10  will result in the fluid moving into the message  10  maintaining a level in the desired range between the O and the X indicators. A similar pressure drop of about 3 psi is created by the downstream restrictor  32 , and the combination of the two restrictors will create the desired flow rate for the device. Because the pressure downstream of the restrictor  32  is essentially atmospheric, and because of the size difference between the orifice in the restrictor  32  and the diameter of the passage  8 , the restrictor  32  is needed in order to obtain a proper reading on the manometer when the flow is at a satisfactory rate. That is, if there were no downstream restrictor, the indicator would be zero. Similarly, if there is a downstream restrictor  32  but there is no upstream restrictor  30 , the pressure indicated on the manometer would be closer to the pressure at the fluid source. Thus, there would be little or no difference between a normal flow and a blockage of flow downstream of the downstream restrictor. 
     It should be recognized that the specifics of the pressure drops and flow rates would need to be determined for each situation. 
     Although the present invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments of this invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art in view of the disclosure herein. Accordingly the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited by the foregoing, but rather by reference to the attached claims.