Patent ID: 7892204

Claim:
A drip chamber for intravenous infusion comprising: a tubular drip chamber housing having a longitudinal axis; a drop former; a support member inside said drip chamber housing having a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said drip chamber housing, and at least one support face which has a length and a width; a membrane joined to said at least one support face; and a filtrate outlet formed at an upper portion of said support member and in fluid communication with said membrane, said filtrate outlet including a bore and being fluidly communicable with an outlet formed at a lower portion of said drip chamber, wherein said membrane is positioned with respect to said outlet of said drip chamber, such that when said drip chamber is primed with infusion solution and in a normal upright orientation, a volume downstream of said membrane is completely filled with infusion solution with no air remaining below said membrane, wherein said downstream volume comprises a volume between said membrane and said at least one support face of said support member, said filtrate outlet, and a conduit disposed inside said support member, said downstream volume fluidly communicating with said bore and with a support member outlet located near an outlet of said drip chamber, and wherein said conduit is narrower than the width of said at least one support face.