Patent ID: 8523829

Claim:
A self-priming IV-solution delivery system for intravenous delivery of a solution from a container to a patient when the container is disposed at a height above the patient, comprising: a coupling assembly having an input and an output, said input configured for coupling to the container to provide flow of the solution through the coupling assembly to the output; a drip chamber having a top wall, a bottom wall, a substantially transparent side wall, an input and an output and coupled, at its input, to said coupling assembly output to receive solution drops formed from the flow of the solution for forming a reservoir defined between said bottom wall and side wall, said drip chamber side wall having an opening located at a height between said top wall and said bottom wall, and a vent plug covering said opening, said vent plug allowing air contained in said drip chamber which becomes displaced upon formation of the reservoir to escape from said drip chamber through said vent plug, said opening being oriented to permit air flow therethrough in a direction transverse to the direction of drip flow of solution from said input to said output of said drip chamber, thereby permitting the substantially unobstructed view of the drip of solution in said drip chamber; and a patient conduit coupled to said drip chamber output and having a termination end attachable to an intravenous needle of the patient for receiving a flow of solution from the reservoir, said patient conduit having a flow restriction device to restrict the flow of air and liquid in the patient conduit to allow the reservoir to attain a level at least equal to the height of said vent plug while air in the patient conduit is expelled from said termination end, wherein wetting of said vent plug by the reservoir prevents entry of air through said vent plug to said drip chamber and prevents the exit of solution from said drip chamber through said vent plug; and a termination end cap coupled to the termination end of the patient conduit and having a vent for restricting the flow of solution into the patient conduit and allowing air displaced by the flow of solution through the patient conduit to escape through the termination end, the termination end cap further comprising a termination end vent plug for preventing the escape of solution through the vent of the termination end cap and preventing the introduction of air to the patient conduit through said termination end cap upon wetting of the termination end vent plug by the solution.