Importance

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Abstract

The flow of an intravenous (IV) fluid from a IV source through an IV line to a patient is controlled, while monitoring whether there is any bubble in the liquid being delivered to the patient. Disposed in the line is a region having a first portion containing a measurement gas and a second portion containing a segment of the liquid flowing through the line. The liquid in this region is tested for the presence of an air bubble. The sum of the first portion's volume and the second portion's volume should be a constant volume. The region is part of an acoustically resonant system, in the volume of the measurement gas in the first portion of the region can be determined from the resonant frequency. Preferably, the acoustically resonant system is tuned so as to prevent the presence of a bubble from significantly affecting the measurement of the volume of the region's first portion. The region should be isolatable from pressure effects in the rest of the line, preferably by means of a first valve that controls flow from the source and a second valve that controls flow to the patient. The resonant system includes at least one speaker and one microphone, arranged so that the resonant frequency of the system can be detected. In addition, some means for changing the pressure of the measurement gas in the resonant system is provided.

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First Claim