An infusion speed measurement instrument 1 includes: a housing 12 which includes a fitting recessed part 10 in which a side wall 2a of a drip chamber 2 hung in an up-down direction is detachably fitted and a positioning contact part 11 which is in contact with a lower surface 23a of a flange part 23 of the drip chamber 2 fitted in the fitting recessed part 10; an infusion fluid detector 13 which is provided in the housing 12 and is configured to detect infusion fluid 4 dropping from a pipe 32 of the drip chamber 2 which is fitted in the fitting recessed part 10 while being in contact with the positioning contact part 11 at the flange part 23.

An flow meter includes a coupler, a support member, an image sensor, and one or more processors. The coupler is adapted to couple to a drip chamber. The support member is operatively coupled to the coupler. The image sensor has a field of view and is operatively coupled to the support member. The image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within its field of view. The one or more processors are operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive data thereform. The one or more processors (1) receive image data from the image sensor, and (2) determine an existence of a free flow condition by identifying an optical distortion of an area behind the free flow condition within the drip chamber using the received image data.

A system for monitoring upstream flow characteristics for a pump is provided. The system may receive one or more outputs from a fluid level sensor coupled with a pump. The system may detect based on at least the one or more outputs, an abnormal upstream flow condition in the pump, such as a full upstream occlusion in the tube, a partial upstream occlusion in the tube, an empty reservoir, and/or a backflow of the fluid into the drip chamber. The system may adjust, based on the detection of an abnormal upstream flow condition in the pump, operation of the pump.

A device provided for monitoring the delivery of fluids through a drip chamber. The device includes an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) source and an EMR detector. A device body is employed to position the source and detector about the drip chamber so that the source and detector define an optical path across the drip chamber. A processor device is employed to detect fluid drops from differences between detector signal values separated by a lag time. The device connects to a monitor which may continuously monitor the detected drips.

Intravenous set timer devices are provided that include an indicator portion configured to change color at one or more predetermined times upon activation, a legend portion, wherein the legend portion defines relationships between colors of the indicator portion and specific time periods, and a removable protective cover configured to prevent exposure of the indicator portion to air when the removable protective cover is disposed on the indicator portion, wherein the indicator portion is configured to be activated when the removable protective cover is removed from the indicator portion. Intravenous sets and methods of making an intravenous set with an intravenous set timer device are also provided.

A flow meter includes a coupler, a support member, an image sensor, and one or more processors. The coupler is adapted to couple to a drip chamber. The support member is coupled to the coupler. The image sensor has a field of view and is operatively coupled to the support member. The image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within the field of view. The processor is operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive image data from the image sensor and is configured to: capture an image of a drip chamber using an image sensor; compare the image of a drip chamber with a dynamic background image; and adjust a flow rate of fluid flowing through the fluid line in accordance with the comparison between the image of the drip chamber and the dynamic background image.

Drip chamber detection assemblies for intravenous sets used with an infusion pump are provided. A drip chamber detection assembly includes a sensor coupled to a drip chamber. The sensor is positioned to generate signals related to the fluid level within the drip chamber. The signal data is transmitted to an infusion pump or a controller. A fluid level status or condition is determined and used for closed loop control of the infusion system, which generates an alarm and/or stops the infusion pump based on abnormal conditions. Methods of operating drip chamber detection assemblies are also provided.

A system for monitoring upstream flow characteristics for a pump is provided. The system may receive one or more outputs from a fluid level sensor coupled with a pump. The system may detect based on at least the one or more outputs, an abnormal upstream flow condition in the pump, such as a full upstream occlusion in the tube, a partial upstream occlusion in the tube, an empty reservoir, and/or a backflow of the fluid into the drip chamber. The system may adjust, based on the detection of an abnormal upstream flow condition in the pump, operation of the pump.

A multi-functional drip system with functions of detection and alert contains a flow meter installed in a drip tube which is installed under a liquid supply tube; the liquid supply tube receiving liquid from a drip bag; liquid within the liquid supply tube dropping into the drip tube drop by drop; then the liquid being transferred into a body of a patient through a liquid transfer tube; the flow meter serving to detect a drip amount of the drips passing through the drip tube per unit time; the flow meter transmitting detection data outwards; a transceiver connected to the flow meter for transferring detection data of the flow meter; and a processing unit signally connected to the transceiver for receiving the data from the transceiver; the processing unit further recording the drip detection times per unit time so as to determine the flow speed of the drips.

A system for regulating fluid flow having a processor configured to reduce image noise is provided. The system includes an image sensor to capture an image of the drip chamber. The processor captures the image of the drip chamber using the image sensor, performs an edge detection on the image to generate a first processed image, and performs an AND-operation on a pixel on a first side of an axis of the first processed image with a corresponding mirror pixel on a second side of the axis of the first processed image to generate a second processed image.