Of the many blessings of technology, which brought forth a revolution in medicine and helped humanity, the automatic liquid stopping infusion set is one. It reduces the stress of the medical staff as well as of the patient. Many risks could be eliminated through the use of the automatic liquid stopping infusion set.
What is an Automatic Liquid-Stopping Infusion Set?
It is the disposable infusion set with an automatic liquid-stopping drip chamber. The drip chamber can automatically block air passage when the infusion container runs empty and maintains fluids in the infusion line. In other words, the fluid can go through the filter in the bottom of the drip chamber, but the air cannot go through it. So this device can stop the fluid flow when we remove the spike from the infusion bag.
Why is Using Automatic Liquid-Stopping Infusion Set Important?
Infusion of electrolytes becomes inevitable in innumerable cases, such as sodium and potassium enhanced water. This, in turn, helps our body to absorb water more quickly.
Such infusion helps in rehydration, pre-surgery, and post-surgery. Gone are the days when the alteration of the infusion water bottle was a complication. All thanks to the invention of the Automatic Liquid Stopping Infusion Set.
Before this invention, if the infusion liquid bottle weren’t changed at the right time, air bubbles would tend to enter a person’s veins or arteries. These air bubbles caused air embolism, which could prove to be fatal and life-threatening. If air bubbles reach your heart, brain, or lungs, they may cause severe stroke or heart attack problems.
All such complications are easy to avoid with the invention of the Automatic Liquid Stopping Infusion Set.
The Main Parts of the Liquid Stopping Infusion Set
It comprises of the following:
1) Plastic spike with air vent
2) Automatic liquid-stopping drip chamber with/without injection site
3) Flow regulator.
4) Luer lock connector
5) Intravenous infusion needle
6) Tube
Plastic spike with air vent
The plastic spike is a hollow device accompanied by a protector cap. You will find it at the end of your IV set. The protector cap is made of polyethylene and keeps the plastic spike sterile. The air vent connects to the spike through a short tube to let the air in and make the liquid down.
Automatic liquid-stopping drip chamber with/without injection site
The drip chamber has filtration membranes with pore diameters of 5um which is located on the bottom of the drip chamber. The filtration membrane can avoid particulate contamination and prevent air pass through.
How does it work?
After the liquid runs out, the liquid level drops to the filtration membrane. The entry of the following air into lower tubing can be blocked according to the capillary pores of the filtration membrane.
A liquid column is created in the lower tubing by the balance among its gravity, atmospheric pressure, human venous pressure, and filtration membrane gravity upward.
Flow regulator
The flow regulator is located between the drip chamber and the infusion connector. It permits us to change the flow of liquid without disfiguring the IV tube. It works like a roller clamp to regulate the flow. We can hang the intravenous needle on the port of the roller clamp to prepare for vein puncture.
The fluid could be slowed down or stopped by compressing the clamp whenever required. Liquid flow can be regulated from zero to maximum.
The flow regulator has another purpose. It permits the liquid to run through the entire length of the IV tube. While running, the fluid removes all air bubbles, thus preventing embolism.
Luer lock connector
Luer locks enable the intravenous needle to be joined securely without any leaks. The intravenous needle is locked into place with a hub on the female fitting, which fixes into the sleeve of a male fitting.
Luer locks are strong and prevent accidental removal of the needle as well as unintentional injections.
Intravenous infusion needle
This device is used for venipuncture. It has one or two flexible bilateral wings, a hypodermic needle, flexible small bore transparent tubing that is usually 20 to 35 cm long, and a connector called Luer Lock Connector.
Tube
The Automatic liquid stopping infusion has a PVC tube. The normal length is 150cm. It is transparent so that the flow of the infused fluid can easily be administered through normal vision. The IV tube is soft and flexible. It has smooth interior walls to avoid the formation of air bubbles.
