FLUID CHARACTERISTIC INDICATOR

摘要

A fluid characteristic indicator for measuring and indicating a characteristic of a body fluid from a medical or veterinary patient has a generally tubular housing with a suction port at a proximal end and a fluid inlet port at the distal end. An fluid characteristic indicating element is disposed in the housing. A diffuser is provided in the housing to support the indicating element and direct fluid from the inlet port toward the indicating element. The diffuser has at least one fluid channel to direct fluid toward the indicating element. The fluid channel may take the form of a spiral or helix. Alternatively, the diffuser may have a plurality of longitudinal fluid channels. the housing and the diffuser may have additional structures forming channels that cooperatively direct fluid toward the indicating element. The diffuser and may occupy nearly all the interior volume of the housing. Control of the fluid flow makes exposure and saturation of the indicator more accurate, avoids spurious indications due to the color of the fluid itself reduces the amount of fluid sample needed to obtain an indication or measurement.

主权项

1. A fluid characteristic indicator comprising:
a housing having a generally tubular body; a diffuser at least partially disposed in said body; the housing and the diffuser cooperatively defining a fluid chamber between a distal end of the indicator and a proximal end of the indicator, the fluid chamber adapted to receive fluid at said distal end of the indicator; said diffuser having at least a first section; a fluid characteristic indicating element disposed around an outer portion of the diffuser at said first section; at least a portion of housing body allowing visibility of the fluid characteristic indicating element from the outside of the housing; and a reference indicator disposed on the outside of the indicator whereby the fluid characteristic indicating element may be compared to the reference indicator.