SHIFT LABS, INC. HDAB DripAssist

The DripAssist device is intended to be used as a supplementary monitoring system for monitoring the flow rate of intravenous fluids. The DripAssist is a passive device. It does not control the flow rate of fluids passing through a drip chamber. The device operates by monitoring the drops through the drip chamber of a standard IV administration set. By tracking the intervals between drops, the device calculates the flow rate through the chamber and displays the flow rate on an LCD screen.The device operates by tracking drops using an infrared emitter and detector positioned on opposite sides of a well wherein the drip chamber is situated.There is an alarm functionality that can be activated once a desired flow rate, or “set point,” is reached. The alarm, when activated, will sound when the flow rate deviates from a fixed percentage from the “set point.”The device can be used with drip sets of 10, 15, 20, and 60 gtt/mL. The device is powered by one AA battery. The device can display the flow rate in drops per minute or mL per hour. The unit of measurement being displayed can be changed while the device operates. The device can also display the total volume that has dispensed through the drip chamber. The device is designed to be used with drip rates slow enough to be calculated by the human eye; a steady stream of fluid is outside the operating parameters.