IV set with drip chamber access

Abstract

An IV set may include a coupling for connecting the IV set to a source of liquid and a drip chamber including an access orifice, a top end having an inlet orifice, a bottom end having an outlet orifice, and a sidewall extending between the top end and the bottom end. The IV set may also include a valve connected to the access orifice for selectively controlling access to the drip chamber through the access orifice and a tube connected to the outlet orifice of the drip chamber. Additionally, the IV set may include a filter that permits air to flow through the filter while restricting the flow of liquid and an access port connected to the access orifice of the drip chamber.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCED RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/654,705, filed Feb. 18, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to tubing sets used in the administration of liquids to a patient that are commonly referred to as intravascular (“IV”) sets. More particularly, the present invention relates to IV sets that permit access to the drip chamber of an IV set. An IV set according to the invention is used broadly herein to include tubing sets used in the arterial, intravenous, intravascular, peritoneal, and non-vascular administration of liquid into a patient. Of course, one of skill in the art may use an IV set to administer liquids to other locations within a patient's body, other than those listed.

In general, the preparation procedure for preparing an IV set for use with a patient is referred to as “priming” the IV set. Priming an IV set may begin by clamping the tubing of an IV set to prevent liquid from moving through the tubing. Next, the IV set may be attached to an IV bag or bottle.

Once attached, a drip chamber of the IV set is allowed to fill with liquid to an operable liquid height which may range between about ⅓ to about ⅔ full, but preferably between ⅓ to about ½ full. A drip chamber may have a single inlet and a single outlet which generally requires that the volume of fluid entering the drip chamber equals the volume of fluid exiting the drip chamber.

Thus, to permit the drip chamber to be filled to an operable liquid height, the IV set may be squeezed to draw the liquid out of the IV bag or bottle and into the drip chamber. Squeezing the drip chamber lowers the pressure within the drip chamber below that which may exist within the IV bag or bottle. This lower pressure pulls liquid from the IV bag or bottle, which fills the drip chamber to the operable liquid height. Often, the drip chamber must be repeatedly squeezed in order to fill the drip chamber to an operable liquid height.

The drip chamber is generally designed to encourage liquid entering the drip chamber to form droplets that fall toward the bottom of the chamber. By forming droplets, an attendant is able to determine the flow rate of liquid through the IV set by counting the number of droplets that fall over a period of time. However, if the height of the liquid exceeds the operable liquid height of the drip chamber, the flow rate of liquid through the IV set may be difficult or impossible to determine. To facilitate the counting of droplets and to permit the drip chamber to fill with liquid to an operable liquid height, the drip chamber is typically made of a clear flexible plastic.

A short coming of currently available drip chambers is the inability to better control the operable liquid height during priming and use, other than by squeezing the drip chamber. Additionally, currently available drip chambers generally do not include a safety mechanism that would prevent overfilling of the drip chamber.

Once the drip chamber has been filled to the operable liquid height, the clamp is opened to allow liquid to flow through the tubing to an end of the IV set. Once the IV set is primed and ready for use with a patient, the IV set may be connected to the patient, or a solid end cap may be attached to an end of the tube to prevent contamination of the IV set and wasting liquid which may be allowed to flow out of the end of the tube of the IV set.

Typically, priming an IV set also traps air in the tubing of the IV set which must be removed. For example, the flow of the liquid through the tubing of the IV set may be turbulent which can entrap air within the tube as the boundary layer between the liquid and the tubing is sheared. Additionally, the flow rate out of the drip chamber may be higher than the flow rate of liquid able to enter the drip chamber, which can cause a bubble ladder to form as air is sucked from the drip chamber into the tubing.

It is a good practice to remove air from IV sets which access a patient's blood flow. While this concern is critical when accessing arterial blood, it is also a concern when accessing the venous side. Specifically, if air bubbles are allowed to enter a patient's blood stream while receiving the intravenous administration of liquids, the air bubbles can result in an air embolism and cause serious injury to a patient.

To remove air bubbles from the IV set, liquid from the IV bag or bottle is allowed to flow through the tubing while an attendant taps the tubing to encourage the air bubbles out the end of the IV set. As the liquid is allowed to flow out of the IV set to clear air bubbles from the tubing, the liquid is generally allowed to flow into a waste basket or other receptacle. During this procedure the end of the tubing may contact the waste basket or be touched by the attendant and thus, become contaminated.

Therefore, priming a currently available IV set may be a time consuming process and can lead to the contamination of the IV set by inadvertently touching a sterile end of the IV set. Additionally, it requires attention and time that could have been used to perform other tasks that may be valuable to the patient.

In administering medicines to a patient, the IV set often provides convenient access for a nurse or physician. Currently available IV sets generally include a Y or T connector disposed along the tubing. These Y and T connectors may be used to piggyback a second IV set or to add medication through a syringe.

A short coming of these Y and T connectors is that they do not provide control over the rate at which liquid enters the tubing at the Y and T connectors. Additionally, medicines and liquids administered through the Y or T connector may not mix thoroughly with the liquid already traveling in the tubing of the IV set, which may be a concern in some applications.

Accordingly, a need exists for an IV set that provides better control over the liquid height within the drip chamber in order to better control the priming and use of the IV set. A need also exists for an IV set that includes safe guards that prevent a drip chamber from being over filled with liquid. Additionally, a need exists for an IV set that permits better control and mixing of liquids entering the IV set from a piggybacked IV set or syringe.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus of the present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not been fully solved by currently available IV sets. Thus, the present invention provides an IV set that provides improved control over the priming and use of the IV set in the administration of liquids to a patient.

According to one embodiment, the IV set may include a coupling for connecting the IV set to a container of liquid and a drip chamber connected to the coupling. More specifically, the coupling is connected to an inlet orifice in a top end of the drip chamber. Typically, IV sets are gravity fed so that the inlet orifice is disposed in a top end and the outlet orifice is disposed in a bottom end of the drip chamber. A sidewall extends between the top end and the bottom end of the drip chamber.

The drip chamber may also include an access orifice which may be disposed in the sidewall or the top end. More specifically, the access orifice may be positioned at or near the operable liquid height of the drip chamber. The access orifice may be used to permit air to exit the drip chamber and to control the liquid height within the drip chamber. In some cases, the access orifice may be used to introduce liquids into the drip chamber.

The IV set may also include a valve connected to the drip chamber for controlling access to the drip chamber through the access orifice, a filter connected to the access orifice, and an access port connected to the drip chamber. The valve may be a stop cock, a slide valve, a butterfly valve, or any other type of valve known in the art.

An access port may be connected to the access orifice to facilitate the connecting of a second IV set in a piggybacking arrangement. The access port may also be used by a syringe to add medicine to the drip chamber. The access port may be a standard Luer fitting or a closed Luer access port that includes a septum for preventing contamination of the IV set. The access port may be threaded for a threaded connection or beveled for a press fit connection. Additionally, in some configurations the valve may be disposed to control the flow of fluid, such as a saline solution or air, through the access port.

A filter may be used to permit air to exit or enter the drip chamber through the access orifice, while preventing liquid from exiting the drip chamber. The valve may be disposed to control the flow of fluid through the filter. The filter may be positioned proximate to an operable liquid height in the drip chamber. The filter may include a screen made of a hydrophobic material that repels water and has a small pore size or a plurality of small holes that permit air to exit the drip chamber while restricting liquids from exiting the drip chamber.

Alternatively, the IV set may include a filter that may be attached to the access port. For example, the filter may be part of a cap having a Luer fitting that is connected to the access port.

The IV set may also include a manifold connected to the access orifice. The manifold provides two or more access ports for the attachment of additional IV sets or to provide an access port for adding medication to the liquid flowing through the IV set.

The IV set may include a tube having a first end connected to the outlet orifice of the drip chamber and a second end that may be connected to a patient. When the IV set is being primed, a tube attachment device may be used to position the second end of the tube so that it is disposed proximate to the drip chamber, which permits hydrostatic pressure to be used to slow the flow of liquid through the IV set during priming. By slowing the flow of liquid through the tube of the IV set, the flow may be less turbulent and thus, less likely to entrap air in the IV set.

The IV set may also include a pressure activated valve disposed to control the flow of liquid through the outlet orifice of the drip chamber. The pressure activated valve closes the outlet orifice when the fluid level in the drip chamber falls below the operable liquid height. A pressure activated valve is disclosed in related application ####### to Chad Michael Adams, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The IV set of the invention may be primed by connecting the coupling of the IV set to a container of liquid, opening the valve connected to the drip chamber to permit air to exit the drip chamber, and filling the drip chamber with liquid. As the drip chamber fills with liquid, the valve may be adjusted to alter the flow rate of liquid into the drip chamber. Once the drip chamber is filled to an operable liquid height, the valve may be closed to prevent the exiting of air through the access orifice and to prevent the drip chamber from being filled to greater than the operable liquid height.

To retard the rate at which the liquid flows through tubing of the IV set during priming, and in order to avoid trapping air in the tubing, the IV set may include a tube attachment device. During priming of the IV set, the tube attachment device may be used to dispose the end of the tube proximate to the drip chamber. Disposing the end of the tube proximate to the drip chamber permits the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid to slow the flow of liquid through the tube and helps to prevent liquid from inadvertently rushing out of the end of the tube as the IV set is primed.

Where the IV set also includes a filter, air from the drip chamber may be passed through the filter during priming of the IV set. The filter may also be used to inhibit the flow of liquid through the filter. Thus, if the filter is positioned at or proximate to an operable liquid height and the valve is inadvertently left open, the liquid in the drip chamber will not be able to exit the drip chamber through the access orifice. Additionally, once the access orifice is covered with liquid, air will not be able to exit the drip chamber, which forces the level of liquid in the drip chamber to maintain a level at about the top of the access orifice. Thus, the filter may act as an overfill safety device.

In configurations of the IV set that include a pressure activated valve, the method of priming the IV set may also include the step of opening the pressure activated valve to permit the flow of liquid through the outlet orifice of the drip chamber when the pressure of the liquid within the drip chamber is greater than the force of a biasing mechanism of the pressure activated valve. The method may also include the step of closing the pressure activated valve to prevent the flow of liquid through the outlet orifice of the drip chamber when the pressure of the liquid within the drip chamber is less than the force of a biasing mechanism of the pressure activated valve.

In configurations of the IV set that include an access port connected to the access orifice, the access port may be used to connect a second IV set to the access orifice. The access port may also be used to connect a removable filter to the access orifice.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other features and advantages of the invention are obtained will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an IV set according to the invention connected to an IV bag;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a valve assembly connected to a drip chamber of an IV set for selectively controlling access to the drip chamber through the access orifice;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of another valve assembly connected to a drip chamber of an IV set;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of an alternative valve assembly connected to a drip chamber of an IV set according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of an IV set piggybacked on an IV set according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The presently preferred embodiments of the present invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the IV set of the present invention, as represented in FIGS. 1 through 5, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of presently preferred embodiments of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view illustrates an IV set 10 according to the invention. As shown, the IV set 10 may be connected to a source of liquid 12, which in this configuration is an IV bag 14. Alternatively, the source of liquid 12 may be an IV bottle (not shown) or other container known in the art.

The IV set 10 may be connected to the IV bag 12 by a coupling 20 for connecting the IV set 10 to the IV bag 14. As shown, the coupling 20 may be a spike 22 for spiking the IV bag 14 and/or a threaded coupling (not shown).

The IV set 10 may include a drip chamber 24 for determining the flow rate from the source of liquid 12. The drip chamber 24 may include a top end 26, a bottom end 28, and a sidewall 30 extending between the top end 26 and the bottom end 28. The top end 26 may include an inlet orifice 32 that may be shaped and sized to encourage liquid entering the drip chamber 24 to form droplets, facilitating the determination of the liquid's flow rate. The bottom end 28 may also include an outlet orifice 34 that permits liquid to exit the drip chamber 24.

The drip chamber 24 may also include an access orifice 36. The access orifice 36 may be positioned in the top end 26 or in the sidewall 30. In some configurations, the access orifice 36 may be positioned at or near an operable liquid height 38 of the drip chamber 24. The operable liquid height 38 of the drip chamber 24 is deep enough so that air will not be sucked from the surface of the liquid into the outlet orifice 34, yet shallow enough that each droplet that falls from the inlet orifice 32 may be discerned in order to determine the flow rate of liquid into the drip chamber 24. For example, the operable liquid height 38 may range from about ⅓ to about ⅔ full. However, the preferable operable liquid height 38 of drip chamber 24 may range from about ⅓ to about ½ full.

An access port 40 may be connected to the access orifice 36. The access port 40 may be used to removably connect the access orifice 36 to various devices 42, such as a cap 44, another IV set, a syringe, and other devices known in the art. As shown, the access port 40 may be a Luer fitting, known in the art.

A valve 46 may also be connected to the drip chamber 24 to selectively control access to the drip chamber 24 through the access orifice 36. The valve 46 may be a stop cock, a slide valve, a butterfly valve, or any other type of valve known in the art. The valve 46 may be opened to allow gravity to pull liquid from the source of liquid 12 into the drip chamber 24 without deforming the sidewall 30 of the drip chamber 24 to induce a vacuum. The valve 46 may remain open until the operable liquid height 38 is reached. When the valve 46 is closed, fluid may only enter and exit through the inlet orifice 32 and outlet orifice 34. Thus, when the valve 46 and the outlet orifice 34 are closed, the pressure within the drip chamber 24 may rise until the liquid is unable to enter the drip chamber 24 from the inlet orifice 32.

In configurations of the IV set 10 where the access port 40 and the valve 46 are connected to the access orifice 36, the valve 46 may be disposed to prevent fluid from the access port 40 from reaching the access orifice 36. For example, the valve 46 may be used to control the flow from another IV set connected to the access port 40 into the drip chamber 24.

Additionally, a filter 48 may be connected to the access orifice 36, permitting air to flow through the filter 48 while restricting the flow of liquid. Where the access orifice 36 is disposed at an operable liquid height 38, the filter 48 may be used as a fail safe to prevent the height of liquid within the drip chamber 24 from exceeding the operable liquid height 38 of the drip chamber 24. More specifically, once the filter 48 is covered by the liquid within the drip chamber 24, the liquid and air in the drip chamber 24 is prevented from exiting the access orifice 36. Thus, the pressure may rise within the drip chamber 24 and prevent liquid from entering the drip chamber 24 from the source of liquid 12.

The IV set 10 may also include a pressure activated valve 50 disposed to control the flow of liquid through the outlet orifice 34 of the drip chamber 24. The pressure activated valve 50 may include a passageway 52 extending from the outlet orifice 34, a valve head 54 for closing the passageway 52, and a biasing mechanism 56 that biases the valve head 54 toward closing the passageway 52. The biasing mechanism 56 applies a force to the valve head 54 that may be about equal to the pressure exerted against the valve head 54 by the liquid filling the drip chamber 24 to approximately the operable liquid height 38. Thus, the pressure activated valve 50 prevents liquid from exiting the outlet orifice 34 as the drip chamber 24 fills with liquid, and permits liquid to exit the outlet orifice 34 when the height of the liquid is about equal to or greater than the operable liquid height 38. When the height of the liquid drops below the operable liquid height 38, the valve head 54 closes the passageway 52 preventing liquid from exiting the outlet orifice 34.

Once the pressure activated valve 50 is opened by the pressure of the liquid, in the drip chamber 24, the valve 46 may be closed to prevent air from entering the drip chamber and to permit the flow rate of the liquid entering the drip chamber 24 to be approximately equal to the flow rate of the liquid exiting the drip chamber 24.

A tube 60 may be connected to the outlet orifice 34 of the drip chamber 24 through the pressure activated valve 50. More specifically, the tube 60 may have a first end 62 connected to the pressure activated valve 50 and a second end 64 that may be disposed remotely from the first end 62. The second end may include a connector 66 for connecting the IV set 10 to a patient (not shown). The connector 66 may be a Luer fitting or some other connector known in the art.

An end cap 68 may be coupled to the connector 66. The end cap 68 may be solid or alternatively, may include a filter 70 that permits air to exit the end cap 68while preventing liquid from exiting the end cap 68. The filter 70 may be composed of a plurality of small holes, a mesh, or a mat of fibers. The filter 70 may also be made of a hydrophobic material.

The filter 70 may be sized so that the air flow through the filter 70 is restricted to slow the flow of liquid from the drip chamber 24 and through the tube 60 during priming of the IV set 10. By slowing the flow of liquid, air is less likely to be entrapped within the tube 60 during priming of the IV set 10. Additionally, air is less likely to be pulled from the surface of the liquid, at an operable liquid height 38 in the drip chamber 24, to the outlet orifice 34 and through the tube 60.

To slow the flow of liquid through the tube 60, the IV set 10 may also include a tube attachment device 72 for disposing the second end 64 of the tube 60 proximate to the drip chamber 24. The tube attachment device 72 may be connected to the drip chamber 24, the pressure activated valve 50, near the first end 62 of the tube 60, or to another portion of the IV set 10. The tube attachment device 72 may be integrally formed with a portion of the IV set 10, or may be connected by an adhesive, weld, or mechanical fastener, such as a hook and loop fastener or clip.

Referring to FIG. 2, a cross sectional view illustrates a valve assembly 100 that may be connected to the access orifice 36 in the sidewall 30 of the drip chamber 24. The valve assembly 100 may be clamped to the sidewall 30 at about the access orifice 36 by a male member 102 and a female member 104. The male member 102 and the female member 104 may be threadably attached to permit the valve assembly 100 to be tightly connected to the sidewall 30. Additionally, the male member 102 and female member 104 may be sealed together and to the sidewall 30 by an adhesive 106.

The valve assembly 100 includes a duct 108 that extends from the access orifice 36 to an access port 110 and a valve 112 that controls fluid flow through the duct 108 and thus, the access orifice 36. The valve 112 may also be disposed to control the flow of fluid through the access port 110. As shown, the valve 112 may be a butterfly valve 114.

The access port 110 may be a Luer connector or other connector known in the art. The access port 110 may be connected to a vented cap 116. The vented cap 116 may include a filter 118 that permits air to exit the vented cap 116 while substantially preventing liquid from exiting the vented cap 116. Thus, in some configurations, a small amount of liquid may exit the vented cap through the filter, but is generally prevented from exiting the vented cap 116.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of another valve assembly 200 connected to the access orifice 36. As shown, the valve assembly 200 may be integrally formed with the drip chamber 24. The valve assembly 200 may include a passageway 202 that extends from the access orifice 36 and branches separately to a valve 204 and an access port 206. Thus, in this configuration, the valve 204 is not disposed to control the flow of fluid through the access port 206.

The valve assembly 200 may also include a filter 208 that is disposed to substantially prevent liquid from exiting the valve 204. The valve 204 is a slide valve 210 that may be moved to cover a gas orifice 212 extending from the passageway 202.

The access port 206 may be a closed Luer access port 214 that includes a septum 216. The septum 216 helps to prevent inadvertent fluid leakage out of the access port 206. The septum 216 may be pierced to permit fluid flow through the access port 206. As shown, the access port 206 may be connected to a solid end cap 218.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of an alternative valve assembly 300 connected to the access orifice 36 of the drip chamber 24 by an adhesive 302. The adhesive 302 also helps to provide a seal between the valve assembly 300 and the drip chamber 24.

The valve assembly 300 may include a passageway 304 extending from the access orifice 36. The valve assembly 300 may also include a valve 306 disposed to control the flow of air through the passageway 304 and a filter 308 disposed to generally prevent liquid from reaching the valve 306. The passageway 304 connects the access orifice 36 with an opening 310.

As shown, the valve 306 may be a slide valve. More specifically, the valve 306 may be slid into the passageway 304 to close the passageway 304 and slid out of the passageway 304 to open the passageway 304.

Referring to FIG. 5, a side elevation view illustrates an IV set 400 according to the invention and a second IV set 402 piggybacked on the IV set 400. The IV set 400 may be connected to an IV bag 404. Similar to the IV set 10 of FIG. 1, the IV set 400 includes a drip chamber 406. The drip chamber 406 may be filled with liquid 408 to an operable liquid height 410. The IV set 400 may also include a tube 412 having a first end 414 connected to the drip chamber 406 and a second end 416 comprising a coupling 418. The second end 416 is disposed proximate the operable liquid height 410 by a tube attachment device 420, which may be a hook and loop fastener 422 with respective portions attached to the drip chamber 406 and the tube 412.

Additionally, the IV set 400 may include a valve assembly 430 attached to the drip chamber 406 near the operable fluid height 410. As shown, the valve assembly 430 may include a valve 432, a manifold 434, a first access port 436, and a second access port 438. Of course, one of skill in the art would recognize that the manifold 434 may provide for more than two access ports 436, 438. The valve 432 may be used to vent air from the drip chamber 406 and may include a filter not shown. The first access port 436 and the second access port 438 may be closed Luer fittings to prevent fluid from leaking out of the access ports 436, 438, while providing access to the drip chamber 406.

The IV set 400 may include a roller clamp 440 for opening and closing the tube 412. The roller clamp 440 may be used to control the flow rate of the liquid 408 in the tube 412.

As shown, the second IV set 402 is coupled to the first access port 436 of the IV set 400 and is connected to an IV bottle 442. The second IV set 402 may include a roller clamp 444 for controlling the flow of liquid 446. The second IV set 402 may be used to deliver medications that are diluted with the liquid 408 of the IV set 400.

In summary, an IV set has been provided that may have a rigid drip chamber instead of a flexible drip chamber, as used by currently available IV sets that is flexed to induce a vacuum to draw liquid from a source of liquid during priming of the IV set. Both rigid and flexible drip chambers may be used in accordance with the invention because a valve connected to an access orifice in the drip chamber may be used to break the pressure seal that may form within the drip chamber to permit liquid from a source of liquid to fill the drip chamber. Once a desired liquid height is reached, a valve may be closed to permit the IV set to be gravity operated such that the flow rate of liquid into the drip chamber is approximately equal to the flow rate of liquid exiting the drip chamber.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. An IV set comprising:

a drip chamber comprising an access orifice, a top end having an inlet orifice, a bottom end having an outlet orifice, and a sidewall extending between the top end and the bottom end, wherein the access orifice is disposed in the sidewall;

a coupling for connecting the IV set to a source of liquid;

a valve connected to the drip chamber for selectively controlling access to the drip chamber through the access orifice; and

a tube connected to the outlet orifice of the drip chamber.

2. The IV set of claim 1, further comprising a filter connected to the access orifice of the drip chamber for permitting air to flow through the filter while restricting the flow of liquid.

3. The IV set of claim 1, further comprising an access port connected to the access orifice.

4. The IV set of claim 3, wherein the valve is disposed to control the flow of fluid through the access port.

5. The IV set of claim 3, wherein the access port comprises a septum.

6. The IV set of claim 1, wherein the access orifice is disposed in the sidewall at or proximate to an operable liquid height.

7. The IV set of claim 1, further comprising a pressure activated valve disposed to control the flow of liquid through the outlet orifice of the drip chamber.

8. The IV set of claim 1, wherein the tube comprises a first end connected to the drip chamber and a second end, wherein the IV set further comprises a tube attachment device for disposing the second end of the tube proximate to the drip chamber.

9. The IV set of claim 1, further comprising a manifold connected to the access orifice.

10. An IV set comprising:

a drip chamber comprising an access orifice, a top end having an inlet orifice, a bottom end having an outlet orifice, and a sidewall extending between the top end and the bottom end, wherein the access orifice is disposed in the sidewall;

a coupling for connecting the IV set to a source of liquid;

a means for selectively controlling access to the drip chamber through the access orifice, wherein the control means is connected to the drip chamber; and

a tube in liquid communication with the outlet orifice of the drip chamber.

11. The IV set of claim 10, further comprising a filter connected to the access orifice of the drip chamber for permitting air to flow through the filter while restricting the flow of liquid.

12. The IV set of claim 10, further comprising an access port connected to the access orifice of the drip chamber.

13. The IV set of claim 12, wherein the access port comprises a septum.

14. The IV set of claim 10, wherein the venting orifice is connected to the sidewall at or proximate to an operable liquid height.

15. The IV set of claim 10, further comprising a manifold connected to the access orifice.

16. A method for priming an IV set, the method comprising:

connecting a coupling of the IV set to a source of liquid, wherein the IV set comprises a drip chamber comprising an access orifice, a top end having an inlet orifice, a bottom end having an outlet orifice, and a sidewall extending between the top end and the bottom end, wherein the access orifice is disposed in the sidewall, wherein the IV set further comprises a valve connected to the drip chamber for selectively controlling access to the drip chamber through the access orifice and a tube connected to the outlet orifice of the drip chamber; and

opening the valve to permit air to exit the drip chamber through the access orifice; and

filling the drip chamber with liquid.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the tube comprises a first end connected to the drip chamber and a second end, wherein the IV set further comprises a tube attachment device, the method further comprising the step of using the tube attachment device to dispose the second end of the tube proximate to the drip chamber.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the IV set further comprises a pressure activated valve disposed to control the flow of liquid through the outlet orifice of the drip chamber, the method further comprising the step of opening the pressure activated valve to permit the flow of liquid through the outlet orifice of the drip chamber when the pressure of the liquid within the drip chamber is greater than force of a biasing mechanism of the pressure activated valve.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the IV set further comprises an access port connected to the access orifice, the method further comprising connecting a second IV set to the access port.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of closing the valve to prevent air in the drip chamber from exiting through the access orifice.