Drip chamber insert for an infusion device of a medical infusion system

1 . A drip chamber insert for insertion into a drip chamber to be connected to a medical infusion or transfusion device, wherein the drip chamber insert is formed as a hollow body and comprises:

a first front side that is at least partially open;

a second front side opposite the first front side, the second front side having discharge openings; and

at least one overflow opening provided in a region of a shell of the hollow body extending from the first front side to the second front side;

wherein the shell comprises a continuous solid wall extending between the at least one overflow opening and the second front side.

2 . The drip chamber insert according to claim 1 , wherein:

i.) the at least one overflow opening is located in the region of the shell between the first front side and the second front side; or

ii.) the at least one overflow opening is formed adjacent to the first front side; or

iii.) the at least one overflow opening is provided in a region of an opening of the first front side or extends, at a plurality of points along a circumference, into the shell.

3 . The drip chamber insert according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one overflow opening extends into the shell by at least one notch extending from an upper edge of the shell at the first front side towards the second front side.

4 . The drip chamber insert according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one overflow opening is elongated in a direction from the first front side to the second front side.

5 . The drip chamber insert according to claim 1 , wherein the discharge openings have a round design and each discharge opening has a diameter of 0.5 mm to 3 mm.

6 . The drip chamber insert according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one overflow opening is spaced from the second front side and spaced from the first front side.

7 . The drip chamber insert according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one overflow opening is spaced from the second front side by a distance of at least ⅓ H, wherein His a height of the drip chamber insert measured from the first front side to the second front side.

8 . The drip chamber insert according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one overflow opening is spaced from the second front side by a distance of between 0.4 H and 0.8 H, wherein His a height of the drip chamber insert measured from the first front side to the second front side.

9 . The drip chamber insert according to claim 1 , wherein a total discharge area defined by the discharge openings is smaller than a total overflow area defined by all of the at least one overflow opening.

10 . The drip chamber insert according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow body is cylindrical in shape and tapers towards the second front side.

11 . The drip chamber insert according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow body has at least one of:

i.) a height H, measured as a distance from the first front side to the second front side, of between 1 cm and 10 cm; and

ii.) an outer diameter, measured at a level of the first front side and/or at a level of the second front side, of between 0.5 cm and 5 cm.

12 . The drip chamber insert according to claim 1 , wherein the drip chamber at least one of:

i.) comprises a plastic; and

ii.) is sterile.

13 . The drip chamber insert according to claim 1 , wherein the drip chamber comprises a transparent hard plastic.

14 . A drip chamber for a medical infusion or transfusion device comprising:

a drip chamber insert formed as a hollow body and comprising:

a first front side that is at least partially open;

a second front side opposite the first front side, the second front side having discharge openings; and

at least one overflow opening provided in a region of a shell of the hollow body extending from the first front side to the second front side; and

a drip chamber bottom having an outlet channel; and

a liquid filter positioned at a distance from the outlet channel,

wherein the drip chamber insert is positioned in the drip chamber with the second front side facing the drip chamber bottom.

15 . The drip chamber according to claim 14 , wherein the liquid filter is positioned between the outlet channel and the second front side of the drip chamber insert.

16 . The drip chamber according to claim 14 , wherein the liquid filter is configured to prevent air and/or particles from passing through the liquid filter.

17 . The drip chamber according to claim 14 , wherein the shell comprises a continuous solid wall extending between the at least one overflow opening and the second front side.

18 . The drip chamber according to claim 14 , further comprising a hose line connected to the outlet channel with a connector for connection to an infusion or transfusion needle, wherein the connector comprises a closure cap that separates an interior of the hose line from a surrounding environment by an air-permeable and water-repellent membrane.

19 . The drip chamber according to claim 14 , wherein a drip chamber lower part is cylindrical in shape and tapers towards the outlet channel.

20 . The drip chamber according to claim 14 , further comprising a piercing spike for piercing a container on a side opposite the drip chamber bottom.

21 . A method for preparing operation of a medical infusion or transfusion device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a drip chamber according to claim 14 ; and

preparing operation of the medical infusion or transfusion device without shutting off and reopening a connection to the drip chamber on a patient side and/or without carrying out external pressurization of an interior of the drip chamber.