Air in-line sensing system for IV infusion lines
AssigneeCareFusion 2200, Inc.
InventorDaniel Abal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pump cassette body for detecting air bubbles in a fluid pathway, comprises an upstanding flow director vane, a fitment integrally molded into the pump cassette body, wherein the fitment comprises a base integrally molded into the pump cassette body, an elastomeric member attached to the base, and a housing at least partially surrounding the elastomeric member, wherein the elastomeric member is co-molded to the housing.
Claims18
A pump cassette body for detecting air bubbles in a fluid pathway, the pump cassette body comprising:
- a flow director vane;
- and
- a fitment integrally molded into the pump cassette body, the fitment comprising:
- a base integrally molded into the pump cassette body;
- an elastomeric member attached to the base;
- and
- a housing surrounding, at least partially, the elastomeric member, wherein the elastomeric member is co-molded to the housing, and wherein the flow director vane and the elastomeric member form a tapered conduit configured to provide, during fluid flow through the pump cassette body, a divergent cross-section of a fluid flow path along a fluid flow direction before a sensing area at a tip of the flow director vane, and a convergent cross-section of the fluid flow path along the fluid flow direction after the sensing area.
A system for detecting air bubbles in a fluid pathway, the system comprising:
- a pump cassette body having an upstanding flow director vane;
- a fitment integrally molded into the pump cassette body, the fitment comprising:
- a base integrally molded into the pump cassette body;
- an elastomeric member attached to the base;
- and
- a housing surrounding, at least partially, the elastomeric member, wherein the elastomeric member is co-molded to the housing, and wherein the elastomeric member forms a wall for a tapered conduit configured to provide, during fluid flow through the pump cassette body, a divergent cross-section of a fluid flow path along a fluid flow direction before a sensing area adjacent to a bend of the elastomeric member, and a convergent cross-section of the fluid flow path along the fluid flow direction after the sensing area;
- a pump cassette recess having a slot defined therein, the slot substantially matching a dimension of the fitment and having opposing walls;
- and
- an acoustic sensor disposed within the pump cassette recess, the acoustic sensor comprising a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter and receiver being disposed behind opposite opposing walls of the slot.
A system for detecting air bubbles in a fluid pathway, the system comprising:
- a pump cassette body having a flow director vane;
- a fitment integrally molded into the pump cassette body, the fitment comprising:
- a base integrally molded into the pump cassette body;
- an elastomeric member attached to the base;
- and
- a housing surrounding, at least partially, the elastomeric member, wherein the flow director vane and the elastomeric member form a tapered conduit configured to provide, during fluid flow through the pump cassette body, a divergent cross-section of a fluid flow path along a fluid flow direction before a sensing area at a tip of the flow director vane, and a convergent cross-section of the fluid flow path along the fluid flow direction after the sensing area;
- a pump cassette recess having a slot defined therein, the slot substantially matching the fitment and having opposing walls such that insertion of the fitment into the slot creates a compression load between the fitment and a wall of the slot;
- and
- an acoustic sensor disposed within the pump cassette recess, the acoustic sensor comprising a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter and receiver being disposed behind opposite opposing walls of the slot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.