# US 10,369,306 B2 · Device to meter fluid

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- Number: US 10,369,306 B2
- Document ID: US10369306B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/477,891
- Filed: 2017-04-03
- Published: 2017-07-20
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2003-09-25
- Assignees: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
- Applicants: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
- Inventors: Russell H. Beavis; Larry B. Gray; Derek G. Kane
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369306B2

## CPC

- A61M 15/008: {Electronic counters}
- A61M 15/0003: {with means for dispensing more than one drug}
- A61M 15/002: {with air flow regulating means}
- A61M 15/0045: {using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters}
- A61M 15/0048: {the dosages being arranged in a plane, e.g. on diskettes}
- A61M 15/0065: {Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices (A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52)}
- A61M 15/0066: {with means for varying the dose size}
- A61M 15/0068: {Indicating or counting the number of dispensed doses or of remaining doses}
- A61M 15/0085: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)}
- A61M 15/009: {using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08)}
- B05B 12/006: {Pressure or flow rate sensors}
- B05B 12/085: {responsive to flow or pressure of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged (B05B1/3006, B05B1/323 take precedence; spray pistols designed to control volume of flow with the controlling means being fluid actuated B05B7/1254)}
- G01F 1/007: {by measuring the level variations of storage tanks relative to the time}
- G01F 17/00: Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies (measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B)
- G01F 22/00: Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for
- G01F 23/14: by measurement of pressure
- G10K 9/04: by compressed gases, e.g. compressed air
- A61M 2016/0021: {with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor}
- A61M 2016/0039: {in the inspiratory circuit}
- A61M 2202/03: Gases in liquid phase, e.g. cryogenic liquids
- A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means
- A61M 2205/3368: Temperature
- A61M 2205/3375: Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
- A61M 2205/3379: Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
- A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers
- A61M 2205/52: with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
- G01H 3/00: Measuring {characteristics of} vibrations by using a detector in a fluid (G01H7/00, G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01H: MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES

## Abstract

An apparatus for metering the delivery of a fluid. The apparatus has a variable acoustic source and a microphone, both acoustically coupled to a volume having a fluid region and an air region. The apparatus may also include a processor to determine a volume of the air region based on signals received from the microphone and the variable acoustic source. A fluid valve is coupled to the processor, and is configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region associated with the volume of the air region.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system to meter medication from a disposable cassette comprising:
a disposable cassette including a drug reservoir, an inlet valve, a fluid region and an output valve, the inlet valve fluidicly connecting the drug reservoir to the fluid region and the output valve fluidicly connected to the fluid region; and
a reusable portion comprising:
an acoustic volume transducer including:
a housing containing a first volume and partly defining a variable volume chamber, the variable volume chamber being further bounded by the fluid region, and
a printed circuit board disposed within the housing, the printed circuit board defining the first volume within the housing and the printed circuit board including:
an acoustic source,
a first microphone acoustically coupled to the first volume, and
a second microphone acoustically coupled to the variable volume chamber;
a processor in electrical communication with the acoustic volume sensor and coupled to the output valve, the processor receiving a first signal from the first microphone and a second signal from the second microphone, the processor determining the volume of the fluid region based on the first signal and second signal, the processor controlling the output valve to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system to meter medication from a disposable cassette of claim 1 wherein the first volume and the variable volume chamber form at least part of an acoustic system.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system to meter medication from a disposable cassette of claim 1 wherein the processor comprises:
controlling the acoustic source to generate an acoustic excitement in the acoustic system, receiving a first signal from the first microphone in response to the acoustic excitement, and
receiving a second signal from the second microphone in response to the acoustic excitement.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system to meter medication from a disposable cassette of claim 1 wherein the processor determines the volume of the variable volume chamber associated with the first signal and the second signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system to meter medication from a disposable cassette of claim 1 wherein the processor controls the output valve based on the determined volume of the variable volume chamber.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system to meter medication from a disposable cassette of claim 1 wherein the processor determines the resonant frequency of the acoustic system associated with the first signal and second signal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system to meter medication from a disposable cassette of claim 1 further comprising a hole in the printed circuit board to equalize pressure between the first volume and the variable volume chamber.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system to meter medication from a disposable cassette of claim 1 wherein the printed circuit board comprises a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor in communication with the processor.

### Claim 9

A system to meter medication from a disposable cassette comprising:
a disposable cassette including a drug reservoir, an inlet valve, a fluid region and an fluid valve, the inlet valve fluidicly connecting the drug reservoir to the fluid region and the fluid valve fluidicly connected to the fluid region; and
a reusable portion comprising:
an acoustic volume transducer including:
a housing containing a first volume and partly defining a variable volume chamber, the variable volume chamber being further bounded by the fluid region, and
a printed circuit board disposed within the housing, the printed circuit board defining the first volume within the housing and the printed circuit board including:
an acoustic source,
a first microphone acoustically coupled to the first volume, and
a second microphone acoustically coupled to the variable volume chamber;
a processor in electrical communication with the acoustic volume sensor, the processor coupled to the fluid valve, the processor configured to control the fluid valve to allow a selected volume of fluid to exit from the fluid region.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system to meter medication from a disposable cassette of claim 9 wherein the disposable drug cassette mounts to the housing, the disposable drug cassette comprises a diaphragm, the fluid region is separated from the variable volume chamber by the diaphragm.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system to meter medication from a disposable cassette of claim 10 wherein the volume of the variable volume chamber plus the volume of the fluid region is constant.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The system to meter medication from a disposable cassette of claim 9 wherein the first volume and variable volume chamber form at least part of an acoustic system.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system to meter medication from a disposable cassette of claim 12 wherein the processor comprises:
controlling the acoustic source to generate an acoustic excitement in the acoustic system,
receiving a first signal from the first microphone in response to the acoustic excitement, and
receiving a second signal from the second microphone in response to the acoustic excitement.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system to meter medication from a disposable cassette of claim 13 wherein the processor determines the volume of the variable volume chamber associated with first signal and the second signal.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system to meter medication from a disposable cassette of claim 14 wherein the processor controls the output valve based on the determined volume of variable volume chamber.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The system to meter medication from a disposable cassette of claim 13 wherein the printed circuit board comprises a temperature sensor and the temperature sensor provides a temperature signal to the processor.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system to meter medication from a disposable cassette of claim 16 wherein the processor comprises:
determining the resonant frequency of the acoustic system associated with the first signal and second signal, and
determining the volume of the variable volume chamber associated with the resonant frequency of the acoustic system and the temperature signal.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system to meter medication from a disposable cassette of claim 17 wherein the processor determines the resonant frequency of the acoustic system further associated an underdamped second-order model of the acoustic system.

### Claim 19 (depends on 9)

The system to meter medication from a disposable cassette of claim 9 further comprising a hole in the printed circuit board to equalize pressure between the first volume and the variable volume chamber.