# US 10,869,985 B2 · Flow member > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,869,985 B2 - Document ID: US10869985B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/559,468 - Filed: 2016-03-24 - Published: 2018-04-19 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-31 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Inventors: Justin Edward Rothermel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869985B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/0858: {Pressure sampling ports} - A61B 5/087: Measuring breath flow - A61M 16/00: Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. ventilators (iron lungs A61H31/02); Tracheal tubes - A61M 16/0057: {Pumps therefor} - A61M 16/021: {operated by electrical means (A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence)} - A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - G01F 1/40: Details of construction of the flow constriction devices - G01F 1/50: Correcting or compensating means - G01F 1/6842: {with means for influencing the fluid flow} - G01F 15/00: Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus - G01F 15/12: Cleaning arrangements; Filters - G01F 15/125: {Filters} - A61B 2562/18: Shielding or protection of sensors from environmental influences, e.g. protection from mechanical damage - A61M 2016/0027: {pressure meter} - A61M 2016/0036: {in the breathing tube and used in both inspiratory and expiratory phase} - A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow - A61M 2205/3334: Measuring or controlling the flow rate - A61M 2206/11: Laminar flow - 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)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME ## Abstract A flow member (200) is for a flow assembly (100) of a pressure support system (2). The pressure support system includes a patient interface device (6), a flow generator (4), and a coupling conduit (8). The flow assembly includes a cover (102) and a sensing assembly (110). The sensing assembly has a flow sensor (114) having flow sensing components (118,120). The flow member comprises: a body (202) comprising: a mounting portion (204) connected to the cover, thereby enclosing the sensing assembly, a gas conduit (206) at least partially overlaying the mounting portion, the second conduit fluidly coupling the first conduit to the flow generator, and a number of flow conduits (208,210) each extending transverse to the gas conduit (206) and receiving a corresponding flow sensing component. Each flow conduit terminates at a distal end portion (209,211) in fluid communication with the gas conduit (206), each distal end portion being spaced a distance from the gas conduit (206) and located internal with respect thereto. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flow member comprising: a gas conduit for conveying a gas containing moisture, a sensing conduit for allowing a sensing component outside the gas conduit to sense a property of the gas via the sensing conduit, and a number of walls disposed internal to the gas conduit and extending longitudinally with respect thereto; wherein the sensing conduit passes through an outer wall of the gas conduit and terminates at a distal end portion thereof inside the gas conduit at a port disposed in a first wall of the number of walls, the distal end portion and the port disposed in the first wall being spaced a distance from the outer wall of the gas conduit to reduce an amount of moisture contained in the gas entering into the sensing conduit, and wherein the number of walls are concave contoured in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extension thereof in such a way that in right side up and upside down orientations gravity will force moisture to flow away from the distal end portion of the sensing conduit at the port disposed in the first wall of the number of walls. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flow member of claim 1 wherein a second wall and a third wall of the number of walls are spaced from each other and from the first wall to block and cause moisture to flow away from and below the port; and wherein the second wall is disposed between the first wall and the third wall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The flow member of claim 2 wherein the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall are oriented parallel with one another. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The flow member of claim 2 wherein each of the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall is concave facing the sensing conduit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The flow member of claim 2 wherein the first wall has a first longitudinal length along the gas conduit; wherein the second wall has a second longitudinal length along the gas conduit; wherein the third wall has a third longitudinal length along the gas conduit; and wherein the first longitudinal length is greater than each of the second longitudinal length and the third longitudinal length. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The flow member of claim 2 wherein the gas conduit has a first side portion and a second side portion disposed opposite one another; wherein the sensing conduit extends inwardly from the first side portion; wherein each of the second wall and the third wall is at least partially disposed between the second side portion and the port. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The flow member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing conduit comprises a first flow conduit and a second flow conduit spaced along the gas conduit from the first flow conduit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The flow member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas conduit and the sensing conduit are made of a single piece of material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A flow assembly comprising: a cover; a sensing assembly comprising the sensing component; and the flow member as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising a mounting portion enclosing the sensing assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The flow assembly of claim 9 wherein the sensing assembly further comprises a pressure sensor; and wherein the flow member further comprises a pressure conduit for allowing the pressure sensor to sense a pressure of the gas in the gas conduit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The flow assembly of claim 10 wherein the sensing component comprises a first flow sensing component and a second flow sensing component; wherein the sensing assembly further comprises a sealing gasket disposed on the gas conduit; wherein the sealing gasket has a first thru hole, a second thru hole, and a third thru hole; wherein the first flow sensing component is aligned with the first thru hole; wherein the second flow sensing component is aligned with the second thru hole; and wherein the pressure sensor is aligned with the third thru hole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The flow assembly of claim 11 wherein the flow member further comprises a first stabilizing element and a second stabilizing element each extending outwardly from the gas conduit; and wherein each of the first stabilizing element and the second stabilizing element engages the sealing gasket in order to retain the sealing gasket on the flow member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) A pressure support system comprising: a patient interface device; a gas flow generator structured to produce a flow of breathing gas for a patient; and a coupling conduit and the flow assembly as claimed in claim 9 coupled between the gas flow generator and the patient interface device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The flow member as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second sensing conduit for allowing a second sensing component outside the gas conduit to sense a second property of the gas via the second sensing conduit, wherein the second sensing conduit passes through the outer wall of the gas conduit and terminates at a distal end portion thereof inside the gas conduit at a second port disposed in the first wall of the number of walls, the distal end portion of the second sensing conduit and the first wall being spaced a distance from the outer wall of the gas conduit to reduce an amount of moisture contained in the gas entering into the second sensing conduit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The flow member as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a pressure drop element extending longitudinally through the gas conduit, wherein the pressure drop element includes first and second rounded end portions, wherein each of the first and second rounded end portions are aligned with and located directly below a corresponding one of the port and the second port in the first wall of the number of walls. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The flow member as claimed in claim 15, wherein the pressure drop element comprises a cylindrical-shaped air punch centrally located within the gas conduit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The flow member as claimed in claim 16, wherein the number of walls comprises three walls, and the air punch is disposed within a second wall of the three walls. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The flow member as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pressure drop element extending longitudinally through the gas conduit, wherein the pressure drop element includes first and second rounded end portions, wherein one of the first and second rounded end portions is aligned with and located directly below the port in the first wall of the number of walls. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The flow member as claimed in claim 18, wherein the pressure drop element comprises a cylindrical-shaped air punch centrally located within the gas conduit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The flow member as claimed in claim 19, wherein the number of walls comprises three walls, and the air punch is disposed within a second wall of the three walls.