# US 10,946,140 B2 · Systems and methods for measurement of fluid delivery > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,946,140 B2 - Document ID: US10946140B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/158,223 - Filed: 2018-10-11 - Published: 2020-04-16 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-11 - Assignees: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc. - Applicants: Medtronic Minimed, Inc. - Inventors: Edward C. Morrow; Carl A. Link; Adam S. Trock; Andrew E. Weaver; Roshanne Malekmadani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10946140B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/16831: {Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies (low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066)} - A61M 5/14248: {of the skin patch type} - A61M 5/172: electrical or electronic - G01F 25/0084: {for measuring volume} - A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow - A61M 2205/3334: Measuring or controlling the flow rate - A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers - A61M 2205/502: User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards - A61M 2205/6063: Optical identification systems - G01F 1/64: by measuring electrical currents passing through the fluid flow; measuring electrical potential generated by the fluid flow, e.g. by electrochemical, contact or friction effects (G01F1/58 takes 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)} - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME ## Abstract A test system for measuring a volume of fluid dispensed by a fluid infusion device includes a test housing. The test housing includes an inlet and an internal channel. The inlet is to be coupled to the fluid infusion device to receive the volume of fluid, and the internal channel is in fluid communication with the inlet. The test system includes an input electrode coupled to the internal channel to be in fluid communication with the volume of fluid, and an output electrode coupled to the internal channel to be in fluid communication with the volume of fluid. The test system includes a power source configured to create a voltage potential between the input electrode and the output electrode. The volume of fluid in the internal channel conducts current between the input electrode and the output electrode to facilitate measurement of the volume of fluid dispensed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A test system for measuring a volume of fluid dispensed by a fluid infusion device, comprising: a test housing that includes an inlet and an internal channel, the inlet to be coupled to the fluid infusion device to receive the volume of fluid, and the internal channel in fluid communication with the inlet; an input electrode coupled to the internal channel to be in fluid communication with the volume of fluid; an output electrode coupled to the internal channel to be in fluid communication with the volume of fluid, the output electrode coupled to the internal channel so as to be spaced apart from the input electrode; a power source configured to create a voltage potential between the input electrode and the output electrode; and a controller configured to: determine whether the input electrode and the output electrode have been activated based on the voltage potential created between the input electrode and the output electrode causing the volume of fluid in the internal channel to conduct current between the input electrode and the output electrode; and determine a measurement of the volume of fluid dispensed by the fluid infusion device based on whether the input electrode and the output electrode have been activated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The test system of claim 1, wherein the input electrode comprises a plurality of input electrodes and the output electrode comprises a plurality of output electrodes, and each of the plurality of input electrodes is coupled to the internal channel so as to be associated with the plurality of output electrodes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The test system of claim 2, wherein the power source is configured to apply the voltage to each of the plurality of input electrodes in a sequential pattern. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The test system of claim 3, wherein each one of the plurality of input electrodes and associated output electrode of the plurality of electrodes forms a respective graduation of a plurality of graduations; and wherein, to determine the measurement of the volume of fluid, the controller is configured to select a graduation from the plurality of graduations based on whether each one of the plurality of input electrodes and associated output electrode of the plurality of electrodes has been activated while the power source applies the voltage to each of the plurality of input electrodes in the sequential pattern. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The test system of claim 1, wherein the test housing has a first housing side opposite a second housing side, the input electrode is coupled to the first housing side so as to be at least partially received within the internal channel and the output electrode is coupled to the second housing side so as to be at least partially received within the internal channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The test system of claim 5, wherein the test housing has a first housing surface that interconnects the first housing side and the second housing side, and the inlet is defined through the first housing surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The test system of claim 6, wherein the test housing has a first housing end and an opposite second housing end, the internal channel extends through the test housing from the first housing end to the second housing end and the inlet is defined through the first housing surface proximate the first housing end so as to be spaced a distance apart from the input electrode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The test system of claim 1, wherein the input electrode has an end that extends into the internal channel to be in communication with the fluid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The test system of claim 8, wherein the output electrode has a second end that extends into the internal channel that is spaced apart from the end of the input electrode such that a gap is defined within the internal channel between the end of the input electrode and the second end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The test system of claim 1, wherein the fluid infusion device is an infusion device that is fluidly coupled to the test housing by an infusion set, with a portion of the infusion set received within the inlet and in fluid communication with the internal channel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The test system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is an electrically conductive fluid. ### Claim 12 A test system for measuring a volume of fluid dispensed by a fluid infusion device, comprising: a test housing that includes an inlet and an internal channel, the inlet to be coupled to the fluid infusion device to receive the volume of fluid, and the internal channel in fluid communication with the inlet; a plurality of input electrodes coupled to the internal channel to be in fluid communication with the volume of fluid; a plurality of output electrodes coupled to the internal channel to be in fluid communication with the volume of fluid, the plurality of output electrodes spaced apart from a respective one of the plurality of input electrodes; a power source configured to apply, to at least one of the plurality of input electrodes, a voltage to the respective one of the plurality of input electrodes; and a controller configured to: determine whether the respective one of the plurality of input electrodes and the respective at least one of the plurality of output electrodes have been activated based on the voltage potential created between the respective one of the plurality of input electrodes and the respective at least one of the plurality of output electrodes causing the volume of fluid in the internal channel to conduct current between the respective one of the plurality of input electrodes and the respective at least one of the plurality of output electrodes; and determine a measurement of the volume of fluid dispensed by the fluid infusion device based on whether the respective one of the plurality of input electrodes and the respective at least one of the plurality of output electrodes have been activated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The test system of claim 12, wherein the power source is configured to apply the voltage to each of the plurality of input electrodes in a pattern. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The test system of claim 12, wherein the power source is configured to apply the voltage to each of the plurality of input electrodes in a sequential pattern. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The test system of claim 12, wherein the test housing has a first housing side opposite a second housing side, the plurality of input electrodes is coupled to the first housing side so as to be at least partially received within the internal channel and the plurality of output electrodes is coupled to the second housing side so as to be at least partially received within the internal channel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The test system of claim 15, wherein the test housing has a first housing end and an opposite second housing end and a first housing surface that interconnects the first housing end and the second housing end, the internal channel extends through the test housing from the first housing end to the second housing end and the inlet is defined through the first housing surface proximate the first housing end so as to be spaced a distance apart from a first one of the plurality of input electrodes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The test system of claim 16, wherein the fluid infusion device is an insulin infusion device that is fluidly coupled to the test housing by an infusion set, the infusion set to be coupled to the first housing surface such that a portion of the infusion set is received within the inlet to be in fluid communication with the internal channel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The test system of claim 12, wherein the fluid is an electrolytic solution. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The test system of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of input electrodes has an end that extends into the internal channel to be in communication with the fluid, each of the plurality of output electrodes has a second end that extends into the internal channel that is spaced apart from the end of the respective one of the plurality of input electrodes such that a gap is defined within the internal channel between the end of the respective one of the plurality of input electrodes and the second end of the respective one of the plurality of output electrodes. ### Claim 20 A test system for measuring a volume of fluid dispensed by a fluid infusion device, comprising: a test housing that includes an inlet and an internal channel, the inlet to be coupled to the fluid infusion device to receive the volume of fluid, and the internal channel in fluid communication with the inlet; a plurality of input electrodes coupled to the internal channel to be in fluid communication with the volume of fluid; a plurality of output electrodes coupled to the internal channel to be in fluid communication with the volume of fluid, each one of the plurality of output electrodes spaced apart from a respective one of the plurality of input electrodes; a power source configured to apply, to at least one of the plurality of input electrodes, a voltage to the respective one of the plurality of input electrodes, wherein each of the plurality of input electrodes has an end that extends into the internal channel to be in communication with the fluid, each of the plurality of output electrodes has a second end that extends into the internal channel that is spaced apart from the end of the respective one of the plurality of input electrodes such that a gap is defined within the internal channel between the end of the respective one of the plurality of input electrodes and the second end of the respective one of the plurality of output electrodes; and a controller configured to: determine whether the end of the respective one of the plurality of input electrodes and the second end of the respective one of the plurality of output electrodes have been activated based on the voltage potential created between the end of the respective one of the plurality of input electrodes and the second end of the respective one of the plurality of output electrodes causing the volume of fluid in the internal channel to conduct current between the end of the respective one of the plurality of input electrodes and the second end of the respective one of the plurality of output electrodes; and determine a measurement of the volume of fluid dispensed by the fluid infusion device based on whether the end of the respective one of the plurality of input electrodes and the second end of the respective one of the plurality of output electrodes have been activated.