# US 11,433,194 B2 · Device for detecting air flow > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,433,194 B2 - Document ID: US11433194B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/752,718 - Filed: 2020-01-27 - Published: 2020-05-21 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-15 - Assignees: Mercury Enterprises, Inc. - Applicants: Mercury Enterprises, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey B. Ratner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11433194B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/0003: {Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure} - A61M 16/201: {Controlled valves} - A61M 16/208: {Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves} - A61M 16/0051: {with alarm devices} - A61M 16/0816: {Joints or connectors} - A61M 16/209: {Relief valves} - A61M 2016/0015: {inhalation detectors} - A61M 2016/0027: {pressure meter} - A61M 2016/003: {with a flowmeter} - A61M 2016/0036: {in the breathing tube and used in both inspiratory and expiratory phase} - A61M 2202/0208: Oxygen - A61M 2205/18: with alarm - A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow - G01F 1/20: by detection of dynamic effects of the 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)} - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME ## Abstract A device for detecting a flow of a first gas in a conduit includes a gas jet interfaced to a side of the conduit. The gas jet emits a jet of gas aimed across the conduit. A fluid port is interfaced to a distal side of the conduit for receiving the jet of gas and a pressure-detecting device is interfaced to the fluid port. In absence of the flow of the first gas within the conduit, the gas jet enters the fluid port and the pressure-detecting device reports a first pressure. In presence of the flow of the gas within the conduit, the gas jet is deflected away from the main port by the flow of the first gas and the pressure-detecting device reports a second pressure, the second pressure being lower than the first pressure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for detecting flow of a first gas in a conduit, the device comprising: a gas jet interfaced to a side of the conduit, the gas jet emitting a jet of a second gas aimed across the conduit; a fluid port interfaced to a distal side of the conduit for receiving the jet of the second gas; means for detecting pressure of the jet of the second gas fluidly interfaced to the fluid port; whereas a first rate of flow of the first gas within the conduit deflects the jet of the second gas towards the fluid port and a first pressure is present at the means for detecting pressure; and whereas a second, different rate of flow of the first gas within the conduit deflects the jet of the second gas away from the fluid port and a second pressure is present at the means for detecting the pressure; and whereas the second pressure is lower than the first pressure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device for detecting flow of the first gas in the conduit of claim 1, wherein the first gas and the second gas are the same. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device for detecting flow of the first gas in the conduit of claim 1, further comprising a second means for detecting pressure of the jet of the second gas, the second means for detecting pressure fluidly interfaced to the a second fluid port interfaced to the distal side of the conduit for receiving the jet of the second gas during the second, different rate of flow of the first gas within the conduit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device for detecting flow of the first gas in the conduit of claim 1, wherein the means for detecting pressure is a diaphragm, the fluid port fluidly interfaced to a first side of the diaphragm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device for detecting flow of the first gas in the conduit of claim 4, further comprising a second fluid port interfaced to the distal side of the conduit for receiving the jet of the second gas during the second, different rate of flow of the first gas within the conduit, the second fluid port fluidly coupled to a second, opposing side of the diaphragm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device for detecting flow of the first gas in the conduit of claim 1, wherein the means for detecting pressure at the fluid port is a pressure sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device for detecting flow of the first gas in the conduit of claim 1, wherein the fluid port is a graduated port having a smaller cross-sectional area at one end of the graduated port and a greater cross-sectional area at a distal end of the graduated port. ### Claim 8 A device for detecting a flow of a first gas in a conduit, the device comprising: a gas jet interfaced to a side of the conduit, the gas jet emitting a jet of a second gas aimed across the conduit; a fluid port interfaced to a distal side of the conduit for receiving the jet of the second gas; a diaphragm interfaced to the fluid port; and whereas upon a first flow rate of the first gas within the conduit, the gas jet enters the fluid port and exerts a pressure on a first side of the diaphragm and moves the diaphragm in a first direction; whereas upon a second flow rate of the first gas within the conduit, the gas jet is deflected away from the fluid port and the pressure decreases on the first side of the diaphragm and moves the diaphragm in a second direction opposite of the first direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device for detecting the flow of the first gas in the conduit of claim 8, wherein the first gas is the same as the second gas. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The device for detecting the flow of the first gas in the conduit of claim 8, further comprising a second fluid port interfaced to the distal side of the conduit for receiving the jet of the second gas. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device for detecting the flow of the first gas in the conduit of claim 10, whereas upon the second flow rate of the first gas within the conduit, the gas jet enters the second fluid port and pressure increases on a second side of the diaphragm and moves the diaphragm in the second direction; and whereas upon the first flow rate of the first gas within the conduit, the gas jet is deflected away from the second fluid port and the pressure decreases on the first side of the diaphragm and moves the diaphragm in the first direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The device for detecting the flow of the first gas in the conduit of claim 8, wherein the fluid port is a graduated port having a smaller cross-sectional area at one end of the graduated port and a greater cross-sectional area at a distal end of the graduated port. ### Claim 13 A device for detecting a flow of a first gas in a conduit, the device comprising: a gas jet interfaced to a side of the conduit, the gas jet emitting a jet of a second gas aimed across the conduit; a first fluid port interfaced to a distal side of the conduit for receiving the jet of the second gas, the first fluid port for receiving the jet of the second gas in absence of the flow of the first gas; a second fluid port interfaced to the distal side of the conduit for receiving the jet of the second gas, the second fluid port for receiving the jet of the second gas when the jet of the second gas is deflected by the flow of the first gas in a first direction; a diaphragm, a first side of the diaphragm fluidly interfaced to the fluid port and a second, opposing side of the diaphragm fluidly interfaced to the second fluid port; whereas in absence of the flow of the first gas, the diaphragm is moved in a first diaphragm direction by a pressure of the jet of the second gas entering the fluid port and in presence of the flow of the first gas, the diaphragm is moved in a second diaphragm direction by the pressure of the jet of the second gas entering the second fluid port, the second diaphragm direction being opposite the first diaphragm direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device for detecting the flow of the first gas in the conduit of claim 13, wherein the first gas is the same as the second gas. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The device for detecting the flow of the first gas in the conduit of claim 13, wherein the fluid port and the second fluid port are graduated ports having a smaller cross-sectional area at one end of each of the graduated ports and a greater cross-sectional area at a distal end of each of the graduated port.