Fluid flow sensing

A fluid flow sensing system comprising:

• a) a fluid collection device comprising a housing having an inlet located at a proximal end of the fluid collection device and an outlet located at a distal end of the fluid collection device, the interior of the housing comprising:
• a reservoir, a plurality of channel dividers defining a plurality of fluid channels, and a liquid collection region;
• wherein the housing comprises one or more fluid passageways connecting the inlet and the outlet through the interior of the housing;
• and wherein the reservoir, the plurality of channels, and the liquid collection region are in fluid communication within the one or more fluid passageways in the housing;
• b) a canister comprising an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the canister configured to be in fluid communication with the outlet of the fluid collection device housing via a detection conduit;
• and
• c) a sensing device comprising:
• a casing having an inlet, a source of negative pressure and a plurality of sensors;
• the inlet of the sensing device casing configured to be in fluid communication with the outlet of the canister via a negative pressure conduit.

A method for sensing fluid flow, the method comprising:

• a) providing:
• i) a fluid collection device comprising a housing having an inlet located at a proximal end of the fluid collection device and an outlet located at a distal end of the fluid collection device, the interior of the housing comprising:
• a reservoir, a plurality of channel dividers defining a plurality of fluid channels, and a liquid collection region;
• wherein the housing comprises one or more fluid passageways connecting the inlet and the outlet through the interior of the housing;
• and wherein the reservoir, the plurality of channels, and the liquid collection region are in fluid communication within the one or more fluid passageways in the housing;
• ii) a canister comprising an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the canister in fluid communication with the outlet of the fluid collection device housing via a detection conduit;
• and
• iii) a sensing device comprising:
• a casing having an inlet, a source of negative pressure and a plurality of sensors;
• the inlet of the sensing device casing in fluid communication with the outlet of the canister via a negative pressure conduit;
• b) applying a negative pressure from the source of negative pressure to the fluid collection device via the canister to draw a fluid mixture of liquid and air through the inlet of the fluid collection device and along the one or more fluid passageways of the fluid collection device housing;
• wherein the liquid of the fluid mixture accumulates at the plurality of flow channels while the air of the fluid mixture passes through flow channels until the plurality of flow channels have accumulated liquid of the fluid mixture;
• c) drawing the accumulated fluid into the liquid collection region as a slug of liquid when the plurality of flow channels become blocked with the accumulated fluid;
• d) drawing the slug from the liquid collection region, through the outlet of the fluid collection housing, and through the detection conduit;
• and
• e) detecting passage of the slug through the detection conduit with the plurality of sensors.