Force sensing resistor for liquid low-volume detection and occlusion sensing and methods and apparatuses for flow sensing along fluid path in fluid delivery device

A system for detecting a fluid characteristic in a medication fluid communication system comprising:

• a fluid reservoir;
• a fluid path connected between the fluid reservoir and a patient;
• a fluid delivery mechanism that controls the flow of fluid from the fluid reservoir to the patient via the fluid path;
• a planar base that supports the fluid delivery mechanism;
• a housing coupled to the base and defining an interior that accommodates the fluid reservoir and the fluid delivery mechanism therein, the fluid path comprising at least one channel embedded on a surface of the base, the base having a bottom external surface oriented towards the skin of the patient during use and an opposite facing top surface oriented towards the interior of the housing with the fluid delivery mechanism and a circuit board, and the at least one channel is embedded on the bottom external surface;
• a fluid channel cover that encapsulates the at least channel, the fluid channel cover disposed over only a portion of the bottom external surface;
• and
• at least one sensor provided relative to the at least one embedded channel to measure a characteristic of fluid flow within the fluid path to determine flow rate.