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US 11,977,004 B2Granted
Capillary-based pressure threshold sensor for liquids and methods and apparatuses using same
AssigneeBecton, Dickinson and Company
InventorsSteve Beguin, John Adams, Danielle Aboud, Maurice Curtin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Capillary-based pressure threshold sensors are provided for liquids that exploit the properties of hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, oleophobic and amphiphobic porous membranes to detect when fluid passes through the membrane in the event of the pressure across the membrane rising above the breakthrough pressure of a fluid. Example implementations are provided of different configurations for a capillary-based pressure threshold sensor, and of how a capillary-based pressure threshold sensor is used in a medication delivery device or other fluid delivery devices to detect occlusion or other fluid flow condition.
Claims17
A method of making a capillary-based pressure threshold sensor comprising:
- selecting a first porous medium with a porous property that allows fluid to leak from a first side thereof, through the medium to an opposite second side thereof, the leak happening when fluid pressure exceeds the porous medium fluid breakthrough pressure threshold;
- providing a fluid detection element disposed at least proximally to the second side of the porous medium and configured to detect the presence of at least the target fluid on said second side of the porous medium;
- and
- configuring the first side to form a seal over a port in a fluid pathway to expose the porous medium to fluid in the fluid pathway and prevent the fluid from leaking outside the capillary-based pressure threshold sensor.
1 more element
A method of making a capillary-based pressure threshold sensor comprising:
- selecting a first porous medium with a porous property that allows fluid to leak from a first side thereof, through the medium to an opposite second side thereof, the leak happening when fluid pressure exceeds the porous medium fluid breakthrough pressure threshold;
- providing a fluid detection element disposed at least proximally to the second side of the porous medium and configured to detect the presence of at least the target fluid on said second side of the porous medium;
- and
- coating the first porous medium with a thermoresponsive material to detect a condition chosen from a designated temperature and a designated pressure change in the target fluid.
1 more element
A method of making a capillary-based pressure threshold sensor comprising:
- selecting a first porous medium with a porous property that allows fluid to leak from a first side thereof, through the medium to an opposite second side thereof, the leak happening when fluid pressure exceeds the porous medium fluid breakthrough pressure threshold;
- and
- providing a fluid detection element disposed at least proximally to the second side of the porous medium and configured to detect the presence of at least the target fluid on said second side of the porous medium;
- and
- selecting a supplementary porous medium disposed at least proximally to the opposite side of the first porous medium as to be in contact with the target fluid at least before target fluid leak through the first porous medium, wherein second porous medium has one or more porous properties that allows fluid to readily infiltrate the second porous medium and achieves enhanced contact between the target fluid and the fluid detection element.
2 more elements
A method of making a capillary-based pressure threshold sensor comprising:
- selecting a first porous medium with a porous property that allows fluid to leak from a first side thereof, through the medium to an opposite second side thereof, the leak happening when fluid pressure exceeds the porous medium fluid breakthrough pressure threshold;
- and
- providing a fluid detection element disposed at least proximally to the second side of the porous medium and configured to detect the presence of at least the target fluid on said second side of the porous medium;
- wherein the fluid detection element comprises at least two electrodes, and further comprising:
- providing a second porous medium (-philic) disposed between the porous medium (-phobic) and the fluid detector element to controllably distribute the fluid leaking through the porous medium to the sensor, wherein the second porous medium is chosen to have different conductivity when dry and when wetted by the fluid in the fluid pathway;
- and
- providing the two electrodes in contact with the second side of the porous medium, the electrodes configured to be passive and not activated until fluid leaking through the porous medium exceeds the threshold.
4 more elements
A method of making a capillary-based pressure threshold sensor comprising:
- selecting a first porous medium with a porous property that allows fluid to leak from a first side thereof, through the medium to an opposite second side thereof, the leak happening when fluid pressure exceeds the porous medium fluid breakthrough pressure threshold;
- and
- providing a fluid detection element disposed at least proximally to the second side of the porous medium and configured to detect the presence of at least the target fluid on said second side of the porous medium;
- wherein the fluid detection element comprises at least two electrodes, and further comprising operating the electrodes as a passive switch that is open until it closes upon contact with the fluid.
1 more element
A method of making a capillary-based pressure threshold sensor comprising:
- selecting a first porous medium with a porous property that allows fluid to leak from a first side thereof, through the medium to an opposite second side thereof, the leak happening when fluid pressure exceeds the porous medium fluid breakthrough pressure threshold;
- and
- providing a fluid detection element disposed at least proximally to the second side of the porous medium and configured to detect the presence of at least the target fluid on said second side of the porous medium;
- and
- providing a switch that comprises providing electrodes made from contact pads on a printed circuit board (PCB).
2 more elements
A method of making a capillary-based pressure threshold sensor comprising:
- selecting a first porous medium with a porous property that allows fluid to leak from a first side thereof, through the medium to an opposite second side thereof, the leak happening when fluid pressure exceeds the porous medium fluid breakthrough pressure threshold;
- and
- providing a fluid detection element disposed at least proximally to the second side of the porous medium and configured to detect the presence of at least the target fluid on said second side of the porous medium;
- wherein the porous medium is chosen from a hydrophobic medium, a superhydrophobic medium, an oleophobic medium, and an amphiphobic porous medium.
1 more element
A method of making a capillary-based pressure threshold sensor comprising:
- selecting a first porous medium with a porous property that allows fluid to leak from a first side thereof, through the medium to an opposite second side thereof, the leak happening when fluid pressure exceeds the porous medium fluid breakthrough pressure threshold;
- and
- providing a fluid detection element disposed at least proximally to the second side of the porous medium and configured to detect the presence of at least the target fluid on said second side of the porous medium;
- and
- selecting a second porous medium disposed at least proximally to the first side of the first porous medium as to be in contact with the target fluid at least before target fluid leak through the first porous medium, wherein second porous medium has a porous property that:
- allows fluid to readily infiltrate said second porous medium;
- and
- has a porous property that will prevent gas to pass through the second porous medium after it is infiltrated with said target fluid until gas exceeds said second porous medium gas entry pressure.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.