System, method, and apparatus for monitoring, regulating, or controlling fluid flow
AssigneeDEKA Products Limited Partnership
InventorsBob D. Peret, Brian H. Yoo, Derek G. Kane, Dean Kamen, Colin H. Murphy, John M. Kerwin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus, system and method for regulating fluid flow are disclosed. The apparatus includes a flow rate sensor and a valve. The flow rate sensor uses images to estimate flow through a drip chamber and then controls the valve based on the estimated flow rate. The valve comprises a rigid housing disposed around the tube in which fluid flow is being controlled. Increasing the pressure in the housing controls the size of the lumen within the tube by deforming the tube, therefore controlling flow through the tube.
Claims18
A valve comprising:
- a housing configured to surround a tube, the housing comprising a first clamshell portion and a second clamshell portion, the first clamshell portion and the second clamshell portion being pivotally coupled to one another and being transitionable between an open position and a closed position, the first clamshell portion and the second clamshell portion forming a cavity when in the closed position, the first clamshell portion and the second clamshell portion being rotatably fixed relative to one another with respect to an axis extending longitudinally through a center along a length of the cavity;
- a filler disposed within the housing;
- a plunger configured to engage the filler within the housing to thereby operatively deform the tube within the housing when engaging the filler;
- and
- an actuator operatively coupled to the plunger and configured to actuate the plunger, wherein the filler includes at least two layers having at least two different hardnesses.
A valve comprising:
- a housing configured to surround a tube, the housing defining a cavity;
- a filler disposed within the housing, the filler comprising at least two layers, the at least two layers comprising:
- a first layer;
- a second layer, the first and second layers being disposed within a first portion of the cavity;
- a third layer;
- and
- a fourth layer, the third and fourth layers being disposed within a second portion of the cavity, wherein the at least two layers have at least two differing hardness layers.
A system comprising:
- a coupler adapted to couple a drip chamber;
- a support member operatively coupled to the coupler;
- an image sensor having a field of view and operatively coupled to the support member, the image sensor positioned to view the drip chamber within the field of view;
- a valve fluidly coupled to the drip chamber to regulate the flow of fluid through the drip chamber, the valve comprising:
- a housing configured to surround a tube, the housing defining a cavity;
- a filler disposed within the housing, the filler comprising at least two layers, the at least two layers comprising:
- a first layer;
- a second layer, the first and second layers being disposed within a first portion of the cavity;
- a third layer;
- and
- a fourth layer, the third and fourth layers being disposed within a second portion of the cavity, wherein at least two of the first, second, third, and fourth layers have different stiffnesses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.