# US 2014/0191054 A1 · Liquid level sensor

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- Number: US 2014/0191054 A1
- Document ID: US20140191054A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/128,258
- Filed: 2012-06-25
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-24
- Assignees: Saban Ventures Pty Limited
- Inventors: Brian Hingley; Michael Potas
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191054A1

## CPC

- B05B 12/081: {responsive to the weight of a reservoir or container for liquid or other fluent material; responsive to level or volume of liquid or other fluent material in a reservoir or container}
- A61M 11/005: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)}
- G01F 23/241: {for discrete levels}
- G01F 23/242: {Mounting arrangements for electrodes}
- G01F 23/261: {for discrete levels}
- G01F 23/265: {for discrete levels}
- A61L 2/22: Phase substances, e.g. smokes or aerosols
- A61M 15/0085: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)}
- A61M 2202/20: Pathogenic agents
- A61M 2205/3379: Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
- B05B 17/0615: {spray being produced at the free surface of the liquid or other fluent material in a container and subjected to the vibrations}
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- 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
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)

## Abstract

A nebuliser cup for maintaining a safe level of liquid during nebulization, the cup comprising a liquid level sensor comprising: a first element sensing liquid at or below a position corresponding to a filled liquid level in the nebuliser cup; a second element electrically isolated from the first element and located at a position corresponding to a filled liquid level in the nebuliser cup; and wherein when the cup is not filled with a liquid to the filled liquid level, the first element, the liquid and the second element do not form an electrically coupled circuit; and when the cup is filled with a liquid to the filled liquid level, the first element, the liquid and the second element together form an electrically coupled circuit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A nebuliser cup with a liquid level sensor comprising:
a first element sensing liquid at or below a position corresponding to a filled liquid level in the nebuliser cup;
a second element electrically isolated from the first element and located at a position corresponding to a filled liquid level in the nebuliser cup; and
wherein
when the cup is not filled with a liquid to the filled liquid level, the first element, the liquid and the second element do not form an electrically coupled circuit; and
when the cup is filled with a liquid to the filled liquid level, the first element, the liquid and the second element together form an electrically coupled circuit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A nebuliser cup according to claim 1 wherein the first and second sensing elements are independently selected from the group consisting of electrically resistive and electrically capacitive.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A nebuliser cup according to claim 1 wherein the second element is a conductive level sensor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A nebuliser cup according to claim 3 wherein the cup has a cup wall and the sensor passes through an insulated aperture in the cup wall.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A nebuliser cup according to claim 4 wherein the insulated aperture in the cup wall is an aperture surrounding an insulating sleeve.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A nebuliser cup according to claim 1 wherein the first element is the nebuliser cup.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A nebuliser cup according to claim 6 wherein the nebuliser cup is an electrically conducting plastic cup or metal cup.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A nebuliser cup according to claim 1 in operative contact with an ultrasonic transducer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 18)

A nebuliser cup according to claim 18 in fluid communication with a sterilizing chamber.

### Claim 10

(canceled)

### Claim 11

(canceled)

### Claim 12 (depends on 3)

A nebuliser cup according to claim 3 wherein the sensor is located at a position corresponding to a filled liquid level in the electrically conducting nebuliser cup.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A nebuliser cup according to claim 12 wherein the sensor passes through an insulated aperture in the cup wall.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A nebuliser cup according to claim 13 wherein the insulated aperture in the cup wall is an aperture surrounding an insulating sleeve.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A nebuliser cup according to claim 14 wherein the insulating sleeve extends beyond the wall of the cup to a distance such that a droplet of liquid is unable to complete a circuit with the sensor and the cup.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A nebuliser cup according to claim 15 wherein the insulating sleeve extends beyond the wall of the cup to a distance of at least 1 mm.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A nebuliser cup according to claim 1 in combination with a feedback loop and a liquid filling reservoir.

### Claim 18 (depends on 8)

A nebuliser cup according to claim 8 further comprising an ultrasonic transducer located at or adjacent to the base of the nebuliser cup.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

A nebuliser cup according to claim 18 wherein the ultrasonic transducer defines at least a portion of the base of the nebuliser cup.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

A nebuliser cup according to claim 19 wherein the ultrasonic transducer acts directly upon the liquid in the cup to apply ultrasonic energy to the liquid in the cup, thereby resulting in generation of an aerosol from the surface of the liquid.

### Claim 21

A method of maintaining a liquid level in a nebuliser cup during operation, the method comprising:
providing a first element at or below a position corresponding to a filled liquid level in a nebuliser cup;
providing a second element electrically isolated from the first element to contact a liquid at a position corresponding to a filled liquid level in the nebuliser cup;
providing sufficient liquid to the nebuliser cup to reach said fill level thereby to complete an electrically coupled circuit between the first element, the liquid and the second element;
and whereby a drop in the liquid level to below the fill level triggers a break in the circuit between the first element, the liquid and the second element; and
whereby the break in the circuit triggers dispensation of further liquid in the nebuliser cup.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

A method according to claim 21 wherein the first element is the nebuliser cup.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

A method according to claim 21 wherein sufficient further liquid is dispensed to the conductive nebuliser cup in response to the break in the circuit to restore the circuit and halt further dispensation of liquid into the reservoir.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

A method according to claim 23 wherein the break in the circuit triggers dispensation of further liquid in the reservoir immediately.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

A method according to claim 23 wherein the break in the circuit triggers dispensation of further liquid in the reservoir after a predetermined time.

### Claim 26

(canceled)

### Claim 27

(canceled)

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

A method according to claim 21 wherein the liquid used for sterilization is hydrogen peroxide solution or peracetic acid solution.

### Claim 29 (depends on 21)

A method according to claim 21 wherein the sensor at or below fill level is configured maintain at least 5 mm depth of liquid in the nebuliser cup.

### Claim 30 (depends on 21)

A method according to claim 21 wherein the sensor at or below fill level is configured to switch off the transducer when the volume of liquid in the nebuliser cup falls to about at least 1.5 cm3 of liquid.