Low flow controller
AssigneeCareFusion 2200, Inc.
InventorsManuel Barraza, Michael J. Cegielski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flow controller can include a conduit wall and a membrane coupled to the conduit wall. The membrane is configured to obstruct gas flow through the conduit. The flow controller includes a membrane controller, positioned adjacent to the membrane, wherein the membrane is positioned on one side of the membrane controller, such that the membrane controller impedes bending of the membrane in a second direction different from the first direction, thereby restricting gas flow through the conduit.
Claims20
A flow controller conduit comprising:
- a conduit comprising a conduit wall;
- a membrane coupled to the conduit wall, the membrane obstructing gas flow through the conduit when the membrane is in a closed position;
- and
- a membrane controller coupled to the conduit wall adjacent the membrane, the membrane being positioned in a first direction from the membrane controller, and wherein the membrane controller impedes bending of the membrane, thereby restricting gas flow through the conduit and membrane, when the membrane bends in a second direction, different from the first direction.
A membrane controller comprising:
- an annular portion configured to contact a conduit wall, such that the membrane controller is configured to be secured within a conduit by the contact between the annular portion and the conduit wall;
- and
- an elongate portion extending across a central opening of the annular portion, the elongate portion being connected to the annular portion at only one end of the elongate portion;
- wherein the membrane controller is configured (i) to be positioned within the conduit on one side of a flexible membrane and (ii) to contact the flexible membrane with the elongate portion when the flexible membrane is deflected toward the membrane controller.
A method of controlling flow through a conduit, the method comprising:
- providing a membrane controller comprising:
- an annular portion secured within the conduit and positioned within the conduit on one side of a flexible membrane, such that the membrane controller contacts the flexible membrane with the elongate portion when the flexible membrane is deflected toward the membrane controller;
- an elongate portion extending across a central opening of the annular portion, the elongate portion being connected to the annular portion at only one end of the elongate portion;
- and
- conducting a fluid through the conduit (i) in a first direction, thereby causing the flexible membrane to deflect toward the membrane controller and (ii) in a second direction causing the flexible membrane to deflect away from the membrane controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.