Fluid flow control
AssigneeBaxter International Inc.
InventorsKelly A. Pike, Stephen R. Hessel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a variable fluid flow controller for regulating the rate of flow from a source of fluid under pressure, comprising a plurality of unique flow restriction passagways, a valve associated with each passageway, and a rotatable cam for selectively opening any one of the valves while maintaining the remaining valves closed. The flow restriction passageway preferably comprises a channel etched on the surface of a first silicon wafer and enclosed by a second wafer to form a fluid flow passageway, one of the first or second wafers having a plurality of apertures therethrough for intersecting the passageway at various distances along its length.
Claims17
A flow controller for regulating the rate of flow from a source of fluid under pressure, comprising:
- (a) a housing having an influent, effluent port, and fluid flow path therebetween;
- (b) a flow restriction channel in the flow path, for regulating the rate of flow, said restriction channel having an influent end and at least two effluent apertures along its length;
- (c) a valve in the housing associated with each of the apertures along the flow path;
- and
- (d) a single control for selectively opening any one of the valves and maintaining each additional valve closed;
- wherein the opening of any one of the valves places in the influent port in fluid communication with effluent port by way of the a unique length of flow restriction channels associated with the open valve.
A flow regulator, comprising:
- (a) a first plate having a flow channel on the surface thereof;
- (b) a second plate, secured to the surface of the first plate and enclosing the flow channel to form a chip having a capillary tube therethrough;
- (c) an influent port on the chip, in fluid communication with the capillary tube;
- and
- (d) a plurality of effluent apertures on the chip, each in fluid communication with the capillary tube at a different distance along its length from the influent port.
A flow controller for regulating the rate of flow from a source of fluid under pressure, comprising:
- (a) a housing having an influent port, an effluent port, and a fluid flow path therebetween;
- (b) a plurality of flow restriction channels in the flow path, for regulating the rate of flow;
- (c) a plurality of normally closed valves in the housing, each valve associated with a different flow restriction channel;
- and
- (d) a single control, for selectively opening any one of the valves;
- wherein opening any of the valves places the influent port in fluid communication with the effluent port by way of a unique flow restriction channel associated with the open valve.
A variable rate fluid flow controller for providing a predetermined delivery rate from a pressurized source of fluid medication, comprising:
- (a) a housing having an influent port, an effluent port and at least two predetermined capillary flow paths therebetween such that each flow path has a different predetermined capillary length to provide a predetermined flow rate between the inlet port and the outlet port.
- (b) at least two pinch valves in the housing, each pinch valve associated with one of said capillary flow paths;
- and
- (c) a movable cam for selectively opening and closing the pinch valves.
A flow controller for regulating the rate of flow from a source of fluid under pressure, comprising:
- (a) a housing having an influent port, an effluent port and a fluid flow path therebetween;
- (b) a plurality of flow restriction channels in a series relationship along the flow path, for regulating the rate of flow;
- (c) a plurality of normally closed valves in the housing, each associated with a different flow restriction channel;
- and
- (d) a single control for selectively opening at least one of the valves;
- wherein opening any one of the valves places in the influent port in fluid communication with the effluent port by way of a unique flow restriction channel associated with the open valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.