Pressure sensor for a surgical system
AssigneeNexus Medical System, Inc. LLC
InventorLarry L. Hood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus that senses the pressure within a fluid line which has an external surface. The apparatus includes a sensor which has a probe that is in contact with the external surface of the fluid line. Any change in pressure deflects the fluid line and displaces the probe. The sensor provides an output signal that is representative of the probe displacement.
Claims12
An apparatus that senses an internal line pressure of a fluid line which has an external surface and an inner diameter, comprising:
- a sensor which has a probe that deflects the external surface of the fluid line between 10-50% of said inner diameter, and is displaced when the fluid line is further deflected by a change in the internal line pressure, said sensor provides an output signal that is representative of said probe displacement.
A surgical system, comprising:
- a fluid line that has an external surface, an inner diameter and an internal line pressure;
- a vacuum source that is coupled to said fluid line;
- a cutter that is attached to said fluid line;
- and,
- a sensor which has a probe that deflects the external surface of the fluid line between 10-50% of said inner diameter, and is displaced when the fluid line is further deflected by a change in the internal line pressure, said sensor provides an output signal that is representative of said probe displacement.
A method for sensing an internal line pressure of a fluid line which has an external surface, comprising:
- a) deflecting the external surface between 10-50% of an inner diameter of the fluid line;
- b) varying the internal line pressure of the fluid line, wherein the variation in pressure varies the deflection in the fluid line;
- c) sensing the deflection in the fluid line;
- and,
- d) transmitting an output signal that is representative of the fluid line deflection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.