Force sensor assembly for an infusion pump
AssigneeAlaris Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsMatthew Gerald Morris, Donald Frederic Schwartz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A force sensor assembly for use in peristaltic pumps includes a housing and a load cell at least partially disposed within the housing. A plunger, pivotable about an axis, has an upper surface and an underside surface distal from the upper surface. The underside surface cooperates with the load cell. The force sensor further includes a mechanism to reduce the load cell's sensitivity to the positioning of an applied force on the upper surface.
Claims24
A force sensor assembly for use in peristaltic pumps, comprising:
- a housing;
- a load cell at least partially disposed within said housing;
- a plunger, pivotable about an axis, where said plunger comprises:
- an upper surface;
- and
- an underside surface distal from said upper surface where said underside surface cooperates with said load cell;
- and
- a means for reducing said load cell's sensitivity to the positioning of an applied force on said upper surface.
A force sensor assembly adapted to reduce a load cell's sensitivity to the positioning of an applied force, comprising:
- a housing;
- a load cell at least partially disposed within said housing;
- and
- a plunger rotatably coupled to said housing by means of a hinge said plunger further comprising:
- an upper surface which is shaped to compensate for variations in measured force caused by the misalignment of said applied force;
- and
- an underside surface distal from said upper surface,
- such that in use a force applied to said upper surface of said plunger is transferred to said load cell by said underside of said plunger pivoting into contact with said load cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.