Apparatus and method for sealing pressure sensor membranes

A fluid pressure sensor comprising:

• a housing having a first membrane;
• a transducer positioned inside the housing;
• a body including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet removably coupled to the housing via a coupling mechanism;
• a second membrane provided with the body that contacts at least a portion of the first membrane when the body is coupled to the housing;
• and
• an apparatus in addition to the coupling mechanism that creates a localized contact force between the second membrane and a surface of the housing surrounding the first membrane.

A fluid pressure sensor comprising:

• a housing having a first surface and a first membrane;
• a transducer positioned inside the housing;
• a body including a second surface, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet removably coupled to the housing;
• and
• a second membrane provided with the body that contacts at least a portion of the first membrane when the body is coupled to the housing;
• and
• a sealing member positioned between the first surface and the second surfaces.

A fluid pressure sensor comprising:

• a housing having a first membrane;
• a transducer positioned inside the housing;
• a body including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet removably coupled to the housing;
• and
• a second membrane provided with the body that contacts at least a portion of the first membrane when the body is coupled to the housing, the second membrane constructed at least partly of a synthetic and electrically resistive material that is at least five times less permeable to air at standard temperature and pressure than ethylene propylene diene methylene (“EPDM”).

A fluid pressure sensor comprising:

• a housing having a surface surrounding a first membrane;
• a transducer positioned inside the housing;
• a body including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and having a means for removably coupling to the housing;
• and
• a second membrane provided with the body that contacts at least a portion of the first membrane when the body is coupled to the housing, the second membrane including a first material and a second material having a lower gas permeability than the first material.

A medical infusion device comprising:

• an enclosure;
• and
• a pressure sensor mounted to the enclosure, the pressure sensor including
• a housing having a first membrane,
• a transducer positioned inside the housing,
• a body including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet removably coupled to the housing,
• a second membrane provided with the body that contacts at least a portion of the first membrane when the body is coupled to the housing, and
• an apparatus that creates a localized contact force between the second membrane and a surface of the housing surrounding the first membrane.

A dialysis device comprising:

• an enclosure;
• and
• a pressure sensor mounted to the enclosure, the pressure sensor including
• a housing having a first membrane;
• a transducer positioned inside the housing;
• a body including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet removably coupled to the housing, and
• a second membrane provided with the body that contacts at least a portion of the first membrane when the body is coupled to the housing, the second membrane constructed at least partly of a synthetic and electrically resistive material that is at least five times less permeable to air at standard temperature and pressure than ethylene propylene diene methylene (“EPDM”).