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US 7,611,478 B2Granted
Continuous volume detection for a reservoir in a fluid circuit of a medical system
AssigneeMinnetronix, Inc.
InventorsLori E. Lucke, Matthew J. Cunningham, Richard A. Nazarian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Continuous volume detection for a reservoir in a fluid circuit of a medical system is described. Volume detection is based on a pressure measurement that is manipulated via application of fluid mechanics. Next-generation medical system controllers may use this data to control the volume contained in the reservoir.
Claims26
A medical system comprising:
- a fluid circuit having a reservoir;
- a pressure sensor coupled within the fluid circuit near an outlet of the reservoir, wherein the pressure sensor generates a pressure signal representative of a sensed pressure of the fluid circuit;
- a flow sensor coupled within the fluid circuit that generates a flow signal representative of a fluid velocity of the fluid exiting the reservoir;
- a controller that computes a volume of fluid within the reservoir as a function of the pressure signal and the flow signal , the controller configured to output an indicator based on the computed volume;
- and
- a memory programmed to store a set of container profiles, wherein the controller selects one of the container profiles for the reservoir and computes the volume based an the selected profile, and further wherein the container profiles comprise one or more coefficients that are applied by the controller to compute the volume.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- generating a set of container profiles, wherein each container profile is associated with a particular type of container that can be used as a reservoir within a medical system, and further wherein the container profiles comprise one or more coefficients;
- storing the set of container profiles within a memory;
- generating a pressure signal representative of a pressure in a fluid circuit of the medical system at a location near an outlet of a reservoir;
- selecting one of the container profiles for the reservoir;
- computing a volume of fluid within the reservoir as a function of the pressure signal based on the selected container profile, wherein the coefficients of the selected container profile are applied to compute the volume;
- and
- outputting an indicator based on the computed volume.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- storing the set of container profiles within a memory, wherein each container profile is associated with a particular type of container that can be used as a reservoir within a fluid circuit of a medical system, and further wherein the container profiles comprise one or more coefficients;
- selecting one of the container profiles for the reservoir;
- receiving a pressure signal representative of a pressure in the fluid circuit at a location near an outlet of the reservoir;
- computing a volume of fluid within the reservoir as a function of the pressure signal based on the selected container profile, wherein the coefficients of the selected container profile are applied to compute the volume;
- and
- automatically generating a pump control signal based on the computed volume to control the volume of fluid within the reservoir.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.