# US 8,784,367 B2 · Sensor and control unit for flow control and a method for controlled delivery of fluid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,367 B2 - Document ID: US8784367B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/001,798 - Filed: 2009-07-02 - Published: 2011-05-19 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-07-08 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Ronald Dekker; Jaap Haartsen; Pascal De Graaf; Antoon Marie Henrie Tombeur; Adrianus Johannes Maria Van Tuijl - Inventors: Ronald Dekker; Jaap Haartsen; Pascal De Graaf; Antoon Marie Henrie Tombeur; Adrianus Johannes Maria Van Tuijl - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784367B2 ## CPC - G01F 1/6888: {Thermoelectric elements, e.g. thermocouples, thermopiles} - A61M 5/16886: {for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters} - G01F 1/6847: {where sensing or heating elements are not disturbing the fluid flow, e.g. elements mounted outside the flow duct} - G01F 1/696: Circuits therefor, e.g. constant-current flow meters - G01F 15/005: {Valves (valves in general F16K)} - G01F 15/14: Casings, e.g. of special material - A61M 2205/3334: Measuring or controlling the flow rate - A61M 2205/3368: Temperature - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract The invention relates to a sensor (102) and a control unit (702) for cooperation with the sensor. The sensor (102) serves for measuring a velocity of a fluid (308) flowing through a channel (306). The sensor (102) employs a thermal measuring principle, which measuring principle is robust regarding disturbances on the amount of power dissipated by the heating element (106). A sensor receiver (110) is arranged for receiving an electromagnetic radiation generated by a control transmitter (722) comprised in a control (702) unit for cooperation with the sensor (102). The electromagnetic radiation is employed for powering the heating element (106) which is arranged for heating the fluid. On the basis of a measurement signal generated by a transducer arrangement comprised in the sensor (102), a control actuator (724) controls the velocity of the fluid. For this purpose a sensor transmitter (116) is arranged for transmitting the measurement signal to a control receiver (734). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensor (102) for measuring a velocity of a fluid (208) flowing through a channel (206), the sensor comprising: a chip (104) and a sensor receiver (310), wherein the chip includes a heating element (106) for heating the fluid, and a transducer arrangement (108) spatially positioned on the chip across the heating element for generating a measurement signal indicative for the velocity of the fluid flowing through the channel based on the ratio of a first spatial temperature difference and a second spatial temperature difference, and wherein the sensor receiver is arranged for receiving an electromagnetic radiation for powering the heating element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first spatial temperature difference is the numerical difference between the temperature of the fluid prior to the heating element and the temperature of the fluid after the heating element, and the second spatial temperature difference is the numerical difference between temperatures of the fluid at locations prior to the heating element added to the numerical difference between temperatures of the fluid at locations after the heating element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor receiver is an antenna (110), wherein the heating element is integrated with the antenna. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the chip further includes a sensor transmitter (116) for transmitting the measurement signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is situated in or at a wall of the channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The sensor according to claim 5, wherein the sensor is arranged substantially coaxially with the channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the chip further includes a memory (118) for storing data. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first spatial temperature difference is the numerical difference between the temperature of the fluid prior to the heating element and the temperature of the fluid after the heating element, and the second spatial temperature difference is the numerical difference between temperatures of the fluid at the heating element and at a reference location. ### Claim 9 A control unit (602) for cooperation with a sensor (102) for measuring a velocity of a fluid (208) flowing through a channel (206), wherein the sensor includes a chip (104) and a sensor receiver (310), wherein the chip includes a heating element (106) for heating the fluid, and a transducer arrangement (108) spatially positioned on the chip across the heating element for generating a measurement signal indicative for the velocity of the fluid flowing through the channel based on the ratio of a first spatial temperature difference and a second spatial temperature difference, and wherein the sensor receiver is arranged for receiving an electromagnetic radiation for powering the heating element, the control unit comprising: a control transmitter (626) for transmitting the electromagnetic radiation to the sensor receiver. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The control unit according to claim 9, wherein the control unit further includes a facility for detachably connecting the control unit to the channel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The control unit according to claim 9, wherein the control unit further includes a control actuator (624) for controlling the flow velocity of the fluid flowing through the channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The control unit according to claim 11, wherein the control actuator is controllable by a signal relating to a deviation between a predefined flow velocity and the velocity indicated by the measurement signal generated by the transducer arrangement comprised in the sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The control unit according to claim 12, wherein the actuator comprises an actuator receiver (534) for receiving the measurement signal generated by the transducer arrangement comprised in the sensor. ### Claim 14 A system comprising; a sensor (102) for measuring a velocity of a fluid (208) flowing through a channel (206), wherein the sensor includes a chip (104) and a sensor receiver (310), wherein the chip includes a heating element (106) for heating the fluid, and a transducer arrangement (108) spatially positioned on the chip across the heating element for generating a measurement signal indicative for the velocity of the fluid flowing through the channel based on the ratio of a first spatial temperature difference and a second spatial temperature difference, and wherein the sensor receiver is arranged for receiving an electromagnetic radiation for powering the heating element; and the control unit includes a control transmitter (626) for transmitting the electromagnetic radiation to the sensor receiver. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14, wherein a predefined fluid flow velocity is established in accordance with a medical application. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14, wherein the first spatial temperature difference is the numerical difference between the temperature of the fluid prior to the heating element and the temperature of the fluid after the heating element, and the second spatial temperature difference is the numerical difference between temperatures of the fluid at the heating element and at a reference location. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14, wherein the first spatial temperature difference is the numerical difference between the temperature of the fluid prior to the heating element and the temperature of the fluid after the heating element, and the second spatial temperature difference is the numerical difference between temperatures of the fluid at locations prior to the heating element added to the numerical difference between temperatures of the fluid at locations after the heating element. ### Claim 18 A method for controlled delivery of a liquid medication, comprising: a step (802) of establishing a predefined fluid flow velocity; a step (804) of detachably connecting a control unit to a channel, the control unit cooperating with a sensor, for measuring a velocity of a fluid (208) flowing through the channel (206), wherein the sensor includes a chip (104) and a sensor receiver (310), wherein the chip (104) includes a heating element (106) for heating the fluid, and a transducer arrangement (108) spatially positioned on the chip across the heating element for generating a measurement signal indicative for the velocity of the fluid flowing through the channel based on a ratio of spatial temperature differences, the sensor receiver being arranged for receiving an electromagnetic radiation for powering the heating element; and a step (806) of controlled delivery of the liquid medication through the channel by application of the sensor and an actuator controlling the flow velocity of the fluid flowing through the channel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the first spatial temperature difference is the numerical difference between the temperature of the fluid prior to the heating element and the temperature of the fluid after the heating element, and the second spatial temperature difference is the numerical difference between temperatures of the fluid at the heating element and at a reference location. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the first spatial temperature difference is the numerical difference between the temperature of the fluid prior to the heating element and the temperature of the fluid after the heating element, and the second spatial temperature difference is the numerical difference between temperatures of the fluid at locations prior to the heating element added to the numerical difference between temperatures of the fluid at locations after the heating element.