Ultrasonic identification of replaceable component for host system
AssigneePiezotech, LLC
InventorsFrans Lautzenhiser, James Dallas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system, method and device are provided for detecting the presence of, and/or obtain information about, a replaceable component for a host system. A host system has an ultrasonic transducer pair that detects the presence of, and/or obtains information about, a replaceable component for a host system through receipt or non-receipt of an ultrasonic signal. The replaceable component includes a key or other feature that either allows the transmission of a transmitted ultrasonic signal, or which does not allow the reception of the transmitted ultrasonic signal, depending on the host configuration.
Claims25
A tubing cassette for medical pump, in which the medical pump comprises a receptacle for receiving the tubing cassette, an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver spaced from the ultrasonic transmitter, the tubing cassette comprising:
- a cassette body having:
- means for being retained by the medical pump, and
- structure for holding tubing;
- and
- and wherein the cassette is operable to alter ultrasonic wave communication between the transmitter and receiver when the tubing cassette is retained by the medical pump.
A tubing cassette for medical pump, in which the medical pump comprises a receptacle for receiving the tubing cassette, a plurality of sets of an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver spaced from the ultrasonic transmitter, the tubing cassette comprising:
- a cassette body having:
- means for being retained by the medical pump, and
- structure for holding tubing;
- and
- a plurality of means for altering ultrasonic wave communication between a transmitter and receiver when the tubing cassette is retained by the medical pump.
A method for identifying a replaceable component for a host system having a receptacle for the replaceable component and a piezoelectric transducer comprising:
- a) providing a pattern of grooves on the surface of the replaceable component, the pattern of grooves indicating a characteristic of the replaceable component;
- b) placing the replaceable component in the receptacle of the host system;
- c) emitting an ultrasonic wave from the piezoelectric transducer toward the pattern of grooves, wherein the wave encounters the pattern of grooves at an angle of less than 90° so that waves striking the interior of a groove are reflected back to the transducer as echo waves, while waves not striking the interior of a groove are reflected away from the transducer, and
- d) reading the pattern of returning echo waves to determine the characteristic of the replaceable component indicated by the pattern of grooves.
A method for identifying a characteristic of a replaceable component for a host system, comprising:
- a) providing a host system having
- a replaceable component receptacle,
- a piezoelectric transmitter,
- a piezoelectric receiver spaced from the transmitter, and
- wherein the receptacle is shaped to receive a replaceable component having a key that is positioned within the space between the transmitter and receiver when the replaceable component is received by the receptacle;
- b) emitting an ultrasonic signal from the transmitter;
- and
- c) detecting whether the emitted ultrasonic signal is received by the receiver.
A method for determining the presence or characteristic of a replaceable component for a host system, comprising:
- a) providing a host system having
- a receptacle for a replaceable component;
- a piezoelectric ultrasonic wave transmitter,
- a piezoelectric receiver spaced from the piezoelectric transmitter, and
- means for comparing a received ultrasonic signal to at least one waveform signature;
- b) positioning the replaceable component in the receptacle;
- c) transmitting an ultrasonic wave from the transmitter toward the receiver;
- d) receiving the transmitted ultrasonic wave;
- and
- e) comparing the received ultrasonic wave to at least one waveform signature;
- and
- f) generating an output indicating the presence or a characteristic of the replaceable component based on the comparing step.
A replaceable component for a host system, in which the host system comprises a receptacle for receiving the replaceable component, an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver spaced from the ultrasonic transmitter, and an elastomer disposed between the transmitter and receiver and, the replaceable component comprising:
- a component body having means for being held by the receptacle of the host system,
- a key projecting from the body shaped to engage the elastomer of the host system to thereby alter its ultrasonic wave transmissive properties when the component body is being held by the receptacle.
A replaceable component for a host system, in which the host system comprises a receptacle for receiving the replaceable component, an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver spaced from the ultrasonic transmitter, the replaceable component comprising:
- a component body having means for being held by the receptacle of the host system,
- an elastomeric key projecting from the body shaped to fill the space between the transmitter and receiver when the replaceable component is being retained in the receptacle, to thereby permit ultrasonic communication between the transmitter and receiver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.