System, method, and apparatus for monitoring, regulating, or controlling fluid flow

A system comprising:

• a flow meter, comprising:
• a coupler adapted to couple to a drip chamber;
• a support member operatively coupled to the coupler;
• an image sensor having a field of view and operatively coupled to the support member, wherein the image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within the field of view;
• a valve comprising a rigid chamber operatively coupled to the drip chamber, a flexible tube section disposed within the rigid chamber, a pump operatively coupled to the rigid chamber and configured to pump fluid into and out of the rigid chamber to thereby actuate the valve, and an actuator coupled to the pump and configured to actuate the pump;
• and
• at least one processor operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive image data therefrom and to the actuator to actuate the valve, wherein the at least one processor is configured to estimate a flow of fluid through the drip chamber and to actuate the valve to control the flow of fluid through the drip chamber to achieve a target flow rate, wherein the at least one processor compares an image of the image data to a reference image to estimate at least one parameter of liquid within the drip chamber;
• and
• a monitoring client in operative communication with the flow meter to receive the estimated flow of fluid through the drip chamber.

A method of controlling a flow meter, the method comprising:

• capturing an image of a drip chamber using an image sensor;
• estimating a flow of fluid, using a processor, through the drip chamber using the image sensor;
• actuating a valve, using the processor, to cause the flow of fluid to reach a target flow rate, the valve comprising a rigid chamber operatively coupled to the drip chamber, a flexible tube section disposed within the rigid chamber, a pump operatively coupled to the rigid chamber and configured to pump fluid into and out of the rigid chamber to thereby actuate the valve;
• comparing, using the processor, an image of the image data to a reference image to estimate at least one parameter of liquid within the drip chamber;
• and
• an actuator coupled to the pump and configured to actuate the pump.

A flow meter, comprising:

• a coupler adapted to couple to a drip chamber;
• a support member operatively coupled to the coupler;
• an image sensor having a field of view and operatively coupled to the support member, wherein the image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within the field of view;
• a valve comprising:
• a rigid chamber operatively coupled to the drip chamber;
• a flexible tube section disposed within the rigid chamber;
• a pump operatively coupled to the rigid chamber and configured to pump fluid into and out of the rigid chamber to thereby actuate the valve;
• and
• an actuator coupled to the pump and configured to actuate the pump;
• and
• at least one processor operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive image data therefrom and to the actuator to actuate the valve, wherein the at least one processor is configured to estimate a flow of fluid through the drip chamber and to actuate the valve to control the flow of fluid through the drip chamber to achieve a target flow rate,
• wherein the at least one processor determines an existence of a free flow condition using a distortion of a background pattern caused by the liquid as indicated by the image data.

A flow meter, comprising:

• a coupler adapted to couple to a drip chamber;
• a support member operatively coupled to the coupler;
• an image sensor having a field of view and operatively coupled to the support member, wherein the image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within the field of view;
• a valve comprising:
• a rigid chamber operatively coupled to the drip chamber;
• a flexible tube section disposed within the rigid chamber;
• and
• an actuator configured to actuate the valve;
• and
• at least one processor operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive image data therefrom and to the actuator to actuate the valve, wherein the at least one processor is configured to estimate a flow of fluid through the drip chamber and to actuate the valve to control the flow of fluid through the drip chamber to achieve a target flow rate,
• wherein the at least one processor compares an image of the image data to a reference image to estimate at least one parameter of liquid within the drip chamber.

A flow meter, comprising:

• a coupler adapted to couple to a drip chamber;
• a support member operatively coupled to the coupler;
• an image sensor having a field of view and operatively coupled to the support member, wherein the image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within the field of view;
• a valve configured to control a flow of fluid through the drip chamber;
• an actuator configured to actuate the valve to thereby control the flow of fluid through the drip chamber;
• and
• at least one processor operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive image data therefrom and to the actuator to actuate the valve, wherein the at least one processor is configured to estimate the flow of fluid through the drip chamber and to actuate the valve to control the flow of fluid through the drip chamber to achieve a target flow rate,
• wherein the at least one processor compares an image of the image data to a reference image to estimate at least one parameter of liquid within the drip chamber and to thereby actuate the valve using the actuator in response to the at least one parameter to achieve the target flow rate.