Flow meter and related system and apparatus
AssigneeDEKA Products Limited Partnership
InventorsBob D. Peret, Derek G. Kane, Dean Kamen, Colin H. Murphy, John M. Kerwin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flow meter includes an image sensor and a processor. The image sensor is configured to capture an image of a drip chamber. The processor is configured to determine whether the captured image of the drip chamber contains a match to a template, and to apply a blurring function to the image captured by the image sensor of the drip chamber such that the processor can determine if the captured image contains a match to the template.
Claims37
A system for regulating fluid flow, comprising:
- a fluid reservoir for infusing fluid contained therein into a patient;
- a drip chamber in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, wherein the drip chamber is configured to allow a drop of the fluid to exit the fluid reservoir and travel through the drip chamber;
- a backlight disposed near the drip chamber such that the backlight provides at least partial illumination to the drip chamber;
- a valve configured to regulate the fluid flowing from the drip chamber to the patient;
- and
- a flow meter for monitoring the flow rate of the fluid passing through the drip chamber, the flow meter including:
- an image sensor configured to capture an image of the drip chamber, and
- a processor configured to:
- determine whether the captured image of the drip chamber contains a match to a template, and
- apply a blurring function to the image captured by the image sensor of the drip chamber such that the processor can determine if the captured image contains a match to the template.
A method of filtering a captured image of a drip chamber configured to allow a drop of fluid to fall within the drip chamber, the method comprising:
- capturing an image of the drip chamber with an image sensor;
- determining if the captured image contains a visual obstruction;
- applying a blurring function to the captured image, the blurring function configured to eliminate an amount of detail in the captured image;
- and
- determining if the captured image contains a match to a template.
A method of capturing an image of a drip chamber, the method comprising:
- illuminating at least a portion of a drip chamber;
- capturing an image of the drip chamber with an image sensor;
- determining if there is a visual obstruction in the captured image using a processor operatively coupled to the image sensor;
- applying a blurring function, using the processor, to the captured image to filter the captured image upon a determination that there is a visual obstruction in the captured image;
- and
- determining, using the processor, if there is a match to a template in the captured image.
A flow meter, comprising:
- an image sensor configured to capture an image of a drip chamber;
- a processor configured to determine whether the captured image of the drip chamber contains a match to a template, and to apply a blurring function to the image captured by the image sensor of the drip chamber such that the processor can determine if the captured image contains a match to the template.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.