Flow meter
AssigneeDEKA Products Limited Partnership
InventorsBob D. Peret, Derek G. Kane, Dean Kamen, Colin H. Murphy, John M. Kerwin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flow meter includes a background pattern disposed behind a drip chamber, an image sensor, and a processor. The image sensor has a field of view and is configured to view the drip chamber within the field of view. The processor is coupled to the image sensor to receive image data therefrom and captures, using the image sensor, an image of the drip chamber and at least a portion of the background pattern, examines the image, and adjusts a flow rate of fluid flowing through a fluid line in accordance with the examination of the image.
Claims69
A method for adjusting a flow rate of a fluid line, the method comprising:
- capturing an image of a drip chamber using an image sensor, wherein the image includes a view of a background pattern disposed behind the drip chamber;
- comparing the image of the drip chamber with a background image;
- and
- adjusting a flow rate of fluid flowing through the fluid line in accordance with the comparison between the image of the drip chamber and the background image.
A flow meter, comprising:
- a coupler adapted to couple to a drip chamber;
- a background pattern disposed behind the 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;
- and
- at least one processor operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive image data therefrom, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
- capture an image of the drip chamber using the image sensor;
- compare the image of the drip chamber with a background image;
- and
- adjust a flow rate of fluid flowing through a fluid line in accordance with the comparison between the image of the drip chamber and the background image.
A flow meter, comprising:
- a background pattern disposed behind a drip chamber;
- an image sensor having a field of view and configured to view the drip chamber within the field of view;
- and
- at least one processor operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive image data therefrom, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
- capture, using the image sensor, an image of the drip chamber and at least a portion of the background pattern;
- examine the image;
- and
- adjust a flow rate of fluid flowing through a fluid line in accordance with the examination of the image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.