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Occlusion detection for flow control apparatus

  • US 10,219,985 B2
  • Filed: 10/14/2015
  • Issued: 03/05/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a flow control apparatus including a pumping device for detecting occlusions in fluid flow in a pump set acted upon by the flow control apparatus, the method comprising:

  • operating a motor of the pumping device using a control circuit at a first output to rotate a rotor of the pumping device to produce fluid flow in the pump set during a first portion of a feeding cycle;

    operating the motor using the control circuit at a second output less than the first output but greater than an output of zero during an entire second portion of the feeding cycle, the first portion of the feeding cycle being longer than the second portion of the feeding cycle;

    operating a sensor arranged with respect to the pumping device to produce a signal indicative of a rotational position of the rotor in at least two positions of the rotor; and

    monitoring the sensor signal during operation of the motor at the second output to determine if an occlusion exists in the pump set;

    wherein operating the motor at the first output comprises operating the motor at the first output until only a single aliquot of fluid is left to be produced by the rotor in the feeding cycle.

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