Inflatable manometers

• US 20040255685A1
• Filed: 02/02/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dielectrics Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dielectrics Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Pekar, Robert W., Epstein, Adam S., Cadwallader, Scott R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,000,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/730
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/044 External cuff pressure control or supply, e.g. synchronisation with respiration
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 7/022 constructional details, e.g. mounting of elastically-deformable gauges G01L7/041, G01L7/061, G01L7/082, G01L7/102, G01L7/163, G01L7/182 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 7/041 Construction or mounting of deformable tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 7/043 with mechanical transmitting or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 7/063 with mechanical transmitting or indicating means

Abstract

An inflatable air cell pressure transducer. The air cell has a concavity formed therein. The concavity has two edges, wherein increased pressure within the air cell causes contraction of the concavity moving the two edges closer.

Claims

1. An inflatable manometer comprising:

an air cell having a concavity formed therein, said concavity having two edges, wherein increased pressure within said air cell causes contraction of said concavity moving said two edges towards each other.

2. The inflatable manometer of claim 1 further comprising:

a scale positioned proximate to said air cell, a position of said air cell relative to said scale being indicate of pressure within the air cell.

3. The inflatable manometer of claim 2 wherein:

one edge of said edges moves relative to said scale in response to pressure in said air cell, the position of said edge relative to said scale being indicate of pressure.

4. The inflatable manometer of claim 2 wherein:

said scale and said air cell are integrally formed in thermoplastic material.

5. The inflatable manometer of claim 2 wherein:

said air cell is a circular air cell and said concavity is a section removed from said circular air cell.

6. The inflatable manometer of claim 2 wherein:

said air cell includes a plurality of sub-cells in fluid communication, each sub-cell including a concavity, wherein increased pressure within said air cell causes contraction of said air cell in a linear or radial direction.

7. The inflatable manometer of claim 6 further comprising:

a housing containing said air cell, said scale being positioned on said housing.

8. The inflatable manometer of claim 6 wherein:

a distal end of said air cell is colored.

9. The inflatable manometer of claim 6 wherein:

each sub-cell is rectangular.

10. The inflatable manometer of claim 6 wherein:

each sub-cell is semi-circular.

11. The inflatable manometer of claim 2 wherein:

said scale is printed on a card.

12. The inflatable manometer of claim 11 further comprising:

an indicator coupled to said manometer, said indicator moving relative to said scale in response to changes in pressure in said air cell.

13. The inflatable manometer of claim 1 further comprising:

a second concavity formed in said air cell, said concavity having a first characteristic such that said concavity closes at a first pressure, said second concavity having a second characteristic such that said second concavity closes at a second pressure, said second pressure being greater than said first pressure.

14. The inflatable manometer of claim 13 wherein:

said first characteristic is width and said second characteristic is width.

15. The inflatable manometer of claim 1 further comprising:

a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet coupled to said air cell, said manometer indicating a pressure differential between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet.

16. The inflatable manometer of claim 15 wherein:

said fluid inlet and said air cell are formed from thermoplastic sheets sealed to define said fluid inlet and said air cell.