Pneumatic actuator for bolus generation in a fluid handling circuit

• US 20050220644A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LifeScan Scotland Limited (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: LifeScan Scotland Limited (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Bohm, Sebastian, McNeilage, Alan W.
• Application Number:
  US11/095,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20050220644A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/505
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/24 Pumping by heat expansion of pumped fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0074 using photolithography, e.g. etching
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0078 using moulding or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0084 Chemistry or biology, e.g. "lab-on-a-chip" technology
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0086 Medical applications
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0001 Microvalves microdevices B81B1/00; manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate B81C1/00; microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; micropumps F04B19/006
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0017 Capillary or surface tension valves, e.g. using electro-wetting or electro-capillarity effects
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0019 Valves using a microdroplet or microbubble as the valve member
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0044 using thermo-electric means

Abstract

The invention described herein includes a pneumatic actuator for bolus generation in a fluid handling circuit and a pneumatic actuator for bolus generation in a fluid handling circuit wherein the pneumatic actuator is used to insert an air pocket into the fluid stream to create the bolus. Further, The invention described herein includes a pneumatic fluid handling circuit including a pneumatic actuator for bolus generation including a pneumatic fluid handling circuit including a pneumatic actuator for bolus generation wherein the pneumatic actuator is used to insert an air pocket into the fluid stream to create the bolus.

Claims

1. A pneumatic actuator for bolus generation in a fluid handling circuit, said pneumatic actuator comprising:

a channel including said fluid;

a controller;

a pressure generator connected to said controller; and

an isolator for isolating said pressure generator from said channel.

2. A pneumatic actuator for bolus generation according to claim 1 wherein said pressure generator further comprises:

a gas pocket connected to said channel through said isolator; and

a heater controlled by said controller and adapted to heat gas in said gas pocket.

4. A pneumatic actuator for bolus generation according to claim 2 wherein said pressure generator comprises:

a gas pocket connected to said channel by said isolator;

a flexible bladder connected to said gas pocket; and

a plunger connected to said flexible bladder, said plunger being controlled by said controller.

5. A pneumatic actuator for bolus generation according to claim 4 wherein said pressure generator comprises a vent adapted to vent gas from said gas pocket.

6. A pneumatic actuator for bolus generation according to claim 5 wherein said isolator comprises a hydrophobic patch.

3. A pneumatic actuator for bolus generation according to claim 3 wherein said pressure generator comprises a vent adapted to vent gas from said gas pocket.

7. A pneumatic fluid handling circuit including a pneumatic actuator for bolus generation, said pneumatic fluid handling circuit comprising:

a channel including said fluid;

a fill detector positioned in said channel;

a pneumatic actuator connected to said channel upstream from said fill detector;

a controller connected between said fill detector and said pneumatic actuator;

a vent connected to said channel at a predetermined distance downstream from said fill detector; and

an analyte sensor positioned in said channel downstream from said vent.

8. A pneumatic fluid handling circuit according to claim 7 wherein said pneumatic actuator comprises:

a channel including said fluid;

a controller;

a pressure generator connected to said controller; and

an isolator for isolating said pressure generator from said channel.

9. A pneumatic fluid handling circuit according to claim 8 wherein said pressure generator comprises:

a gas pocket connected to said channel through said isolator; and

a heater controlled by said controller and adapted to heat gas in said gas pocket.

10. A pneumatic fluid handling circuit according to claim 9 wherein said pressure generator further comprises a vent adapted to vent gas from said gas pocket.

11. A pneumatic fluid handling circuit according to claim 8 wherein said pressure generator comprises:

a gas pocket connected to said channel by said isolator;

a flexible bladder connected to said gas pocket; and

a plunger connected to said flexible bladder, said plunger being controlled by said controller.