MEDICAL TREATMENT PROCEDURE AND SYSTEM IN WHICH BIDIRECTIONAL FLUID FLOW IS SENSED
First Claim
1. A medical treatment procedure comprising:
- placing a conduit for flowing a first fluid to or from a living body in a first direction and through which it is possible that the first fluid or a second fluid may flow in a reverse direction through the conduit from or to, respectively, the living body;
fluidically coupling a bidirectional flow sensor unit to the conduit so that the first fluid and optionally the second fluid are able to flow therethrough in the first and reverse directions, the bidirectional flow sensor unit comprising means for sensing the flow rate and flow direction of the first fluid and optionally the second fluid flowing through the bidirectional flow sensor unit;
measuring with the sensing means the flow rate of the first fluid as the first fluid flows through the bidirectional flow sensor unit in the first direction, and sensing with the sensing means if the first fluid or the second fluid flows through the bidirectional flow sensor unit in the reverse direction; and
relaying a signal indicating the occurrence of the first fluid or the second fluid flowing through the bidirectional flow sensor unit in the reverse direction.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical treatment procedure and system that makes use of a bidirectional flow sensor unit to monitor, detect, and control the flow of one or more fluids to and from a patient. The sensor unit measures both flow rate and flow direction of a fluid of a conduit through which a first fluid flows to or from the patient in a first direction, and through which it is possible that the first fluid or a second fluid may flow in a reverse direction through the conduit from or to, respectively, the patient. The sensor unit measures the flow rate of the first fluid as the first fluid flows through the bidirectional flow sensor unit, and senses if the first fluid or the second fluid flows through the bidirectional flow sensor unit in the reverse direction. A signal is relayed to indicate the occurrence of a reverse flow condition.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A medical treatment procedure comprising:
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placing a conduit for flowing a first fluid to or from a living body in a first direction and through which it is possible that the first fluid or a second fluid may flow in a reverse direction through the conduit from or to, respectively, the living body;
fluidically coupling a bidirectional flow sensor unit to the conduit so that the first fluid and optionally the second fluid are able to flow therethrough in the first and reverse directions, the bidirectional flow sensor unit comprising means for sensing the flow rate and flow direction of the first fluid and optionally the second fluid flowing through the bidirectional flow sensor unit;
measuring with the sensing means the flow rate of the first fluid as the first fluid flows through the bidirectional flow sensor unit in the first direction, and sensing with the sensing means if the first fluid or the second fluid flows through the bidirectional flow sensor unit in the reverse direction; and
relaying a signal indicating the occurrence of the first fluid or the second fluid flowing through the bidirectional flow sensor unit in the reverse direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A medical treatment system for performing a medical treatment procedure, the medial treatment system comprising:
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a conduit placed for flowing a first fluid to or from a living body in a first direction and through which it is possible that the first fluid or a second fluid may flow in a reverse direction through the conduit from or to, respectively, the living body;
a bidirectional flow sensor unit fluidically coupled to the conduit so that the first fluid and optionally the second fluid are able to flow therethrough in the first and reverse directions, the bidirectional flow sensor unit comprising means for sensing the flow rate and flow direction of the first fluid and optionally the second fluid flowing through the bidirectional flow sensor unit; and
means for relaying a signal indicating the occurrence of the first fluid or the second fluid flowing through the bidirectional flow sensor unit in the reverse direction. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification