Noninvasive measurement of fluid characteristics using reversibly deformed conduit
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining a characteristic of a fluid in a tube, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) means for applying a force to cause a change in a transverse dimension of a segment of the tube, wherein the change in the transverse dimension is reversible; and
(b) means for launching and receiving ultrasonic signals, wherein a first ultrasonic signal propagates along a first path through the tube, the first path having a first path length, and a second ultrasonic signal propagates along a second path through the tube, the second path having a second path length, and wherein the first path length differs from the second path length and at least one of the first path and the second path is located entirely within the segment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for determining a characteristic such as sound speed for a fluid in a tube comprises means for applying a force to cause a change in a transverse dimension of a segment of the tube, wherein the change in the transverse dimension is reversible, and means for launching and receiving ultrasonic signals. Ultrasonic signals propagate through the tube along paths of different lengths. At least one of the paths is located entirely within the segment having the changed transverse dimension. The applied force may cause the transverse dimension to change continuously or in discrete steps. Path length differences between the paths are determined, and transit times are determined for each of the ultrasonic signals. The characteristic is determined based on information comprising the path length differences and the transit times.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining a characteristic of a fluid in a tube, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for applying a force to cause a change in a transverse dimension of a segment of the tube, wherein the change in the transverse dimension is reversible; and (b) means for launching and receiving ultrasonic signals, wherein a first ultrasonic signal propagates along a first path through the tube, the first path having a first path length, and a second ultrasonic signal propagates along a second path through the tube, the second path having a second path length, and wherein the first path length differs from the second path length and at least one of the first path and the second path is located entirely within the segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for determining a characteristic of a fluid in a tube, the method comprising:
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(a) applying a force to cause a change in a transverse dimension of a segment of the tube, wherein the change in the transverse dimension is reversible; (b) propagating a first ultrasonic signal along a first path through the tube, the first path having a first path length; (c) determining a first transit time for the first ultrasonic signal; (d) propagating a second ultrasonic signal along a second path through the tube, the second path having a second path length, wherein the first path length differs from the second path length and at least one of the first path and the second path is located entirely within the segment; and (e) determining a second transit time for the second ultrasonic signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for determining a characteristic of a fluid in a tube, the method comprising:
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(a) applying a force to continuously change a transverse dimension of a segment of the tube, wherein a change in the transverse dimension caused by the applying of force is reversible; (b) propagating plural ultrasonic signals along plural paths through the tube, wherein at least one of the plural paths is located entirely within the segment; (c) determining plural dimensions for the segment wherein each of the plural dimensions is colinear with one or more of the plural paths; (d) determining a transit time for two or more of the plural ultrasonic signals; and (e) determining the characteristic based on information comprising the plural dimensions and the transit times.
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Specification