VARIABLE FLOW RESHAPABLE FLOW RESTRICTOR APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- at least one reshapable flow restrictor having at least one lumen;
a substantially rigid conduit to enclose the reshapable flow restrictor;
a substance within the lumen of the reshapable flow restrictor to effect reshaping of the reshapable flow restrictor; and
a deliverable material flowing within the rigid conduit.
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Abstract
Disclosed in a novel apparatus and associated methods for controlling the flow around a reshapable flow restrictor. The flow restrictor reshapes as a function of the pressure differential within the flow restrictor. Small changes in the pressure differential allow for larger changes in the flow rate over conventional flow restrictor systems and provides for real time, fine-tuned adjustments to the flow rate.
117 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one reshapable flow restrictor having at least one lumen; a substantially rigid conduit to enclose the reshapable flow restrictor; a substance within the lumen of the reshapable flow restrictor to effect reshaping of the reshapable flow restrictor; and a deliverable material flowing within the rigid conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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providing at least one reshapable flow restrictor enclosed in a substantially rigid conduit, wherein each flow restrictor reshapes as a function of the pressure within the reshapable flow restrictor; and allowing for the pressure of a substance within each flow restrictor to vary, the variance in pressure causing each flow restrictor to reshape resulting in an increased or decreased flow rate of a deliverable material flowing in the rigid conduit; wherein as pressure within each flow restrictor increases, the flow rate of the deliverable material decreases and as pressure within each flow restrictor decreases, the flow rate of the deliverable material increases. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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providing at least one reshapable flow restrictor disposed in a rigid conduit to vary the flow rate of a deliverable material flowing outside of each reshapable flow restrictor; wherein the flow rate of the deliverable material varies as a) a function of pressure within the rigid conduit and b) inversely as a function of the diameter of each reshapable flow restrictor; and wherein the diameter of each reshapable flow restrictor is changeable. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification