SYSTEM OF STEPPED FLOW RATE REGULATION USING COMPRESSIBLE MEMBERS
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A series of compressible members disposed with a vessel lumen designed to produce a flow rate that increases with respect to an increasing flow material pressure with the rate of increase having a stepped behavior. The first compressible member is designed so as to partially restrict flow so as to allow for only moderate increases in flow rate with respect to flow material pressure. Subsequent compressible members are designed to allow for increases in flow rate greater than the moderate rate of increase when the flow material pressure is above a given flow material pressure.
-
Citations
34 Claims
-
1-14. -14. (canceled)
-
15. A device comprising:
-
a vessel lumen for transporting a flow material in a flow direction; and a plurality of compressible members having one or more openings through which flow material flows, the compressible members being disposed along the vessel lumen for restricting the flow rate of a flow material flowing through the vessel lumen; wherein the one or more openings of each compressible member along the flow direction has a larger total surface area than the total surface area of the opening of the prior compressible members along the flow direction; and wherein the one or more openings expand to a larger total surface area as a function of the flow material pressure. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A method comprising:
-
providing a vessel lumen for transporting a flow material in a flow direction; and providing a plurality of compressible members having one or more openings through which flow material flows, the compressible members being disposed along the vessel lumen for restricting the flow rate of a flow material flowing through the vessel lumen; wherein the one or more openings of each compressible member along the flow direction has a larger total surface area than the total surface area of the opening of the prior compressible members along the flow direction; and wherein the one or more openings expand to a larger total surface area as a function of the flow material pressure. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A method comprising:
-
creating a predetermined flow rate profile for a flow material, wherein the flow rate of the flow material varies according to a first model when the pressure of the flow material is within a first pressure range, and the flow rate of the flow material varies according to a second model when the pressure of the flow material is within a second pressure range; the first model describing the flow rate as a function of the flow material pressure of the flow material through a first compressible member having one or more openings through which flow material flows, the openings having a first total surface area; the second model describing the flow rate as a function of the flow material pressure of the flow material through a second compressible member having one or more openings through which flow material flows, the opening having a second total surface area; and wherein the first surface area is less than the second surface area when the one or more openings of the first compressible member and the second compressible member are in an unexpanded state; and wherein increased flow material pressure causes increased expansion of the one or more openings of the first compressible member or the second compressible member. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
Specification