Liquid Flow Sensing System
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A liquid flow sensing system comprises a pump system configured to deliver a pre-determined volume V of liquid, and a measuring system comprising a chamber connected to the pump system and to an outlet system, the chamber bounded by an elastic membrane configured to be displaced elastically by an amplitude that enables said pre-determined volume V of liquid to be injected in the chamber. The measuring system further comprises a membrane displacement sensor configured to measure at least a portion of a decay characteristic of said membrane displacement amplitude after injection of the pre-determined volume V, into a value that may be used for determining absolute or relative viscosity of the liquid or changes in flow resistance downstream of the sensing system or for determining the presence of gas bubbles in a liquid flow circuit.
22 Citations
49 Claims
-
1-24. -24. (canceled)
- 25. A liquid flow sensing system comprising a pump system (2) configured to deliver a pre-determined volume V of liquid, and a measuring system (4) comprising a chamber (12) connected to the pump system and to an outlet system (6), the chamber bounded by an elastic membrane (14) configured to be displaced elastically by an amplitude that enables said pre-determined volume V of liquid to be injected in the chamber, the measuring system further comprising a membrane displacement sensor configured to measure at least a portion of a decay characteristic of said membrane displacement amplitude after injection of the pre-determined volume V, into a value that may be used for determining absolute or relative viscosity of the liquid or changes in flow resistance downstream of the sensing system or for determining the presence of gas bubbles in a liquid flow circuit.
- 33. A blood sugar level monitoring system comprising a sensing system comprising a pump system (2) configured to deliver a pre-determined volume V of liquid, and a measuring system (4) comprising a chamber (12) connected to the pump system and to an outlet system (6), the chamber bounded by an elastic membrane (14) configured to be displaced elastically by an amplitude that enables said pre-determined volume V of liquid to be injected in the chamber, the measuring system further comprising a membrane displacement sensor configured to measure at least a portion of a decay characteristic of said membrane displacement amplitude after injection of the pre-determined volume V, into a value that may be used for determining absolute or relative viscosity of the liquid or changes in flow resistance downstream of the sensing system or for determining the presence of gas bubbles in a liquid flow circuit.
-
38. A liquid drug delivery system comprising a sensing system configured for occlusion or leakage detection, and an outlet system comprising a trans-cutaneous injection member, the sensing system comprising a pump system (2) configured to deliver a pre-determined volume V of liquid, and a measuring system (4) comprising a chamber (12) connected to the pump system and to the outlet system (6), the chamber bounded by an elastic membrane (14) configured to be displaced elastically by an amplitude that enables said pre-determined volume V of liquid to be injected in the chamber, the measuring system further comprising a membrane displacement sensor configured to measure at least a portion of a decay characteristic of said membrane displacement amplitude after injection of the pre-determined volume V, into a value that may be used for determining absolute or relative viscosity of the liquid or changes in flow resistance downstream of the sensing system or for determining the presence of gas bubbles in a liquid flow circuit.
- 39. A method of measuring viscosity of a liquid by means of a sensing system comprising a chamber (12) bounded by an elastic membrane (14) and connected to an outlet (6) with a flow resistance portion, comprising the steps of injecting a pre-determined volume V of liquid into the chamber, measuring an amplitude of displacement of the elastic membrane, and determining, from at least a section of decay characteristic of the membrane displacement amplitude, a value correlated to viscosity of the liquid.
- 47. A method of detecting leakage or occlusion of a liquid delivery circuit, by means of a sensing system comprising a chamber bounded by an elastic membrane and connected to an outlet with a flow resistance portion, comprising the steps of injecting a pre-determined volume V of liquid into the chamber, measuring an amplitude of displacement of the membrane, and determining, from at least a section of decay characteristic of the membrane displacement amplitude, a value correlated resistance to flow of the liquid.
-
48. A method of determining blood sugar level by means of a sensing system comprising a chamber bounded by an elastic membrane and connected to an outlet system with an implantable porous membrane having a porosity varying as a function of glucose concentration, comprising the steps of injecting a pre-determined volume V of liquid into the chamber, measuring an amplitude of displacement of the membrane, and determining, from at least a section of decay characteristic of the membrane displacement amplitude, a value correlated to flow resistance of the liquid through the porous membrane and thereby glucose concentration.
Specification