CASSETTE FOR USE IN A MEDICATION DELIVERY FLOW SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

• US 20100286599A1
• Filed: 07/23/2010
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hospira Incorporated (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: ZIEGLER, JOHN S., Fathallah, Marwan A., Jacobson, James D., Barclay, Brian, Currat, Olivier F., Bransky, Jeff D., Morrow, James D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,657,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3351 Controlling upstream pump pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3355 Controlling downstream pump pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16886 for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A disposable assembly for use with a sensor assembly comprises a body, a flow restricting element, and a fluid pressure membrane. The body has a lid portion and a base portion. The body defines a fluid flow passage that forms an inlet and an outlet. The flow restricting element is positioned in the fluid flow passage between the inlet and the outlet. The membrane is located between the lid and base portions along the fluid flow passage. A reinforcing structure, such as a ring or a rigid disk, is positioned between the fluid pressure membrane and the lid portion to provide increased resistance to pressure in the fluid flow passage. The ring or disk can be a separate component or formed on the membrane. The membrane thickness adjacent to sensor access openings in the lid portion can be increased for pressure resistance, too.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method of forming a differential pressure based fluid flow sensor assembly comprising the steps of:

providing a reusable assembly having at least a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor;

providing a disposable assembly, the disposable assembly comprising;

a body having a lid portion and a base portion, the body defining a fluid flow passage forming an inlet and an outlet;

a flow restricting element positioned in the fluid flow passage between the inlet and the outlet;

a fluid pressure membrane disposed along the fluid flow passage and located between the lid portion and the base portion of the body;

a first rigid disk positioned between the fluid pressure membrane and the lid portion, the first rigid disk being positioned adjacent to a second opening formed in the lid portion; and

a second rigid disk positioned between the fluid pressure membrane and the lid portion, the second rigid disk being positioned adjacent to a second opening formed in the lid portion;

securing the disposable assembly to the reusable assembly in a removable manner to form a differential pressure based fluid pressure sensor.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of securing the disposable assembly to the reusable assembly includes sliding a ledge portion of the disposable assembly under a lip portion of the reusable assembly.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of securing the disposable assembly to the reusable assembly includes clipping a ledge portion of the disposable assembly under at least one clip portion of the reusable assembly.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of securing the disposable assembly to the reusable assembly includes covering the disposable assembly under a rotatable lid portion of the reusable assembly.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of securing the disposable assembly to the reusable assembly includes sliding the disposable assembly into the reusable assembly and covering the disposable portion with a pivotable access door to secure the disposable assembly within the reusable assembly.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of securing the disposable assembly to the reusable assembly includes sliding a first slot and a second slot of the disposable assembly over respective first and second securing protrusions of the reusable assembly.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of securing the disposable assembly to the reusable assembly includes positioning the disposable assembly within the reusable assembly and covering the disposable assembly under a sliding access door of the reusable assembly.