PASSIVE FLUID FLOW REGULATOR
First Claim
1. Fluid flow regulator (1) of the passive type having a fluid inlet adapted to be connected to a fluid reservoir and a fluid outlet (13) adapted to be connected to a delivery location,said regulator comprising a rigid substrate (2) and a resilient membrane (3) tightly linked together in predefined linking areas (4) so as to define a cavity (6) therebetween, said cavity (6) being connected to said fluid outlet (13) while said membrane (3) has a first surface (12) opposite said cavity (6) which is connected to said fluid inlet,said membrane (3) having a through hole (15) contiguous with said cavity (6), to define a pathway for a fluid from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet (13), and being flexible so as to be able to come into contact with said substrate (2), within said cavity (6) and with a portion including said through hole (15), in case a fluid applies a pressure on said first surface (12) that is larger than a first predefined threshold value, which results in hindering a fluid from flowing through said through hole (15), wherein said membrane (2) comprises at least one additional through hole (15) contiguous with said cavity (6) and arranged such that a fluid may flow through it in case said fluid applies a pressure on said first surface (12) that is larger than said first predefined threshold value but smaller than a second predefined threshold value, said membrane (3) and said additional through hole (15) being further arranged so that a fluid flow rate is be substantially linear as a function of the pressure applied on said first surface (12) in a range going approximately from said first to said second predefined threshold values.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid flow regulator (1) of the passive type is disclosed which has a fluid inlet adapted to be connected to a fluid reservoir and a fluid outlet (13) adapted to be connected to a patient'"'"'s body. The regulator comprises a rigid substrate (2) and a resilient membrane (3) tightly linked together so as to define a cavity (6) there between which is disconnected to the fluid outlet while the membrane has a first surface (12) opposite the cavity which is connected to the fluid inlet. The membrane has a plurality of through holes (15) contiguous with the cavity, to define a pathway for a fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, and is flexible so as to be able to come into contact with the substrate as a fluid applies a sufficient pressure on the first surface. The through holes are arranged such that, when the fluid pressure increases, they close one after the other to increase the regulator fluidic resistance so that a fluid flow rate would be substantially constant as a function of the pressure applied on the first surface within a predefined pressure range.
20 Citations
27 Claims
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1. Fluid flow regulator (1) of the passive type having a fluid inlet adapted to be connected to a fluid reservoir and a fluid outlet (13) adapted to be connected to a delivery location,
said regulator comprising a rigid substrate (2) and a resilient membrane (3) tightly linked together in predefined linking areas (4) so as to define a cavity (6) therebetween, said cavity (6) being connected to said fluid outlet (13) while said membrane (3) has a first surface (12) opposite said cavity (6) which is connected to said fluid inlet, said membrane (3) having a through hole (15) contiguous with said cavity (6), to define a pathway for a fluid from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet (13), and being flexible so as to be able to come into contact with said substrate (2), within said cavity (6) and with a portion including said through hole (15), in case a fluid applies a pressure on said first surface (12) that is larger than a first predefined threshold value, which results in hindering a fluid from flowing through said through hole (15), wherein said membrane (2) comprises at least one additional through hole (15) contiguous with said cavity (6) and arranged such that a fluid may flow through it in case said fluid applies a pressure on said first surface (12) that is larger than said first predefined threshold value but smaller than a second predefined threshold value, said membrane (3) and said additional through hole (15) being further arranged so that a fluid flow rate is be substantially linear as a function of the pressure applied on said first surface (12) in a range going approximately from said first to said second predefined threshold values.
Specification