DEVICE THAT ACCURATELY MEASURES PHYSIOLOGICAL FLUID FLOW

• US 20110174067A1
• Filed: 02/22/2011
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UroSense Medical, LLC
• Original Assignee: Future Path Medical, LLC (Future Path Medical Holding Company, LLC)
• Inventors: Boiarski, Anthony A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,813,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/149
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/4404 Details or parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/69 Drainage containers not being adapted for subjection to vacuum, e.g. bags devices worn by the patient for reception of urine A61F5/44
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/24 by measuring variations of resistance of resistors due to contact with conductor fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/242 Mounting arrangements for electrodes

Abstract

A sensor for sensing a volume of fluid in a container includes first and second elements, each element including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the first element has a first electrical resistance per unit length of the container and the second portion of the first element has a second electrical resistance per unit length of the container different from the first electrical resistance per unit length of the container. The first portion of the second element has a third electrical resistance per unit length of the container and the second portion of the second element has a fourth electrical resistance per unit length of the container different from the third electrical resistance per unit length of the container.

Claims

1. A sensor for sensing a volume of fluid in a container comprising:

first and second elements, each element including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the first element having a first electrical resistance per unit length of the container and the second portion of the first element having a second electrical resistance per unit length of the container different from the first electrical resistance per unit length of the container, the first portion of the second element having a third electrical resistance per unit length of the container and the second portion of the second element having a fourth electrical resistance per unit length of the container different from the third electrical resistance per unit length of the container.

2. The sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and third electrical resistance per unit length of the container are identical.

3. The sensor as set forth in claim 2, wherein the second and fourth electrical resistance per unit length of the container are identical.

4. The sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the distance between the first portion of the first element and the first portion of the second element varies along the length of the sensor.

5. The sensor as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first portions of the first and second elements are angled relative to one another.

6. The sensor as set forth in claim 5, wherein the distance between the first portions of the first and second elements varies continuously such that first portions have a V-shaped configuration.

7. The sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second portions of the first and second elements extend parallel to one another.

8. The sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first portions of the first and second elements are positioned in a lower portion of the container and the second portions of the first and second elements are positioned in an upper portion of the container.

9. The sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first portions of the first and second elements are interconnected by a shunt portion that extends perpendicular to the direction of a length of the sensor.

10. The sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second elements has a constant width along its entire length.

11. The sensor as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first and second elements have the same width.

12. The sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first electrical resistance per unit length of the container is less than the second electrical resistance per unit length of the container, the third electrical resistance per unit length of the container being less than the fourth electrical resistance per unit length of the container.

13. The sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first portions form a lower portion of the sensor and the second portions form an upper portion of the sensor, the lower portion of the sensor having an electrical resistance per unit length of the container that is less than the electrical resistance per unit length of the upper portion of the sensor.

14. A sensor for sensing a volume of fluid in a container comprising:

first and second elements having the same width along their entire length, each of the first and second elements having a first portion and a second portion, at least the first portions being spaced apart by a distance that varies along a length of the sensor.

15. The sensor as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first portions have an electrical resistance per unit length of the container that is different from the electrical resistance per unit length of the second portions.

16. The sensor as set forth in claim 14, wherein the distance between the first portions of the first and second elements varies continuously such that first portions have a V-shaped configuration.

17. The sensor as set forth in claim 14, wherein the second portions of the first and second elements extend parallel to one another.

18. The sensor as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first portions of the first and second elements are interconnected by a shunt portion that extends perpendicular to the direction of a length of the sensor.

19. The sensor as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first portions have an electrical resistance per unit length of the container that is less than the electrical resistance per unit length of the second portions.

20. A sensor for sensing a volume of fluid in a container comprising:

first and second elements, each element including a first portion and a second portion, the first portions forming a lower portion of the sensor and being spaced apart by a distance that varies along a length of the sensor such that the lower portion has a first electrical resistance per unit length of the container, the second portions forming an upper portion of the sensor and extending parallel to one another such that the upper portion has a second electrical resistance per unit length of the container different from the first electrical resistance.