FLUID DELIVERY DEVICE WITH FLOW RATE CONTROL

• US 20120031513A1
• Filed: 10/18/2011
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microlin LLC
• Original Assignee: Microlin LLC
• Inventors: Gordon, John Howard
• Application Number:
  US13/276,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20120031513A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/551
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0294 Piezoelectric materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16877 Adjusting flow; Devices for setting a flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16886 for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0357 For producing uniform flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2562 Dividing and recombining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3149 Back flow prevention by vacuum breaking [e.g., anti-siphon devices]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

A device for delivering a fluid to a target site is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including means for generating a first fluid stream having a first flow rate; means for smoothing out irregularities in the first flow rate, and thereby generate a second fluid stream having a second flow rate substantially more uniform than the first flow rate; means for measuring the second flow rate; means for comparing the second flow rate to a target flow rate; and means for substantially aligning the second flow rate with the target flow rate.

Claims

1. A device to deliver a fluid to a target site at a substantially uniform delivery rate, the device comprising:

means for generating a first fluid stream having a first flow rate;

means for smoothing out irregularities in the first flow rate, and thereby generate a second fluid stream having a second flow rate substantially more uniform than the first flow rate;

means for measuring the second flow rate;

means for comparing the second flow rate to a target flow rate; and

means for substantially aligning the second flow rate with the target flow rate.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for restricting a flow of one of the first fluid stream and the second fluid stream.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising means for enabling one of the first fluid stream and the second fluid stream to bypass a means for restricting the flow.