System, Method, and Apparatus for Monitoring, Regulating, or Controlling Fluid Flow

• US 20130310990A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Yoo, Brian H., Kane, Derek G., Kamen, Dean, Murphy, Colin H., Kerwin, John M., Peret, Bob David
• Granted Patent: US 9,372,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/28 Clamping means for squeezing flexible tubes, e.g. roller clamps tube strippers A61M1/83
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/283 Screw clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16877 Adjusting flow; Devices for setting a flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1689 Drip counters
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/045 by electric or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/061 Screw clamps
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/416 characterised by control of velocity, acceleration or deceleration G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2607 Infusion controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/41303 Flow rate valve controls speed
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0664 the plurality of throttling means being arranged for the control of a plurality of diverging flows from a single flow G05D7/0652 takes precedence; ratio control G05D11/13
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0676 by action on flow sources G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0002 Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/13 Edge detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/174 : involving the use of two or more images
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/751 : Comparing pixel values or logical combinations thereof, or feature values having positional relevance, e.g. template matching
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 : for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 : for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

A flow meter, and related system and method are provided. The flow meter includes a coupler, a support member, an image sensor, a valve, and one or more processors. The coupler is adapted to couple to a drip chamber. The support member is operatively coupled to the coupler. The image sensor has a field of view and is operatively coupled to the support member. The image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within the field of view. The one or more processors are operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive image data therefrom and to the actuator to actuate the valve. The one or more processors are configured to estimate a flow of fluid through the drip chamber and to actuate the valve to control the flow of fluid through the drip chamber to achieve a target flow rate.

Claims

1. A flow meter, comprising:

a coupler adapted to couple to a drip chamber;

a support member operatively coupled to the coupler;

an image sensor having a field of view and operatively coupled to the support member, wherein the image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within the field of view;

a valve comprising;

a rigid chamber operatively coupled to the drip chamber;

a flexible tube section disposed within the rigid chamber;

a pump operatively coupled to the rigid chamber and configured to pump fluid into and out of the rigid chamber to thereby actuate the valve; and

an actuator coupled to the pump and configured to actuate the pump; and

at least one processor operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive image data therefrom and to the actuator to actuate the valve, wherein the at least one processor is configured to estimate a flow of fluid through the drip chamber and to actuate the valve to control the flow of fluid through the drip chamber to achieve a target flow rate.

5. The flow meter according to claim 1, further comprising a non-transitory processor-readable memory in operative communication with the at least one processor, wherein the non-transitory processor-readable memory includes an operative set of processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor, wherein the operative set of processor executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, controls the operation of the at least one processor.

6. A flow meter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor compares an image of the image data to a reference image to estimate at least one parameter of liquid within the drip chamber.

7. The flow meter according to claim 6, wherein the at least one processor uses a dynamic reference image.

8. The flow meter according to claim 6, wherein the at least one processor updates the reference image by multiplying each pixel of the reference image by a first constant and adding a corresponding pixel of the image multiplied by a second constant.

9. The flow meter according to claim 1, further comprising a transceiver, wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate with a monitoring client through the transceiver to communicate the estimated flow of fluid through the drip chamber.

2. The flow meter according to claim 2, wherein the at least one processor determines an existence of a free flow condition using a distortion of a background pattern caused by the liquid as indicated by the image data.

3. The flow meter according to claim 2, wherein the background pattern is an array of lines having at least one angle relative to an opening of the drip chamber when viewed from the image sensor using the image data.

4. The flow meter according to claim 3, wherein the at least processor determines a free flow condition exists when the liquid causes the array of lines to change angles by distortion caused by the liquid when in the free flow condition as viewed within the field of view of the image sensor.

10. A system comprising:

a flow meter, comprising;

a coupler adapted to couple to a drip chamber;

a support member operatively coupled to the coupler;

an image sensor having a field of view and operatively coupled to the support member, wherein the image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within the field of view;

a valve comprising a rigid chamber operatively coupled to the drip chamber, a flexible tube section disposed within the rigid chamber, a pump operatively coupled to the rigid chamber and configured to pump fluid into and out of the rigid chamber to thereby actuate the valve, and an actuator coupled to the pump and configured to actuate the pump; and

at least one processor operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive image data therefrom and to the actuator to actuate the valve, wherein the at least one processor is configured to estimate a flow of fluid through the drip chamber and to actuate the valve to control the flow of fluid through the drip chamber to achieve a target flow rate; and

a monitoring client in operative communication with the flow meter to receive the estimated flow of fluid through the drip chamber.

11. A method of controlling a flow meter, the method comprising:

capturing an image of a drip chamber using an image sensor;

estimating a flow of fluid, using a processor, through the drip chamber using the image sensor; and

actuating a valve, using the processor, to cause the flow of fluid to reach a target flow rate, the valve comprising a rigid chamber operatively coupled to the drip chamber, a flexible tube section disposed within the rigid chamber, a pump operatively coupled to the rigid chamber and configured to pump fluid into and out of the rigid chamber to thereby actuate the valve, and an actuator coupled to the pump and configured to actuate the pump.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the act of communicating the estimate flow of fluid to a monitoring client.