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

• US 20140318639A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Peret, Bob D., Yoo, Brian H., Kane, Derek G., Kamen, Dean, Murphy, Colin H., Kerwin, John M., Blumberg, David Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,435,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/386
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/281 Automatic tube cut-off devices, e.g. squeezing tube on detection of air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/284 Lever clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1411 Drip chambers A61M5/162, A61M5/1689, A61M5/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14212 Pumping with an aspiration and an expulsion action
• 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 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2018 comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/00 Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces in combination with sliding valves F16K3/246, F16K3/267 ; diaphragm valves F16K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/04 constrictable by external radial force
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/06 by means of a screw-spindle, cam, or other mechanical means F16K7/045 takes precedence
• 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: G01F 11/30 : with supply and discharge valves of the lift or plug-lift type
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 : by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 : for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7287 : Liquid level responsive or maintaining systems

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for regulating fluid flow are disclosed. The apparatus includes a flow rate sensor and a valve. The flow rate sensor uses images to estimate flow through a drip chamber and then controls the valve based on the estimated flow rate. The valve comprises a rigid housing disposed around the tube in which fluid flow is being controlled. Increasing the pressure in the housing controls the size of the lumen within the tube by deforming the tube, therefore controlling flow through the tube.

Claims

1. A valve comprising:

a housing configured to surround a tube, the housing defining a hole;

a filler disposed within the housing, the filler having at least two differing stiffness layers;

a plunger configured to engage the filler within the housing through the hole to thereby operatively deform the tube within the housing when engaging the filler; and

an actuator operatively coupled to the plunger and configured to actuate the plunger.

2. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the at least two differing stiffness layers include a stiffer layer and a softer layer.

7. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a linear actuator operatively coupled to the plunger to actuate the plunger at least one of into and away from the tube.

8. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes first and second clamshell portions.

9. The valve according to claim 8, wherein the first clamshell portion is pivotally coupled to the second clamshell portion, wherein the first and second clamshell portions have an open position and a closed position.

10. The valve according to claim 9, further comprising a latch configured to latch the first and second clamshell portions together in the closed position.

11. The valve according to claim 8, wherein the first clamshell portion includes the hole.

12. The valve according to claim 11, further comprising a guide coupled to the actuator and to the first clamshell portion, wherein the guide is configured to guide the plunger through the hole of the first clamshell portion.

13. The valve according to claim 1, wherein:

the housing includes first and second clamshell portions,

the first clamshell portion is pivotally coupled to the second clamshell portion,

the first and second clamshell portions have an open position and a closed position, and

the first clamshell portion defines a first portion of a cavity and the second clamshell portion defines a second portion of the cavity such that the first and second clamshells form a cavity when in the closed position.

14. The valve according to claim 13, wherein the at least two differing hardness layers of the filler includes four layers.

15. The valve according to claim 14, wherein the four layers includes first, second, third, and fourth layers, and the first and second layers are within the first portion of the cavity and the third and fourth layers are within the second portion of the cavity.

16. The valve according to claim 15, wherein the first layer is disposed on an inner surface of the first clamshell portion that defines the first portion of the cavity and the second layer is disposed on the first layer.

17. The valve according to claim 16, wherein the second layer defines a channel to guide the tube.

18. The valve according to claim 16, wherein the fourth layer is disposed on an inner surface of the second clamshell portion that defines the second portion of the cavity and the third layer is disposed on the fourth layer.

19. The valve according to claim 18, wherein the third layer defines a channel to guide the tube.

20. The valve according to claim 18, wherein the second layer is stiffer than the first layer.

21. The valve according to claim 20, wherein the third layer is stiffer than the fourth layer.

22. The valve according to claim 1, further comprising a guide coupled to the actuator and to the first clamshell portion, wherein the guide is configured to guide the plunger through the hole of the first clamshell portion.

23. The valve according to claim 22, further comprising at least one spring operatively coupled to the guide and the plunger to urge the plunger towards the housing.

24. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured for being controlled by a monitoring client.

3-6. -6. (canceled)

25. A system, 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 fluidly coupled to the drip chamber to regulate the flow of fluid through the drip chamber, wherein the valve comprises;

a housing configured to surround a tube fluidly coupled to the drip chamber, the housing defining a hole;

a filler disposed within the housing, the filler having at least two differing stiffness layers;

a plunger configured to engage the filler within the housing through the hole to thereby operatively deform the tube within the housing when engaging the filler; and

an actuator operatively coupled to the plunger and configured to actuate the plunger; and

at least one processor operatively coupled to the image sensor and to the actuator to operatively control the valve, wherein;

the at least one processor receives image data from the image sensor,

the at least one processor estimates at least one parameter of a liquid-drop within the drip chamber, using the image data, and

the at least one processor actuates the plunger to achieve a target parameter.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the at least one parameter is one of a liquid flow-rate, type of formation of the liquid-drop, a volume of the liquid-drop liquid, and a shape of the liquid-drop.

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein the at least one processor determines an existence of a streaming condition using the image data.

28. The system according to claim 25, further comprising a background pattern positioned within a field of view of the image sensor, wherein the drip chamber is between the image sensor and the background pattern.

29. The system according to claim 25, wherein the target parameter is a target flow rate.

30. The system according to claim 25, wherein the target parameter is a target drop-growth rate.

34. The system according to claim 25, wherein the at least two differing hardness layers of the filler includes first, second, third, and fourth layers, and the first and second layers are within the first portion of the cavity and the third and fourth layers are within the second portion of the cavity.

35. The system according to claim 34, wherein the first layer is disposed on an inner surface of the first clamshell portion that defines the first portion of the cavity and the second layer is disposed on the first layer.

41. The system according to claim 25 wherein the valve further comprises a guide coupled to the actuator and to the first clamshell portion, wherein the guide is configured to guide the plunger through the hole of the first clamshell portion.

43. The system according to claim 25, wherein the actuator is configured for being controlled by a monitoring client.

31-33. -33. (canceled)

36-40. -40. (canceled)

42. (canceled)

44-153. -153. (canceled)