FLUID LEVEL DETECTION SYSTEM
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical device fluid sensing system in provided. The system includes a transmitter array positioned in association with a fluid maintaining device, such as a reservoir in a cassette. Electrical circuitry is connected to the transmitter array and configured to cause the transmitter array to transmit light energy at a predetermined wavelength and producing a desired absorption coefficient based on expected conditions within the fluid maintaining device. The system also includes a receiver array configured to receive light energy transmitted through the fluid maintaining device and originating from the transmitter array, and a controller configured to determine fluid level in the fluid maintaining device based on conditions sensed by the receiver array. In one embodiment, three transmitters and three matching sensors are provided in a surgical cassette, and when optical energy having predetermined characteristics is provided to the transmitter array, the presence or absence of fluid is determined.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1-21. -21. (canceled)
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22. A medical device, comprising:
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a fluid maintaining device, a transmitter and a receiver positioned in association with the fluid maintaining device associated with the medical device; circuitry configured to drive the transmitter to transmit light energy to said fluid maintaining device; and a controller configured to receive data from the receiver and determine fluid level in said fluid maintaining device; wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit light energy at a predetermined wavelength and produce an absorption coefficient based on expected conditions within the fluid maintaining device; wherein the transmitter is positioned vertically aligned with respect to the receiver, wherein one among the transmitter and the receiver is positioned at the top of the fluid maintaining device and the other one among the transmitter and the receiver is positioned at the bottom of the fluid maintaining device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of controlling a fluid level in a fluid maintaining device, comprising:
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emitting light from a transmitter positioned in association with the fluid maintaining device through said fluid maintaining device; sensing the light from the fluid maintaining device by a receiver positioned in association with the fluid maintaining device; calculating an absorption coefficient of the sensed light; and adjusting the fluid level in the fluid maintaining device based on the calculated absorption coefficient, wherein the transmitter is positioned vertically aligned with respect to the receiver, wherein one among the transmitter and the receiver is positioned at the top of the fluid maintaining device and the other one among the transmitter and the receiver is positioned at the bottom of the fluid maintaining device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A medical device, comprising:
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a fluid maintaining device; a transmitter array positioned in association with the fluid maintaining device; electrical circuitry connected to the transmitter array and configured to cause the transmitter array to transmit light energy at the predetermined wavelength; a receiver array configured to receive light energy transmitted through the fluid maintaining device and originating from the transmitter array, wherein the receiver array is configured to determine an absorption coefficient based on conditions within the fluid maintaining device; and a controller configured to determine fluid level in the fluid maintaining device based on conditions sensed by the receiver array. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification