FLUID FLOW REGULATOR ASSEMBLY

• US 20150137017A1
• Filed: 11/13/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius KABI USA LLC (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Ivenix, Inc. (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Ambrosina, Jesse E., Powers, Benjamin G., Segit, Alexander J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,581,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/208
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16863 Occlusion detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3337 Controlling, regulating pressure or flow by means of a valve by-passing a pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1408 in parallel, e.g. manifolds, sequencing valves access sites A61M39/02; tube connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• 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 5/36 with means for eliminating or preventing injection or infusion of air into body dialysis systems, blood oxygenators A61M1/14; haemofiltration equipment A61M1/34; automatic tube cut-off A61M39/281
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/001 valves or valve housings welding B23K; valve housings per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/0209 the valve having a particular passage, e.g. provided with a filter, throttle or safety device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49412 with assembly, disassembly or composite article making

Abstract

A fluid flow resistance assembly includes a fluid pathway. A width of the fluid pathway orthogonal to a flow of fluid through the fluid pathway varies along its length. Positioning of one or more ports at different locations over the fluid pathway at different locations controls a flow rate of fluid.

Claims

1. A flow control apparatus comprising:

a length of fluid pathway;

a first port, an opening of the first port positioned over the fluid pathway at a first location along the length; and

a second port, an opening of the second port positioned over the fluid pathway at a second location along the length, a width of the fluid pathway at the first location into the opening of the first port different than a width of the fluid pathway at the second location into the opening of the second port.

2. The flow control apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the fluid pathway is movable with respect to the opening of the first port and the opening of the second port to adjust a fluid flow resistance through a combination of the first port, a portion of the fluid pathway between the first location and the second location, and the second port.

3. The flow control apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the opening of the first port is disposed to be at a fixed offset distance with respect to the opening of the second port.

4. The flow control apparatus as in claim 1, wherein an aperture of the fluid pathway into the opening of the first port at the first location and an aperture of the fluid pathway into the opening of the second port at the second location controls an amount of fluid flow resistance of fluid passing along the fluid pathway from the first port to the second port.

5. The flow control apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the fluid pathway orthogonal to a flow of fluid through the fluid pathway varies along the length.

6. The flow control apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a width of the fluid pathway orthogonal to a flow of fluid through the fluid pathway varies along the length.

7. The flow control apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the length of the fluid pathway is disposed on a substantially planar surface.

8. The flow control apparatus as in claim 7, wherein the length of the fluid pathway is curved.

9. The flow control apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the fluid pathway is disposed as a hollowed volume on a planar facing of a first assembly element of the flow control apparatus, a width of the hollowed volume on the planar facing varying along the length.

10. The flow control apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the opening of the first port and the opening of the second port are disposed on a planar facing of a second assembly element of the flow control apparatus, the planar facing of the first assembly element in contact with the planar facing of the second assembly element, the planar facing of the first assembly element movable with respect to the planar facing of the second assembly element to slidably align the opening of the first port and the opening of the second port to different positions along the length of the hollowed volume.

11. The flow control apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the fluid pathway is disposed as a hollowed volume on a cylindrical facing of a first assembly element of the flow control apparatus, a width of the hollowed volume on the cylindrical facing varying along the length.

12. The flow control apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the opening of the first port is movable along the length of the fluid pathway with respect to the opening of the second port.

13. The flow control apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the width of the fluid pathway at the first location defines a first aperture through which fluid flows through the opening of the first port into the fluid pathway at the first location.

14. The flow control apparatus as in claim 13, wherein the width of the fluid pathway at the second location defines a second aperture through which fluid from the fluid pathway at the second location flows from the fluid pathway through the opening of the second port into the second port.

15. The flow control apparatus as in claim 14, wherein the first aperture and the second aperture regulate a flow of fluid from a source through a combination of the first port, the fluid pathway, and the second port to a respective target recipient.

16. A flow control apparatus comprising:

a first flow control assembly element including a channel filled with fluid, a width of the channel varying along a length of the channel; and

a second flow control assembly element in contact with the first flow control assembly element, the second flow control assembly element including a first port in fluid communication with the channel, a position of the first port of the second flow control assembly element adjustable with respect to the channel disposed on the first flow control assembly element to control a flow rate of the fluid through the channel.

17. The flow control apparatus as in claim 16, wherein the second flow control assembly element includes a second port, the second port of the second flow control assembly in fluid communication with the channel disposed on the first flow control assembly element.

18. The flow control apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the channel is disposed on a planar surface of the first flow control assembly element.

19. The flow control apparatus as in claim 18, wherein the second flow control assembly element is fabricated from rigid material;

and

wherein the first port and the second port of the second flow control assembly element are disposed at respective fixed locations on the second flow control assembly element.

20. The flow control apparatus as in claim 19, wherein the second flow control assembly element includes a planar surface region through which the first port and the second port are in fluid communication with the fluid pathway disposed on the first flow control assembly element;

and

wherein a surface region of the second flow control assembly element slidably covers the channel, the combination of the surface region and the channel creating a fluid-tight passageway between the first port and the second port, the fluid inputted from the first port to a first location of the channel, passing through the fluid-tight passageway, and outputted from a second location of the channel into the second port.

21. The flow control apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the channel is disposed in a substantially planar surface of the first flow control assembly element;

and

wherein the first port is disposed through a substantially planar surface of the second flow control assembly element, the substantially planar surface of the second flow control assembly element in contact with the substantially planar surface of the first flow control assembly element.

22. The flow control apparatus as in claim 21, wherein the second flow control assembly element rotates with respect to the first flow control assembly element, variations in an angle of the rotation of the second flow control assembly element with respect to the first flow control assembly element controlling a flow rate of the fluid passing through the channel and the first port.

23. The flow control apparatus as in claim 17, wherein a relationship between a change in angular rotation of the second flow control assembly element with respect to the first flow control assembly element and resulting change in the flow rate of fluid through the fluid pathway is linear.

24. A method of fabricating a flow control assembly, the method comprising:

receiving a first flow control assembly element, the first flow control assembly element including a channel, a width of the channel varying along its length;

receiving a second flow control assembly element, the second flow control assembly element including a port; and

fastening the first flow control assembly element to the second flow control assembly element, the position of the port varying with respect to the channel to control a flow of fluid through the channel in the port.

25. The method as in claim 24, wherein fastening the first flow control assembly element to the second flow control assembly element includes aligning the channel to be slidable with respect to and in fluid communication with the port.

26. A method comprising:

providing a fluid pathway between a fluid source and a target recipient, the fluid pathway including a fluid flow control assembly, the fluid flow control assembly including a first fluid flow control assembly element and a second fluid flow control assembly element, the first fluid flow control assembly element including a tapered channel, the second fluid flow control assembly element including a port; and

adjusting a positioning of the tapered channel with respect to the port to control a flow of fluid from the fluid source to the target recipient.

27. The method as in claim 26, wherein the tapered channel is disposed on a surface of the first fluid flow control assembly element;

wherein the port is disposed on a surface of the second fluid flow control assembly element; and

wherein the surface of the first fluid flow control assembly element slidably contacts the surface of the second fluid flow control assembly element.

28. The method as in claim 26, wherein adjusting the positioning of the tapered channel with respect to the port comprises:

adjusting an orientation of the first fluid flow control assembly element with respect to the second fluid flow control assembly element to position the port and a desired location along a length of the tapered channel.