METHODS, DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR SENSING FLOW, TEMPERATURE AND PRESSUE
First Claim
1. A method for determining a flow rate of a substance in an environment using a balanced circuit provided within the environment, the balanced circuit comprising circuit elements which are sensitive to changes in temperature of the substance or the environment, the method comprising:
- supplying energy to the circuit elements;
measuring a voltage derived from the balanced circuit which correlates to a common mode signal of the balanced circuit, and;
determining, from the measured voltage, the flow rate.
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Abstract
A method for determining a flow rate of a substance in an environment includes positioning a device having a balanced circuit in or on an object or within a particular environment, wherein the balanced circuit comprises elements which are operationally sensitive to changes in a parameter of the object or the environment. The method further includes measuring a common mode signal of the balanced circuit and determining, from the common mode signal, a value of the flow rate. An exemplary implementation of the method includes determining temperature using a resistive sensor having a Wheatstone bridge circuit with two variable resistors and two fixed resistors. Embodiments of systems and devices configured to employ such methods are provided, particularly medical probes, electronic signal monitoring devices, and systems employing such devices.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for determining a flow rate of a substance in an environment using a balanced circuit provided within the environment, the balanced circuit comprising circuit elements which are sensitive to changes in temperature of the substance or the environment, the method comprising:
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supplying energy to the circuit elements; measuring a voltage derived from the balanced circuit which correlates to a common mode signal of the balanced circuit, and; determining, from the measured voltage, the flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for determining a flow rate of a substance in an environment, the apparatus comprising:
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a balanced circuit comprising circuit elements which are sensitive to changes in temperature of the substance or the environment, and; a controller operable to; supply energy to the circuit elements; measure a voltage derived from the balanced circuit which correlates to a common mode signal of the balanced circuit, and; determining, from the measured voltage, the flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for determining a flow rate of a substance in an environment, the apparatus being electrically connectable to a balanced circuit comprising circuit elements which are sensitive to changes in temperature of the substance or the environment, the apparatus comprising means operable to:
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connect the circuit elements to a supply of electrical energy; measure a voltage derived from the balanced circuit which correlates to a common mode signal of the balanced circuit, and; determining, from the measured voltage, the flow rate.
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Specification