SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A CEREBROSPINAL FLUID FLOW DETECTOR
First Claim
1. A fluid flow detector, comprising:
- a casing defining an interior chamber;
a rotatable wheel at least partially disposed within interior chamber the wheel comprising a radiopaque marker; and
wherein the wheel moves about an axis such that a flow of fluid through the fluid pathway causes movement of the wheel and provides a visual indication of fluid flow through the fluid pathway based on a difference in position of the radiopaque marker when the rotatable wheel is moved by the flow of fluid through the fluid pathway.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments for a cerebrospinal fluid flow detector for detecting the flow of cerebrospinal fluid are disclosed. In some embodiments, the cerebrospinal fluid flow detector includes a casing with a rotatable wheel having a plurality of radially extending arms disposed therein. The rotatable wheel is in communication with a channel having a distal end in communication with an inlet port and a proximal end in communication with an outlet port such that the flow of cerebrospinal fluid through the channel causes the rotatable wheel to rotate. In some embodiments, each radially extending arm includes at least one radiopaque marker in which movement of the rotatable wheel caused by fluid flow through the channel allows an X-ray imaging apparatus to detect the difference in position of a respective radiopaque marker at multiple times caused by rotation of the rotatable wheel.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fluid flow detector, comprising:
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a casing defining an interior chamber; a rotatable wheel at least partially disposed within interior chamber the wheel comprising a radiopaque marker; and wherein the wheel moves about an axis such that a flow of fluid through the fluid pathway causes movement of the wheel and provides a visual indication of fluid flow through the fluid pathway based on a difference in position of the radiopaque marker when the rotatable wheel is moved by the flow of fluid through the fluid pathway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A fluid flow detection system comprising:
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a fluid flow detector comprising a casing housing a rotatable wheel, the rotatable wheel comprising at least one radiopaque marker; a fluid pathway extending through at least a portion of the casing, wherein the fluid pathway is in fluid flow communication with the rotatable wheel; and wherein the rotatable wheel is configured and arranged to provide an indication of fluid flow through the fluid pathway based on a difference in position of the at least one radiopaque marker when the rotatable wheel is rotated by a flow of fluid through the fluid pathway. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of making and using a fluid detector system, comprising the steps of:
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assembling a fluid flow detector by the following steps; providing a casing defining an interior chamber and a channel formed through the casing for establishing fluid flow communication between an inlet port and outlet port; positioning a wheel within the interior chamber, the wheel including an axle and a plurality of radially extending arms, wherein the wheel comprises at least two radiopaque markers with at least one of the at least two radiopaque markers being a reference radiopaque marker; and coupling the fluid flow detector to a source of fluid such that a flow of fluid through the channel causes movement of the plurality of radially extending arms and provides an indication of the fluid flow through the channel based on a difference in position of the at least two radiopaque marker when the wheel is rotated by the flow of fluid through the pathway. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification