Ultrasonic air and blood foam detector
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic air and blood foam detector for use with a blood tube system including a drip chamber, comprising:
- a. ultrasonic sensing means adapted for positioning adjacent a blood drip chamber and having ultrasonic transducer means mounted within said sensing means and positioned for contact with said drip chamber;
b. energization means connected to said transducer means for causing ultrasonic energy to be transmitted through said blood drip chamber;
c. electronic signal detection means operatively connected to said transducer means for receiving signals transmitted through said blood drip chamber and operable in response to the signal level of the received ultrasonic signal to produce an output signal indicative of the presence of air or blood foam in said chamber; and
d. said ultrasonic sensing means including a polymeric material lens on the surface of said ultrasonic transducer means for contact with the side of said drip chamber, said lens having a convex surface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic air and blood foam detector for use in medical procedures involving extracorporeal handling of blood. A sensor assembly is adapted for positioning about a blood drip chamber and contains ultrasonic transducer means. The blood tube downstream from the drip chamber is preferably placed through the controllable clamp. Electronic circuitry provides excitation to the ultrasonic transducer means and signals transmitted through the chamber are received, amplified and processed by a level detector which provides an output signal for actuating the clamp when a predetermined low signal level occurs, indicating excessive air or foam in the drip chamber. In the preferred embodiment, a clip-on sensor assembly having epoxy lenses is provided.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic air and blood foam detector for use with a blood tube system including a drip chamber, comprising:
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a. ultrasonic sensing means adapted for positioning adjacent a blood drip chamber and having ultrasonic transducer means mounted within said sensing means and positioned for contact with said drip chamber; b. energization means connected to said transducer means for causing ultrasonic energy to be transmitted through said blood drip chamber; c. electronic signal detection means operatively connected to said transducer means for receiving signals transmitted through said blood drip chamber and operable in response to the signal level of the received ultrasonic signal to produce an output signal indicative of the presence of air or blood foam in said chamber; and d. said ultrasonic sensing means including a polymeric material lens on the surface of said ultrasonic transducer means for contact with the side of said drip chamber, said lens having a convex surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An ultrasonic air and blood foam detector for use with a blood tube system including a drip chamber comprising:
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a. a sensor housing adapted for positioning adjacent a blood drip chamber; b. a pair of ultrasonic transducers mounted in said housing for positioning against opposite sides of the drip chamber; c. tube clamp means comprising means defining a tube receiving channel, a pair of tube clamp members positioned on opposite sides of said channel, a movable actuator arm mounting one of said tube clamp members, spring bias means connected to said actuator arm for urging said tube clamp towards a closed position, and means for selectively holding said actuator arm in an open position; d. energization means connected to one of said transducers for causing ultrasonic acoustic energy to be transmitted therefrom through the drip chamber; e. amplifier means connected to the other of said transducers for amplifying signals transmitted through the drip chamber and received by said transducer; f. signal level detection means connected to said amplifier means, for detecting the level of the received signals; g. switching means connected to said signal level detection means and to said means for selectively holding said actuator arm, said switching means operable to cause release of said actuator arm to clamp said tube when a predetermined signal level is detected indicating presence of air or blood foam in the drip chamber; and
acoustic lens members attached to the pair of ultrasonic transducers for contact with the sides of the drip chamber, said acoustic lens members comprising layers of polymeric material coated on said transducers. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. An ultrasonic air and blood foam detector for use with a blood tube system including a drip chamber, comprising:
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a. an ultrasonic sensor assembly including a pair of sensor body members, means slideably interconnecting said members for permitting relative motion of said members towards and away from each other, said sensor body members configured to form a drip chamber receiving area therebetween, and an ultrasonic transducer crystal mounted in at least one of said body members and positioned for contacting the side of a blood drip chamber when positioned in said receiving area; b. energization means connected to said sensor assembly for causing ultrasonic energy to be transmitted through said blood drip chamber; and c. electronic signal level detection means operatively connected to said sensor assembly for receiving signals transmitted through said blood drip chamber and operable in response to the signal level of the received ultrasonic signals to produce an output signal indicative of the presence of air or blood foam in said chamber. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification