Apparatus for the measurement of fluid flow
First Claim
1. Apparatus for the measurement of a filtrate separated from a supply of blood and replacement of said filtrate with a replacement fluid as a substitute for said filtrate in said blood comprising measuring means for measuring the amount of said filtrate flowing therethrough, first conduit means for continuously delivering said filtrate to said measuring means, second conduit means for supplying an amount of a replacement fluid as a substitute for said measured amount of said filtrate, pump means associated with said first conduit means for drawing said filtrate through said first conduit means into said measuring means, and pressure equalizing means associated with said first conduit means and located at a point in said first conduit means between said pump means and said measuring means for equalizing the pressure in said filtrate flowing through said first conduit means, whereby the flow of said filtrate through said measuring means is substantially unaffected by pressure variations in said filtrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is disclosed for the measurement and replacement of physiological fluids including a meter for measuring the amount of a physiological fluid flowing through the meter, a first conduit for continuously delivering the physiological fluid to the meter, a second conduit for replacing the measured amount of physiological fluid with a corresponding amount of a replacement fluid, and a pressure equalizer associated with the first conduit for equalizing the pressure in the physiological fluid flowing through the first conduit whereby the flow of the physiological fluid through the meter is substantially unaffected by pressure variations in the physiological fluid itself.
141 Citations
29 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for the measurement of a filtrate separated from a supply of blood and replacement of said filtrate with a replacement fluid as a substitute for said filtrate in said blood comprising measuring means for measuring the amount of said filtrate flowing therethrough, first conduit means for continuously delivering said filtrate to said measuring means, second conduit means for supplying an amount of a replacement fluid as a substitute for said measured amount of said filtrate, pump means associated with said first conduit means for drawing said filtrate through said first conduit means into said measuring means, and pressure equalizing means associated with said first conduit means and located at a point in said first conduit means between said pump means and said measuring means for equalizing the pressure in said filtrate flowing through said first conduit means, whereby the flow of said filtrate through said measuring means is substantially unaffected by pressure variations in said filtrate.
- 25. A device for equalizing the pressure of a fluid flowing in a fluid conduit, said device comprising a housing in fluid communication with said fluid conduit, fluid level control means for maintaining the level of said fluid within said housing at a predetermined level therein, said liquid level control means comprising membrane means having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface of said membrane means being in contact with the inside of said housing, whereby said first surface of said membrane means is accessible to said fluid contained within said housing, said second surface of said membrane means being exposed to the atmosphere, said membrane means being gas permeable and fluid impermeable, whereby said fluid level can be controlled by the passage of gas through said membrane means, and condensate removal means for removal of any condensate formed relative to said second surface of said membrane means so as to prevent said condensate from interfering with said passage of said gas through said membrane means.
Specification