Level indicator for liquid reservoirs

• US 5,043,707 A
• Filed: 08/18/1989
• Issued: 08/27/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Werner Heinze
• Original Assignee: Werner Heinze
• Inventors: Heinze, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Jill
• Application Number:
  US07/395,908
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 340/620, 340/621, 340/618, 128/DIG. 13, 324/637, 324/639, 342/124, 73/290 R, 604/246
• US Class Current: 340/618
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3624 Level detectors; Level control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/261 for discrete levels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/13 Infusion monitoring

Abstract

A level indicator for blood reservoirs, in particular of medical apparatus, having a level-responsive component to be provided on the wall of the blood reservoir is provided with an oscillator set to an operating frequency of greater than or equal to 50 MHz and having integrated into its circuit the level-responsive component which, when a preset limiting value is passed, changes the phase condition or amplitude condition decisive for the oscillation of the oscillator.

Claims

1. A level indicator for a liquid reservoir having liquid-retaining walling defining said reservoir and used in a medical apparatus, comprising:

a level responsive component which comprises a dipole including a carrier having means for mounting said dipole on an external surface of said liquid reservoir walling, an oscillator set to an operating frequency at least as high as 50 MHz and including said dipole integrated therein, and wherein said dipole is adjusted to said oscillating frequency and responsive to a preset limiting value and adapted to change one of a phase condition and an amplitude condition decisive for oscillation of said oscillator in response to said preset limiting value being passed.

2. The indicator of claim 1, wherein said dipole is insulated from the outside environment.

3. The indicator of claim 1, wherein said dipole is disposed at the height of the reservoir liquid level corresponding to said limiting value.

4. The indicator of claim 1, wherein said dipole is made of metal.

5. The indicator of claim 4, wherein the operating frequency of said oscillator is at least as high as 100 MHz.

6. The indicator of claim 5, wherein the operating frequency of said oscillator is in the microwave range.

7. The indicator of claim 1, wherein said dipole has plug contacts, and said oscillator is adapted to be plugged on said dipole plug contacts.

8. The indicator of claim 7, wherein the operating frequency of said oscillator is at least as high as 100 MHz.

9. The indicator of claim 8, wherein the operating frequency of said oscillator is in the microwave range.

10. The indicator of claim 1, wherein said dipole is disposed on a flexible carrier attached to said walling of a blood reservoir.

11. The indicator of claim 10, wherein said flexible carrier is self-adhesive.

12. The indicator of claim 10, wherein said flexible carrier is made of a material used for printed circuits, and said oscillator is integrated into said flexible carrier material.

13. The indicator of claim 10, wherein said dipole has plug contacts, said oscillator is adapted to be plugged on said dipole plug contacts.

14. The indicator of claim 10, wherein said dipole is disposed at the height of the reservoir liquid level corresponding to said limiting value.

15. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the operating frequency of said oscillator is at least as high as 100 MHz.

16. The indicator of claim 15, wherein the operating frequency of said oscillator is in the microwave range.

17. The indicator of claim 16, wherein said dipole is disposed at the height of the reservoir liquid level corresponding to said limiting value.

18. The indicator of claim 15, wherein said dipole is disposed at the height of the reservoir liquid level corresponding to said limiting value.

19. The indicator of claim 1, wherein said oscillator has a feedback network with an output, said dipole being disposed at said output of said feedback network of said oscillator.

20. The indicator of claim 19, wherein said dipole is insulated from the outside environment.

21. The indicator of claim 19, wherein said dipole has plug contacts, said oscillator is adapted to be plugged on said dipole plug contacts.

22. The indicator of claim 19, wherein said dipole is disposed at the height of the reservoir liquid level corresponding to said limiting value.

23. The indicator of claim 19, wherein said dipole is made of metal.

24. The indicator of claim 23 wherein said dipole is insulated from the outside environment.

25. The indicator of claim 19, wherein the operating frequency of said oscillator is at least as high as 100 MHz.

26. The indicator of claim 25, wherein the operating range of said oscillator is in the microwave range.

27. The indicator of claim 19, wherein said dipole is disposed on a flexible carrier attached to said walling of said blood reservoir.

28. The indicator of claim 27, wherein said flexible carrier is self-adhesive.

29. The indicator of claim 27, wherein said flexible carrier is made of a material used for printed circuits, and said oscillator is integrated into said flexible carrier material.

30. The indicator of claim 27, wherein said dipole has plug contacts, said oscillator is adapted to be plugged on said dipole contacts.