Method and apparatus for flow control for sensor calibration
First Claim
1. An improved gas flow control apparatus for use with a tonometer for calibration of biomedical sensors, said gas flow control apparatus including first and second gas supply means for supplying first and second gas compositions under pressure to said tonometer, first and second flow communication means for providing gas flow communication between said first and second gas supply means, respectively, and said tonometer, said first and second flow communication means including first and second respective valve means for controlling gas flow through said flow communication means, and control means for controlling the operation of said first and second valve means, said improved gas flow apparatus comprising:
- common selector valve means connected for gas communication between said first and second valve means and said tonometer for selecting gas flow from one of said first and second valve means and deselecting gas flow from the other of said first and second valve means to said tonometer, said common selector valve means including a solenoid valve having a first position for selecting gas communication between said first flow communication means and said tonometer, and a second position for selecting gas communication between said second flow communication means and said tonometer, said control means being connected to said common selector valve means for controlling the operation of said common selector valve means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The improved gas flow control apparatus controls the flow of multiple gases to a tonometer for calibration of a blood gas or pH sensor and compensates for the failure of gas supply solenoid valves to operate properly in controlling gas flow. Intermediate gas supply solenoid valves select between gas flow of the supplied gas in an open position, and venting to the atmosphere in a closed position. A common selector valve is also provided in the gas flow path to the tonometer to select gas flow from one of the intermediate gas flow valves. A control unit is provided for controlling the operation of the intermediate and common selector valves.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. An improved gas flow control apparatus for use with a tonometer for calibration of biomedical sensors, said gas flow control apparatus including first and second gas supply means for supplying first and second gas compositions under pressure to said tonometer, first and second flow communication means for providing gas flow communication between said first and second gas supply means, respectively, and said tonometer, said first and second flow communication means including first and second respective valve means for controlling gas flow through said flow communication means, and control means for controlling the operation of said first and second valve means, said improved gas flow apparatus comprising:
common selector valve means connected for gas communication between said first and second valve means and said tonometer for selecting gas flow from one of said first and second valve means and deselecting gas flow from the other of said first and second valve means to said tonometer, said common selector valve means including a solenoid valve having a first position for selecting gas communication between said first flow communication means and said tonometer, and a second position for selecting gas communication between said second flow communication means and said tonometer, said control means being connected to said common selector valve means for controlling the operation of said common selector valve means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
4. A gas flow control apparatus for use with a tonometer for calibration of biomedical sensors, said gas flow control apparatus comprising:
-
a plurality of gas supply means for supplying a plurality of gas compositions under pressure to said tonometer; a plurality of flow communication means for providing gas flow communication between said plurality of gas supply means, respectively, and said tonometer, said plurality of flow communication means including a plurality of selector valves which select between gas flow of a supplied gas from one of said plurality of gas supply means to said common selector valve means in a first position, and venting to an output having a reduced pressure relative to said pressure of said gas supply means in a second position for controlling gas flow through said flow communication means; common selector valve means connected for gas communication between a plurality of selector valves; and control means connected to said plurality of selector valves and said common selector valve means for controlling the operation of said selector valves and said common selector valve means. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
-
-
9. An improved gas flow control apparatus for use with a tonometer for calibration of biomedical sensors, said gas flow control apparatus including first and second gas supply means for supplying first and second gas compositions under pressure to said tonometer, first and second flow communication means for providing gas flow communication between said first and second gas supply means, respectively, and said tonometer, and control means for controlling the operation of said first and second flow communication means, said improved gas flow apparatus comprising:
-
common selector valve means connected for gas communication between said first and second valve means and said tonometer for selecting gas flow from one of said first and second valve means and deselecting gas flow from the other of said first and second valve means to said tonometer, said control means being connected to said common selector valve means for controlling the operation of said common selector valve means; and first and second respective valve means in said first and second flow communication means for controlling gas flow through said flow communication means, said first and second valve means comprising selector valves which select between gas flow of a supplied gas from one of said first and second gas supply means to said common selector valve means in a first position, and venting to an output having a reduced pressure relative to said pressure of said gas supply means in a second position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification