Container and adaptor for use with fluid volume sensor

• US 5,586,085 A
• Filed: 01/24/1994
• Issued: 12/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leo J. Lichte
• Original Assignee: Leo J. Lichte
• Inventors: Lichte, Leo J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eldred, J. Woodrow
• Application Number:
  US08/185,718
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 367/908, 367/140, 367/99, 367/165, 73/290 V
• US Class Current: 367/99
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3627 Degassing devices; Buffer reservoirs; Drip chambers; Blood filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2962 Measuring transit time of reflected waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/20 of apparatus for measuring liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/908 Material level detection, e.g. liquid level

Abstract

A container having affixed thereto an ultrasonic transducer, including a connection for electrically linking the transducer to electronic circuitry located outside the container. Flexible and semi-rigid containers having rigid structures surrounding the signal path of an ultrasonic transducer are also provided. In addition, adaptors are disclosed for use in connecting an ultrasonic transducer to a container. Such adaptors can include a rigid tubular member, a tubular outlet connected to the tubular member for draining liquid from a container, and a seat for engaging an ultrasonic transducer.

Claims

1. A container for liquids, said container comprising an upper end and a lower end, wherein said container further comprises:

a seat in said lower end of said container;

an ultrasonic transducer affixed to and in ultrasonic communication with said seat, said transducer being positioned in said seat such that an ultrasonic signal generated by said transducer travels approximately perpendicular to the surface of a liquid in said container when said liquid is present in said container; and

a reversible physical connection which provides an electrical link between said ultrasonic transducer and electronic circuitry capable of directing said transducer to generate an ultrasonic signal.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein said transducer, said seat, and said reversible physical connection are integrally molded into said container.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein said transducer is embedded in said container.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein said container is made from a plastic material.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein said reversible connection comprises a socket.

25. The container of claim 1, wherein said reversible physical connection comprises a magnetic material.

26. The container of claim 1, wherein said reversible physical connection comprises a plurality of magnetic materials.

6. A flexible container for a liquid, said container having an upper end and a lower end, said container comprising:

a seat in the lower end of said container for engaging an ultrasonic transducer;

a hollow member having an interior and an exterior positioned above said seat inside said container, said hollow member being rigid and encompassing an ultrasonic signal path on the interior of said hollow member, wherein said hollow member extends from said lower end of said container to said upper end of said container, said signal path extending upward from said seat approximately perpendicular to the surface of a liquid when said liquid is present in said container, said hollow member further permitting liquid communication between the interior of said hollow member and the exterior of said hollow member.

7. A semi-rigid container for liquids, said container having an upper end and a lower end, said container comprising:

a rigid wall extending from said lower end of said container to said upper end of said container;

a flexible wall attached to said rigid wall;

a seat in the lower end of said container for engaging an ultrasonic transducer;

means for providing an ultrasonic signal path from the lower end of said container to the upper end of said container, said signal path extending upward from said seat approximately perpendicular to the surface of a liquid when said liquid is present in said container.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein said means for providing an ultrasonic signal path from the lower end of said container to the upper end of said container comprises:

a hollow member having an interior and an exterior positioned above said seat inside said container, wherein said hollow member is rigid and encompasses said ultrasonic signal path, and wherein said hollow member extends from said lower end of said container to said upper end of said container, said hollow member permitting fluid communication between the interior of said hollow member and the exterior of said hollow member.

9. An adaptor for mounting an ultrasonic transducer onto a port in a container for a liquid, said container further having an upper end and a lower end, said port being located in the lower end of said container, said adaptor comprising:

a central hollow member having an inner surface and an outer surface, said central hollow member having an opening at a port receiving end for connecting said adaptor to said port, said central hollow member further having a transducer receiving end;

a seat in said central hollow member for engaging said ultrasonic transducer, said seat having an outer surface for contacting a transducer, wherein said outer surface is substantially parallel to the surface of said liquid in said container when said liquid is present in said container; and

a medial hollow member connected to said central hollow member, wherein said medial hollow member and said central hollow member are in fluid communication.

10. The adaptor of claim 9, wherein said medial hollow member is connected to said central hollow member at a point between said seat for engaging said ultrasonic transducer and said port receiving end of said adaptor.

11. The adaptor of claim 10, wherein said medial hollow member is connected to said central hollow member at a point which is distal with respect to said seat, thereby creating a pocket between said medial hollow member and said seat.

12. The adaptor of claim 9, further comprising a shield on the interior of said central hollow member extending upward from said seat of said central hollow member, said shield encompassing said signal path.

13. The adaptor of claim 9, wherein said outer surface of said seat is positioned in said central hollow member distally with respect to said transducer receiving end of said central hollow member.

14. The adaptor of claim 9, wherein said medial hollow member extends axially from said central hollow member at an angle of 90°

or less with respect to the central axis of said central hollow member.

15. The adaptor of claim 14, wherein said medial hollow member extends from said central hollow member at an angle of 45°

or less with respect to the central axis of said central hollow member.

16. The adaptor of claim 9, additionally comprising an ultrasonic transducer attached to said seat in said transducer receiving end of said central hollow member.

17. The adaptor of claim 16, wherein said transducer is embedded in said seat.

18. The adaptor of claim 17, additionally comprising a reversible physical connection which provides an electrical link between said ultrasonic transducer and electronic circuitry capable of directing said transducer to generate an ultrasonic signal.

19. The adaptor of claim 16, wherein said transducer is attached to said seat by means of a mechanical fitting.

20. The adaptor of claim 19, wherein a layer of resilient, deformable material is positioned between said transducer and said seat.

21. The adaptor of claim 20, wherein said material is latex.

22. The adaptor of claim 19, wherein a coupling gel is positioned between said transducer and said seat.

23. The adaptor of claim 16, wherein said transducer is attached to said seat through a magnetic coupling.

24. The adaptor of claim 23, wherein said seat contains a plurality of magnets in a predetermined configuration, wherein at least one of said plurality of magnets has a polarity which is opposite that of the remaining magnets of said seat, and wherein the face of said transducer also contains a plurality of magnets, the configuration of said plurality of magnets of said transducer being the mirror image of said predetermined configuration of said plurality of magnets of said seat, so that each magnet of said transducer can align with a magnet of said seat when said seat is contacted with the face of said transducer, and wherein the polarity of each of said plurality of magnets of said transducer is opposite the polarity of the magnet of said seat with which it can align when said seat and said transducer are brought into contact.

27. An adaptor for magnetically mounting an ultrasonic transducer onto a lower end of a container for a liquid, said adaptor comprising:

a seat for engaging said ultrasonic transducer, said seat having an outer surface for contacting said ultrasonic transducer, wherein said outer surface is substantially parallel to the surface of said liquid in said container when said adaptor is mounted onto said container and liquid is present in said container; and

a plurality of magnetic materials in said seat, wherein said plurality of magnetic materials align with magnetic materials of opposite polarity on a transducer in order to attach said transducer to said seat.

28. An adaptor for mounting an ultrasonic transducer onto a lower end of a container for a liquid, said adaptor comprising:

a seat for engaging said ultrasonic transducer, said seat having an outer surface for contacting said ultrasonic transducer, wherein said outer surface is substantially parallel to the surface of said liquid in said container when said adaptor is mounted onto said container and liquid is present in said container; and

a reversible physical connection for attaching said ultrasonic transducer to said seat.

29. The adaptor of claim 28, wherein said reversible physical connection comprises a socket.

30. The adaptor of claim 28, wherein said reversible physical connection comprises a magnetic material.