Modular medical pressure transducer

• US 5,752,918 A
• Filed: 06/28/1995
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medex Incorporated (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Medex Incorporated (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fowler, James H., Nicholson, Warren B., Thompson, Wendell, Adams, Theodore R., Patzer, Charles R., Brunner, Glenn D., Shah, Nilesh M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US08/496,080
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 73/756, 73/715, 73/721, 73/726, 73/727, 118/612-5, 118/748
• US Class Current: 600/488
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/16 Details concerning attachment of head-supporting legs, with or without actuation of locking members thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/22 with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs F16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/02 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0023 for flowthrough systems having a flexible pressure transmitting element

Abstract

A medical pressure transducer includes a reusable component with channels to either side of a reusable diaphragm, and a disposable dome with mounting wings to either side of a disposable diaphragm and slidably receivable in the channels to mount the dome with the diaphragms in confronting relationship. Camming ramps are provided in the channels and on the wings by which to drive the dome diaphragm into the reusable diaphragm. Where the channels are defined behind outer front walls, the outer surface of one is provided with a tab-receiving slot to receive a locking tab associated with dome to lock diaphragms into confronting relationship. The dome includes second wings spaced from the mounting wings to receive the outer front walls. The second wings have finger gripping portions one of which is a locking paddle supporting the lock tab. In alternative embodiments, the dome wings are edges, fixed or resilient, receivable through slots formed in the reusable component.

Claims

1. A medical pressure transducer comprising:

a disposable dome having a fluid path adapted to be coupled to a patient, a dome diaphragm coupled to the fluid path, and at least one edge disposed to one side of the dome diaphragm; and

a reusable component having a support, a pressure sensor permanently associated with the support, a reusable diaphragm in pressure communication with the sensor, and at least one channel member disposed to one side of the reusable diaphragm and slidably receiving the dome edge along a generally linear path which is generally parallel with the reusable diaphragm such that the dome diaphragm is brought into confronting relationship with the reusable diaphragm on mating reception of the edge into the channel member by sliding the dome edge in a direction which is generally linear and generally parallel to the reusable diaphragm.

2. The transducer of claim 1, the at least one channel member defining a channel and the dome edge defining a mounting wing extending to the one side of the dome diaphragm, the wing and channel being configured to be slidably received together so as to slide the dome diaphragm into confronting relationship with the reusable diaphragm.

3. The transducer of claim 2 further comprising camming structure associated with at least one of the channel and the dome wing by which to drive the dome diaphragm into the reusable diaphragm as the dome wing is slidingly received into the channel.

4. The transducer of claim 3 wherein the camming structure is associated with the channel.

5. The transducer of claim 4 further comprising second camming structure associated with the wing.

6. The transducer of claim 4 wherein the camming structure is defined at a bottom end of the channel.

7. The transducer of claim 3 wherein the camming structure is associated with the wing.

8. The transducer of claim 7 wherein the camming structure is defined at a top end of the wing.

9. The transducer of claim 3 wherein the camming structure includes a step.

10. The transducer of claim 9 wherein the camming structure includes a ramp.

11. The transducer of claim 3 wherein the camming structure includes a ramp.

12. The transducer of claim 3 further comprising a depression and a projection each associated with a respective one of the support and the dome, the depression and the projection being relatively positioned such that the depression receives the projection as the wing is slidably received into the channel to lock the dome diaphragm into confronting relationship with the reusable diaphragm.

13. The transducer of claim 12 further comprising at least one outer front wall with the channel defined therebehind, and a second wing spaced above the mounting wing to define a wall-receiving space for the outer front wall.

14. The transducer of claim 2 further comprising a tab resiliently attached to the dome.

15. The transducer of claim 2 further comprising a depression and a projection each associated with a respective one of the support and the dome, the depression and the projection being relatively positioned such that the depression receives the projection as the wing is slidably received into the channel to lock the dome diaphragm into confronting relationship with the reusable diaphragm.

16. The transducer of claim 15 the depression being a tab-receiving slot associated with the support and the projection being a locking tab associated with the dome.

17. The transducer of claim 16 further comprising at least one outer front wall with the channel defined therebehind, the tab-receiving slot being defined in the outer front wall.

18. The transducer of claim 16 further comprising a locking paddle associated with the dome, the locking tab being supported by the locking paddle.

19. The transducer of claim 15 further comprising at least one outer front wall of the reusable component with the channel defined therebehind, and a second wing on the dome spaced above the mounting wing to define a wall-receiving space for the outer front wall.

20. The transducer of claim 2 further comprising at least one outer front wall of the reusable component with the channel defined therebehind, and a second wing on the dome spaced above the mounting wing to define a wall-receiving space for the outer front wall.

21. The transducer of claim 20 further comprising a tab associated with the second wing and receivable in a tab-receiving slot defined in the reusable component.

22. The transducer of claim 21, the tab-receiving slot being defined in the outer front wall.

23. The transducer of claim 21 further comprising a flexing paddle associated with the dome, the tab being supported by the flexing paddle.

24. The transducer of claim 20 further comprising a finger gripping portion defined in the second wing.

25. The transducer of claim 24 further comprising a flexing paddle associated with the dome.

26. The transducer of claim 25 further comprising a tab associated with the flexing paddle and received in a tab-receiving slot defined in the reusable component.

27. The transducer of claim 25, the finger gripping portion being defined by the flexing paddle.

28. The transducer of claim 20 wherein the second wing extends parallel to the mounting wing.

29. The transducer of claim 2 wherein the reusable component includes two such channels and the disposable dome includes two such mounting wings.

30. The transducer of claim 29 wherein the channels are disposed to opposite sides of the reusable diaphragm and the wings are disposed to opposite sides of the dome diaphragm.

31. The transducer of claim 2 further comprising a calibration test switch associated with the support and electrically connected to the sensor.

32. The transducer of claim 2 wherein the support includes peripheral side edges that define a generally rectangular shape and a front face whereat the reusable diaphragm is exposed.

33. The transducer of claim 1 further comprising a calibration test switch associated with the support and electrically connected to the sensor.

34. The transducer of claim 1 wherein the support includes peripheral side edges that define a generally rectangular shape and a front face whereat the reusable diaphragm is exposed.

35. The transducer of claim 1 further comprising integral support structure for mating the reusable component to an external support.

36. A medical pressure transducer comprising a reusable component for use with a disposable dome having a fluid path adapted to be coupled to a patient, a dome diaphragm coupled to said fluid path, and at least one edge disposed to one side of said dome diaphragm, the reusable component comprising:

a support;

a pressure sensor permanently associated with the support;

a reusable diaphragm in pressure communication with the sensor; and

at least one channel member disposed to one side of the reusable diaphragm and being configured to slidably receive said dome edge along a generally linear path which is generally parallel to the reusable diaphragm such that said dome diaphragm is brought into confronting relationship with the reusable diaphragm on mating reception of said edge into the channel member by sliding said dome edge in a direction which is generally linear and generally parallel to the reusable diaphragm.

37. The transducer of claim 36 wherein said dome edge defines a mounting wing extending to said one side of said dome diaphragm, the at least one channel member defining a channel configured to slidably receive said dome wing so as to slide said dome diaphragm into confronting relationship with the reusable diaphragm.

38. The transducer of claim 37 further comprising camming structure associated with the channel by which to drive said dome diaphragm into the reusable diaphragm as said dome wing is slidingly received into the channel.

39. The transducer of claim 38 wherein the camming structure is defined at a bottom end of the channel.

40. The transducer of claim 38 wherein the camming structure includes a step.

41. The transducer of claim 40 wherein the camming structure includes a ramp.

42. The transducer of claim 38 wherein the camming structure includes a ramp.

43. The transducer of claim 38 further comprising one of a depression and a projection associated with the support and positioned to receive a projection or be received in a depression, respectively, of said dome as said dome wing is slidably received into the channel to lock said dome diaphragm into confronting relationship with the reusable diaphragm.

44. The transducer of claim 37 further comprising one of a depression and a projection associated with the support and positioned to receive a projection or be received in a depression, respectively, of said dome as said dome wing is slidably received into the channel to lock said dome diaphragm into confronting relationship with the reusable diaphragm.

45. The transducer of claim 37 further comprising a tab-receiving slot associated with the support and positioned to receive a locking tab of said dome as said dome wing is slidably received into the channel to lock said dome diaphragm into confronting relationship with the reusable diaphragm.

46. The transducer of claim 45 further comprising at least one outer front wall with the channel defined therebehind, the tab-receiving slot being defined in the outer front wall.

47. The transducer of claim 37 wherein the reusable component includes two such channels disposed to opposite sides of the reusable diaphragm.

48. The transducer of claim 37 further comprising a calibration test switch associated with the support and electrically connected to the sensor.

49. The transducer of claim 37 wherein the support includes peripheral side edges that define a generally rectangular shape and a front face whereat the reusable diaphragm is exposed.

50. The transducer of claim 36 further comprising a calibration test switch associated with the support and electrically connected to the sensor.

51. The transducer of claim 36 wherein the support includes peripheral side edges that define a generally rectangular shape and a front face whereat the reusable diaphragm is exposed.

52. The transducer of claim 36 further comprising integral support structure for mating the reusable component to an external support.

53. A medical pressure transducer comprising a disposable dome for use with a reusable component having a support, a pressure sensor permanently associated with said support, a reusable diaphragm in pressure communication with said sensor and at least one channel member disposed to one side of said reusable diaphragm, the disposable dome comprising:

a body having an aperture defining a plane;

a fluid path adapted to be coupled to a patient, the fluid path extending into the body and communicating with the aperture;

a dome diaphragm coupled to the fluid path and extending across and sealing the aperture; and

at least one generally linear edge disposed to one side of the dome diaphragm and extending generally in the plane defined by the aperture, the one edge configured to be slidably received into said reusable component channel member along a generally linear path which is generally parallel with said reusable diaphragm such that the dome diaphragm is brought into confronting relationship with said reusable diaphragm on mating reception of the one edge into said channel member by sliding the one edge in a direction which is generally linear and generally parallel to said reusable diaphragm.

54. The transducer of claim 53 wherein said channel member defines a channel, the dome edge defining a mounting wing extending to the one side of the dome diaphragm to be slidably received into said at least one channel so as to slide the dome diaphragm into confronting relationship with said reusable diaphragm.

55. The transducer of claim 54 further comrpising a tab resiliently attached to the dome.

56. The transducer of claim 54 further comprising one of a depression and a projection associated with the dome and positioned to receive a projection or be received in a depression of said reusable component as the dome wing is slidably received into said channel to lock the dome diaphragm into confronting relationship with said reusable diaphragm.

57. The transducer of claim 54 wherein the disposable dome includes two such mounting wings disposed to opposite sides of the dome diaphragm.

58. A medical pressure transducer comprising a disposable dome for use with a reusable component having a support, a pressure sensor permanently associated with said support, a reusable diaphragm in pressure communication with said sensor and at least one channel member defining a channel disposed to one side of said reusable diaphragm, the disposable dome comprising:

a fluid path adapted to be coupled to a patient;

a dome diaphragm coupled to the fluid path;

at least one generally linear edge disposed to one side of the dome diaphragm, the one edge defining a mounting wing extending to one side of the dome diaphragm and configured to be slidably received into said reusable component channel along a generally linear path which is generally parallel with said reusable diaphragm such that the dome diaphragm is brought into confronting relationship with said reusable diaphragm on mating reception of the mounting wing into said channel member by sliding the mounting wing in a direction which is generally linear and generally parallel to said reusable diaphragm; and

camming structure associated with the dome wing by which to drive the dome diaphragm into said reusable diaphragm as the dome wing is slidably received into said channel.

59. The transducer of claim 58 wherein the camming structure is defined at a top end of the wing.

60. The transducer of claim 58 wherein the camming structure includes a step.

61. The transducer of claim 60 wherein the camming structure includes a ramp.

62. The transducer of claim 58 wherein the camming structure includes a ramp.

63. The transducer of claim 58 further comprising one of a depression and a projection associated with the dome and positioned to receive a projection or be received in a depression of said reusable component as the dome wing is slidably received into said channel to lock the dome diaphragm into confronting relationship with said reusable diaphragm.

64. The transducer of claim 63 wherein said channel is defined behind an outer front wall of said reusable component, the transducer further comprising a second wing spaced above the mounting wing to define a wall-receiving space for said outer front wall.

65. A medical pressure transducer comprising a disposable dome for use with a reusable component having a support, a pressure sensor permanently associated with said support, a reusable diaphragm in pressure communication with said sensor and at least one channel member defining a channel disposed to one side of said reusable diaphragm, the disposable dome comprising:

a fluid path adapted to be coupled to a patient;

a dome diaphragm coupled to the fluid path;

at least one generally linear edge disposed to one side of the dome diaphragm, the one edge defining a mounting wing extending to one side of the dome diaphragm and configured to be slidably received into said reusable component channel along a generally linear path which is generally parallel with said reusable diaphragm such that the dome diaphragm is brought into confronting relationship with said reusable diaphragm on mating reception of the mounting wing into said channel member by sliding the mounting wing in a direction which is generally linear and generally parallel to said reusable diaphragm; and

a locking tab associated with the dome and positioned to be received in a tab-receiving slot of said reusable component as the dome wing is slidably received into said channel to lock the dome diaphragm into confronting relationship with said reusable diaphragm.

66. The transducer of claim 65 wherein said channel is defined behind an outer front wall of said reusable component, the transducer further comprising a second wing spaced above the mounting wing to define a wall-receiving space for said outer front wall.

67. The transducer of claim 65 further comprising a locking paddle associated with the dome, the locking tab being supported by the locking paddle.

68. The transducer of claim 67 wherein the locking tab is supported at a terminal end of the locking paddle.

69. A medical pressure transducer comprising a disposable dome for use with a reusable component having a support, a pressure sensor permanently associated with said support, a reusable diaphragm in pressure communication with said sensor and at least one channel member defining a channel disposed to one side of said reusable diaphragm, wherein said channel is defined behind an outer front wall of said reusable component, the disposable dome comprising:

a fluid path adapted to be coupled to a patient;

a dome diaphragm coupled to the fluid path;

at least one generally linear edge disposed to one side of the dome diaphragm, the one edge defining a mounting wing extending to one side of the dome diaphragm and configured to be slidably received into said reusable component channel along a generally linear path which is generally parallel with said reusable component channel along a generally linear path which confronting relationship with said reusable diaphragm on mating reception of the mounting wing into said channel member by sliding the mounting wing in a direction which is generally linear and generally parallel to said reusable diaphragm; and

a second wing spaced above the mounting wing to define a wall-receiving space for said outer front wall.

70. The transducer of claim 69 further comprising a tab associated with the second wing and receivable in a tab-receiving slot defined in the reusable component.

71. The transducer of claim 70 further comprising a flexing paddle associated with the dome, the tab being supported by the flexing paddle.

72. The transducer of claim 71 wherein the tab is supported at a terminal end of the flexing paddle.

73. The transducer of claim 69 further comprising a finger gripping portion defined in the second wing.

74. The transducer of claim 73 further comprising a flexing paddle associated with the dome.

75. The transducer of claim 74 further comprising a tab associated with the flexing paddle and receivable in a tab-receiving slot of said reusable component.

76. The transducer of claim 75 wherein the tab is supported at a terminal end of the flexing paddle.

77. The transducer of claim 75, the finger gripping portion being defined by the flexing paddle.

78. The transducer of claim 69 wherein the second wing extends parallel to the mounting wing.

79. A reusable medical pressure transducer component for use with a disposable medical pressure transducer dome having a disposable diaphragm for pressure communication and a pair of edges disposed to different sides of the dome, the reusable medical pressure transducer component comprising:

a support;

a sensor permanently associated with the support;

a reusable diaphragm is pressure communication with the sensor; and

a pair of channel members associated with the support and being configured to slidably receive respective ones of said pair of edges of the dome along a generally linear path which is generally parallel to the reusable diaphragm, the reusable diaphragm being disposed between the pair of channel members such that the channel members bring said disposable diaphragm into confronting pressure transmitting relationship with the reusable diaphragm on mating reception of said respective ones of said pair of edges into the channel members by sliding said pair of edges in a direction which is generally linear and generally parallel to the reusable diaphragm.

80. The component of claim 79 further comprising outer front walls, the channel members being defined therebehind.

81. The component of claim 79 in combination with the disposable dome and wherein the channel members define confronting channels, the edges of the disposable dome being defined by a pair of wings extending from opposing sides of the dome for sliding engagement with the confronting channels for slidably placing the disposable diaphragm in pressure communication with the reusable diaphragm.

82. The component of claim 79 further comprising support structure for mounting the component to an external support.

83. A disposable medical pressure transducer dome for use with a reusable component having a support, a pressure sensor permanently associated with said support, a reusable diaphragm in pressure communication with said sensor, and a pair of channels disposed to opposite sides of said reusable diaphragm, said dome comprising:

a body having an aperture defining a plane;

a fluid path adapted to be coupled to a patient, the fluid path extending into the body and communication with the aperture;

a dome diaphragm coupled to the fluid path and extending across and sealing the aperture; and

a pair of generally linear wings extending outwardly to opposite sides of the dome diaphragm and generally in the plane defined by the aperture, the wings being configured to be slidably received in respective ones of said reusable component channels along a generally linear path which is generally parallel with said reusable diaphragm such that the dome diaphragm is slidably received into confronting relationship with said reusable diaphragm by sliding the wings in a direction which is generally linear and generally parallel to said reusable diaphragm.

84. The dome of claim 83, the wings extending generally in a plane.

85. The dome of claim 83 further comprising a plate supporting the dome diaphragm, the plate defining the pair of wings.

86. A medical pressure transducer comprising a disposable dome for use with a reusable component having a support, a pressure sensor permanently associated with the support, a reusable diaphragm in pressure communication with the sensor and attachment structure, the disposable dome comprising:

a body having an aperture defining a plane;

a fluid path adapted to be coupled to a patient, the fluid path extending into the body and communication with the aperture;

a dome diaphragm coupled to the fluid path and extending across and sealing the aperture; and

dome attachment structure including at least first and second parallel wings associate with the dome, the at least first wing extending generally in the plane defined by the aperture, the dome attachment structure being configured to be slidably received into said reusable component attachment structure along a generally linear path which is generally parallel with said reusable diaphragm such that the dome diaphragm is slidably received into confronting relationship with said reusable diaphragm upon mounting the dome to said reusable component by sliding the at least first wing in a direction which is generally linear and generally parallel to said reusable diaphragm.

87. A medical pressure transducer comprising a reusable component for use with a disposable dome having a fluid path adapted to be coupled to a patient and a dome diaphragm coupled to said fluid path, the reusable component comprising:

a support adapted to mate with said dome;

a pressure sensor permanently associated with the support;

a reusable diaphragm in pressure communication with the sensor, the support adapted to receive said dome so as to bring said dome diaphragm into confronting relationship with the reusable diaphragm when said dome is slid into the support in a generally linear direction which is generally parallel to the reusable diaphragm; and

a mount adapted to attach the support to a pole-clamp.

88. The transducer of claim 87, the means for attaching being a shelf extending generally perpendicular relative to a face of the support.

89. A medical pressure transducer comprising:

disposable dome having a fluid path adapted to be coupled to a patient, a dome diaphragm coupled to the fluid path, and a first coupling element disposed to one side of the dome diaphragm; and

a reusable component having a support, a pressure sensor permanently associated with the support, a reusable diaphragm in pressure communication with the sensor, and a second coupling element disposed to one side of the reusable diaphragm and providing a generally linear path which is generally parallel with the reusable diaphragm, the second coupling element receiving the first coupling element along the path, such that the dome diaphragm is brought into confronting relationship with the reusable diaphragm by sliding the first and second coupling elements into mating relationship along the generally linear path.

90. A medical pressure transducer comprising reusable component for use with a disposable dome having a fluid that adapted to be coupled to a patient, a dome diaphragm coupled to said fluid path, and a first coupling element disposed to one side of said dome diaphragm, the reusable component comprising:

a support;

a pressure sensor permanently associated with the support;

a reusable diaphragm in pressure communication with the sensor; and

a second coupling element disposed to one side of the reusable diaphragm and providing a generally linear path which is generally parallel with the reusable diaphragm to receive said first coupling element, such that said dome diaphragm is brought into confronting relationship with the reusable diaphragm by sliding the first and second coupling elements into mating relationship along the generally linear path.

91. A medical pressure transducer comprising a disposable dome for use with a reusable component having a support, a pressure sensor permanently associated with said support, a reusable diaphragm in pressure communication with said sensor and first coupling element disposed to one side of said reusable diaphragm, the disposable dome comprising:

a body having an aperture defining a plane;

a fluid path adapted to be coupled to a patient, the fluid path extending into the body and communicating with the aperture;

a dome diaphragm coupled to the fluid path and extending across and sealing the aperture; and

a generally linear coupling element disposed to one side of the dome diaphragm and extending generally in the plane defined by the aperture, the generally linear coupling element being shaped to slide along a generally linear path which is generally parallel with said reusable diaphragm into a coupled relationship with said first coupling element such that the dome diaphragm is brought into confronting relationship with said reusable diaphragm upon the coupling elements being matingly engaged in the coupled relationship by sliding the generally linear coupling element into the first coupling element in a direction which is generally linear and generally parallel to said reusable diaphragm.

92. A disposable medical pressure transducer dome for use with a reusable component having a support, a pressure sensor permanently associated with said support, a reusable diaphragm in pressure communication with said sensor, and a channel disposed adjacent said reusable diaphragm, said dome comprising:

A body having a plate-like backside to define a backside plane, the body having an aperture extendending therethrough;

A fluid path carried by the body and communicating with the aperture, the fluid path adapted to be coupled to a patient;

a dome diaphragm extending across the aperture; and

the plate-like backside of the body having a wing extending outwardly from the body substantially in the backside plane, the wing being configured to be slidably received into said channel along a generally linear path which is generally parallel with said reusable diaphragm such that the dome diaphragm is moved into confronting relationship with said reusable diaphragm by sliding the wing in a direction which is generally linear and generally parallel to said reusable diaphragm.