Controlled fluid transfer system
First Claim
1. A system for controlled transfer of at least two fluids through lines between at least two reservoirs and a vessel in a manner to provide respective flow-related parameters at selected values, comprising:
- (a) a first pressurizable reservoir to contain a quantity of said first fluid;
(b) a fluid vessel to contain a different quantity of said first fluid;
(c) a first conduit means connected at one end to said first reservoir and at the other end to said vessel, to transfer said first fluid between them;
(d) means to control the flow of said first fluid in said first conduit, including means to pressurize said first reservoir in a positive or negative sense with respect to atmospheric pressure, to provide a pressure difference between between said first reservoir and said vessel, that will cause fluid to flow in either direction through said first conduit between said first reservoir and said vessel, depending on the sense of the pressure difference;
(e) first reference means to provide an electrical signal related to a selectable value of a flow related parameter for said first fluid;
(f) first means to provide an electrical signal related to the measured value of said flow-related parameter for said first fluid;
(g) first means to compare the electrical signal outputs of said first reference means and said first flow-related parameter measuring means, and to provide an electrical signal output related to their difference;
(h) means, including a microcomputer, responsive to said electrical signal output of said first comparator means to adjust said first fluid flow control means, in a direction and with a magnitude to provide the selected value of said first flow-related parameter;
(i) a second pressurizable reservoir to contain a quantity of a second fluid;
(j) a second conduit means connected at one end to said second reservoir and at the other end to said vessel to transfer said second fluid between said second reservoir and said vessel;
(k) means to control said second fluid in said second conduit means, including means to pressurize said second reservoir;
(l) second reference means to provide an electrical signal related to a selectable value of a flow-related parameter for said second fluid;
(m) second measuring means to provide an electrical signal related to the measured value of said flow-related parameter for said second flank;
(n) second comparator means to compare the electrical signal outputs of said second reference means and said second measuring means, and to provide an electrical signal output related to their difference; and
(o) means including a microcomputer, responsive to said electrical signal output of said second comparator means to adjust said second fluid control means in a direction and with a magnitude to provide the selected value of said second flow-related parameter.
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Abstract
The present invention is a closed loop system for transfer of a fluid through a line between a reservoir and a vessel in a manner to provide a flow-related parameter at a selected value. The system will have major use as a non-gravity-dependent infusion device. The system comprises a pressurizable reservoir containing a quantity of the fluid; means to control the flow of the fluid being transferred in a conduit between the reservoir and the vessel, including means to pressurize the reservoir; reference means with an output related to a selectable value of the flow-related parameter; means to measure the flow-related parameter; means to compare the outputs of the reference means and the measuring means; and means responsive to the output of the comparator means to adjust the fluid flow control means to provide the selected value of the flow-related parameter. Normally, the flow-related parameter will be the fluid flow rate in the conduit or the change of fluid volume in the reservoir.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for controlled transfer of at least two fluids through lines between at least two reservoirs and a vessel in a manner to provide respective flow-related parameters at selected values, comprising:
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(a) a first pressurizable reservoir to contain a quantity of said first fluid;
(b) a fluid vessel to contain a different quantity of said first fluid;
(c) a first conduit means connected at one end to said first reservoir and at the other end to said vessel, to transfer said first fluid between them;
(d) means to control the flow of said first fluid in said first conduit, including means to pressurize said first reservoir in a positive or negative sense with respect to atmospheric pressure, to provide a pressure difference between between said first reservoir and said vessel, that will cause fluid to flow in either direction through said first conduit between said first reservoir and said vessel, depending on the sense of the pressure difference;
(e) first reference means to provide an electrical signal related to a selectable value of a flow related parameter for said first fluid;
(f) first means to provide an electrical signal related to the measured value of said flow-related parameter for said first fluid;
(g) first means to compare the electrical signal outputs of said first reference means and said first flow-related parameter measuring means, and to provide an electrical signal output related to their difference;
(h) means, including a microcomputer, responsive to said electrical signal output of said first comparator means to adjust said first fluid flow control means, in a direction and with a magnitude to provide the selected value of said first flow-related parameter;
(i) a second pressurizable reservoir to contain a quantity of a second fluid;
(j) a second conduit means connected at one end to said second reservoir and at the other end to said vessel to transfer said second fluid between said second reservoir and said vessel;
(k) means to control said second fluid in said second conduit means, including means to pressurize said second reservoir;
(l) second reference means to provide an electrical signal related to a selectable value of a flow-related parameter for said second fluid;
(m) second measuring means to provide an electrical signal related to the measured value of said flow-related parameter for said second flank;
(n) second comparator means to compare the electrical signal outputs of said second reference means and said second measuring means, and to provide an electrical signal output related to their difference; and
(o) means including a microcomputer, responsive to said electrical signal output of said second comparator means to adjust said second fluid control means in a direction and with a magnitude to provide the selected value of said second flow-related parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
where Qf is the computed volumetric flow rate of said fluid in said fluid transfer line, QL is the measured volumetric flow rate of the gas in said gas transfer line at said flow rate measuring locations, Vh is the volume occupied by the gas in said housing, exterior to said reservoir, Pg is the measured gas pressure, Vo is the residual volume occupied by the gas in said housing when said reservoir is full.
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14. A controlled fluid transfer system as claimed in claim 13, including means, having an output, to compute the volume of said fluid transferred through the fluid transfer conduit means as the time integral of the computed field volumetric flow rate.
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15. A controlled fluid transfer system as claimed in claim 13, in which said gas flow rate measuring means is a gas flow sensor in said gas transfer line, whose output is an electrical signal, said gas pressure measuring means is a gas pressure transducer whose output is an electrical signal, and said fluid flow rate computing means is a microcomputer, whose inputs are the electrical signal from said gas flow sensor, the electrical signal from said gas pressure transducer, and an initial electrical input proportional to the value of the residual gas volume in said housing.
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16. A controlled fluid transfer system as claimed in claim 1, in which said fluid is liquid, including non-gravity-dependent means in each of said fluid transfer conduit means to effectively separate gas bubbles from said liquid flowing through said gas separating means in any orientation.
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17. A controlled fluid transfer system as claimed in claim 1, in which said fluid is a liquid, including means in each of said fluid transfer conduit means to detect the passage of gas bubbles in said liquid flowing through said fluid transfer conduit means.
Specification