Force sensor assembly for an infusion pump
DCFirst Claim
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1. A force sensor assembly for use in peristaltic pumps, comprising:
- a housing;
a load cell at least partially disposed within said housing;
a plunger, pivotable about an axis, where said plunger comprises;
an upper surface; and
an underside surface distal from said upper surface where said underside surface cooperates with said load cell; and
a means for reducing said load cell'"'"'s sensitivity to the positioning of an applied force on said upper surface.
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Abstract
A force sensor assembly for use in peristaltic pumps includes a housing and a load cell at least partially disposed within the housing. A plunger, pivotable about an axis, has an upper surface and an underside surface distal from the upper surface. The underside surface cooperates with the load cell. The force sensor further includes a mechanism to reduce the load cell'"'"'s sensitivity to the positioning of an applied force on the upper surface.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A force sensor assembly for use in peristaltic pumps, comprising:
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a housing;
a load cell at least partially disposed within said housing;
a plunger, pivotable about an axis, where said plunger comprises;
an upper surface; and
an underside surface distal from said upper surface where said underside surface cooperates with said load cell; and
a means for reducing said load cell'"'"'s sensitivity to the positioning of an applied force on said upper surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
circular, square or hourglass.
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5. A force sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said means for reducing said load cell'"'"'s sensitivity, comprises an upper surface for receiving an intravenous tube parallel to said axis.
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6. A force sensor assembly according to claim 5, wherein said upper surface is shaped to compensate for variations in measured force caused by the misalignment of said applied force.
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7. A force sensor assembly according to claim 6, wherein said upper surface shape is selected from a group consisting of the following shapes:
circular, teardrop or triangular.
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8. A force sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plunger further comprises:
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a free end; and
a pivot end located at said axis.
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9. A force sensor assembly according to claim 8, wherein said pivot end is rotatably coupled to said housing.
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10. A force sensor assembly according to claim 8, wherein said pivot end is rotatably coupled to a body proximate said housing.
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11. A force sensor assembly according to claim 8, wherein said pivot end is rotatably coupled to said housing by means of a hinge.
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12. A force sensor assembly according to claim 11, wherein said is hinge is a living hinge.
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13. A force sensor assembly according to claim 12, wherein said living hinge is a resilient metal strip.
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14. A force sensor assembly according to claim 12, wherein said living hinge is a resilient plastic strip.
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15. A force sensor assembly according to claim 11, wherein said hinge is a small pin pivot hinge.
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16. A force sensor assembly according to claim 15, wherein said hinge has low mechanical friction.
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17. A force sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said load cell is a pressure transducer.
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18. A force sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said load cell has low internal mechanical friction.
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19. A force sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said load cell itself has a reduced sensitivity to the positioning of the applied force on said upper surface.
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20. A force sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said underside of said plunger is shaped to contact with said load cell at a single point.
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21. A force sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plunger is biased away from said load cell.
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22. A force sensor assembly adapted to reduce a load cell'"'"'s sensitivity to the positioning of an applied force, comprising:
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a housing;
a load cell at least partially disposed within said housing; and
a plunger rotatably coupled to said housing by means of a hinge said plunger further comprising;
an upper surface which is shaped to compensate for variations in measured force caused by the misalignment of said applied force; and
an underside surface distal from said upper surface, such that in use a force applied to said upper surface of said plunger is transferred to said load cell by said underside of said plunger pivoting into contact with said load cell. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification