Differential pressure sensor with sloped strut edges for respiratory monitoring
First Claim
1. A differential-pressure flow sensor, comprisinga) an interfering body disposed within a tube, having a first edge facing one end of said tube and a second edge facing away from said end, said interfering body extending across the diameter of said tube;
- b) a first pressure sensing port operative to sense an air pressure, said first port being disposed in said first edge not abutting the wall of said tube; and
c) a second pressure sensing port operative to sense an air pressure, said second port being disposed in said second edge not abutting the wall of said tube, wherein either of said edges is inclined inwardly towards the axis of said interfering body extending across said diameter of said tube.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A differential-pressure flow sensor for airflow measurement in the presence of water condensation, for use with mechanical ventilators. The pressure-sensing ports at either end of the interfering body are displaced from the inner surface of the surrounding tubing, so as to prevent obstruction of the pressure-sensing ports by free flowing condensed water. The leading edge of the interfering body is angulated so as to deflect airflow towards the pressure-sensing port on the trailing edge of the interfering body, thereby flushing water droplets away from the port. The sides of the interfering body are sloped so as to generate turbulent boundary layer airflow at areas distant from the pressure-sensing ports, thereby encouraging water condensation away from the ports.
40 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A differential-pressure flow sensor, comprising
a) an interfering body disposed within a tube, having a first edge facing one end of said tube and a second edge facing away from said end, said interfering body extending across the diameter of said tube; -
b) a first pressure sensing port operative to sense an air pressure, said first port being disposed in said first edge not abutting the wall of said tube; and
c) a second pressure sensing port operative to sense an air pressure, said second port being disposed in said second edge not abutting the wall of said tube, wherein either of said edges is inclined inwardly towards the axis of said interfering body extending across said diameter of said tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification