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Wetness sensor

  • US 7,605,710 B2
  • Filed: 08/18/2006
  • Issued: 10/20/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A wetness detector system for detecting a liquid leak in an extracorporeal blood treatment system comprising:

  • a wetness sensor comprising;

    a solid support comprised of a non-electrically conductive material having first and second surfaces,an electronic transmitter on the first surface of said solid support,a trace antenna coupled to said electronic transmitter printed on said first surface of said solid support, for sending a signal via said antenna,a power source connected to said electronic transmitter,an open electric circuit connected to said power source and printed on said second surface of said solid support for detecting the presence of wetness,said electric circuit comprised of two electrodes comprised of one or more electrically conductive materials, wherein exposure of said electric circuit of said wetness sensor to moisture closes the electric circuit and generates a detectable electrical signal,a microcontroller in communication with said electronic transmitter and said electric circuit, wherein said electrical signal is received by said microcontroller and said microcontroller determines whether the signal is greater than a predetermined wetness detection threshold value, wherein a wetness detection threshold value greater than the predetermined value indicates the presence of a liquid leak, and wherein in response to an indication that a liquid leak has occurred, said microcontroller directs said electronic transmitter to transmit at least one signal that a liquid leak has been detected,a voltage detection device coupled to said power source and in communication with said microcontroller for detecting a low power supply of said power source; and

    an attachment device for attaching said wetness sensor to one or more components of the system; and

    a receiver unit integrated with an extracorporeal blood treatment system operation unit, in communication with said wetness sensor comprising;

    a receiver for detecting one or more signal transmissions from said wetness sensor,a controller that controls the extracorporeal blood treatment system operation unit, in communication with said receiver, said controller being capable of discontinuing operation of the extracorporeal blood treatment system upon said receiver detecting one or more signal transmissions from said wetness sensor indicating that a liquid leak has occurred, andan alert system comprised of one or more alarms selected from the group consisting of the display of a warning message, an audible alarm, and a visual alarm, in communication with said controller, wherein the transmission from the wetness sensor of at least one signal of a liquid leak is received by said receiver of the receiver unit and, in response to said at least one signal, said controller of the receiver unit triggers said alert system, and wherein the receiver unit is in communication with one or more wetness sensors, wherein each of the one or more wetness sensors transmits unique identification information to said receiver of the receiver unit that is recorded by said controller of the receiver unit.

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