Multi-function flow tester
First Claim
1. A medical infusion pump analyzer, which comprises:
- an input port for receiving therethrough fluid from an infusion pump under test;
a drain port for draining fluid from the analyzer;
a tubular fluid flow rate measuring column in fluid communication with the input port for measuring the flow rate of the fluid received by the analyzer through the input port, the fluid flow rate measuring column defining an interior axial bore for the passage of fluid therethrough, the bore having a predetermined and known volume;
a plurality of sensors situated in proximity to and at least along a portion of the axial length of the fluid flow rate measuring column, the plurality of sensors including adjacent sensors, the adjacent sensors being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the axial length of the measuring column, the sensors detecting the flow of fluid through the fluid flow rate measuring column and generating signals in response thereto;
a first valve in fluid communication with the fluid flow rate measuring column, the first valve being controllable to direct the fluid to flow into the fluid flow rate measuring column;
at least a second valve in fluid communication with the drain port, the at least second valve being controllable to direct fluid from the fluid flow rate measuring column to the drain port;
a circuit for measuring the time interval it takes for the fluid to flow from a first position in the measuring column which is in alignment with a first sensor of the plurality of sensors to a second position in the measuring column which is in alignment with a second sensor of the plurality of sensors which is adjacent to the first sensor, and for calculating the flow rate of the fluid in the measuring column based on the measured time interval and the known volume of the bore of the fluid flow rate measuring column and wherein the sensors of the plurality of sensors are sequentially energizable along the axial length of the fluid flow rate measuring column, and wherein only one sensor of the plurality of sensors is energizable at any one time.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid flow tester for measuring minute volumes of fluid and for calibrating medical devices, such as intravenous infusion pumps, includes a plurality of valves and associated conduits which direct fluid from the device being tested to a transparent vertical column. A plurality of sensors, each including a light emitting diode and a light detector, are arranged along the axial length of the column at a predetermined spacing between adjacent sensors. Fluid from the device being tested is directed through the flow tester by the valves and associated conduits into the column where it rises. The meniscus of the fluid rising in the column is detected by the sensors. The sensors provide signals to a microcontroller which calculates the time that it takes for the fluid to pass each sensor. Knowing this timing and the volume of the column, the flow rate of the fluid may be calculated by the microcontroller.
8 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A medical infusion pump analyzer, which comprises:
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an input port for receiving therethrough fluid from an infusion pump under test; a drain port for draining fluid from the analyzer; a tubular fluid flow rate measuring column in fluid communication with the input port for measuring the flow rate of the fluid received by the analyzer through the input port, the fluid flow rate measuring column defining an interior axial bore for the passage of fluid therethrough, the bore having a predetermined and known volume; a plurality of sensors situated in proximity to and at least along a portion of the axial length of the fluid flow rate measuring column, the plurality of sensors including adjacent sensors, the adjacent sensors being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the axial length of the measuring column, the sensors detecting the flow of fluid through the fluid flow rate measuring column and generating signals in response thereto; a first valve in fluid communication with the fluid flow rate measuring column, the first valve being controllable to direct the fluid to flow into the fluid flow rate measuring column; at least a second valve in fluid communication with the drain port, the at least second valve being controllable to direct fluid from the fluid flow rate measuring column to the drain port; a circuit for measuring the time interval it takes for the fluid to flow from a first position in the measuring column which is in alignment with a first sensor of the plurality of sensors to a second position in the measuring column which is in alignment with a second sensor of the plurality of sensors which is adjacent to the first sensor, and for calculating the flow rate of the fluid in the measuring column based on the measured time interval and the known volume of the bore of the fluid flow rate measuring column and wherein the sensors of the plurality of sensors are sequentially energizable along the axial length of the fluid flow rate measuring column, and wherein only one sensor of the plurality of sensors is energizable at any one time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A fluid flow tester for testing the flow rate of fluid from a device under test, which comprises:
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an input port for receiving fluid from the device under test; a drain port for draining fluid from the fluid flow tester; a tubular fluid flow rate measuring column in fluid communication with the input port for measuring the flow rate of the fluid received by the fluid flow tester through the input port, the fluid flow rate measuring column defining an interior axial bore for the passage of fluid therethrough, the bore having a predetermined and known volume; a plurality of sensors situated in proximity to and at least along a portion of the axial length of the fluid flow rate measuring column, the plurality of sensors including adjacent sensors, the adjacent sensors being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the axial length of the measuring column, the sensors detecting the flow of fluid through the fluid flow rate measuring column and generating signals in response thereto; a first valve in fluid communication with the fluid flow rate measuring column, the first valve being controllable to direct the fluid to flow into the fluid flow rate measuring column; at least a second valve in fluid communication with the drain port, the at least second valve being controllable to direct fluid from the fluid flow rate measuring column to the drain port; a circuit for measuring the time interval it takes for the fluid to flow from a first position in the measuring column which is in alignment with a first sensor of the plurality of sensors to a second position in the measuring column which is in alignment with a second sensor of the plurality of sensors which is adjacent to the first sensor, and for calculating the flow rate of the fluid in the measuring column based on the measured time interval and the known volume of the bore of the fluid flow rate measuring column and wherein the sensors of the plurality of sensors are sequentially energizable along the axial length of the fluid flow rate measuring column, and wherein only one sensor of the plurality of sensors is energizable at any one time. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A fluid flow tester for testing the flow rate of fluid from a device under test, which comprises:
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an input port for receiving fluid from the device under test; a drain port for draining fluid from the fluid flow tester; a tubular fluid flow rate measuring column in fluid communication with the input port for measuring the flow rate of the fluid received by the fluid flow tester through the input port, the fluid flow rate measuring column defining an interior axial bore for the passage of fluid therethrough, the bore having a predetermined and known volume; a plurality of sensors situated in proximity to and at least along a portion of the axial length of the fluid flow rate measuring column, the plurality of sensors including adjacent sensors, the adjacent sensors being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the axial length of the measuring column, the sensors detecting the flow of fluid through the fluid flow rate measuring column and generating signals in response thereto; a circuit for measuring the time interval it takes for the fluid to flow from a first position in the measuring column which is in alignment with a first sensor of the plurality of sensors to a second position in the measuring column which is in alignment with a second sensor of the plurality of sensors which is adjacent to the first sensor, and for calculating the flow rate of the fluid in the measuring column based on the measured time interval and the known volume of the bore of the fluid flow rate measuring column; a first valve, the first valve having a common port, an A port and a B port, the common port of the first valve being switchably fluidically interconnectable with the A port and the B port thereof; and a second valve, the second valve including a common port, an A port and a B port, the common port of the second valve being switchably fluidically interconnectable with the A port and the B port thereof; the common port of the first valve being in fluid communication with the input port, the A port of the first valve being in fluid communication with the drain port, the B port of the first valve being in fluid communication with the B port of the second valve, the fluid flow rate measuring column including a first axial end and a second axial end situated axially opposite the first axial end, the common port of the second valve being in fluid communication with the first axial end of the fluid flow rate measuring column. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A fluid flow tester for testing the flow rate of fluid from a device under test;
- which comprises;
an input port for receiving therethrough fluid from the device under test, a drain port for draining fluid from the fluid flow tester; a first tubular fluid flow rate measuring column and a second tubular fluid flow rate measuring column, each of the first and second measuring columns being selectively in fluid communication with the input port for measuring the flow rate of the fluid received by the fluid flow tester through the input port, each of the first and second fluid flow rate measuring columns defining an interior axial bore for the passage of fluid therethrough, each bore having a predetermined and known volume; a plurality of sensors situated in proximity to and at least along a portion of the axial length of each of the first and second fluid flow rate measuring columns, the plurality of sensors including adjacent sensors, the adjacent sensors being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the axial length of each of the first and second measuring columns, the sensors detecting the flow of fluid through each of the first and second fluid flow rate measuring columns and generating signals in response thereto; a plurality of valves in communication with at least one of the first fluid flow rate measuring column and the second fluid flow rate measuring column and with at least one of the input port and the drain port, the valves being controllable to direct the fluid to flow into the first fluid flow rate measuring column from the input port and simultaneously to direct fluid from the second fluid flow rate measuring column to the drain port, and being controllable to direct the fluid from the input port into the second fluid flow rate measuring column and simultaneously to direct fluid from the first fluid flow rate measuring column to the drain port; and a circuit for measuring the time interval it takes for the fluid to flow from a first position in the first measuring column which is in alignment with a first sensor of the plurality of sensors situated in proximity to the first measuring column to a second position in the first measuring column which is in alignment with a second sensor of the plurality of sensors situated in proximity to the first measuring column which is adjacent to the first sensor, and for calculating the flow rate of the fluid in the first measuring column based on the measured time interval and the known volume of the bore of the first fluid flow rate measuring column, and for measuring the time interval it takes for the fluid to flow from a first position in the second measuring column which is in alignment with a first sensor of the plurality of sensors situated in proximity to the second measuring column to a second position in the second measuring column which is in alignment with a second sensor of the plurality of sensors situated in proximity to the second measuring column which is adjacent to the first sensor of the plurality of sensors situated in proximity to the second measuring column, and for calculating the flow rate of the fluid in the second measuring column based on the measured time interval and the known volume of the bore of the second fluid flow rate measuring column. - View Dependent Claims (23)
- which comprises;
Specification