Fluid flow monitor
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring fluid flow through a fluid line having an orifice along the length of the fluid line, comprising:
- providing a package that includes a plurality of piezoresistive sense die in close proximity to one another, wherein a first one of said plurality of piezoresistive sense die is situated adjacent to a first flow diaphragm situated on a first side of the orifice, and a second one of said plurality of piezoresistive sense die is situated adjacent to a second flow diaphragm positioned on a second side of the orifice;
transferring a force from said first flow diaphragm to said first piezoresistive sense die through a first plunger, and transferring a force from said second flow diaphragm to said second piezoresistive sense die through a second plunger; and
performing a signal compensation utilizing at least one electronic device associated with said plurality of piezoresistive sense die to thereby provide a thermal calibration and a differential calculation, wherein said at least one electronic device communicates electronically with external electronics to automatically monitor fluid flow through the fluid line.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A differential force sensor method and apparatus for automatically monitoring manual injections through an intravenous line. The differential force sensor includes two piezoresistive sense die that are packaged in close proximity utilizing a number of packaging processes. The two piezoresistive sense die can be utilized to measure forces exerted on a diaphragm on either side of an orifice. The piezoresistive sense die can be packaged in close proximity to make intimate contact with the diaphragms on either side of the orifice. The differential force sensor further includes two plungers that make intimate contact with the diaphragm and transfer the force into the piezo-resistive sense dies. Additionally, one or more ASICs and microcontrollers can be utilized to provide thermal calibration and differential calculation.
65 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring fluid flow through a fluid line having an orifice along the length of the fluid line, comprising:
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providing a package that includes a plurality of piezoresistive sense die in close proximity to one another, wherein a first one of said plurality of piezoresistive sense die is situated adjacent to a first flow diaphragm situated on a first side of the orifice, and a second one of said plurality of piezoresistive sense die is situated adjacent to a second flow diaphragm positioned on a second side of the orifice; transferring a force from said first flow diaphragm to said first piezoresistive sense die through a first plunger, and transferring a force from said second flow diaphragm to said second piezoresistive sense die through a second plunger; and performing a signal compensation utilizing at least one electronic device associated with said plurality of piezoresistive sense die to thereby provide a thermal calibration and a differential calculation, wherein said at least one electronic device communicates electronically with external electronics to automatically monitor fluid flow through the fluid line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for monitoring fluid flow in a fluid line having an orifice along the length of the fluid line, comprising:
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providing a package that includes a plurality of piezoresistive sense die in close proximity to one another, wherein a first one of said plurality of piezoresistive sense die is situated adjacent to a first flow diaphragm situated on a first side of the orifice, and a second one of said plurality of piezoresistive sense die is situated adjacent to a second flow diaphragm positioned on a second side of the orifice; transferring a force from said first flow diaphragm to said first piezoresistive sense die through a first plunger, and transferring a force from said second flow diaphragm to said second piezoresistive sense die through a second plunger; and performing a signal compensation utilizing at least one ASIC component and a microcontroller associated with said plurality of piezoresistive sense die to thereby provide a thermal calibration and a differential calculation, wherein said microcontroller communicates electronically with external electronics for automatically monitoring fluid flow through the fluid line. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An apparatus for monitoring manual patient injections through an intravenous line, comprising:
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a plurality of piezoresistive sense die configured in close proximity to one another, wherein said plurality of piezoresistive sense die is in intimate contact with a flow diaphragm on either side of an orifice formed in the intravenous line; a plurality of plungers associated with said plurality of piezoresistive sense die, wherein a force from said flow diaphragm is transferred to said plurality of piezoresistive sense die through a plurality of plungers that make intimate contact with said flow diaphragm on either side of said orifice; and at least one electrical component for performing a signal compensation, wherein said at least one electrical component is associated with said plurality of piezoresistive sense die to thereby provide a thermal calibration and a differential calculation, such that said at least one electrical component is configured to communicate electronically with external electronics to automatically monitoring manual patient injections through the intravenous line. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification