Thermal and coductivity sensing systems, devices and methods
First Claim
1. A sensing probe comprising:
- a probe housing having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
a thermal sensor in said probe housing having a sensing end and a connector end, the sensing end positioned nearer to the distal portion than the proximal portion of the probe housing;
a probe tip, which is more thermally conductive than the probe housing, attached to the distal portion of the probe housing and thermally coupled to said sensing end of the thermal sensor, wherein the probe tip is adapted for reversibly contacting and thermally coupling with an inner surface of a thermal well; and
at least two leads connected to said connector end of said thermal sensor, wherein upon reversibly contacting and thermally coupling the probe tip to the thermal well, thermal energy is transferred from said thermal well, through the probe tip and to said thermal sensor resulting in temperature information being conveyed through the at least two leads towards the proximal portion of the probe housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensing probe is described. The sensing probe includes a probe housing having a probe tip. A thermal sensor in the housing is also included. The thermal sensor has a sensing end and a connector end, where the sensing end is thermally coupled to the probe tip. Also included are at least two leads. The leads transfer electrical signals that are used to determine temperature and conductivity. Also included is a thermal well. The thermal well includes a hollow housing of a thermally conductive material. The housing has an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface is a predetermined shape so as to form a mating relationship with a sensing probe. The mating thermally couples the inner surface with a sensing probe. In some embodiments, the thermal well is located on a disposable portion and the sensing probe on a reusable portion.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A sensing probe comprising:
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a probe housing having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a thermal sensor in said probe housing having a sensing end and a connector end, the sensing end positioned nearer to the distal portion than the proximal portion of the probe housing; a probe tip, which is more thermally conductive than the probe housing, attached to the distal portion of the probe housing and thermally coupled to said sensing end of the thermal sensor, wherein the probe tip is adapted for reversibly contacting and thermally coupling with an inner surface of a thermal well; and at least two leads connected to said connector end of said thermal sensor, wherein upon reversibly contacting and thermally coupling the probe tip to the thermal well, thermal energy is transferred from said thermal well, through the probe tip and to said thermal sensor resulting in temperature information being conveyed through the at least two leads towards the proximal portion of the probe housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16)
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4. A sensing probe comprising:
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a probe housing having a probe tip adapted for thermal and electrical coupling with an inner surface of a thermal well, the probe tip being more thermally conductive than the probe housing; a thermal sensor in said housing having a sensing end and a connector end, said sensing end thermally coupled to said probe tip; and at least three leads, wherein said leads transfer electrical signals from the sensing probe and are adapted to convey temperature and conductivity information. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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17. A sensor apparatus comprising:
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a probe housing having a probe tip, the probe tip being more thermally conductive than the probe housing; a thermal sensor in said housing having a sensing end and a connector end, said sensing end thermally coupled to said probe tip; and at least three leads, wherein at least two of said leads are adapted to transfer electrical signals from the thermal sensor and at least one of said leads is electrically coupled with the probe tip so that said leads are able to convey temperature and conductivity information. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method for determining temperature and electrical conductivity of a subject media in contact with a first surface of a thermal well, the thermal well having an opposing second surface shaped to form a mating relationship with a sensing probe, the sensing probe having a tip and a body, the tip being more thermally conductive than the body, said method comprising the steps of:
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thermally coupling the thermal well and the sensing probe such that temperature and conductivity of the subject media can be determined; transferring thermal and conductivity signals through at least 3 leads from said sensing probe; and determining temperature and conductivity using said signals.
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20. A method for detecting air in a fluid line, said method comprising:
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electrically coupling at least two thermal wells located in a fluid line to sensing probes such that conductivity can be determined; transferring conductivity signals though one or more leads from each of said sensing probes to a conductivity sensor; determining conductivity of contents of the fluid line between each sensing probe; detecting a change of conductivity of contents of the fluid line between each sensing probe; and determining if said change exceeds a predetermined threshold.
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- 21. Apparatus comprising a fluid conduit including a well for at least one of transmitting temperature and permitting conductivity sensing of fluid passing though the conduit, wherein the well is adapted to reversibly interconnect with a probe tip of a sensing probe, the probe tip being at least one of thermally conductive and electrically conductive.
- 42. A fluid pumping apparatus comprising at least one pneumatically actuated pump and a conduit having a well adapted for at least one of transmitting temperature and permitting conductivity sensing of fluid passing through the conduit, wherein the well is adapted for interconnection with a probe tip of a sensor assembly, the probe tip being at least one of thermally conductive and electrically conductive.
Specification