Variable cross-section containment structure liquid measurement device
First Claim
1. A variable cross-section containment structure liquid measurement device (1) for housing a fluid (10) and monitoring a fluid height (14) of a surface (12) of the fluid (10), wherein the liquid measurement device (1) is in fluid communication with an external fluid channel (500), comprising:
- A) a containment structure (100), having an interior (106), for housing the fluid (10), having,(i) a distal end (102);
(ii) a proximal end (104) separated from the distal end (102) by a containment structure length (108);
(iii) at least one containment wall (120), joining the containment structure distal end (102) and the containment structure proximal end (104), having a wall thickness (122), an interior surface (124), and an exterior surface (126), wherein the containment wall (120) defines a maximum containment volume sealed from the exterior environment;
(iv) a port (110) attached to the containment wall (120) and configured to releasably connect to the external fluid channel (500) thereby permitting fluid communication between the containment structure interior (106) and the exterior fluid channel (500);
(v) a constant cross-section portion (130) having a constant cross-section (132);
(vi) a variable cross-section portion (140) formed by a convergence of the containment wall (120) at a convergence angle (144), and having a variable cross-section (142) and a transition length (146);
B) a sensor (200) located within the containment structure interior (106) that modifies an electrical measurement signal (202) in a predetermined manner to reflect the amount of fluid (10) within the containment structure (10), having,(i) a primary portion (210) having,(a) a primary portion distal end (212),(b) a primary portion proximal end (214),(c) a primary portion length (216),(d) a primary portion width (218),(e) a primary portion thickness (219),(f) a primary portion constant resistance section (220) having a primary portion constant resistance section length (222), wherein the electrical resistance of the primary portion constant resistance section (220) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) is substantially constant, and(g) a primary portion variable resistance section (230) having a primary portion variable resistance section length (232), wherein the electrical resistance of the primary portion variable resistance section (230) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) varies over at least a portion of the primary portion variable resistance section (230) when the primary portion variable resistance section (230) is outside the fluid;
(ii) a secondary portion (260), in electrical communication with the primary portion (210) when the primary portion (210) and secondary portion (260) are outside the fluid, having,(a) a secondary portion distal end (262),(b) a secondary portion proximal end (264),(c) a secondary portion length (266),(d) a secondary portion width (268),(e) a secondary portion thickness (269),(f) a secondary portion constant resistance section (270) having a secondary portion constant resistance section length (272), wherein the electrical resistance of the secondary portion constant resistance section (270) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) is substantially constant, and(g) a secondary portion variable resistance section (280) having a secondary portion variable resistance section length (282), wherein the electrical resistance of the secondary portion variable resistance section (280) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) varies over at least a portion of the secondary portion variable resistance section (280) when the secondary variable resistance section (280) is outside the fluid; and
C) an interface device (300) having an interior interface portion (310) located substantially in the containment structure interior (106), and an exterior interface portion (320) located substantially external to the containment structure (100), wherein the interior interface portion (310) is connected to a portion of the primary portion (210) and a portion of the secondary portion (260), and wherein the measurement signal (202) is transmitted between the interior interface portion (310) and the exterior interface portion (320).
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A liquid measurement device having a containment structure, a sensor, and an interface device, having particular applicability to the collection and administration of electrically conductive fluids. The device is configured to house and monitor the height of a fluid. The containment structure has at least one variable cross-section portion. The sensor has two cooperating variable resistance sections that account for the variable cross-section of the containment structure. The electrical resistance of the sensor changes as the fluid height changes and shorts out a portion of the sensor. The sensor may include an electrically conductive ink that is printed on the interior of the containment structure. The sensor receives an electrical measurement signal and modifies the signal in a predetermined manner to reflect the amount of fluid within the containment structure. The device is useful in measuring the amount of fluid in urine collection bags and intravenous bags.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A variable cross-section containment structure liquid measurement device (1) for housing a fluid (10) and monitoring a fluid height (14) of a surface (12) of the fluid (10), wherein the liquid measurement device (1) is in fluid communication with an external fluid channel (500), comprising:
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A) a containment structure (100), having an interior (106), for housing the fluid (10), having, (i) a distal end (102); (ii) a proximal end (104) separated from the distal end (102) by a containment structure length (108); (iii) at least one containment wall (120), joining the containment structure distal end (102) and the containment structure proximal end (104), having a wall thickness (122), an interior surface (124), and an exterior surface (126), wherein the containment wall (120) defines a maximum containment volume sealed from the exterior environment; (iv) a port (110) attached to the containment wall (120) and configured to releasably connect to the external fluid channel (500) thereby permitting fluid communication between the containment structure interior (106) and the exterior fluid channel (500); (v) a constant cross-section portion (130) having a constant cross-section (132); (vi) a variable cross-section portion (140) formed by a convergence of the containment wall (120) at a convergence angle (144), and having a variable cross-section (142) and a transition length (146); B) a sensor (200) located within the containment structure interior (106) that modifies an electrical measurement signal (202) in a predetermined manner to reflect the amount of fluid (10) within the containment structure (10), having, (i) a primary portion (210) having, (a) a primary portion distal end (212), (b) a primary portion proximal end (214), (c) a primary portion length (216), (d) a primary portion width (218), (e) a primary portion thickness (219), (f) a primary portion constant resistance section (220) having a primary portion constant resistance section length (222), wherein the electrical resistance of the primary portion constant resistance section (220) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) is substantially constant, and (g) a primary portion variable resistance section (230) having a primary portion variable resistance section length (232), wherein the electrical resistance of the primary portion variable resistance section (230) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) varies over at least a portion of the primary portion variable resistance section (230) when the primary portion variable resistance section (230) is outside the fluid; (ii) a secondary portion (260), in electrical communication with the primary portion (210) when the primary portion (210) and secondary portion (260) are outside the fluid, having, (a) a secondary portion distal end (262), (b) a secondary portion proximal end (264), (c) a secondary portion length (266), (d) a secondary portion width (268), (e) a secondary portion thickness (269), (f) a secondary portion constant resistance section (270) having a secondary portion constant resistance section length (272), wherein the electrical resistance of the secondary portion constant resistance section (270) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) is substantially constant, and (g) a secondary portion variable resistance section (280) having a secondary portion variable resistance section length (282), wherein the electrical resistance of the secondary portion variable resistance section (280) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) varies over at least a portion of the secondary portion variable resistance section (280) when the secondary variable resistance section (280) is outside the fluid; and C) an interface device (300) having an interior interface portion (310) located substantially in the containment structure interior (106), and an exterior interface portion (320) located substantially external to the containment structure (100), wherein the interior interface portion (310) is connected to a portion of the primary portion (210) and a portion of the secondary portion (260), and wherein the measurement signal (202) is transmitted between the interior interface portion (310) and the exterior interface portion (320). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A variable cross-section containment structure liquid measurement device (1) for housing a fluid (10) and monitoring a fluid height (14) of a surface (12) of the fluid (10), wherein the liquid measurement device (1) is in fluid communication with an external fluid channel (500), comprising:
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A) a containment structure (100), having an interior (106), for housing the fluid (10), having, (i) a distal end (102); (ii) a proximal end (104) separated from the distal end (102) by a containment structure length (108); (iii) at least one containment wall (120), joining the containment structure distal end (102) and the containment structure proximal end (104), having a wall thickness (122), an interior surface (124), and an exterior surface (126), wherein the containment wall (120) defines a maximum containment volume sealed from the exterior environment; (iv) a port (110) attached to the containment wall (120) and configured to releasably connect to the external fluid channel (500) thereby permitting fluid communication between the containment structure interior (106) and the exterior fluid channel (500); (v) a constant cross-section portion (130) having a constant cross-section (132); (vi) a variable cross-section portion (140) formed by a convergence of the containment wall (120) at a convergence angle (144), and having a variable cross-section (142) and a transition length (146); B) a sensor (200) located within the containment structure interior (106) that modifies an electrical measurement signal (202) in a predetermined manner to reflect the amount of fluid (10) within the containment structure (10), having, (i) a primary portion (210) having, (a) a primary portion distal end (212), (b) a primary portion proximal end (214), (c) a primary portion length (216), (d) a primary portion width (218), (e) a primary portion thickness (219), (f) a primary portion constant resistance section (220), located substantially within the constant cross-section portion (130) of the containment structure (100), having a primary portion constant resistance section length (222), wherein the electrical resistance of the primary portion constant resistance section (220) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) is substantially constant, and (g) a primary portion variable resistance section (230), located substantially within the variable cross-section portion (140) of the containment structure (100), having a primary portion variable resistance section length (232), wherein the electrical resistance of the primary portion variable resistance section (230) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) varies over at least a portion of the primary portion variable resistance section (230) when the primary portion variable resistance section (230) is outside the fluid; (ii) a secondary portion (260), in electrical communication with the primary portion (210) when the primary portion (210) and the secondary portion (260) are outside the fluid, having, (a) a secondary portion distal end (262), (b) a secondary portion proximal end (264), (c) a secondary portion length (266), (d) a secondary portion width (268), (e) a secondary portion thickness (269), (f) a secondary portion constant resistance section (270), located substantially within the constant cross-section portion (130) of the containment structure (100), having a secondary portion constant resistance section length (272), wherein the electrical resistance of the secondary portion constant resistance section (270) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) is substantially constant, and (g) a secondary portion variable resistance section (280), located substantially within the variable cross-section portion (140) of the containment structure (100), having a secondary portion variable resistance section length (282), wherein the electrical resistance of the secondary portion variable resistance section (280) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) varies over at least a portion of the secondary portion variable resistance section (280) when the secondary portion variable resistance section (280) is outside the fluid; and C) an interlace device (300) having an interior interface portion (310) located substantially in the containment structure interior (106), and an exterior interface portion (320) located substantially external to the containment structure (100), wherein the interior interface portion (310) is connected to a portion of the primary portion (210) and a portion of the secondary portion (260), and wherein the measurement signal (202) is transmitted between the interior interface portion (310) and the exterior interface portion (320). - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A variable cross-section containment structure liquid measurement device (1) for housing a fluid (10) and monitoring a fluid height (14) of a surface (12) of the fluid (10), wherein the liquid measurement device (1) is in fluid communication with an external fluid channel (500), comprising:
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A) a containment structure (100), having an interior (106), for housing the fluid (10), having, (i) a distal end (102); (ii) a proximal end (104) separated from the distal end (102) by a containment structure length (108); (iii) at least one containment wall (120), joining the containment structure distal end (102) and the containment structure proximal end (104), having a wall thickness (122), an interior surface (124), and an exterior surface (126), wherein the containment wall (120) defines a maximum containment volume sealed from the exterior environment; (iv) a port (110) attached to the containment wall (120) and configured to releasably connect to the external fluid channel (500) thereby permitting fluid communication between the containment structure interior (106) and the exterior fluid channel (500); (v) a constant cross-section portion (130) having a constant cross-section (132); (vi) a variable cross-section portion (140) formed by a convergence of the containment wall (120) at a convergence angle (144), and having a variable cross-section (142) and a transition length (146); B) a sensor (200) located within the containment structure interior (106) that modifies an electrical measurement signal (202) in a predetermined manner to reflect the amount of fluid (10) within the containment structure (10), having, (i) a primary portion (210) having, (a) a primary portion distal end (212), (b) a primary portion proximal end (214), (c) a primary portion length (216), (d) a primary portion width (218), (e) a primary portion thickness (219), (f) a primary portion constant resistance section (220), located substantially within the constant cross-section portion (130) of the containment structure (100), having a primary portion constant resistance section length (222), wherein the electrical resistance of the primary portion constant resistance section (220) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) is substantially constant, and wherein the primary portion width (218) and the primary portion thickness (219) are substantially constant over the primary portion constant resistance section length (222), and (g) a primary portion variable resistance section (230), located substantially within the variable cross-section portion (140) of the containment structure (100), having a primary portion variable resistance section length (232), wherein the electrical resistance of the primary portion variable resistance section (230) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) varies over at least a portion of the primary portion variable resistance section (230) when the primary portion variable resistance section (230) is outside the fluid and the primary portion width (218) increases over at least a portion of the primary portion variable resistance section (230) as the variable cross-section (142) decreases; (ii) a secondary portion (260), in electrical communication with the primary portion (210) when the primary portion (210) and the secondary portion (260) are outside the fluid, having, (a) a secondary portion distal end (262), (b) a secondary portion proximal end (264), (c) a secondary portion length (266), (d) a secondary portion width (268), (e) a secondary portion thickness (269), (f) a secondary portion constant resistance section (270), located substantially within the constant cross-section portion (130) of the containment structure (100), having a secondary portion constant resistance section length (272), wherein the electrical resistance of the secondary portion constant resistance section (270) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) is substantially constant, and wherein the secondary portion width (268) and the secondary portion thickness (269) are substantially constant over the secondary portion constant resistance section length (272), and (g) a secondary portion variable resistance section (280), located substantially within the variable cross-section portion (140) of the containment structure (100), having a secondary portion variable resistance section length (282), wherein the electrical resistance of the secondary portion variable resistance section (280) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) varies over at least a portion of the secondary portion variable resistance section (280) when the secondary portion variable resistance section (280) is outside the fluid and the secondary portion width (268) increases over at least a portion of the secondary portion variable resistance section (280) as the variable cross-section (142) decreases; and C) an interface device (300) having an interior interface portion (310) located substantially in the containment structure interior (106), and an exterior interface portion (320) located substantially external to the containment structure (100), wherein the interior interface portion (310) is connected to a portion of the primary portion (210) and a portion of the secondary portion (260), and wherein the measurement signal (202) is transmitted between the interior interface portion (310) and the exterior interface portion (320), and wherein a predetermined characteristic of the electrical measurement signal (202) changes substantially linearly with changes in the fluid height in the variable cross-section portion (140).
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28. A variable cross-section containment structure liquid measurement device (1) for housing a fluid (10) and monitoring a fluid height (14) of a surface (12) of the fluid (10), wherein the liquid measurement device (1) is in fluid communication with an external fluid channel (500), comprising:
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A) a containment structure (100), having an interior (106), for housing the fluid (10), having, (i) a distal end (102); (ii) a proximal end (104) separated from the distal end (102) by a containment structure length (108); (iii) at least one containment wall (120), joining the containment structure distal end (102) and the containment structure proximal end (104), having a wall thickness (122), an interior surface (124), and an exterior surface (126), wherein the containment wall (120) defines a maximum containment volume sealed from the exterior environment; (iv) a port (110) attached to the containment wall (120) and configured to releasably connect to the external fluid channel (500) thereby permitting fluid communication between the containment structure interior (106) and the exterior fluid channel (500); (v) a variable cross-section portion (140) formed by a convergence of the containment wall (120) at a convergence angle (144), and having a variable cross-section (142) and a transition length (146); B) a sensor (200) located within the containment structure interior (106) that modifies an electrical measurement signal (202) in a predetermined manner to reflect the amount of fluid (10) within the containment structure (10), having, (i) a primary portion (210) having, (a) a primary portion distal end (212), (b) a primary portion proximal end (214), (c) a primary portion length (216), (d) a primary portion width (218), (e) a primary portion thickness (219), and (f) a primary portion variable resistance section (230) having a primary portion variable resistance section length (232), wherein the electrical resistance of the primary portion variable resistance section (230) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) varies over at least a portion of the primary portion variable resistance section (230) when the primary portion variable resistance section (230) is outside the fluid; (ii) a secondary portion (260), in electrical communication with the primary portion (210) when the primary portion (210) and the secondary portion (260) is outside the fluid, having, (a) a secondary portion distal end (262), (b) a secondary portion proximal end (264), (c) a secondary portion length (266), (d) a secondary portion width (268), (e) a secondary portion thickness (269), and (f) a secondary portion variable resistance section (280) having a secondary portion variable resistance section length (282), wherein the electrical resistance of the secondary portion variable resistance section (280) per unit length of the containment structure length (108) varies over at least a portion of the secondary portion variable resistance section (280) when the secondary portion variable resistance section (280) is outside the fluid; and C) an interface device (300) having an interior interface portion (310) located substantially in the containment structure interior (106), and an exterior interface portion (320) located substantially external to the containment structure (100), wherein the interior interface portion (310) is connected to a portion of the primary portion (210) and a portion of the secondary portion (260), and wherein the measurement signal (202) is transmitted between the interior interface portion (310) and the exterior interface portion (320). - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A liquid measurement device (1) for housing a fluid (10) and monitoring a fluid height (14) of a surface (12) of the fluid (10), comprising:
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A) a containment structure (100), having an interior (106), for housing the fluid (10), having, (i) a distal end (102); and (ii) a proximal end (104) separated from the distal end (102) by a containment structure length (108); and B) a sensor (200) located within the containment structure interior (106) that modifies an electrical measurement signal (202) in a predetermined manner to reflect the amount of fluid (10) within the containment structure, having, (i) a vertical primary portion (210) extending along the length of the containment structure (100) between the distal end (102) and the proximal end (104) of the containment structure (100) with a total resistance R(210), the vertical primary portion (210) having a distal end (212) and a proximal end (214); (ii) a vertical secondary portion (260) extending along the length of the containment structure (100) between the distal end (102) and the proximal end (104) of the containment structure (100) with a total resistance R(260), the vertical secondary portion (260) having a distal end (262) and a proximal end (264); (iii) a horizontal shunt portion (290) interconnecting the distal ends (212, 262) of the vertical primary and secondary portions (210, 260) with a total resistance R(290), and the sensor (200) having a total sensor resistance R(200) equal to the sum of the resistances R(210), R(290) and R(260). C) an interface device (300) having an interior interface portion (310) located substantially in the containment structure interior (106), and an exterior interface portion (320) located substantially external to the containment structure (100), wherein the interior interface portion (310) is connected to a portion of the primary portion (210) and a portion of the secondary portion (260), and wherein the measurement signal (202) is transmitted between the interior interface portion (310) and the exterior interface portion (320). - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification