Fluid system comprising a safety device

• US 7,981,366 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2010
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics International AG (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Jost, Stefan, Heiniger, Hanspeter, Siegenthaler, Roger, Wuethrich, Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): MERKLING, SALLY ANNE
• Application Number:
  US12/956,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20110067764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 231 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 422/105
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/146 Employing pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2196 Acoustical or thermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting

Abstract

A fluid system that includes a flow system for a liquid having an inlet, an outlet, at least one fluid line extending from the inlet to the outlet and an electrically activatable melting device, wherein activation of the melting device causes melting, which interrupts, stops or diverts a flow of the fluid through the flow system. In one embodiment, the fluid system may be used in a device for measuring blood sugar.

Claims

1. A fluid system for a fluid, comprising:

a first support plate and a second support plate, at least one of the first support plate and the second support plate having an inner face including a flow system formed as depressions in the inner face, the flow system comprising an inlet, an outlet and at least one fluid line extending from the inlet to the outlet;

an electrical current supply device; and

a meltable component comprising a film positioned between the first and second support plates such that it extends over at least a portion of the inner face and beyond the fluid line, and an electrical conductor integral with the film, wherein

the electrical conductor is electrically coupled to the electrical current supply device, and

the meltable component is positioned with respect to the at least one fluid line such that electrical current passing through the electrical conductor melts the meltable component thereby causing a flow of the fluid through the flow system to be interrupted, stopped or diverted.

2. The fluid system according to claim 1, wherein said electrical conductor borders on said at least one fluid line.

3. The fluid system according to claim 1, wherein said electrical conductor comprises a constriction area capable of melting.

4. The fluid system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one fluid line overlaps said electrical conductor to a plurality of sites along said fluid line.

5. The fluid system according to claim 1, wherein said electrical current supply device is configured to send an excess current to said meltable component.

6. The fluid system according to claim 1, further comprising a runoff for receiving fluid from the flow system generated by activation of the electrical current supply device, wherein the runoff is formed as a depression in an inner face of either or both of the first and second support plates.

7. The fluid system according to claim 6, wherein said runoff is in fluid communication with a fluid collecting receptacle, the fluid collecting receptacle being formed as a tough-like depression in an inner surface of either or both of the first and second support plates.

8. The fluid system according to claim 6, wherein said meltable component is configured to melt a hole in the film thereby enabling fluid to flow through said hole and into said runoff.

9. The fluid system according to claim 1, wherein said electrical current supply device is configured to be activated automatically.

10. The fluid system according to claim 1, further comprising a runoff, wherein said runoff is closed upon activation of said electrical current supply device.

11. The fluid system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical current supply device is activated in the event of a drop in pressure or loss of pressure of the fluid flow in the flow system.

12. The fluid system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical current supply device is activated in response to a predetermined change in temperature of the fluid in the flow system.

13. The fluid system according to claim 1, wherein the flow system is configured as a fluidic chip.

14. The fluid system according to claim 1, wherein the flow system is configured as a microdialysis probe.

15. The fluid system according to claim 14, wherein said microdialysis probe comprises a semi-permeable fluid line, wherein said fluid line capable of interacting with fluids outside of said fluid line, and wherein said fluid line is closable upon activation of said electrical current supply device.

16. The fluid system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor is meltable in response to activation of said electrical current supply device.

17. The fluid system according to claim 1, wherein the film extends over substantially the entire inner surface.

18. The fluid system according to claim 1, wherein the film is a laminate.

19. The fluid system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor is integral with the film is formed on a surface of the film.

20. The fluid system according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the electrical conductor is configured to melt upon an current passing therethrough.

21. The fluid system according to claim 1, wherein an interface is defined by a portion of the first support plate that overlaps the second support plate, and wherein the film extends over substantially the entire interface.

22. The fluid system according to claim 1, further comprising another fluid line arranged outside of the flow system, the another fluid line fluidically coupled to the flow system, wherein in the initial state, fluid flows through the another fluid line, and in the activated state, fluid from the flow system is stopped from flowing through the another fluid line.

23. The fluid system according to claim 6, wherein the flow system and the fluid runoff are formed in an inner face of the first support plate.

24. The fluid system according to claim 6, wherein the flow system is formed in an inner face of the first support plate and the fluid runoff is formed in an inner face of the second support plate.

25. A fluid system for a fluid, comprising:

a first support plate and a second support plate. at least one of the first support plate and the second support plate having an inner face including a flow system for transporting the fluid, the flow system being formed as depressions in the inner surface, the flow system comprising;

an inlet;

an outlet; and

at least one fluid line extending from the inlet to the outlet;

an electrical current supply device; and

a meltable component comprising a film and an electrical conductor, the film positioned between the first and second support plates such that it extends over at least a portion of the inner face and beyond the fluid line, wherein the electrical conductor is electrically coupled to the electrical current supply, and is modifiable from an initial state, in which measurement fluid flows through the fluid line flows, and an activated state, in which the electrical conductor melts a portion of the film thereby diverting the fluid away from the outlet.

26. The fluid system according to claim 25, further comprising a control device and a pressure sensor adapted to measure the pressure of the fluid in the flow system, the control device being in electronic communication with the electrical current supply device and the pressure sensor, and wherein the control device is provided with programming instructions to receive signals from the pressure sensor and, based on the received signals, direct the electrical current supply device to supply current to the electrical conductor.