Method and system for measuring flow at patient utilizing differential force sensor
First Claim
1. A system for controlling fluid flow that is delivered through a fluid line that enters a patient, the system comprising:
- a reduced cross-section orifice situated adjacent a point of entry of a fluid line into said patient;
a differential force sensor including;
a first force sensor;
a second force sensor positioned adjacent the first force sensor;
wherein said first force sensor is responsive to movement of a first flow diaphragm that is exposed to a first pressure in said fluid line upstream of the reduced cross-section orifice, and said second force sensor is responsive to movement of a second flow diaphragm that is exposed to a second pressure in the fluid line downstream of the reduced cross-section orifice;
a first plunger associated with the first force sensor, wherein a first force exerted by movement of said first flow diaphragm in response to said first pressure is transferred to said first force sensor through said first plunger;
a second plunger associated with the second force sensor, wherein a second force exerted by movement of said second flow diaphragm in response to said second pressure is transferred to said second force sensor through said second plunger; and
said first force sensor and said second force sensor providing one or more sensor output signals;
a flow controller that controls a rate of flow of said fluid through said fluid line; and
one or more electronic devices, the one or more electronic devices responding to said one or more sensor output signals of said first force sensor and said second force sensor and providing one or more feedback signals to said flow controller, in a closed-loop manner, such that the flow controller actively controls the rate of flow of said fluid through said fluid line and into said patient.
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Abstract
A fluid delivery system and method for measuring flow at a patient utilizing a differential force sensor in order to precisely control the flow of fluid at very low flow rates. The system includes a fluid line through which a fluid is conveyed to the patient, and a flow controller that selectively varies a rate of flow of the fluid through the fluid line. The differential force sensor can be mounted very close to a point of entry of the fluid into the patient'"'"'s body. An onboard communications device is controllably coupled to the flow controller and to the force sensor, responds to an output signal, and provides a feedback to the flow controller in a closed-loop process. The system can pump the fluid at a higher frequency until the flow rate is actually reached at the patient and then adjust to the flow rate needed to ensure patient health.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for controlling fluid flow that is delivered through a fluid line that enters a patient, the system comprising:
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a reduced cross-section orifice situated adjacent a point of entry of a fluid line into said patient; a differential force sensor including; a first force sensor; a second force sensor positioned adjacent the first force sensor; wherein said first force sensor is responsive to movement of a first flow diaphragm that is exposed to a first pressure in said fluid line upstream of the reduced cross-section orifice, and said second force sensor is responsive to movement of a second flow diaphragm that is exposed to a second pressure in the fluid line downstream of the reduced cross-section orifice; a first plunger associated with the first force sensor, wherein a first force exerted by movement of said first flow diaphragm in response to said first pressure is transferred to said first force sensor through said first plunger; a second plunger associated with the second force sensor, wherein a second force exerted by movement of said second flow diaphragm in response to said second pressure is transferred to said second force sensor through said second plunger; and said first force sensor and said second force sensor providing one or more sensor output signals; a flow controller that controls a rate of flow of said fluid through said fluid line; and one or more electronic devices, the one or more electronic devices responding to said one or more sensor output signals of said first force sensor and said second force sensor and providing one or more feedback signals to said flow controller, in a closed-loop manner, such that the flow controller actively controls the rate of flow of said fluid through said fluid line and into said patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system for controlling fluid flow that is delivered through a fluid line, comprising:
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a reduced cross-section orifice situated along the length of said fluid line; a first sense die and a second sense die positioned adjacent to one another, wherein said first sense die is responsive to movement of a first flow diaphragm that is exposed to a first pressure in said fluid line upstream of the reduced cross-section orifice, and said second sense die is responsive to movement of a second flow diaphragm that is exposed to a second pressure in the fluid line downstream of the reduced cross-section orifice, said first sense die and said second sense die providing one or more sensor output signals; a flow controller that controls a rate of flow of said fluid through said fluid line; and one or more electronic devices, the one or more electronic devices responding to said one or more sensor output signals of said first sense die and said second sense die and providing one or more feedback signals to said flow controller, in a closed-loop manner, such that said flow controller actively controls the rate of flow of said fluid through said fluid line. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for delivering a fluid into a patient, said method comprising:
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providing a fluid line and a flow controller, wherein the fluid line includes a reduced cross-section orifice situated adjacent a point of entry of the fluid line into said patient; providing a differential force sensor having a first force sensor and a second force sensor positioned adjacent to one another, wherein said first force sensor is responsive to movement of a first flow diaphragm that is exposed to a first pressure in said fluid line upstream of the reduced cross-section orifice, and said second force sensor is responsive to movement of a second flow diaphragm that is exposed to a second pressure in the fluid line downstream of the reduced cross-section orifice, said differential force sensor providing a measure of a flow rate of the fluid through the fluid line; providing a feedback signal to the flow controller, wherein the feedback signal is related to the measure of the flow rate of the fluid provided by the differential force sensor; and conveying said fluid from a reservoir to said patient through said fluid line, wherein said flow controller uses the feedback signal in a closed loop manner to actively control the flow rate of the fluid through said fluid line. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification