Flow pulsatility dampening devices
First Claim
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1. A medical fluid infusion system comprising:
- an infusion pump;
a fluid pathway for transporting a pulsatile flow of fluid from the infusion pump;
a dampening element in communication with the fluid pathway and operably independent from the infusion pump, the dampening element including a flexible fluid-contacting membrane and an enclosed area outside of the flexible membrane containing a compressible gas that absorbs pressure fluctuations of the pulsatile fluid flow to actively dampen the pressure fluctuations and to smoothen the pulsatile fluid flow, the dampening element operable as a fluid flow dampener in any orientation; and
a fluid flow sensor disposed along the fluid pathway downstream of the dampening element to measure the flowrate of the smoothened fluid flow.
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Abstract
A medical fluid infusion system including: a fluid pathway for transporting a pulsatile flow of fluid; a dampening element in communication with the fluid pathway, the dampening element configured to actively dampen pressure fluctuations of the pulsatile flow to smoothen the pulsatile fluid flow, the dampening element operable in any orientation; and a fluid flow sensor disposed along the fluid pathway downstream of the dampening element to measure the flow rate of the smoothened fluid flow.
162 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A medical fluid infusion system comprising:
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an infusion pump; a fluid pathway for transporting a pulsatile flow of fluid from the infusion pump; a dampening element in communication with the fluid pathway and operably independent from the infusion pump, the dampening element including a flexible fluid-contacting membrane and an enclosed area outside of the flexible membrane containing a compressible gas that absorbs pressure fluctuations of the pulsatile fluid flow to actively dampen the pressure fluctuations and to smoothen the pulsatile fluid flow, the dampening element operable as a fluid flow dampener in any orientation; and a fluid flow sensor disposed along the fluid pathway downstream of the dampening element to measure the flowrate of the smoothened fluid flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An infusion system comprising:
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a fluid pathway; an infusion pump for pumping a non-continuous flow of fluid through the fluid pathway; a housing enclosing an expandable membrane, an inside of the membrane defining a chamber and that is in communication with the fluid pathway, an enclosed area outside of the chamber within the housing containing a compressible gas that absorbs pressure fluctuations of the non-continuous flowing fluid to smoothen the non-continuous flow, the housing and the chamber operable as a fluid flow dampener in any orientation; and a fluid flow sensor disposed along the fluid pathway downstream of the housing, the fluid flow sensor configured to measure a flowrate of the smoothened fluid flow. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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Specification