System, method, and apparatus for monitoring, regulating, or controlling fluid flow

• US 9,151,646 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Kamen, Dean, Peret, Bob D., Kane, Derek G., Kerwin, John M., Murphy, Colin H., Yoo, Brian H., Tracey, Brian D., Johnson, Matthew J., Schnellinger, Thomas S., Langenfeld, Christopher C., Slate, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sereboff, Neal
• Application Number:
  US13/723,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20130188040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16877 Adjusting flow; Devices for setting a flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16886 for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/00 Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow measuring a proportion of the volume flow G01F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20104 Interactive definition of region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/00 ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of medical images computed tomography A61B6/03
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for regulating fluid flow are disclosed. The apparatus includes a curved, elongated support member elastically deformable and having first and second ends. The apparatus also include an opposing support member configured to position a tube against the curved, elongated support member between the first and second ends. Deformation of the curved, elongated support member by movement of the first and second ends toward each other reduces an internal volume of the tube.

Claims

1. A flow meter, comprising:

a coupler adapted to couple to a drip chamber;

a support member operatively coupled to the coupler;

a first image sensor having a first field of view and operatively coupled to the support member, wherein the first image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within the first field of view;

a valve in fluid communication with the drip chamber;

a background pattern having an array of lines positioned within the field of view of the first image sensor wherein the drip chamber is between the first image sensor and the background pattern; and

at least one processor operatively coupled to the first image sensor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

receive a first image data from the first image sensor,

provide a background image; and

determine that a free flow condition exists by;

comparing the background image with the first image data; and

determining that the liquid distorts the array of lines by changing angles.

2. The flow meter according to claim 1, further comprising a second image sensor having a second field of view and operatively coupled to the support member, wherein the second image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within the second field of view, wherein the processor receives second image data from the second image sensor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine an existence of the free flow condition using the first and second image data.

3. The flow meter according to claim 1, further comprising a transceiver configured to communicate with a monitoring client.

4. The flow meter according to claim 3, wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate with the monitoring client concerning at least one of free flow detection data, flow rate estimation data, control data, and exposure data.

5. The flow meter according to claim 1, wherein the valve comprises:

a curved, elongated support member elastically deformable and having first and second ends; and

an opposing support member configured to position a tube against the curved, elongated support member between the first and second ends, wherein deformation of the curved, elongated support member by movement of the first and second ends toward each other reduces an internal cross-section along a length of the tube.

6. The flow meter according to claim 5, wherein the valve further comprises an actuator coupled to the curved, elongated support member to deform the curved, elongated support member by movement of the first and second ends toward each other by actuation of the actuator.

7. The flow meter according to claim 6, wherein the actuator, the curved, elongated support member, and the opposing support member are configured to regulate the fluid flow by actuation of the actuator in accordance with a Gompertz curve.

8. The flow meter according to claim 7, wherein the actuator is further configured to actuate the first and second ends toward each other along a predetermined portion of the Gompertz curve to regulate the fluid flow.

9. The flow meter according to claim 6, wherein the actuator, the curved, elongated support member, and the opposing support member are configured to regulate the fluid flow by actuation of the actuator in accordance with a sigmoid curve.

10. The flow meter according to claim 9, wherein the actuator is further configured to actuate the first and second ends toward each other along a predetermined portion of the sigmoid curve.

11. The flow meter according to claim 5, wherein the curved, elongated support member is semi-rigid.

12. The flow meter according to claim 5, wherein the curved, elongated support member consists essentially of a stretchable material.

13. The flow meter according to claim 5, wherein the curved, elongated support member is an arcuate, elongated support member.

14. The flow meter according to claim 5, wherein the curved, elongated support member is C-shaped.

15. The flow meter according to claim 5, wherein the valve further comprises an elongated connecting member operatively coupled to the first and second ends of the curved, elongated support member.

16. The flow meter according to claim 15, further comprising an actuator coupled to the elongated connecting member and the curved, elongated support member to apply an outward expanding force to thereby deform the first and second ends of the curved, elongated support members toward each other.

17. The flow meter according to claim 16, wherein the actuator is a lead screw, and a knob is coupled to the lead screw to actuate the lead screw.

18. The flow meter according to claim 5, wherein the opposing support member is another curved, elongated support member.

19. The flow meter according to claim 18, wherein the curved, elongated support member is disposed about parallel to the another curved, elongated support member along a substantial portion thereof.

20. The flow meter according to claim 18, wherein:

the curved, elongated support member defines a length, and

the another curved, elongated support member defines a length and the length of the another curved, elongated support member is disposed approximately parallel with the length of the curved, elongated support member.

21. The flow meter according to claim 18, wherein the valve further comprises an actuator operatively coupled to the curved, elongated support member at the first and second ends, and to the another curved, elongated support member at first and second ends, wherein actuation of the actuator causes the first and second ends of the curved, elongated support member to approach each other and causes the first and second ends of the another curved, elongated support member to approach each other thereby causing a reduction in distance between the curved, elongated support member and the another curved, elongated support member thereby compressing the tube.

22. The flow meter according to claim 5, wherein:

the curved, elongated support member defines a length, and

the opposing support member is disposed orthogonally from the length along a portion thereof.

23. The flow meter according to claim 5, wherein the curved, elongated support member includes a plurality of ridges disposed thereon to engage the tube.

24. The flow meter according to claim 5, wherein the opposing support member includes a plurality of ridges disposed thereon and configured to engage the tube.

25. The flow meter according to claim 5, wherein the curved, elongated support member includes a flange extending from a length thereof and configured to hold the tube.

26. The flow meter according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to actuate the valve in accordance with the at least one parameter of liquid in a feed-back configuration.

27. A system comprising:

a drip chamber;

a fluid line coupled to the drip chamber;

a coupler adapted to couple to the drip chamber;

a support member operatively coupled to the coupler;

a first image sensor having a first field of view and operatively coupled to the support member, wherein the first image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within the first field of view;

a valve operatively coupled to the fluid line;

a background pattern having an array of lines positioned within the view of the first image sensor;

at least one processor operatively coupled to the first image sensor wherein;

the at least one processor is configured to receive a first image data from the first image sensor, and

the at least one processor is configured to determine whether a free flow condition exists within the drip chamber using the first image data by examining a distortion of the background pattern causing a change in the angle of the array of lines as found within the first image data.

28. The system according to claim 27, further comprising a monitoring client configured to communicate data with the at least one processor.