Load suspension and weighing system for a dialysis machine reservoir
First Claim
1. A flexure assembly for weighing and suspending loads, said flexure assembly comprising:
- a top assembly comprising a first plurality of magnets;
a bottom assembly comprising a second plurality of magnets, wherein said first plurality of magnets and said second plurality of magnets generate a magnetic field within said flexure assembly;
a circuit board positioned between said top assembly and said bottom assembly and comprising a plurality of magnetic field sensors and a processor;
at least one flexing structure attached to said top assembly, wherein said at least one flexing structure is positioned between said top assembly and said circuit board and is in physical communication with said circuit board and wherein said at least one flexing structure comprises at least one flexing member for allowing movement of said top assembly in relation to said circuit board and in tandem with said bottom assembly; and
at least one flexing structure attached to said bottom assembly, wherein said at least one flexing structure is positioned between said bottom assembly and said circuit board and is in physical communication with said circuit board and wherein said at least one flexing structure comprising at least one flexing member for allowing movement of said bottom assembly in relation to said circuit board and in tandem with said top assembly.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A load suspension and weighing system for a removable reservoir unit of a portable dialysis machine includes a centrally located flexure assembly. The flexure assembly includes magnets and a number of flexure rings which allow for movement of the magnets about a fixed circuit board. Sensors in the circuit board sense changes in the magnetic field as the magnets move in relation to the circuit board. The magnetic field changes produce a voltage output which is used by a processor to generate weight calculations. The top of the flexure assembly is attached to the interior of the dialysis machine. The entirety of the reservoir unit is suspended by a first internal frame that is attached to the bottom of the flexure assembly. Having a single flexure assembly positioned above the reservoir unit provides more accurate weight measurements while also preventing damage to the assembly from water spillage.
549 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A flexure assembly for weighing and suspending loads, said flexure assembly comprising:
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a top assembly comprising a first plurality of magnets; a bottom assembly comprising a second plurality of magnets, wherein said first plurality of magnets and said second plurality of magnets generate a magnetic field within said flexure assembly; a circuit board positioned between said top assembly and said bottom assembly and comprising a plurality of magnetic field sensors and a processor; at least one flexing structure attached to said top assembly, wherein said at least one flexing structure is positioned between said top assembly and said circuit board and is in physical communication with said circuit board and wherein said at least one flexing structure comprises at least one flexing member for allowing movement of said top assembly in relation to said circuit board and in tandem with said bottom assembly; and at least one flexing structure attached to said bottom assembly, wherein said at least one flexing structure is positioned between said bottom assembly and said circuit board and is in physical communication with said circuit board and wherein said at least one flexing structure comprising at least one flexing member for allowing movement of said bottom assembly in relation to said circuit board and in tandem with said top assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for weighing and suspending loads of a reservoir unit of a dialysis machine, comprising the steps of:
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providing a flexure assembly, said flexure assembly attached to a point along a vertical axis of said dialysis machine, said flexure assembly comprising; i. a top assembly comprising a first plurality of magnets; ii. a bottom assembly comprising a second plurality of magnets, wherein said first plurality of magnets and said second plurality of magnets generate a magnetic field within said flexure assembly; iii. a circuit board positioned between said top assembly and said bottom assembly and comprising at least one magnetic field sensor and a processor; iv. at least one flexing structure attached to said top assembly and positioned between said top assembly and said circuit board, said at least one flexing structure comprising at least one flexing member for allowing movement of said top assembly in relation to said circuit board; and v. at least one flexing structure attached to said bottom assembly and positioned between said bottom assembly and said circuit board, said at least one flexing structure comprising at least one flexing member for allowing movement of said bottom assembly in relation to said circuit board; and
,applying a load to the bottom assembly of said flexure assembly, wherein the application of said load pulls on said flexure assembly, resulting in a displacement of said magnetic field about said circuit board, wherein said at least one magnetic field sensor senses the displacement of the magnetic field and generates a voltage output and wherein said processor receives the voltage output and generates a weight measurement based on the voltage output. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A dialysis system having an assembly for weighing and suspending loads, said assembly comprising:
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a first component comprising a first plurality of magnets; a second component comprising a second plurality of magnets, wherein said first plurality of magnets and said second plurality of magnets generate a magnetic field within said assembly; and a circuit board positioned between said first component and said second component and comprising a plurality of magnetic field sensors for outputting a voltage based on changes to said magnetic field generated when a load is applied to the second component of the assembly and a processor, wherein said processor is configured to output a weight measurement based on said voltage output and wherein the application of said load pulls on said assembly, resulting in a displacement of said magnetic field about said circuit board, and at least one of said plurality of magnetic field sensors senses the displacement of the magnetic field to generate said voltage output. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification