Fluid flow regulator assembly

• US 9,581,251 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2014
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius KABI USA LLC (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Ivenix, Inc. (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Ambrosina, Jesse E., Powers, Benjamin G., Segit, Alexander J.
• Primary Examiner(s): JELLETT, MATTHEW WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US14/540,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20150137017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 251/205, 251/208, 251/209
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16863 Occlusion detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3337 Controlling, regulating pressure or flow by means of a valve by-passing a pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1408 in parallel, e.g. manifolds, sequencing valves access sites A61M39/02; tube connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16877 Adjusting flow; Devices for setting a flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/36 with means for eliminating or preventing injection or infusion of air into body dialysis systems, blood oxygenators A61M1/14; haemofiltration equipment A61M1/34; automatic tube cut-off A61M39/281
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/001 valves or valve housings welding B23K; valve housings per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/0209 the valve having a particular passage, e.g. provided with a filter, throttle or safety device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49412 with assembly, disassembly or composite article making

Abstract

A fluid flow resistance assembly includes a fluid pathway. A width of the fluid pathway orthogonal to a flow of fluid through the fluid pathway varies along its length. Positioning of one or more ports at different locations over the fluid pathway at different locations controls a flow rate of fluid.

Claims

1. A flow control assembly comprising:

a fluid pump to pump fluid;

a fluid flow resistor assembly to resist a flow of the fluid, the fluid flow resistor assembly comprising a first assembly component and a second assembly component;

the first assembly component including a length of fluid channel, the fluid channel formed in a surface facing of the first assembly component to convey the fluid;

the second assembly component movable with respect to the first assembly component, a surface facing of the second assembly component in contact with the surface facing of the first assembly component and the fluid in the fluid channel to retain flow of the fluid to be within the fluid channel of the first assembly component, the second assembly component including a first port and a second port;

an opening of the first port positioned with respect to the fluid channel at a first location along the length of the fluid channel;

an opening of the second port positioned with respect to the fluid channel at a second location along the length;

wherein the second assembly component is rotatable about an axis with respect to the first assembly component, a first angular position of the second assembly component with respect to the first assembly component about the axis resulting in a full open setting of both the opening of the first port and the opening of the second port into a first channel segment of the fluid channel, the first channel segment being continuous;

wherein the opening of the first port resides at a fixed radius with respect to the axis; and

wherein the opening of the second port resides at the fixed radius with respect to the axis;

wherein the fluid channel includes a second channel segment, a width of the fluid channel in the second channel segment varying to provide variable fluid flow resistance.

2. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein the fluid channel is movable with respect to the opening of the first port and the opening of the second port to adjust a fluid flow resistance through a combination of the first port, a portion of the fluid channel between the first location and the second location, and the second port.

3. The flow control assembly as in claim 2, wherein the opening of the first port is disposed to be at a fixed offset distance with respect to the opening of the second port.

4. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein an aperture of the fluid channel into the opening of the first port at the first location and an aperture of the fluid channel into the opening of the second port at the second location controls an amount of fluid flow resistance of fluid passing along the fluid channel from the first port to the second port.

5. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the fluid channel orthogonal to a flow of the fluid through the fluid channel varies along the length.

6. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein a width of the fluid channel orthogonal to a flow of fluid through the fluid channel varies along the length.

7. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein the surface facing of the first assembly component is planar;

wherein the surface facing of the second assembly component is planar.

8. The flow control assembly as in claim 7, wherein the length of the fluid channel is curved.

9. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein the surface of the first assembly component is a cylindrical facing.

10. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein the first port resides at a fixed location of the fluid channel;

and

wherein the opening of the second port is movable along the length of the fluid channel with respect to the opening of the first port.

11. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein the width of the fluid channel at the first location defines a first aperture through which fluid flows through the opening of the first port into the fluid channel at the first location.

12. The flow control assembly as in claim 11, wherein the width of the fluid channel at the second location defines a second aperture through which fluid from the fluid channel at the second location flows from the fluid channel through the opening of the second port into the second port.

13. The flow control assembly as in claim 12, wherein the first aperture, the second aperture, and flow resistance provided by the fluid channel regulate a flow of the fluid to a respective target recipient.

14. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein a portion of the surface facing of the second assembly component in contact with the fluid in the fluid channel extends continuously between the opening of the first port and the opening of the second port to retain the flow of fluid to be in the fluid channel between the opening of the first port and the opening of the second port.

15. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein the surface facing of the second assembly component includes a first surface portion and a second surface portion, the first surface portion in contact with the fluid in the fluid channel and the second surface portion in contact with the surface facing of the first assembly component to retain the fluid in the fluid channel while the fluid is conveyed from the first port to the second port.

16. The flow control assembly as in claim 15, wherein the first surface portion and corresponding walls of the fluid channel in the first assembly component define a fluid pathway between the opening of the first port and the opening of the second port.

17. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein the opening of the second port receives the fluid from the fluid channel in only a single direction of flow from the fluid channel.

18. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein contacting the surface facing of the second assembly component to the surface facing of the first assembly component limits the flow of the fluid through the fluid channel in a downstream direction from the first port to the second port.

19. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein the surface facing of the second assembly component in contact with the surface facing of the first assembly component limits the flow of the fluid through the fluid channel to a single direction.

20. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the second channel segment orthogonal to a flow of the fluid through the second channel segment varies non-linearly along the length.

21. The flow control assembly as in claim 20, wherein the fluid flow resistor assembly provides linear resistance variation in flow resistance per degree of rotation of the second assembly component.

22. The flow control assembly as in claim 1 further comprising:

a cassette frame in which the fluid flow resistor assembly and the fluid pump are integrated, the flow control assembly insertable into a cavity of a fluid delivery system that controls the fluid pump and the fluid flow resistor assembly to provide flow regulation via a closed loop control algorithm.

23. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein at least one angular position of the second assembly component with respect to the first assembly component about the axis results in complete blockage of both the opening of the first port and the opening of the second port.

24. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein the fluid channel is disposed on a cylindrical surface of the second assembly component.

25. The flow control assembly as in claim 24, wherein the first channel portion is offset with respect to the second channel portion;

and

wherein the second channel portion is parallel with respect to the first channel portion.

26. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein a relationship between a change in angular rotation of the second flow control assembly element with respect to the first flow control assembly element and resulting change in the flow rate of fluid through the channel is linear.

27. The flow control assembly as in claim 1, wherein the second channel segment is a tapered channel segment providing increased flow resistance in a range of selectable angular positions in which both the first opening of the first port and the opening of the second port reside over the second channel segment.

28. A flow control apparatus comprising:

a first flow control assembly element including a channel operable to convey fluid, a width of the channel varying along a length of the channel; and

a second flow control assembly element in contact with the first flow control assembly element, the second flow control assembly element including a first port in fluid communication with the channel, a position of the first port of the second flow control assembly element adjustable with respect to the channel disposed on the first flow control assembly element to control a flow rate of the fluid through the channel;

wherein the second flow control assembly element includes a second port, the second port of the second flow control assembly in fluid communication with the channel disposed on the first flow control assembly element;

wherein a relationship between a change in angular rotation of the second flow control assembly element with respect to the first flow control assembly element and resulting change in the flow rate of fluid through the channel is linear;

wherein the second assembly component is rotatable about an axis with respect to the first assembly component, at least one angular position of the second assembly component with respect to the first assembly component about the axis resulting in complete blockage of both the opening of the first port and the opening of the second port; and

wherein the opening of the first port resides at a fixed radius with respect to the axis; and

wherein the opening of the second port resides at the fixed radius with respect to the axis.

29. The flow control apparatus as in claim 28, wherein the channel is disposed on a planar surface of the first flow control assembly element.

30. The flow control apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the second flow control assembly element is fabricated from rigid material;

and

wherein the first port and the second port of the second flow control assembly element are disposed at respective fixed locations on the second flow control assembly element.

31. The flow control apparatus as in claim 30, wherein the second flow control assembly element includes a planar surface region through which the first port and the second port are in fluid communication with the channel disposed on the first flow control assembly element;

and

wherein a surface region of the second flow control assembly element slidably covers the channel, the combination of the surface region and the channel creating a fluid-tight passageway between the first port and the second port, the fluid inputted from the first port to a first location of the channel, passing through the fluid-tight passageway, and outputted from a second location of the channel into the second port.

32. The flow control apparatus as in claim 28, wherein the channel is disposed in a substantially planar surface of the first flow control assembly element;

and

wherein the first port is disposed through a substantially planar surface of the second flow control assembly element, the substantially planar surface of the second flow control assembly element in contact with the substantially planar surface of the first flow control assembly element.

33. The flow control apparatus as in claim 32, wherein the second flow control assembly element rotates with respect to the first flow control assembly element, variations in an angle of the rotation of the second flow control assembly element with respect to the first flow control assembly element controlling a flow rate of the fluid passing through the channel and the first port.

34. A flow control assembly comprising:

a fluid pump to pump fluid;

a fluid flow resistor assembly to resist a flow of the fluid, the fluid flow resistor assembly comprising a first assembly component and a second assembly component;

the first assembly component including a length of fluid channel, the fluid channel formed on a planar surface facing of the first assembly component to convey the fluid;

the second assembly component movable with respect to the first assembly component, a surface facing of the second assembly component in contact with the planar surface facing of the first assembly component and the fluid in the fluid channel to retain flow of the fluid to be within the fluid channel of the first assembly component, the second assembly component including a first port and a second port;

an opening of the first port positioned with respect to the fluid channel at a first location along the length of the fluid channel; and

an opening of the second port positioned with respect to the fluid channel at a second location along the length, a width of the fluid channel at the first location into the opening of the first port different than a width of the fluid channel at the second location into the opening of the second port;

wherein the fluid channel includes a first channel portion and a second channel portion, the first channel portion disposed at a first radius from a rotational axis about which the second assembly component rotates, the second channel portion disposed at a second radius from the rotational axis.

35. The flow control assembly as in claim 34, wherein the opening of the first port resides arc still and is movable over the first channel portion at the first radius;

and

wherein the opening of the second channel portion resides and is movable over the second channel portion at the second radius.

36. The flow control assembly as in claim 35, wherein the fluid channel further includes a third channel portion connecting the first channel portion to the second channel portion, the third channel portion being orthogonal to the first channel portion of the second channel portion.

37. The flow control assembly as in claim 36, wherein the first channel portion is a continuous channel extending 360 degrees along the first radius;

and

wherein the second channel portion is a discontinuous channel along the second radius.

38. The flow control assembly as in claim 37, wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the continuous channel orthogonal to a flow of the fluid through the continuous channel is fixed;

and

wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the discontinuous channel orthogonal to the flow of the fluid through the discontinuous channel varies.

39. The flow control assembly as in claim 34, wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the first channel portion varies along a length of the first channel portion;

and

wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the second channel portion varies along a length of the second channel portion.