Device to meter fluid

• US 9,610,414 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2015
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Beavis, Russell H., Gray, Larry B., Kane, Derek G.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGLAS, STEVEN O
• Application Number:
  US14/812,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20150328416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 12820014, 12820018, 12820021, 12820022, 12820312, 12820314, 12820523, 12820524, 12820326, 12820016, 73149, 73649, 73290 B, 13756501, 13756534, 261 27
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0003 with means for dispensing more than one drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/002 with air flow regulating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0045 using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0048 the dosages being arranged in a plane, e.g. on diskettes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0066 with means for varying the dose size
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0068 Indicating or counting the number of dispensed doses or of remaining doses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0085 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/03 Gases in liquid phase, e.g. cryogenic liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/006 Pressure or flow rate sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/085 : responsive to flow or pressure of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged B05B1/3006, B05B1/323, B05B7/1254 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/007 : by measuring the level variations of storage tanks relative to the time
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 17/00 : Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 22/00 : Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/14 : by measurement of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 3/00 : Measuring characteristics of vibrations by using a detector in a fluid G01H7/00, G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 9/04 : by compressed gases, e.g. compressed air

Abstract

An apparatus for metering the delivery of a fluid. The apparatus has a variable acoustic source and a microphone, both acoustically coupled to a volume having a fluid region and an air region. The apparatus may also include a processor to determine a volume of the air region based on signals received from the microphone and the variable acoustic source. A fluid valve is coupled to the processor, and is configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region associated with the volume of the air region.

Claims

1. A device to meter fluid comprising:

a fluid reservoir;

an acoustic volume sensor including;

a housing containing a first volume and a second volume, the second volume including an air region, and a fluid region, and

a printed circuit board disposed within the housing, the printed circuit board defining the first volume within the housing and the printed circuit board including;

an acoustic source,

a first microphone acoustically coupled to the first volume, and

a second microphone acoustically coupled to the air region;

an input valve in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and configured to allow fluid to enter the fluid region; and

a processor in communication with the acoustic volume sensor and configured to meter fluid output from the device.

2. A device to meter fluid according to claim 1 further comprising an output valve, the output valve in fluid communication with the fluid region and the output valve being controlled by the processor.

3. A device to meter fluid according to claim 2 wherein the processor determines the volume of the air region associated with signals from the first microphone and second microphone.

4. A device to meter fluid according to claim 3 wherein the processor controls the output valve based on the determined volume of air region.

5. A device to meter fluid according to claim 1 further comprising a hole in the printed circuit board to equalize pressure between the first volume and the air region.

6. A device to meter fluid according to claim 1 wherein the printed circuit board comprises a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor in communication with the processor.

7. A device to meter fluid according to claim 1, wherein the fluid in the fluid reservoir and the fluid region is a drug.

8. A device to control fluid output comprising:

a fluid reservoir;

an output valve;

an acoustic volume sensor including;

a housing containing a first volume and a second volume, the second volume including an air region, and a fluid region, and

a printed circuit board disposed within the housing, the printed circuit board defining the first volume within the housing and the printed circuit board including;

an acoustic source,

a first microphone acoustically coupled to the first volume, and

a second microphone acoustically coupled to the air region;

wherein the fluid region is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and the fluid region is in fluid communication with the output valve; and

a processor in electrical communication with the acoustic volume sensor, the processor coupled to the output valve, the processor configured to control the output valve to allow a selected volume of fluid to exit from the fluid region.

9. A device to control fluid output according to claim 8 wherein the first volume and air region form at least part of an acoustic system.

10. A device to control fluid output according to claim 9 wherein the processor comprises:

controlling the acoustic source to generate an acoustic excitement in the acoustic system,

receiving a first signal from the first microphone in response to the acoustic excitement, and

receiving a second signal from the second microphone in response to the acoustic excitement.

11. A device to control fluid output according to claim 10 wherein the processor determines the volume of the air region associated with the first signal and the second signal.

12. A device to control fluid output according to claim 11 wherein the processor controls the output valve based on the determined volume of air region.

13. A device to control fluid output according to claim 10 wherein the processor determines the resonant frequency of the acoustic system associated with the first signal and second signal.

14. A device to meter fluid according to claim 8 further comprising a hole in the printed circuit board to equalize pressure between the first volume and the air region.

15. A device to meter fluid according to claim 8 wherein the printed circuit board comprises a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor in communication with the processor.

16. A medical device to control fluid comprising:

a disposable drug cassette including a drug reservoir and a fluid region, the fluid region in fluid communication with the drug reservoir;

an acoustic volume sensor including;

a housing containing a first volume and defining a variable volume chamber, the variable volume chamber being adjacent to the fluid region, and

a printed circuit board disposed within the housing, the printed circuit board defining the first volume within the housing and the printed circuit board including;

an acoustic source,

a first microphone acoustically coupled to the first volume, and

a second microphone acoustically coupled to the variable volume chamber;

an output valve in fluid communication with the fluid region; and

a processor in electrical communication with the acoustic volume sensor, the processor coupled to the output valve, the processor configured to control the output valve to allow a selected volume of fluid to exit from the fluid region.

17. A medical device to control fluid according to claim 16 wherein the disposable drug cassette mounts to the housing, the disposable drug cassette comprises a diaphragm, the fluid region further defines the variable volume chamber and the fluid region is separated from the variable volume chamber by the diaphragm.

18. A medical device to control fluid according to claim 17 wherein the volume of the variable volume chamber plus the volume of the fluid region is constant.

19. A medical device to control fluid according to claim 16 wherein the first volume and variable volume chamber form at least part of an acoustic system.

20. A medical device to control fluid according to claim 19 wherein the processor comprises:

controlling the acoustic source to generate an acoustic excitement in the acoustic system,

receiving a first signal from the first microphone in response to the acoustic excitement, and

receiving a second signal from the second microphone in response to the acoustic excitement.

21. A medical device to control fluid according to claim 20 wherein the processor determines the volume of the variable volume chamber associated with first signal and the second signal.

22. A medical device to control fluid according to claim 21 wherein the processor controls the output valve based on the determined volume of variable volume chamber.

23. A medical device to control fluid according to claim 20 wherein the printed circuit board comprises a temperature sensor and the temperature sensor provides a temperature signal to the processor.

24. A medical device to control fluid according to claim 23 wherein the processor comprises:

determining the resonant frequency of the acoustic system associated with the first signal and second signal, and

determining the volume of the variable volume chamber associated with the resonant frequency of the acoustic system and the temperature signal.

25. A medical device to control fluid according to claim 24 wherein the processor determines the resonant frequency of the acoustic system further associated an underdamped second-order model of the acoustic system.

26. A medical device to control fluid according to claim 16 further comprising a hole in the printed circuit board to equalize pressure between the first volume and the variable volume chamber.

34. A medical device to meter fluid according to claim 25 further comprising a hole in the printed circuit board to equalize pressure between the first volume and the air region.

27. A medical device to meter fluid comprising:

a disposable drug cassette including a drug reservoir, fluid region and an inlet valve, the drug reservoir is in fluid communication with the inlet valve, the inlet valve is in fluid communication with the fluid region;

an acoustic volume sensor including;

a housing containing a first volume and partly defining a variable volume chamber, the variable volume chamber being further bounded by the fluid region,

a printed circuit board disposed within the housing, the printed circuit board defining the first volume within the housing and the printed circuit board including;

an acoustic source,

a first microphone acoustically coupled to the first volume, and

a second microphone acoustically coupled to the variable volume chamber; and

a processor in electrical communication with the acoustic volume sensor and configured to meter fluid output from the fluid region.

28. A medical device to meter fluid according to claim 27 wherein the a disposable drug cassette mounts to the housing, the disposable drug cassette comprises a diaphragm, and the fluid region being separated from the variable volume chamber by the diaphragm.

29. A medical device to meter fluid according to claim 27 wherein the volume of the variable volume chamber plus the volume of the fluid region is constant.

30. A medical device to meter fluid according to claim 27 wherein the first volume and variable volume chamber form at least part of an acoustic system.

31. A medical device to meter fluid according to claim 30 wherein the processor comprises:

controlling the acoustic source to generate an acoustic excitement in the acoustic system,

receiving a first signal from the first microphone in response to the acoustic excitement,

receiving a second signal from the second microphone in response to the acoustic excitement, and

determining the volume of the variable volume chamber associated with first signal and the second signal.

32. A medical device to meter fluid according to claim 31 wherein the processor determines the amount of fluid output from the drug reservoir associated with the volume of the variable volume chamber.

33. A medical device to meter fluid according to claim 27 wherein the printed circuit board comprises a temperature sensor and the temperature sensor provides a temperature signal to the processor.

35. A medical device for drug delivery comprising:

a disposable drug cassette including a drug reservoir, a fluid region and an output valve, the drug reservoir is in fluid communication with the fluid region, the fluid region is in fluid communication with the output valve, wherein the fluid is a drug;

a reusable portion that comprises

an acoustic volume sensor including;

a housing containing a first volume and partly defining a variable volume chamber, the variable volume chamber being further bounded by the fluid region, and

a printed circuit board disposed within the housing, the printed circuit board defining the first volume within the housing and the printed circuit board including;

an acoustic source,

a first microphone acoustically coupled to the first volume, and

a second microphone acoustically coupled to the variable volume chamber;

a processor in electrical communication with the acoustic volume sensor and coupled to the output valve and configured to control the output valve to allow a selected volume of fluid to exit from the fluid region.

36. A medical device for drug delivery according to claim 35, comprising a power element.

37. A medical device for drug delivery according to claim 35, comprising a motive source, the motive source assists outputting the drug.

38. A medical device for drug delivery according to claim 35 wherein the disposable drug cassette mounts to the housing, the disposable drug cassette comprises a diaphragm, and the diaphragm separates the variable volume chamber from the fluid region.

39. A medical device for drug delivering according to claim 35, wherein the volume of the variable volume chamber plus the volume of the fluid region is constant.

40. A medical device for drug delivering according to claim 35, wherein the first volume and variable volume chamber form at least part of an acoustic system.

41. A medical device for drug delivering according to claim 40, wherein the processor comprises:

controlling the acoustic source to generate an acoustic excitement in the acoustic system,

receiving a first signal from the first microphone in response to the acoustic excitement,

receiving a second signal from the second microphone in response to the acoustic excitement, and

determining the volume of the variable volume chamber associated with first signal and the second signal.

42. A medical device for drug delivering according to claim 41, wherein the processor determines the amount of fluid output from the drug reservoir associated with the volume of the variable volume chamber.

43. A medical device for drug delivering according to claim 41, wherein the printed circuit board comprises a temperature sensor and the temperature sensor provides a temperature signal to the processor.

44. A medical device for drug delivering according to claim 43, wherein the processor comprises:

determining the resonant frequency of the acoustic system associated with the first signal and second signal, and

determining the volume of the variable volume chamber associated with the resonant frequency of the acoustic system and the temperature signal.

45. A medical device for drug delivering according to claim 44 wherein the processor determines the resonant frequency of the acoustic system further associated an underdamped second-order model of the acoustic system.