EP0360286A2 — Disposable pressure transducer

Claim 1

Independent Claim 197 words

A disposable pressure transducer which includes a sensor assembly in a housing and which is used for measuring fluid pressure, characterized in that (A) said housing includes a fluid chamber provided with an inlet and an outlet and a sensor-accommodating chamber which communicates with said fluid chamber, said fluid chamber and said sensor-accommodating chamber being formed integrally with each other, and in that (B) said sensor assembly comprises a sensor chip for converting pressure into an electrical signal, an insulating board on which said sensor chip is mounted and which is provided with integrated-circuit means for processing an output signal of said sensor chip so that an external measurig device can read said signal, a cylindrical coupling lid which is bonded to said board in such a manner as to surround said sensor chip and which is fitted into a communication through-hole which provides communication between said fluid chamber and said sensor-accommodating chamber of said housing, a pressure-transmitting medium charged into the interior of said coupling lid so as to provide electrical insulation between said fluid chamber and said sensor chip, and an electrical cable connected to said board and electrically connected to said external measuring device.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 197 words

A disposable pressure transducer which includes a sensor assembly in a housing and which is used for measuring fluid pressure, characterized in that (A) said housing includes a fluid chamber provided with an inlet and an outlet and a sensor-accommodating chamber which communicates with said fluid chamber, said fluid chamber and said sensor-accommodating chamber being formed integrally with each other, and in that (B) said sensor assembly comprises a sensor chip for converting pressure into an electrical signal, an insulating board on which said sensor chip is mounted and which is provided with integrated-circuit means for processing an output signal of said sensor chip so that an external measurig device can read said signal, a cylindrical coupling lid which is bonded to said board in such a manner as to surround said sensor chip and which is fitted into a communication through-hole which provides communication between said fluid chamber and said sensor-accommodating chamber of said housing, a pressure-transmitting medium charged into the interior of said coupling lid so as to provide electrical insulation between said fluid chamber and said sensor chip, and an electrical cable connected to said board and electrically connected to said external measuring device.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

A disposable pressure transducer according to claim 1, wherein an inner wall surface of said fluid chamber of said housing is treated with a hydrophilic treatment.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

A disposable pressure transducer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least a downstream portion of said fluid chamber as viewed in the direction in which a fluid flows in said housing has a flow passage area which progressively varies.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 54 words

A disposable pressure transducer according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the area of a diaphragm portion on which a pressure sensitive gauge portion of said sensor chip is formed to the cross-sectional area of an inner space of said coupling lid which is charged with a pressure-transmitting medium is 5 or more.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 57 words

A disposable pressure transducer according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of said communicaiton through-hole which provides communication between said sensor-accommodating chamber and said fluid chamber of said housing is tapered so as to progressively diverge toward said sensor-accommodating chamber, the outer diameter of said coupling lid having a taper which corresponds to the aforesaid taper.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 71 words

A disposable pressure transducer according to claim 1, wherein said coupling lid is made from an injection molding, at least two projections being provided on the bottom of said coupling lid, and recesses being formed in said insulating board at positions corresponding to these projections, said coupling lid and said board can be positioned relative to each other by placing said projections and said corresponding recesses in alignment with each other.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

A disposable pressure tranducer according to claim 1, wherein said housing and said coupling lid are made of the same material.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 67 words

A disposable pressure transducer according to claim 4, wherein said sensor chip is made from a semiconductor pressure sensor chip and is bonded to said board so that the top surface of said chip which is provided with said pressure sensitive gauge portion faces said fluid chamber, a small through-hole for communication with atmospheric air is formed in said board at a location immediately below said chip.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 164 words

A disposable pressure transducer according to claim 8, which is further comprising: an adjusting circuit for adjusting the electrical characteristics of said semiconductor pressure sensor chip, a plurality of leads connected to said pressure sensor chip and said adjusting circuit, a plurality of flat teminal portions which are formed on the reverse surface of said board on which are mounted said pressure sensor chip and said adjusting circuit, said flat terminal portions being connected to the respective terminals of said pressure sensor chip and said adjusting circuit, a lid attached to said housing for accommodating this board so as to cover the reverse surface of said board, a plurality of contact pieces made of elastic material and disposed between this lid and the aforesaid board in such a manner that, when said lid is attached to said housing, the contact pieces are pressed against the corresponding flat terminal portions, said contact pieces are connected to a lead which are connected to said measuring device.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

A disposable pressure transducer according to claim 1, wherein said sensor chip is bonded to said insulating board by soft adhesion.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

A disposable pressure transducer according to claim 1, wherein said pressure-transmitting medium is made of a silicone gel.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

A disposable pressure tranducer according to claim 1, wherein said sensor chip, and the associated wiring which are surrounded on said insulating board by said coupling lid, and coated with a thin film of fluororesin.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 192 words

A disposable pressure transducer apparatus comprising a pressure transducer capable of converting the fluid pressure into an electrical signal and provided with a flow passage for said liquid, a flow control device connected to said flow passage and which is capable of being connected to an external sterilized-liquid supply source and of restricting the flow rate of said liquid, and a three-way stop cock, said three-way stop cock comprising a valve box, and a valve rotatably disposed in said valve box, said valve box being provided with a first communication port connected to said flow passage, a second communication port connected to a path for transmitting the pressure of a fluid to be measured, said first and second communication ports being located in alignment with each other, and a third communication port located in the direction perpendicular to a straight line which connects said first and second communication ports, said valve being provided with three channels which perpendicularly intersect in a T-like configuration and being capable of placing said three communication ports in communication with one another, said pressure transducer, said flow control device and said three-way stop cock being integrally combined.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 192 words

A disposable pressure transducer apparatus comprising a pressure transducer capable of converting the fluid pressure into an electrical signal and provided with a flow passage for said liquid, a flow control device connected to said flow passage and which is capable of being connected to an external sterilized-liquid supply source and of restricting the flow rate of said liquid, and a three-way stop cock, said three-way stop cock comprising a valve box, and a valve rotatably disposed in said valve box, said valve box being provided with a first communication port connected to said flow passage, a second communication port connected to a path for transmitting the pressure of a fluid to be measured, said first and second communication ports being located in alignment with each other, and a third communication port located in the direction perpendicular to a straight line which connects said first and second communication ports, said valve being provided with three channels which perpendicularly intersect in a T-like configuration and being capable of placing said three communication ports in communication with one another, said pressure transducer, said flow control device and said three-way stop cock being integrally combined.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 184 words

A disposable pressure transducer apparatus comprising a pressure transducer capable of converting the fluid pressure into an electrical signal and provided with a flow passage for said liquid, a pressure-waveform correcting device which communicate with said flow passage and arranged to damp an anomalous pressure wave which is transmitted to said pressure transducer, and a three-way stop cock, said three-way stop cock comprising a valve box, and a valve rotatably disposed in said valve box, said valve box being provided with a first communication port connected to said flow passage, a second communication port connected to a path for transmitting the fluid pressure to be measured, said first and second communication ports being located in alignment with each other, and a third communication port located in the direction perpendicular to a straight line which connects said first and second communication ports, said valve being provided with three channels which perpendicularly intersect in a T-like configuration and being capable of placing said three communication ports in communication with one another, said pressure transducer, said pressure-waveform correcting device and said three-way stop cock being integrally combined.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 184 words

A disposable pressure transducer apparatus comprising a pressure transducer capable of converting the fluid pressure into an electrical signal and provided with a flow passage for said liquid, a pressure-waveform correcting device which communicate with said flow passage and arranged to damp an anomalous pressure wave which is transmitted to said pressure transducer, and a three-way stop cock, said three-way stop cock comprising a valve box, and a valve rotatably disposed in said valve box, said valve box being provided with a first communication port connected to said flow passage, a second communication port connected to a path for transmitting the fluid pressure to be measured, said first and second communication ports being located in alignment with each other, and a third communication port located in the direction perpendicular to a straight line which connects said first and second communication ports, said valve being provided with three channels which perpendicularly intersect in a T-like configuration and being capable of placing said three communication ports in communication with one another, said pressure transducer, said pressure-waveform correcting device and said three-way stop cock being integrally combined.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 61 words

A disposable pressure transducer apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said pressure-waveform correcting device is provided with an air chamber and a resistance portion which communicate with said flow passage and arranged to damp an anomalous pressure wave which is transmitted to said pressure transducer when said liquid in said flow passage flows into said air chamber through said resistance portion.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 212 words

A disposable pressure transducer apparatus comprising a pressure transducer capable of converting the fluid pressure into an electrical signal and provided with a flow passage for said liquid, a flow control device capable of being connected to an external sterilized-liquid supply source and of restricting the flow rate of said liquid, a pressure-waveform correcting device which communicate with said flow passage and arranged to damp an anomalous pressure wave which is transmitted to said pressure transducer, and a three way stop cock, said three way stop cock comprising a valve box, and a valve rotatably disposed in said valve box, said valve box being provided with a first communication port connected to said flow passage, a second communication port connected to a path for transmitting the pressure of a fluid to be measured, said first and second communication ports being located in alignment with each other, a third communication port located in the direction perpendicular to a straight line which connects said first and second communication ports, and a fourth communication port which opposes said third communication port, said valve being provided with three channels which perpendicularly intersect in a T-like configuration and said pressure transducer, said flow control device, said pressure-waveform correcting device and said three-way stop cock being integrally combined.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 212 words

A disposable pressure transducer apparatus comprising a pressure transducer capable of converting the fluid pressure into an electrical signal and provided with a flow passage for said liquid, a flow control device capable of being connected to an external sterilized-liquid supply source and of restricting the flow rate of said liquid, a pressure-waveform correcting device which communicate with said flow passage and arranged to damp an anomalous pressure wave which is transmitted to said pressure transducer, and a three way stop cock, said three way stop cock comprising a valve box, and a valve rotatably disposed in said valve box, said valve box being provided with a first communication port connected to said flow passage, a second communication port connected to a path for transmitting the pressure of a fluid to be measured, said first and second communication ports being located in alignment with each other, a third communication port located in the direction perpendicular to a straight line which connects said first and second communication ports, and a fourth communication port which opposes said third communication port, said valve being provided with three channels which perpendicularly intersect in a T-like configuration and said pressure transducer, said flow control device, said pressure-waveform correcting device and said three-way stop cock being integrally combined.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 61 words

A disposable pressure transducer apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said pressure-waveform correcting device is provided with an air chamber and a resistance portion which communicate with said flow passage and arranged to damp an anomalous pressure wave which is transmitted to said pressure transducer when said liquid in said flow passage flows into said air chamber through said resistance portion.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 35 words

A disposable pressure transducer apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, wherein said three-way stop cock is capable of placing at least three of said first to fourth communication ports in communication with one another.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 169 words

A disposable pressure transducer apparatus according to claim 16, 17 or 18 wherein an inner wall surface of said fluid chamber of said housing is treated with a hydrophilic treatment, at least a downstream portion of said fluid chamber as viewed in the direction in which a fluid flows in said housing having a flow passage area which varies progressively, the ratio of the area of a diaphragm portion on which a pressure sensitive gauge portion of said sensor chip is formed to the cross-sectional area of an inner space of said coupling lid which is charged with a pressure-transmitting medium being 5 or more, the distance between said pressure transducer and said flow control device being selected to be equal to or less than 3 % of the overall length of said path for transmitting the pressure of said fluid to be measured, which path starts at said pressure transducer, and said resistance portion of said pressure-waveform correcting device being formed in a plane in a serpentine manner.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 128 words

A disposable pressure transducer apparatus according to claim 13, 14 or 15 wherein said three-way stop cock comprises a valve box and a valve rotatably disposed in said valve box, said valve box is provided with a first communication port connected to the flow passage and a second communication port connected to a path for transmitting the fluid pressure to be measured, the first and second communication ports being locatedin alignment with each other, and a third communication port located in the direction perpendicular to a straight line which connects said first and second communication ports, and said valve is provided with three channels which perpendicularly intersect in T-like configuration and is capable of placing at least two of said three communicaton ports in communicaton with one another.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 68 words

A disposable pressure transducer apparatus according to claim 13, 14 or 15 wherein said valve box of the aforesaid three-way stop cock further includes a fourth communication port which opposes said third communication port, said valve being provided with three channels which perpendicularly interect in a T-like configuration and being capable of placing at least three of said first to fourth communication port in communication with one another.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 55 words

A disposable pressure transducer apparatus according to claim 15 or 17 wherein said resistance portion of said pressure-waveform correcting device is made from a straight line, a curve, a combination of straight and curved lines, or a combination of different straight lines, said air chamber being connected to the terminal end of the fluid passage.

Disposable pressure transducer

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag