US4650458A — Apparatus for the measurement of fluid flow

Claim 1

Independent Claim 157 words

Apparatus for the measurement of a filtrate separated from a supply of blood and replacement of said filtrate with a replacement fluid as a substitute for said filtrate in said blood comprising measuring means for measuring the amount of said filtrate flowing therethrough, first conduit means for continuously delivering said filtrate to said measuring means, second conduit means for supplying an amount of a replacement fluid as a substitute for said measured amount of said filtrate, pump means associated with said first conduit means for drawing said filtrate through said first conduit means into said measuring means, and pressure equalizing means associated with said first conduit means and located at a point in said first conduit means between said pump means and said measuring means for equalizing the pressure in said filtrate flowing through said first conduit means, whereby the flow of said filtrate through said measuring means is substantially unaffected by pressure variations in said filtrate.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 157 words

Apparatus for the measurement of a filtrate separated from a supply of blood and replacement of said filtrate with a replacement fluid as a substitute for said filtrate in said blood comprising measuring means for measuring the amount of said filtrate flowing therethrough, first conduit means for continuously delivering said filtrate to said measuring means, second conduit means for supplying an amount of a replacement fluid as a substitute for said measured amount of said filtrate, pump means associated with said first conduit means for drawing said filtrate through said first conduit means into said measuring means, and pressure equalizing means associated with said first conduit means and located at a point in said first conduit means between said pump means and said measuring means for equalizing the pressure in said filtrate flowing through said first conduit means, whereby the flow of said filtrate through said measuring means is substantially unaffected by pressure variations in said filtrate.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 1, including filter means for contacting with said supply of blood so as to produce said filtrate therefrom.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pressure equalizing means is located at a point in said first conduit means substantially adjacent to said measuring means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pressure equalizing means includes bubble collection means for collecting any gas bubbles contained within said filtrate so as to prevent said gas bubbles from being delivered to said measuring means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pump means comprises a peristaltic pump, whereby said pump means can contact the outer surface of said first conduit means for drawing said filtrate therethrough.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said measuring means comprises first measuring means, and including second measuring means for measuring the amount of said replacement fluid flowing into said second conduit means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 6, including comparison means for comparing the amounts of said filtrate and said replacement fluid measured by said first and second measuring means, respectively.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 47 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pressure equalizing means comprises first pressure equalizing means, and including second pressure equalizing means, said second pressure equalizing means being associatd with said second conduit means for equalizing the pressure in said replacement fluid flowing through said second conduit means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one of said first and second pressure equalizing means includes a housing and fluid level control means for maintaining the level of said fluid within said housing at a predetermined level therein.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one of said first and second pressure equalizing means includes froth reduction means for reducing the creation of froth from said fluid therein.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pressure equalizing means includes a housing and fluid level control means for maintaining the level of said filtrate within said housing at a predetermined level therein.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 94 words

The apparatus of claim 11 or 9, wherein said liquid level control means comprises membrane means having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface of said membrane means being in contact with said housing, whereby said first surface of said membrane means is accessible to said fluid contained within said housing, said second surface of said membrane means being exposed to the atmosphere, said membrane means being gas permeable and fluid impermeable, whereby said fluid level within said housing can be controlled by the passage of gas through said membrane means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said housing includes an outer wall including a window, and wherein said membrane means is contained within said window.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 52 words

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said outer wall of said housing including said window means is vertically disposed, and wherein said membrane means includes an upper end and a lower end, whereby said fluid level may be controlled substantially between said upper end and said lower end of said membrane means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said membrane means is entirely enclosed within said housing.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 12, including membrane conduit means connecting said second surface of said membrane means to the atmosphere.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said membrane means is horizontally disposed within said housing.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said first surface of said membrane means is directed generally upwardly and wherein said second surface of said membrane means is directed generally downwardly.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said membrane conduit means extends generally vertically downwardly from said second surface of said membrane means, whereby any condensate formed within said membrane conduit means runs downwardly along said membrane conduit means and away from said membrane means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said housing for said pressure equalizing means includes a fluid inlet at the upper end thereof, said fluid inlet being in fluid communication with said first conduit means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said housing includes froth reduction means therein for reducing the creation of froth from said fluid between said fluid inlet and said membrane means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said housing for said pressure equalizing means includes a fluid outlet at the lower end thereof, said fluid outlet being in fluid communication with said first conduit means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pressure equalizing means includes froth reduction means for reducing the creation of froth from said filtrate therein.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 1, including temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of said filtrate flowing through said first conduit means.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 168 words

A device for equalizing the pressure of a fluid flowing in a fluid conduit, said device comprising a housing in fluid communication with said fluid conduit, fluid level control means for maintaining the level of said fluid within said housing at a predetermined level therein, said liquid level control means comprising membrane means having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface of said membrane means being in contact with the inside of said housing, whereby said first surface of said membrane means is accessible to said fluid contained within said housing, said second surface of said membrane means being exposed to the atmosphere, said membrane means being gas permeable and fluid impermeable, whereby said fluid level can be controlled by the passage of gas through said membrane means, and condensate removal means for removal of any condensate formed relative to said second surface of said membrane means so as to prevent said condensate from interfering with said passage of said gas through said membrane means.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 168 words

A device for equalizing the pressure of a fluid flowing in a fluid conduit, said device comprising a housing in fluid communication with said fluid conduit, fluid level control means for maintaining the level of said fluid within said housing at a predetermined level therein, said liquid level control means comprising membrane means having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface of said membrane means being in contact with the inside of said housing, whereby said first surface of said membrane means is accessible to said fluid contained within said housing, said second surface of said membrane means being exposed to the atmosphere, said membrane means being gas permeable and fluid impermeable, whereby said fluid level can be controlled by the passage of gas through said membrane means, and condensate removal means for removal of any condensate formed relative to said second surface of said membrane means so as to prevent said condensate from interfering with said passage of said gas through said membrane means.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said condensate removal means includes membrane conduit means connecting said second surface of said membrane means to the atmosphere.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said membrane means is horizontally disposed within said housing.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said first surface of said membrane means is directed generally upwardly and wherein said second surface of said membrane means is directed generally downwardly.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said membrane conduit means extends generally vertically downwardly from said second surface of said membrane means, whereby any condensate formed within said membrane conduit means runs downwardly along said membrane conduit means and away from said membrane means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-03-16	1990-09-15	1991-03-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-03-16	1994-09-15	1995-03-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-03-16	1998-09-15	1999-03-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for the measurement of fluid flow

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