US5177993A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air-in-line sensor
Assignee: CareFusion 303 Inc
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Filing: 1991-07-22
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Granted: 1993-01-12
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Expires: 2011-07-22
Abstract
Abstract An air-in-line sensor is provided comprising an adapter for insertion in the fluid line and a sensor housing. The adapter is semi-compliant and includes convex-shaped acoustic coupling surfaces for engaging the straight and rigid transducer sensing walls of the housing. The convex surfaces of the adapter have a larger diameter than the distance between the housing sensing walls and an interference fit results. Due to this interference fit, the shape of the coupling surfaces, the varying thicknesses of the adapter walls and the difference in compliance of the materials of the adapter and the housing, a more uniform contact pressure profile is provided. The upper part of each sensing channel wall in the housing includes a ledge which wipes contaminants from the coupling surfaces of the adapter as it is inserted into the sensor channel of the housing. The inner passage of the adapter in the sensing section is tapered and this shape resists bubbles which may otherwise tend to adhere to the interior surface of the adapter and be detected by the transducers.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth A. Beckman
- 👤 James E. Dikeman
- 👤 Simon E. Finburgh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/36; A61M5/365; A61M5/14; A61M5/142; A61M5/14212; A61M5/14228; G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/02; G01N29/032; G01N29/22; G01N29/28; A61M39/00; A61M39/08; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/024; G01N2291/02433; G01N2291/10; G01N2291/102; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A sensor for sensing a fluid line, the sensor comprising: a fluid line adapter inserted in the fluid line, the adapter having first and second ends and adapted to attach at both ends to the fluid line and having an inner passage which is in fluid communication with the fluid line, the adapter having a coupling segment comprising two coupling surfaces located diametrically opposite each other, the adapter further comprising an orientation tab; and a sensor housing, the housing comprising: an indentation which receives the orientation tab of the adapter in a predetermined orientation; a sensor channel comprising sensing walls which recieve the coupling surfaces of the adapter, the distance between the sensing walls being less than the diameter of the coupling surfaces of the adapter; and first and second transducers spaced apart across the channel which communicate sensing energy through the adapter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A sensor for sensing a fluid line, the sensor comprising: a fluid line adapter inserted in the fluid line, the adapter having first and second ends and adapted to attach at both ends to the fluid line and having an inner passage which is in fluid communication with the fluid line, the adapter having a coupling segment comprising two coupling surfaces located diametrically opposite each other, the adapter further comprising an orientation tab; and a sensor housing, the housing comprising: an indentation which receives the orientation tab of the adapter in a predetermined orientation; a sensor channel comprising sensing walls which recieve the coupling surfaces of the adapter, the distance between the sensing walls being less than the diameter of the coupling surfaces of the adapter; and first and second transducers spaced apart across the channel which communicate sensing energy through the adapter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the coupling surfaces are formed on coupling walls of the coupling segment of the adapter and the walls adjoining the coupling walls are support walls; wherein the support walls are thicker than the coupling walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The sensor of claim 2 wherein the support walls have a thickness selected to provide a predetermined pressure profile of the coupling surfaces against the sensing walls of the sensor channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein the adapter is formed of a semi-compliant material while the sensing walls of the sensor channel are rigid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein: the coupling surfaces of the adapter are convex; and the sensing walls are parallel and straight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The sensor of claim 1 further comprising a pair of ledges disposed above the sensing walls, the ledges are spaced apart by a distance which is less than the diameter of the coupling surfaces of the adapter, the ledges are adapted to receive the sensing surfaces of the adapter and thereby wipe off contaminants on the adapter during insertion of the adapter into the housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein the inner passage of the coupling segment of the adapter is tapered.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The sensor of claim 7 wherein the proximal opening of the inner passage through the coupling segment is larger than the distal opening of the coupling segment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein the fluid line adapter is inserted in the fluid line in a series arrangement so that an upstream fluid line is connected to the proximal end of the adapter and a downstream fluid line is connected to the distal end of the adapter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The sensor of claim 1 wherein the adapter is formed of a semi-compliant material and the coupling surfaces are convex; the sensing walls of the housing are formed of a rigid material and are straight; whereby the coupling surfaces of the adapter are reshaped to conform to the sensing walls.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
210 words
A sensor for sensing a fluid line, the sensor comprising: a fluid line adapter inserted in the fluid line in a series arrangement so that an upstream fluid line is connected to the proximal end of the adapter and a downstream fluid line is connected to the distal end of the adapter, the adapter having an inner passage which is in fluid communication with the fluid line, the adapter having a coupling segment comprising two coupling surfaces located diametrically opposite each other, the coupling surfaces are formed on coupling walls of the coupling segment of the adapter and the walls adjoining the coupling walls are support walls, the adapter further comprising an orientation tab; and a sensor housing, the housing comprising: an indentation which receives the orientation tab of the adapter in a predetermined orientation; a sensor channel comprising sensing walls which receive the coupling surfaces of the adapter, the distance between the sensing walls being less than the diameter of the coupling surfaces of the adapter; and first and second transducers spaced apart across the channel which communicate sensing energy through the adapter; wherein the support walls have a thickness selected to provide a predetermined pressure profile of the coupling surfaces against the sensing walls of the sensor channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
210 words
A sensor for sensing a fluid line, the sensor comprising: a fluid line adapter inserted in the fluid line in a series arrangement so that an upstream fluid line is connected to the proximal end of the adapter and a downstream fluid line is connected to the distal end of the adapter, the adapter having an inner passage which is in fluid communication with the fluid line, the adapter having a coupling segment comprising two coupling surfaces located diametrically opposite each other, the coupling surfaces are formed on coupling walls of the coupling segment of the adapter and the walls adjoining the coupling walls are support walls, the adapter further comprising an orientation tab; and a sensor housing, the housing comprising: an indentation which receives the orientation tab of the adapter in a predetermined orientation; a sensor channel comprising sensing walls which receive the coupling surfaces of the adapter, the distance between the sensing walls being less than the diameter of the coupling surfaces of the adapter; and first and second transducers spaced apart across the channel which communicate sensing energy through the adapter; wherein the support walls have a thickness selected to provide a predetermined pressure profile of the coupling surfaces against the sensing walls of the sensor channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The sensor of claim 11 wherein the inner passage of the coupling segment of the adapter is tapered.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The sensor of claim 12 wherein the proximal opening of the inner passage through the coupling segment is larger than the distal opening of the coupling segment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The sensor of claim 12 wherein the adapter is formed of a semi-compliant material and the coupling surfaces are convex; the sensing walls of the housing are formed of a rigid material and are straight; whereby the coupling surfaces of the adapter are reshaped to conform to the sensing walls.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
The sensor of claim 12 further comprising a pair of ledges disposed above the sensing walls, the ledges are spaced apart by a distance which is less than the diameter of the coupling surfaces of the adapter, the ledges are adapted to receive the sensing surfaces of the adapter and thereby wipe off contaminants on the adapter during insertion of the adapter into the housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
240 words
A sensor for sensing a fluid line, the sensor comprising: a fluid line adapter inserted in the fluid line in a series arrangement so that an upstream fluid line is connected to the proximal end of the adapter and a downstream fluid line is connected to the distal end of the adapter, the adapter having an inner passage which is tapered and which is in fluid communication with the fluid line, the adapter having a coupling segment comprising two coupling surfaces located diametrically opposite each other, the coupling surfaces are formed on coupling walls of the coupling segment of the adapter and the walls adjoining the coupling walls are support walls, the adapter further comprising an orientation tab and a positioning ring; and a sensor housing, the housing comprising: an indentation which receives the orientation tab of the adapter in a predetermined orientation; a positioning channel which receives the positioning ring of the adapter to resist longitudinal movement of the adapter in the sensor housing; a sensor channel comprising sensing walls which receive the coupling surfaces of the adapter, the distance between the sensing walls being less than the diameter of the coupling surfaces of the adapter; and first and second transducers spaced apart across the channel which communicate sensing energy through the adapter; wherein the support walls have a thickness selected to provide a predetermined pressure profile of the coupling surfaces against the sensing walls of the sensor channel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
240 words
A sensor for sensing a fluid line, the sensor comprising: a fluid line adapter inserted in the fluid line in a series arrangement so that an upstream fluid line is connected to the proximal end of the adapter and a downstream fluid line is connected to the distal end of the adapter, the adapter having an inner passage which is tapered and which is in fluid communication with the fluid line, the adapter having a coupling segment comprising two coupling surfaces located diametrically opposite each other, the coupling surfaces are formed on coupling walls of the coupling segment of the adapter and the walls adjoining the coupling walls are support walls, the adapter further comprising an orientation tab and a positioning ring; and a sensor housing, the housing comprising: an indentation which receives the orientation tab of the adapter in a predetermined orientation; a positioning channel which receives the positioning ring of the adapter to resist longitudinal movement of the adapter in the sensor housing; a sensor channel comprising sensing walls which receive the coupling surfaces of the adapter, the distance between the sensing walls being less than the diameter of the coupling surfaces of the adapter; and first and second transducers spaced apart across the channel which communicate sensing energy through the adapter; wherein the support walls have a thickness selected to provide a predetermined pressure profile of the coupling surfaces against the sensing walls of the sensor channel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sensor of claim 16 wherein the adapter is formed of a semi-compliant material while the sensing walls of the sensor channel are rigid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The sensor of claim 17 wherein: the coupling surfaces of the adapter are convex; and the sensing walls are parallel and straight.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
65 words
The sensor of claim 16 further comprising a pair of ledges disposed above the sensing walls, the ledges are spaced apart by a distance which is less than the diameter of the coupling surfaces of the adapter, the ledges are adapted to receive the sensing surfaces of the adapter and thereby wipe off contaminants on the adapter during insertion of the adapter into the housing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-01-12 | 1996-07-13 | 1997-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-01-12 | 2000-07-13 | 2001-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-01-12 | 2004-07-13 | 2005-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |