Apparatus and method for remote pressure control of a fluidic bladder
US10806625B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 2, 2015 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 10, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2007/0093
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A bladder pressure estimator has in sequence a pump, a first hose, a supply pressure sensor, a second hose, a bladder having an inlet coupled to the second hose, a bladder outlet coupled to a third hose of substantially equal length to the second hose, a return pressure sensor, and a fourth hose coupled to the return pressure sensor and returning fluid from the pump to the reservoir. A pressure estimate is formed by establishing the second hose length and inner diameter as the same as the third hose length and inner diameter, and forming the pressure estimate by averaging the supply pressure and return pressure. In an alternative embodiment, a control regulator forms an error signal from the difference between a setpoint and the average of the supply and return pressures. A head pressure measurement may be done by turning the pump off after a steady state reading is made.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.