Ultrasonic air-in-line detector for detecting entrained air in a medication infusion system
US5176631A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 16, 1990 |
| Grant date | Jan 5, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 16, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S128/13
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An ultrasonic air-in-line detection system for use in detecting entrained air bubbles in the fluid line of a disposable cassette mounted on a main pump unit is disclosed which can accurately detect entrained air bubbles in any type of fluid, whether clear or opaque. The system uses multiple windowing and air volume number weighting to determine when a threshold count of entrained air in a predetermined number of windows of material pumped occurs, with the alarm being sounded only when this threshold count of air bubbles is present in the multiple window volume. The system of the present invention thus will detect entrained air while avoiding so-called nuisance alarms.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.