Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for measuring the volume of a fluid

US5423781A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
16References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 11, 1992
Grant dateJun 13, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 11, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S206/818
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for measuring the volume of a fluid using a load cell transducer in which the container holding the fluid, such as a cardiotomy reservoir, is firmly but detachably engaged to an adapter for a load cell transducer. Further, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting the presence and alignment of the container on a load cell so as to allow accurate measurement of the volume of a fluid contained within the container. The apparatus generally includes a magnetic ring on a bottom-facing surface of the container, a metallic ring on an upward-facing surface of the mounting adapter for the load cell and a sensor capable of detecting a magnetic field.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.