Passive fluid flow regulator
US8539981B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 2009 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 6, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/87306
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A fluid flow regulator (1) of the passive type is disclosed which has a fluid inlet adapted to be connected to a fluid reservoir and a fluid outlet (13) adapted to be connected to a patient's body. The regulator comprises a rigid substrate (2) and a resilient membrane (3) tightly linked together so as to define a cavity (6) there between which is disconnected to the fluid outlet while the membrane has a first surface (12) opposite the cavity which is connected to the fluid inlet. The membrane has a plurality of through holes (15) contiguous with the cavity, to define a pathway for a fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, and is flexible so as to be able to come into contact with the substrate as a fluid applies a sufficient pressure on the first surface. The through holes are arranged such that, when the fluid pressure increases, they close one after the other to increase the regulator fluidic resistance so that a fluid flow rate would be substantially constant as a function of the pressure applied on the first surface within a predefined pressure range.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.