System, method, and apparatus for estimating liquid delivery
US9636455B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 2012 |
| Grant date | May 2, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 1, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG16H40/60
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A pump, related system, and related method are provided. The pump includes a reservoir, a port, and a plunger. The reservoir delivers a liquid by discharging the liquid through the port coupled to the reservoir. The plunger has a piston coupled to a shaft and is disposed within the reservoir in sliding engagement with an inner surface of the reservoir. The piston defines a liquid side of the reservoir and a non-liquid side of the reservoir whereby movement of the plunger towards the liquid side of the reservoir discharges liquid through the port. The pump also includes a reference-volume assembly and/or a linear position sensor. The reference-volume assembly is coupled to the reservoir at an opposite end of the reservoir relative to the port and includes a reference-volume chamber in acoustic communication with the non-liquid side of the reservoir, a speaker disposed within the reference-volume chamber, and a reference microphone disposed within the reference-volume chamber. The reference-volume assembly and/or linear position sensor may be used to estimate the amount of liquid discharged from the reservoir.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.