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Publication Number
US-11679189-B2
Publication Date
2023-06-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for use with a pump. The method includes, (a) placing liquid in a tube coupled to the pump, (b) injecting an air bubble into the tube in a manner that does not increase pressure within the tube, and such that there is a predetermined volume of liquid between the air bubble and the pump, (c) using the pump to advance the air bubble along the tube to the bubble detector of the pump, (d) using the pump, assessing accuracy of the pump by automatically measuring the volume of liquid pumped to advance the air bubble to the bubble detector, and (e) using the pump to continue advancing the air bubble along the tube, past the bubble detector, and using the pump to measure a volume of the air bubble. Other applications are also described.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a fast calibration/testing system for a pump using a tube set coupled to the pump. Liquid is placed in a tube and an air bubble is created by injecting air into the tube in a manner that does not increase pressure within the tube, with a predetermined volume of liquid between the air bubble and the pump. The air bubble is then advanced along the tube to a bubble detector of the pump.
The method uses the pump to assess the accuracy of the pump by automatically measuring the volume of liquid pumped to advance the air bubble to the bubble detector. The pump continues advancing the air bubble past the bubble detector, and the method measures a volume of the air bubble. The tube is subsequently occluded downstream of the air bubble, and the pump increases pressure within the tube by pumping a volume of liquid.
The method measures a sensed increase in pressure within the tube using a sensor of the pump in response to the pumping of the volume of liquid. It assesses accuracy of the sensor based on the assessed increase in pressure and the sensed increase in pressure, where the assessed increase in pressure is based on the measured volume of liquid pumped to increase pressure within the tube and the measured volume of the air bubble. The bubble detector signals for liquid versus air are evaluated against pump-specific predetermined detection ranges to determine whether the bubble detector is properly calibrated.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim clm-00001 covers a multi-stage method with 10 inventive assessment steps: creating an air bubble with a predetermined liquid volume relationship, advancing it to a bubble detector, automatically determining pumped liquid volume, measuring the air-bubble volume, occluding the tube, inducing a pressure increase, measuring liquid volume and sensed pressure increase, and assessing accuracy of both the pumping and the pressure sensor. Dependent claims further refine the air-bubble advancement context, computed volume measurement via pumping-cycle counts, and bubble-detector signal evaluation against predetermined detection ranges.
Creating an air bubble in a tube with predetermined liquid volume between bubble and pump
Injecting air into the tube such that pressure within the tube does not increase and such that there is a predetermined volume of liquid between the air bubble and the pump.
Advancing an air bubble to the bubble detector of the pump
Using the pump to advance the air bubble along the tube to the bubble detector of the pump.
Automatically measuring volume of liquid pumped to advance the air bubble
Using the pump to automatically measuring the volume of liquid pumped to advance the air bubble to the bubble detector to assess accuracy of the pump.
Measuring an air-bubble volume after passing the bubble detector
Continuing advancing the air bubble along the tube past the bubble detector and using the pump to measure a volume of the air bubble.
Occluding the tube downstream of the air bubble
Subsequently occluding the tube downstream of the air bubble.
Increasing pressure within the tube by pumping liquid volume
Using the pump to increase pressure within the tube by pumping a volume of liquid.
Assessing pressure increase based on measured liquid volume and measured air-bubble volume
Assessing the increase in pressure within the tube based on the measured volume of liquid pumped to increase pressure within the tube and the measured volume of the air bubble.
Measuring sensed increase in pressure within the tube with a pump sensor
Using a sensor of the pump to measure a sensed increase in pressure in the tube in response to pumping the volume of liquid.
Assessing sensor accuracy based on assessed pressure increase and sensed pressure increase
Assessing accuracy of the sensor based on the assessed increase in pressure and the sensed increase in pressure.
Evaluating bubble detector liquid/air signals against predetermined detection ranges
Measuring an air-signal from a bubble detector upon detection of an air bubble and determining whether the measured air-signal value falls within a predetermined detection range.
Automatically measuring liquid volume using pumping-cycle counts
Automatically assessing the number of pumping cycles during which the pump advances the air bubble to the bubble detector.
Repeating calibration on the same tube with respective pumps
Repeating steps (B) through (K) by using the same tube to repeat those steps 10-50 times, using a respective pump each time.
Overall, clm-00001 establishes a method that creates a pressure-neutral air bubble with a predetermined liquid-volume relationship, advances it to a bubble detector, automatically links bubble detection to pumped-liquid volume, measures air-bubble volume, occludes the tube and induces a pressure increase, and compares assessed versus sensed pressure increase to assess sensor accuracy. Dependent claim themes refine volume measurement using pumping-cycle counts, evaluate bubble-detector air-signal within predetermined detection ranges, and optionally constrain bubble advancement context and repetition using multiple pumps on the same tube.
Stated Advantages
Fast calibration/testing of a pump using a tube set and a bubble detector.
Automatic assessment of pump accuracy by automatically measuring the volume of liquid pumped related to advancing an air bubble to the bubble detector.
Assessment of sensor accuracy by comparing assessed and sensed increase in pressure based on measured volumes.
Determination of whether the bubble detector is properly calibrated by evaluating liquid versus air signals against predetermined detection ranges.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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