Tissue specimen removal device, system and method
Inventors
Paulus, Joseph A. • Balleria, Carlo • Johnson, Dirk • Johnson, Kristin D. • Gregg, William N.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12018997-B2
Publication Date
2024-06-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method and device for detecting leaks of a containment barrier. The method may comprise placing the barrier in contact with one or more volumes of fluid such that the one or more volumes of fluid is in contact with a first surface and a second surface of the containment barrier, then placing a first electrode in contact with a first volume of fluid within in a first area defined by the first surface of the containment barrier. The method may then comprise placing a second electrode in contact with a second volume of fluid in a second area defined by the second surface of the containment barrier, measuring electrical conductivity between the first and second electrodes; and determining a presence of a leak in the containment barrier based on a calculation using properties of the one or more volumes of fluid, the containment barrier, and the measured electrical conductivity.
Core Innovation
A containment barrier is placed in contact with first and second volumes of fluid such that a first surface of the containment barrier contacts the first volume and a second surface contacts the second volume. A first electrode is placed in contact with the first volume of fluid, and a second electrode is placed in contact with the second volume of fluid. Pressure is applied via a pressurization device to a volume of air above at least one of the first and second volumes, with the pressure selected to provide sufficient pressure differential between the first and second surfaces to overcome a capillary pressure at a hole, if present, in the containment barrier.
Electrical conductivity is measured between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a presence of a leak is determined based on a calculation using properties of the first and second volumes of fluid, the containment barrier, and the measured electrical conductivity. At least one of the first and second volumes of fluid has a fluid surface tension of at most 42 dyne/cm, and the containment barrier comprises one of a sheet and a film.
In a further leak-detection method, the containment barrier is placed in contact with first and second volumes of fluid with at least one fluid volume exhibiting a fluid surface tension of at most 42 dyne/cm, and AC electrical signal is applied across the containment barrier using the first and second electrodes. A frequency is swept from DC to an AC frequency while monitoring a phase angle between applied voltage and current reaching −45°, and the frequency at which the phase angle reaches −45° is measured.
A presence of a leak is determined based on a calculated phase angle of a known DC capacitance for a control containment barrier without a leak and resistive and reactive capacitance values of the containment barrier, and leak size is estimated based on the frequency at which the phase angle reaches −45° without measuring a resistance between the first and second electrodes, taking into account at least one of resistivity, conductivity, and capacitance exhibited by the containment barrier between the first and second volumes of fluid.
Claims Coverage
The provided partial content includes three independent claims. Across these independent claims, the inventive subject matter centers on pressurized air overcoming capillary pressure at a potential hole, electrical conductivity measurement or AC phase-angle frequency sweeping, and at least one fluid surface tension of at most 42 dyne/cm for a sheet or film containment barrier.
Leak detection using pressurized fluids and conductivity calculation
A method providing an outer vessel containing first and second volumes of fluid separated by a containment barrier, placing first and second electrodes in contact with the respective fluid volumes, applying pressure to air above the fluids to overcome capillary pressure at a hole if present, measuring electrical conductivity between the electrodes, and determining a presence of a leak based on a calculation using properties of the fluid volumes, the containment barrier, and the measured electrical conductivity, wherein at least one fluid volume has a fluid surface tension of at most 42 dyne/cm and the containment barrier comprises one of a sheet and a film.
Leak detection device using pressurized fluids and conductivity measurement
A device having an outer vessel retaining a first fluid volume, the containment barrier, and a second fluid volume within the containment barrier, a first electrode in contact with the first volume of fluid, a second electrode in contact with the second volume of fluid, a pressurization device applying pressure to air above at least one fluid volume selected to overcome capillary pressure at a hole if present, and a measurement device measuring electrical conductivity between the first and second electrodes, wherein at least one fluid volume has a fluid surface tension of at most 42 dyne/cm and the containment barrier comprises one of a sheet and a film.
Leak detection using AC phase-angle frequency sweep and capacitive comparison
A method placing a containment barrier in contact with first and second fluid volumes with at least one fluid volume having a fluid surface tension of at most 42 dyne/cm, placing first and second electrodes in contact with the respective fluid volumes, applying a pressure to air above at least one fluid volume to overcome capillary pressure at a hole if present, applying an AC electrical signal across the containment barrier using the first and second electrodes, sweeping frequency from DC to an AC frequency while monitoring a phase angle between applied voltage and current reaching −45°, measuring the frequency at which the phase angle reaches −45°, determining a presence of a leak based on a calculated phase angle of a known DC capacitance for a control containment barrier without a leak and resistive and reactive capacitance values of the containment barrier, and estimating a size of the leak based on the frequency at which the phase angle reaches −45° without measuring a resistance between the first and second electrodes, wherein determining the presence of the leak accounts for at least one of resistivity, conductivity, and capacitance exhibited by the containment barrier between the first and second volumes of fluid.
Across the independent claims, leak detection for a containment barrier is supported by pressurized air to overcome capillary pressure at a potential hole, combined with electrical measurement. The claims cover both conductivity-based determination and an AC phase-angle frequency sweep approach that compares against capacitive behavior of a control containment barrier and enables leak-size estimation without measuring resistance, while incorporating fluid surface tension constraints to at most 42 dyne/cm.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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