Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-9151731-B2
Publication Date
2015-10-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
A fluid pressure control device, including a pressurized fluid inlet, a first valve in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid inlet and controlling the flow of fluid from the pressurized fluid inlet, a first pressure measurement device detecting a fluid pressure downstream of the first valve, and a controller electrically coupled to the first valve. The first pressure measurement device causes the controller to operate the first valve such that a fluid downstream of the first valve is maintained at a substantially constant pressure.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a fluid pressure control device and a gas analyzer system that calibrate a gas analysis unit, including a blood gas analyzer, using low-pressure fluid pressure control. The system maintains fluid downstream of a first valve at a substantially constant pressure by using a first pressure measurement device detecting downstream pressure and a second pressure measurement device disposed upstream of the first valve that senses upstream pressure. A controller electrically coupled to the first valve operates the first valve based on the measured pressures.
In the described control scheme, the first valve is opened in response to upstream sensed pressure relative to a threshold. In one form, when the upstream sensed pressure is greater than a threshold, the controller operates the first valve such that the valve opens for a specified time period. In another form, when the upstream sensed pressure is less than a threshold, the first valve opens until the pressure sensed by the first pressure measurement device exceeds a second threshold.
The gas analyzer system includes a pressurized calibration gas canister, a two-way valve, and a three-way valve, with a lumen fluidly connecting the two-way and three-way valves. The system includes a first pressure measurement device detecting calibration gas pressure downstream of the two-way valve and an electronic controller coupled to the pressure measurement device that maintains calibration gas in the lumen at a substantially constant pressure. The three-way valve selectively provides calibration gas from the common outlet to a gas analysis unit while also providing an atmospheric gas inlet pathway.
Claims Coverage
The document includes four independent claims that cover a fluid pressure control device, a gas analyzer system, a method for controlling fluid pressure supplied to an analyzer, and another fluid pressure control device form. Across these independent claims, the core inventive theme is maintaining substantially constant downstream or lumen pressure using upstream and downstream pressure measurement and controller-driven operation of a valve based on threshold conditions.
Upstream/downstream pressure measurement with threshold-timed valve opening
A fluid pressure control device includes a pressurized fluid inlet, a first valve controlling flow from the pressurized fluid inlet, a first pressure measurement device detecting fluid pressure downstream of the first valve, a controller electrically coupled to the first valve, and a second pressure measurement device disposed upstream of the first valve that senses fluid pressure upstream of the first valve, wherein the first pressure measurement device causes the controller to operate the first valve such that fluid downstream of the first valve is maintained at a substantially constant pressure, and wherein, when the fluid pressure sensed by the second pressure measurement device is greater than a threshold, the first valve opens for a specified time period.
Gas analyzer system with pressurized calibration gas canister and two-way/three-way valve switching while maintaining substantially constant lumen pressure
A gas analyzer system comprises a pressurized calibration gas canister, a two-way valve having an inlet and an outlet, a three-way valve having a calibration gas inlet, an atmospheric gas inlet, and a common outlet, a lumen fluidly connecting the two-way valve and the three-way valve, a first pressure measurement device detecting calibration gas pressure downstream of the two-way valve, an electronic controller coupled to the first pressure measurement device, and a gas analysis unit in fluid communication with the common outlet of the three-way valve, wherein calibration gas in the lumen is maintained at a substantially constant pressure.
Method of controlling analyzer-supplied fluid pressure using valve switching and sensing between valves
A method for controlling fluid pressure of a fluid supplied to an analyzer comprises connecting a pressurized fluid source vessel to a fluid pressure control device including a two-way valve and a three-way valve; selectively switching the three-way valve such that the three-way valve provides atmospheric gas or fluid from the pressurized fluid source vessel to an analyzer in fluid communication with the three-way valve; sensing the pressure of fluid from the pressurized fluid source vessel at a location between the three-way valve and the two-way valve; and selectively opening the two-way valve upon detection of a fluid pressure less than a first threshold such that the sensed fluid pressure remains substantially constant and at a pressure lower than the pressurized fluid source vessel.
Threshold-based valve opening until downstream exceeds a second threshold
A fluid pressure control device comprises a pressurized fluid inlet, a first valve in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid inlet, a first pressure measurement device detecting a fluid pressure downstream of the first valve, a controller electrically coupled to the first valve, and a second pressure measurement device disposed upstream of the first valve that senses a fluid pressure upstream of the first valve, wherein the first pressure measurement device causes the controller to operate the first valve such that fluid downstream of the first valve is maintained at a substantially constant pressure, and wherein, when the fluid pressure sensed by the second pressure measurement device is less than a threshold, the first valve opens until a sensed fluid pressure at the first pressure measurement device exceeds a second threshold.
Collectively, the independent claims define devices and a method that maintain substantially constant downstream or lumen pressure for a fluid supplied to an analyzer by using both upstream and downstream pressure measurement and a controller-operated valve. The control behavior is specified either as time-period valve opening when upstream pressure is above a threshold or as valve opening until downstream pressure exceeds a second threshold when upstream pressure is below a threshold, while the gas analyzer system further integrates two-way and three-way valves and a pressurized calibration gas canister feeding a gas analysis unit.
Stated Advantages
Maintains fluid downstream of the first valve at a substantially constant pressure.
Maintains calibration gas in the lumen at a substantially constant pressure for a gas analysis unit.
Provides a threshold-based operation of the first valve to control the maintained downstream pressure.
Documented Applications
Calibration of a gas analysis unit, including a blood gas analyzer, using a gas analyzer system that supplies calibration gas and atmospheric gas via a three-way valve.
Interested in licensing this patent?