WO1997006413B1 - Disposable electromagnetic fluid level sensor - Google Patents
Disposable electromagnetic fluid level sensorInfo
- Publication number
- WO1997006413B1 WO1997006413B1 PCT/US1996/012679 US9612679W WO9706413B1 WO 1997006413 B1 WO1997006413 B1 WO 1997006413B1 US 9612679 W US9612679 W US 9612679W WO 9706413 B1 WO9706413 B1 WO 9706413B1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- sensor
- electromagnetic
- container
- fluid level
- signal
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 title claims abstract 37
- 230000001070 adhesive Effects 0.000 claims abstract 5
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 claims abstract 5
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims 5
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims 4
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 claims 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 230000001808 coupling Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000032798 delamination Effects 0.000 claims 1
Abstract
A disposable fluid level sensor is disclosed for determining the level of fluid in a container (12). A flex circuit sensor (16) is coupled to a processing module (20) having a power supply, the flex circuit sensor being mounted at a selectable location by an adhesive patch which holds the sensor flush against the container. The processing module hangs from the flex circuit, and provides a human perceptible indication, such as a flashing light (32) or an audible alarm (34), when the fluid level drops below a desired point as determined by the sensor. The sensor detects the change in fluid level by transmitting an electromagnetic signal and determining whether there is a change in reflected energy.
Claims
1. A fluid level sensor for use in detecting the existence of fluid at a predetermined location in a container having sidewalls, said sensor comprising: an electromagnetic sensor means disposable at a predetermined location on a sidewall of the container for developing a electromagnetic level detection signal for transmission into the container and for receiving reflected electromagnetic signals therefrom; power supply means for supplying electrical current to said electromagnetic sensor means; attaching means coupled to the sensor means for holding the sensor means at the predetermined location along the sidewall of the container; a processing means coupled to the electromagnetic sensor means for processing electromagnetic signals received by the electromagnetic sensor means so as to determine whether fluid is present at the predetermined location, and for selectively developing a signal responsive to the signals received from the electromagnetic sensor means; and indication means for developing a human perceptible signal responsive to signals received from the processing means.
2. A fluid level sensor as in Claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic sensor means has front and back sides and wherein the attaching means comprises an adhesive patch having an adhesive side, said adhesive patch being coupled by the adhesive side to the container and integral to the front side of the electromagnetic sensor means so as to hold the front side of the sensor means against the container.
AMENDEDSHEET(ARTICLE19}
3. A fluid level sensor as in Claim 1, wherein the power supply means comprises a battery.
4. A fluid level sensor as in Claim 1, wherein said indication means includes means for producing an audible signal when the fluid in the container falls below the location of the sensor means on the sidewall thereof .
5. A fluid level sensor as in Claim 1, wherein said indication means includes means for producing a visual signal when the fluid in the container falls below the location of the sensor means on the sidewall thereof .
6. The fluid level sensor as in Claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic sensor means is temporarily coupled to the processing means such that the electromagnetic sensor means is disposable, and the processing means is reusable.
7. A fluid level sensor as in Claim 1, wherein said indication means includes means for producing a second human perceptible signal as long as the sensor means is developing the level detection signal.
8. A fluid level sensor as in Claim 7, wherein the indication means producing the second human perceptible signal comprises an intermittent light.
9. A fluid level sensor as in Claim 1, wherein said sensor means comprises means for developing an electromagnetic signal which, when applied to the container, transmits an electromagnetic signal used in determining whether fluid is at the location of the sensor means on the sidewall thereof.
10. A fluid level sensor as in Claim 9, wherein said means for developing an electromagnetic signal comprises a flex circuit disposed so as to be held flush against the container sidewall by the attaching means.
11. The fluid level sensor as in Claim 10, wherein the flex circuit has formed thereon a pair of circuit traces, an outer circuit trace surrounding a length of an inner circuit trace in a plane of the flex circuit, at least one of the traces acting as an antenna to transmit and receive electromagnetic energy therefrom, and at least one trace acting as a ground shield to reduce stray emissions and reduce the susceptibility of the inner circuit trace to electromagnetic interference.
12. The fluid level sensor as in Claim 11, wherein the sensor means is uncoupled from the container which activates an alarm means to indicate that the sensor means is uncoupled.
13. The fluid level sensor as in Claim 11, wherein the sensor means is uncoupled from the container and thereby rendered inoperative by destruction of the sensor means.
14. The fluid level sensor as in Claim 13, wherein the sensor means is rendered inoperative by delamination of the flex circuit outer circuit trace and inner circuit trace.
15. The fluid level sensor as in Claim 10, wherein the flex circuit transmits and receives electromagnetic energy in the range of 1 MHz to 10 GHz.
16. The fluid level sensor as in Claim 15, wherein the flex circuit transmits and receives electromagnetic energy at approximately 500 MHz.
AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 13)
17. The fluid level sensor as in Claim 10, wherein the processing means is coupled to the flex circuit at a flex circuit coupling end, the processing means being suspended below the flex circuit and thereby positioned adjacent to the container by the attaching means.
18. A fluid level sensor for use in detecting the level of fluid in a container having a sidewall, said sensor comprising: a disposable electromagnetic sensor means including a sensor and a circuit powered by electrical current for developing an electromagnetic level detection signal which when applied to the container from a location of the sensor means on a sidewall thereof will provide a human perceptible indication of whether fluid in the container is at the level of said location responsive to reflected electromagnetic signals; a battery connected to the sensor means for supplying electrical current to said sensor means; a reusable processing means in which the battery and at least a portion of the sensor means are disposed within; and attaching means joined to the sensor means for holding the sensor means at a predetermined location on the sidewall of the container.
19. The fluid level sensor of claim 18, wherein the processing means generates an indicator signal in response to changes in the electromagnetic level detection signal, and wherein the sensor means further comprises a visual indicator and an auditory indicator responsive to said indicator signal for generating a human perceptible signal when the level of fluid within the container passes below the location of the sensor means on the sidewall thereof.
20. A method for monitoring the presence of liquid at a predetermined level within a container, the method comprising: a) providing an electromagnetic signal emitting and sensing means; b) positioning said electromagnetic signal emitting and sensing means at a predetermined level outside of the container so as to emit electromagnetic signals into the container and receive electromagnetic signals from the container, so that the presence of liquid at the predetermined level point will cause the electromagnetic signal sensing means to receive a different amount of reflected electromagnetic energy than will absence of the liquid at the predetermined level; and c) generating a human perceptible signal in response to a change in the amount of reflected electromagnetic energy received by the electromagnetic signal sensing means.
21. The method for monitoring the presence of liquid as defined in Claim 20, wherein the human perceptible signal is generated in response to change from a state of negligible reflected electromagnetic energy to a state of substantial reflected electromagnetic energy.
22. The fluid level sensor of claim 18, wherein the electromagnetic level detection signal is between 1 MHz to 10 GHz.
23. The fluid level sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises means for suspending the processing means from the container.
24. The fluid level sensor of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic sensor means
A?.:Ξ DΞD SHEΓΓ (ARTICLE 19) comprises an antenna for emitting and receiving electromagnetic signals.
25. The fluid level sensor of claim 20, wherein step (b) comprises, more specifically, attaching a flexible antenna to the container.
26. The fluid level sensor of claim 25, wherein step (c) comprises, more specifically, attaching a processing means to the flexible antenna so that the processing means is suspended from the antenna, and generating a human perceptible signal with the processing means in response to a change in the amount of reflected electromagnetic energy received by the electromagnetic signal sensing means.
Priority Applications (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP96927305A EP0842402A2 (en) | 1995-08-04 | 1996-08-05 | Disposable electromagnetic fluid level sensor |
| JP9508573A JPH11510260A (en) | 1995-08-04 | 1996-08-05 | Disposable electromagnetic fluid level sensor |
| AU67176/96A AU6717696A (en) | 1995-08-04 | 1996-08-05 | Disposable electromagnetic fluid level sensor |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/511,380 US5789675A (en) | 1995-08-04 | 1995-08-04 | Disposable electromagnetic fluid level sensor |
| US08/511,380 | 1995-08-04 |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO1997006413A2 WO1997006413A2 (en) | 1997-02-20 |
| WO1997006413A3 WO1997006413A3 (en) | 1997-04-10 |
| WO1997006413B1 true WO1997006413B1 (en) | 1997-05-15 |
Family
ID=24034649
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US1996/012679 WO1997006413A2 (en) | 1995-08-04 | 1996-08-05 | Disposable electromagnetic fluid level sensor |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5789675A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0842402A2 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH11510260A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU6717696A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1997006413A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (30)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6192752B1 (en) * | 1995-08-04 | 2001-02-27 | Zevex, Inc. | Noninvasive electromagnetic fluid level sensor |
| CA2274191A1 (en) * | 1999-06-10 | 2000-12-10 | Ken Mann | Portable bin full indicator |
| US7017412B2 (en) * | 2002-04-18 | 2006-03-28 | University Of Utah Research Foundation | Continuous wave ultrasonic process monitor for polymer processing |
| CN1781423A (en) * | 2004-06-21 | 2006-06-07 | 美国森科皮奇有限公司 | Dispensing system for integrated household product inventory |
| US8118740B2 (en) * | 2004-12-20 | 2012-02-21 | Ipventure, Inc. | Moisture sensor for skin |
| US7843328B2 (en) * | 2005-11-22 | 2010-11-30 | Covidien Ag | Medical device with selectable status monitoring modes |
| US7722573B2 (en) | 2006-03-02 | 2010-05-25 | Covidien Ag | Pumping apparatus with secure loading features |
| US7927304B2 (en) | 2006-03-02 | 2011-04-19 | Tyco Healthcare Group Lp | Enteral feeding pump and feeding set therefor |
| US8021336B2 (en) | 2007-01-05 | 2011-09-20 | Tyco Healthcare Group Lp | Pump set for administering fluid with secure loading features and manufacture of component therefor |
| US7763005B2 (en) | 2006-03-02 | 2010-07-27 | Covidien Ag | Method for using a pump set having secure loading features |
| US7758551B2 (en) | 2006-03-02 | 2010-07-20 | Covidien Ag | Pump set with secure loading features |
| US8112293B2 (en) * | 2006-03-24 | 2012-02-07 | Ipventure, Inc | Medical monitoring system |
| US7726174B2 (en) | 2006-10-24 | 2010-06-01 | Zevex, Inc. | Universal air bubble detector |
| EP2183564B1 (en) * | 2007-08-24 | 2019-01-02 | Moog Inc. | Ultrasonic air and fluid detector |
| KR101646280B1 (en) | 2008-04-01 | 2016-08-05 | 제벡스, 아이엔씨. | Anti-free flow mechanism for enteral feeding pumps |
| US8425470B2 (en) | 2008-04-01 | 2013-04-23 | Zevex, Inc. | Anti-free-flow mechanism for enteral feeding pumps |
| WO2010091314A2 (en) | 2009-02-06 | 2010-08-12 | Zevex, Inc. | Air bubble detector |
| CA2751513C (en) | 2009-02-06 | 2016-04-05 | Zevex, Inc. | Automatic safety occluder |
| US8482295B2 (en) * | 2009-02-23 | 2013-07-09 | Hatch Ltd. | Electromagnetic bath level measurement for pyrometallurgical furnaces |
| US8486020B2 (en) | 2010-08-11 | 2013-07-16 | Zevex, Inc. | Pressure sensor and method of use |
| CN103260672B (en) | 2010-10-01 | 2015-11-25 | 泽维克斯公司 | For the pressure monitor system of infusion pump |
| US8911414B2 (en) | 2010-10-01 | 2014-12-16 | Zevex, Inc. | Anti free-flow occluder and priming actuator pad |
| JP2013538652A (en) | 2010-10-01 | 2013-10-17 | ゼヴェクス・インコーポレーテッド | Pressure sensor seal and usage |
| USD672455S1 (en) | 2010-10-01 | 2012-12-11 | Zevex, Inc. | Fluid delivery cassette |
| CN103269731B (en) | 2010-10-01 | 2015-11-25 | 泽维克斯公司 | For improving the method for the degree of accuracy of peristaltic pump system based on tube material performance |
| US20130054159A1 (en) | 2011-08-31 | 2013-02-28 | E. Strode Pennebaker | Wireless tank level monitoring system |
| KR20130099300A (en) * | 2012-02-29 | 2013-09-06 | (주)유민에쓰티 | Electrostatic capacitive type level sensor |
| WO2016145027A1 (en) * | 2015-03-09 | 2016-09-15 | Hidrate, Inc. | Wireless drink container for monitoring hydration |
| USD815892S1 (en) | 2015-11-02 | 2018-04-24 | Hidrate, Inc. | Smart water bottle |
| GB2585228B (en) * | 2019-07-04 | 2023-06-14 | The Smart Container Company Ltd | Monitoring device |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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| US4280126A (en) * | 1979-05-14 | 1981-07-21 | Chemetron Corporation | Liquid level detector |
| GB8424101D0 (en) * | 1984-09-24 | 1984-10-31 | Vi Tal Hospital Products Ltd | Air-in-line detector |
| US4631529A (en) * | 1984-10-17 | 1986-12-23 | Ivek Corporation | Electro-optical fluid detector |
| US4703314A (en) * | 1986-02-27 | 1987-10-27 | Fisher Scientific Group, Inc. | Empty container detector with drop sensor |
| EP0261860B1 (en) * | 1986-09-24 | 1992-12-16 | Cannonbear Inc. | Sensor and method for ullage level and flow detection |
| US4901245A (en) * | 1987-12-01 | 1990-02-13 | Moore Technologies, Inc. | Nonintrusive acoustic liquid level sensor |
| US4908676A (en) * | 1987-12-18 | 1990-03-13 | Bio-Recovery Systems, Inc. | Sensors for dissolved substances in fluids |
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| US5832772A (en) * | 1995-01-27 | 1998-11-10 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Micropower RF material proximity sensor |
-
1995
- 1995-08-04 US US08/511,380 patent/US5789675A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1996
- 1996-08-05 EP EP96927305A patent/EP0842402A2/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1996-08-05 AU AU67176/96A patent/AU6717696A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-08-05 WO PCT/US1996/012679 patent/WO1997006413A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1996-08-05 JP JP9508573A patent/JPH11510260A/en active Pending
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