Flow sensor system including spring contacts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10514284-B2
Application number	US-201916381542-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2019
Priority date	Aug 28, 2015
Publication date	Dec 24, 2019
Grant date	Dec 24, 2019

Abstract

A flow sensor sub-assembly for sensing flow of a fluidic medicament is disclosed. The flow sensor sub-assembly includes a first spring contact and a second spring contact. The spring contacts are secured to a base that has a circuit for conducting an electrical signal to and from the spring contacts to a microprocessor. The first spring contact is in electrical communication with a first piezo element and the second spring contact is in electrical communication with a second piezo element. The first spring contact has a first contact force against the first piezo element and the second spring contact has a second contact force against the second piezo element, and the first and second contact forces are equivalent. A circuit board for interfacing to a flow sensor having a plurality of piezo elements for transmitting a flow signal indicative of flow of fluidic medicament is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flow sensor system comprising:
a flow sensor for sensing flow of a fluidic medicament; and
a reusable base including a rechargeable battery,
wherein the flow sensor is configured to be removably connected to the reusable base, and
wherein the reusable base comprises a plurality of contacts configured to electrically engage corresponding electrically active portions of the flow sensor and corresponding electrically active portions of a charger configured to recharge the rechargeable battery in the reusable base.

2. The flow sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the reusable base includes a tongue surrounded by a shoulder, and wherein the shoulder includes the plurality of contacts.

3. The flow sensor system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the charger, wherein the charger includes a charger base having an opening configured to receive the reusable base, and wherein the opening includes a plurality of charging pins configured to engage the plurality of contacts of the reusable base.

4. The flow sensor system of claim 3 , wherein the charger includes a sloped floor for allowing disinfection liquid to drain therefrom.

5. The flow sensor system of claim 4 , wherein the charger includes elevated feet on a side of the charger opposite the sloped floor to assist in drainage.

6. The flow sensor system of claim 5 , wherein the charger is configured to be cleaned and disinfected by a same procedure used for cleaning and disinfecting the reusable base.

7. The flow sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the reusable base includes a useful life indicator, and wherein the useful life indictor indicates whether the reusable base has exceeded a useful life when the plurality of contacts of the reusable base electrically engage the corresponding electrically active portions of the charger.

8. The flow sensor system of claim 7 , wherein the reusable base includes a power indictor, and wherein the power indictor indicates a level of charge of the rechargeable battery when the plurality of contacts of the base electrically engage the corresponding electrically active portions of the charger.

9. The flow sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the flow sensor and reusable base are provided in a mount at a bedside of a patient.

10. The flow sensor system of claim 9 , wherein the charger is separate from the mount at the bedside of the patient.

11. The flow sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the flow sensor includes a flow sensor sub-assembly, wherein the flow sensor sub-assembly includes:
a flow tube having a flow tube inlet and a flow tube outlet, through which said medicament flows; and
a first piezo element arranged at an upstream position of the flow tube and a second piezo element arranged at a downstream position of the flow tube, wherein the corresponding electrically active portions of the flow sensor are in electrical communication with the first piezo element and the second piezo element.

12. The flow sensor system of claim 11 , wherein the flow sensor sub-assembly further includes:
a first spring contact; and
a second spring contact,
wherein each of said spring contacts are secured to the reusable base, wherein said reusable base has a circuit for conducting an electrical signal to and from said spring contacts to a microprocessor, and wherein said first spring contact is in electrical communication with said first piezo element and said second spring contact is in electrical communication with said second piezo element.

13. The flow sensor system of claim 11 , wherein said flow sensor includes a flow sensor housing, wherein said flow sensor sub-assembly is contained within the flow sensor housing, wherein said flow sensor housing is configured to be coupled to the reusable base, wherein said reusable base contains a microprocessor and a circuit including the plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are in electrical communication with the microprocessor and the rechargeable battery.

14. The flow sensor system of claim 1 , wherein said flow sensor is configured to be disposed after said flow sensor is used to sense the flow of the fluidic medicament, and the reusable base is configured to be reused with a different flow sensor.

15. The flow sensor system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a circuit board for interfacing to the flow sensor, wherein the flow sensor includes a plurality of piezo elements for transmitting a flow signal indicative of flow of a fluidic medicament, wherein the circuit board includes a plurality of electrical circuit traces having a first end and a second end;
a first pair of spring contacts for bias and electrical interface with a first piezo element, wherein said first pair of spring contacts are mounted to said first end of said circuit board and in electrical communication with at least one electrical circuit trace; and
a second pair of spring contacts for bias and electrical interface with a second piezo element, wherein said second pair of spring contacts are mounted to said second end of said circuit board and in electrical communication with at least one electrical circuit trace.

16. The flow sensor system of claim 15 , wherein said circuit board is configured to be disposed of after said flow sensor is used to sense the flow of the fluidic medicament.

17. The flow sensor system of claim 15 , wherein after said flow sensor is used to sense the flow of the fluidic medicament, said circuit board is configured to be used with a different flow sensor.

18. The flow sensor system of claim 15 , wherein said electrical circuit traces are provided on a front surface of said circuit board, and wherein said spring contacts extend from a rear surface of said circuit board.

Assignees

• Crisi Medical Systems Inc

Inventors

• Dekalb Shawn Wayne
• Raptis Mark

Classifications

• G01F15/14

  Casings, e.g. of special material · CPC title

• G01F15/066

  involving magnetic transmission devices · CPC title

• G01F15/18

  Supports or connecting means for meters · CPC title

• A61M5/16831

  Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies (low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066) · CPC title

• G01F1/662

  Constructional details · CPC title