Fluid delivery systems and methods for continuous fluid flow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025090748-A1
Application number	US-202418825476-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 5, 2024
Priority date	Sep 15, 2023
Publication date	Mar 20, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fluid delivery system for continuous fluid flow includes a first inlet in fluidic communication with a first pump, a first pressure sensor for detecting a first fluid pressure downstream from the first pump, a second inlet in fluidic communication with a second pump, a second pressure sensor for detecting a second fluid pressure downstream from the second pump, an outlet, a valve including a first position and a second position, wherein the first position fluidically connects the first inlet with the outlet, and the second position fluidically connects the first inlet, the second inlet, and the outlet, and a controller system including a processor and memory. The controller system is communicatively coupled with the first pump, the second pump, the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor, and the valve, wherein the controller system receives signals indicative of the first fluid pressure from the first pressure sensor and the second fluid pressure from the second pressure sensor, wherein the processor is programmed to direct the valve to move from the first position to the second position in response to the first fluid pressure being about equal to the second fluid pressure, and to substantially simultaneously cease fluid flow through the first inlet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fluid delivery system for continuous fluid flow comprising:
a first inlet in fluidic communication with a first pump; a first pressure sensor for detecting a first fluid pressure downstream from the first pump; a second inlet in fluidic communication with a second pump; a second pressure sensor for detecting a second fluid pressure downstream from the second pump; an outlet; a valve including a first position and a second position, wherein the first position fluidically connects the first inlet with the outlet, and the second position fluidically connects the first inlet, the second inlet, and the outlet; and a controller system including a processor and memory, wherein the controller system is communicatively coupled with the first pump, the second pump, the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor, and the valve, wherein the controller system receives signals indicative of the first fluid pressure from the first pressure sensor and the second fluid pressure from the second pressure sensor, wherein the processor is programmed to direct the valve to move from the first position to the second position in response to the first fluid pressure being about equal to the second fluid pressure, and to substantially simultaneously cease fluid flow through the first inlet.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor determines whether the first fluid pressure is about equal to the second fluid pressure by comparing a difference between the first and second fluid pressures to a stored pressure differential value.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is capable of operably controlling the valve in response to a signal from a valve position sensor adapted to detect the valve position.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein ceasing flow through the first inlet includes operably controlling the first pump to cease.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first pump and the second pump are upstream of the valve.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are the same constitution.

7 . A method of delivering fluid in a continuous fluid delivery system, the method comprising:
receiving a first fluid through a first inlet in fluidic communication with a first pump; receiving one or more signals from a first pressure sensor indicative of a first fluid pressure of the first fluid; receiving one or more signals from a second pressure sensor indicative of a second fluid pressure downstream from a second pump; comparing the first fluid pressure to the second fluid pressure; and upon a determination that the first pressure is about equal to the second pressure,
(i) operably controlling a valve sufficient to switch the valve from a first position to a second position, wherein the first position permits fluid flow of the first fluid through a system outlet and the second position fluidically connects the first pump, the second pump, and the system outlet; and
(ii) ceasing fluid flow through the first inlet substantially simultaneously with switching the valve from the first position to the second position.

8 . The method of claim 7 wherein ceasing fluid flow through the first inlet includes operably controlling the first pump to cease.

9 . The method of claim 7 including operably controlling the valve in response to a signal from a valve position sensor adapted to detect the valve position.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the first pump and the second pump are upstream of the valve.

11 . The method of claim 7 , including determining whether the first pressure is about equal to the second pressure by comparing a difference between the first and second pressures to a stored pressure differential value.

12 . A method of controlling a shear valve for fluid delivery comprising:
receiving one or more signals from a first pump pressure sensor indicative of a first pressure generated by a first pump; receiving one or more signals from a second pump pressure sensor indicative of a second pressure generated by a second pump; comparing the first pressure to the second pressure; upon a determination that the first pressure is about equal to the second pressure, operably controlling the shear valve sufficient to rotate a rotor from a first position to a second position fluidically connecting a first rotor slot, a first stator orifice, a second stator orifice, and an outlet; and substantially simultaneously with rotating the rotor to the second position, operably controlling the first pump to cease.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the processor is capable of operably controlling the shear valve in response to a signal from a valve position sensor adapted to detect the rotor position.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein operably controlling the first pump to cease causes fluid flow from the first pump to cease once the rotor has been rotated to the second position.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the shear valve further includes a third stator orifice.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the third stator orifice is in fluid communication with a second rotor slot in the second position.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the processor is capable of operably controlling the shear valve sufficient to rotate the rotor to a third position fluidically connecting the second stator orifice and the outlet.

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first pump and the second pump are selected from a reciprocating pump and a syringe pump.

19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first pump and the second pump are upstream of the shear valve.

20 . The method of claim 12 , including determining whether the first pressure is about equal to the second pressure based on a stored pressure differential condition.

Assignees

• Idex Health & Science Llc

Inventors

• Barnacle John

Classifications

• G05D16/2073

  with a plurality of pressure sources · CPC title

• A61M5/16827 Primary

  controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths (infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407) · CPC title

• A61M5/168 Primary

  Means for controlling media flow to the body or for metering media to the body, e.g. drip meters, counters {; Monitoring media flow to the body (flow control in general G05D7/00)} · CPC title