Controlling an ultrasonic transmitter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9250216-B2
Application number	US-201414449884-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2014
Priority date	May 12, 2011
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

This disclosure relates to detecting fluid in medical tubing. In certain aspects, a method is performed by a data processing apparatus. The method includes controlling repetitive activation of the ultrasonic transmitter. The method also includes receiving a signal from the ultrasonic receiver during an activation of the ultrasonic transmitter. The method also includes determining that fluid is absent or present in a portion of the medical fluid tube based on a comparison between the signal and a threshold value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A medical system comprising:
a medical machine;
a control unit;
a medical fluid tube connected to the medical machine;
an ultrasonic transmitter positioned adjacent to the medical fluid tube;
an ultrasonic receiver positioned adjacent to the medical fluid tube configured to receive one or more signals in response to the activation of the ultrasonic transmitter; and
a computer storage medium encoded with computer program instructions that when executed by the medical system, cause the medical system to perform operations comprising:
controlling repetitive activation of the ultrasonic transmitter, wherein controlling repetitive activation of the ultrasonic transmitter comprises, for each repetition:
activating the ultrasonic transmitter for a first period of 2 to 15 milliseconds; and
deactivating the ultrasonic transmitter for a second period of 998 to 985 milliseconds.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein controlling repetitive activation of the ultrasonic transmitter comprises activating and deactivating the ultrasonic transmitter in a manner that minimizes cavitation in fluid carried in the medical fluid tube.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first period is 5 milliseconds and the second period is 995 milliseconds.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the medical fluid tube has an outer diameter of less than 0.128 inch.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the medical fluid tube has an inner diameter of less than 0.031 inch.

6. A method of applying an ultrasonic wave to a tube that contains fluid, the method comprising:
repeatedly activating an ultrasonic transmitter that is positioned adjacent to the tube containing fluid, wherein repeatedly activating the ultrasonic transmitter comprises, for each repetition:
activating the ultrasonic transmitter for a first period of 2 to 15 milliseconds; and
deactivating the ultrasonic transmitter for a second period of 998 to 985 milliseconds.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein repeatedly activating the ultrasonic transmitter comprises activating and deactivating the ultrasonic transmitter in a manner that minimizes cavitation in fluid carried in the tube.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first period is 5 milliseconds and the second period is 995 milliseconds.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the medical fluid tube has an outer diameter of less than 0.128 inch.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the medical fluid tube has an inner diameter of less than 0.031 inch.

11. A system comprising:
a fluid tube;
an ultrasonic transmitter positioned adjacent to the fluid tube;
an ultrasonic receiver positioned adjacent to the fluid tube configured to receive one or more signals in response to the activation of the ultrasonic transmitter; and
a computer storage medium encoded with computer program instructions that when executed by the system, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
controlling repetitive activation of the ultrasonic transmitter, wherein controlling repetitive activation of the ultrasonic transmitter comprises, for each repetition:
activating the ultrasonic transmitter for a first period of 2 to 15 milliseconds; and
deactivating the ultrasonic transmitter for a second period of 998 to 985 milliseconds.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein controlling repetitive activation of the ultrasonic transmitter comprises activating and deactivating the ultrasonic transmitter in a manner that minimizes cavitation in fluid carried in the medical fluid tube.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first period is 5 milliseconds and the second period is 995 milliseconds.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the fluid tube has an outer diameter of less than 0.128 inch.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the fluid tube has an inner diameter of less than 0.031 inch.

Assignees

• Fresenius Med Care Hldg Inc

Inventors

• Wright Nigel
• Magargi Iii Samuel Ernest
• Harbaugh Jeremy Thomas
• Zang Michael John
• Winniewicz Regis Joseph
• Beri Joseph Stephen
• Zatezalo Douglas Mark
• Monahan Tom
• Fox Ronald Robert

Classifications

• G01N2291/024

  Mixtures · CPC title

• A61M2205/14

  Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus · CPC title

• A61M1/342 Primary

  Adding solutions to the blood, e.g. substitution solutions (for preventing coagulation A61M1/3672) · CPC title

• G01N2291/048

  Transmission, i.e. analysed material between transmitter and receiver · CPC title

• G01N2291/2698

  Other discrete objects, e.g. bricks · CPC title