Apparatus with flexible member for sensing fluid pressure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9404825-B2
Application number	US-201213658256-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2012
Priority date	Dec 7, 2011
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

One embodiment relates to a pressure sensor apparatus, including a housing with a flexible member and an aperture configured to receive a fluid. The pressure sensor apparatus further includes a first member disposed on the flexible member, a second member removeably coupled to the first member configured to move in response to a pressure of the fluid and a sensor configured to detect the movement of the second member. The pressure sensor apparatus generates a pressure signal for the fluid based on the displacement of the second member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pressure sensor apparatus, comprising:
a housing, comprising:
a flexible member, and
an aperture configured to receive a fluid, the flexible member configured to move in response to a change in pressure of the fluid;
a second member removeably coupled to the flexible member and configured to move together with the flexible member; and
a sensor configured to sense a movement of the second member, the sensor separated from the second member by an air gap and configured to sense the movement of the second member across the air gap;
wherein the pressure sensor apparatus generates a pressure signal for the fluid based on the movement of the second member.

2. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is coupled to the second member with a vacuum coupling.

3. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a rigid member disposed on the flexible member, the second member removeably coupled to the rigid member.

4. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the rigid member comprises a ferrous metal.

5. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second member is magnetically coupled to the rigid member.

6. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor does not contact the second member.

7. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic field sensor.

8. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor.

9. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a third member, wherein the second member is threadably coupled to the third member.

10. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the sensor detects a linear movement of the second member via a rotational movement of the third member.

11. The pressure sensor apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a spring coupled to a second housing configured to bias the second member toward the flexible member against the force of the pressure of the fluid.

Assignees

• Fenwal Inc

Inventors

• Katz Steven R
• Manzella Salvatore
• Chung Terry
• Pieper Greg
• Osterweil Natalie

Classifications

• G01L11/02 Primary

  by optical means · CPC title

• A61M2205/3331

  Pressure; Flow · CPC title

• G01L9/14 Primary

  involving the displacement of magnets, e.g. electromagnets · CPC title

• A61M2205/12

  with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit · CPC title

• G01L7/086

  with optical transmitting or indicating means · CPC title