SUBCONJUNTO DE SENSOR DE FLUXO PARA DETECTAR FLUXO DE UM MEDICAMENTO FLUÍDICO

Abstract

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR JOINING A COUPLER AND A FLOW TUBE IN AN ULTRASONIC FLOW METER. A flow sensor subassembly for detecting the flow of a fluidic drug includes a flow tube with an inlet and an outlet, a first coupler attached to the inlet of the flow tube, a second coupler attached to the outlet of the flow tube, a first piezo element attached to the first coupler, a second piezo element attached to the second coupler to define a predetermined distance between the first piezo element and the second piezo element, and at least one absorbent sleeve engaged with the first coupler, the flow tube, and the second coupler.

Description

1 / 8 “FLOW SENSOR SUBASSEMBLY FOR DETECTING THE FLOW OF A FLUIDIC MEDICATION” Cross-reference to related requests

[0001] This request claims priority for the Request US Provisional No. 62 / 964,309, entitled 'Apparatus and Method to Join a Coupler and Flow Tube in an Ultrasonic Flow Meter', filed January 22, 2020, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Dissemination Field

[0002] The present application generally relates to a flow sensor subassembly for detecting the flow of a fluidic drug. Description of the State of the Art

[0003] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a flow sensor system 1 using an ultrasonic flow meter includes a flow tube subassembly 2 having two piezoelectric transducers 4 coupled to a fluid flow tube 6. The transducers 4 are fixed to the first and second couplers 7,8, respectively, with the flow tube 6 fixed to the couplers 7,8. When a transducer 4 is excited by an electrical pulse, ultrasonic waves are transmitted into the fluid and the flow tube 6. The system analyzes the waves traveling through the fluid to determine a velocity, which is proportional to a switching between the signals received from the upstream transducer and the downstream transducer. Waves or signals traveling within the flow tube material are undesirable and tracked as signal noise. The flow tube subassembly 2 includes an absorber tube 9 positioned over the flow tube 6 between the couplers 7,8.The ultrasonic energy traveling through the flow tube 6 is reduced by the absorber tube 9. System 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be the flow sensor system of US Patent No. 9,970,794, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The patents. Petition 870260049370, dated 05 / 25 / 2026, page 15 / 27 2 / 8 WO2014 / 125720 and JP S61 55696 describe similar flow sensors that have an ultrasonic flow meter. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In one aspect or embodiment, a flow sensor subassembly for detecting the flow of a fluidic drug includes a flow tube with an inlet and an outlet, a first coupler attached to the inlet of the flow tube, a second coupler attached to the outlet of the flow tube, a first piezo element attached to the first coupler, a second piezo element attached to the second coupler to define a predetermined distance between the first piezo element and the second piezo element, and at least one absorbent sleeve engaged with the first coupler, the flow tube, and the second coupler.

[0005] At least one absorbent sleeve comprises a first absorbent sleeve engaged with the first coupler and the flow tube and a second absorbent sleeve engaged with the second coupler and the flow tube, the first absorbent sleeve spaced from the second absorbent sleeve to define a gap. The flow tube may not be covered by any absorbent material in the gap between the first absorbent sleeve and the second absorbent sleeve. The first absorbent sleeve and the second absorbent sleeve each cover at least 10% of a length of the flow tube between the first and second couplers. The first absorbent sleeve and the second absorbent sleeve may each cover 25% of the length of the flow tube between the first and second couplers. At least one absorbent sleeve may include a thermoplastic polyurethane and the flow tube may include stainless steel.

[0006] The flow tube can be attached to the first coupler and the second coupler by means of at least one absorbent sleeve. An interface between the first and second couplers and the flow tube may be free of adhesive. Petition 870260049370, dated 05 / 25 / 2026, page 16 / 27 3 / 8

[0007] At least one absorbent sleeve can be press-fitted onto the first and second couplers and the flow tube. At least one absorbent sleeve can be adhered to the first and second couplers and the flow tube. At least one absorbent sleeve can be overmolded onto the first and second couplers and the flow tube.

[0008] In another aspect or embodiment, a flow sensor subassembly for detecting the flow of a fluidic drug includes a flow tube with an inlet and an outlet, a first coupler attached to the inlet of the flow tube, a second coupler attached to the outlet of the flow tube, a first piezo element attached to the first coupler, a second piezo element attached to the second coupler to define a predetermined distance between the first piezo element and the second piezo element, and at least one absorbent sleeve, with the flow tube attached to the first coupler and to the second coupler by means of at least one absorbent sleeve. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The features and advantages mentioned above and others of this disclosure, and the manner of achieving them, will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following descriptions of aspects of the disclosure taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional flow sensor system.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a flow tube subassembly of the conventional flow sensor system of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a top view of a flow tube subassembly according to an aspect or embodiment of the present application.

[0013] FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of area A of the flow tube subassembly of FIG. 3. Petition 870260049370, dated 05 / 25 / 2026, p. 17 / 27 4 / 8

[0014] FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of area B of the flow tube subassembly of FIG. 3.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a signal level versus time graph comparing the flow tube subset of FIG. 3 with a conventional flow tube subset.

[0016] FIG. 5 is an enlarged graph of the signal level as a function of time comparing the flow tube subset of FIG. 3 with a conventional flow tube subset.

[0017] The corresponding reference characters indicate the corresponding parts in the various visualizations. The examples set forth in this document illustrate exemplary aspects of the disclosure and these examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any way. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The following description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the described aspects contemplated for carrying out the invention. Various modifications, equivalents, variations and alternatives, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Any and all modifications, variations, equivalents and alternatives are intended to fit within the object and scope of the present invention.

[0019] For the purposes of the following description, the terms top, bottom, right, left, vertical, horizontal, upper, lower, side, longitudinal and their derivatives refer to the invention as oriented in the figures of the drawings. However, it should be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations, except where expressly specified otherwise. It should also be understood that the specific devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the descriptive report below are simply exemplary aspects of the invention. Therefore, specific dimensions and other related physical characteristics Petition 870260049370, dated 05 / 25 / 2026, pp. 18 / 27 5 / 8 The aspects disclosed in this document should not be considered limiting. All numbers and ranges used in the descriptive report and claims should be understood as modified in all cases by the term "approximately". By "approximately" is meant plus or minus twenty-five percent of the stated value, as plus or minus ten percent of the stated value. However, this should not be considered as limiting to any analysis of values ​​under the doctrine of equivalents.

[0020] Unless otherwise indicated, all ranges or ratios disclosed in this document should be understood as encompassing the initial and final values ​​and any and all sub-ranges or sub-ratios included therein. For example, a stated range or ratio of “1 to 10” should be considered to include any and all sub-ranges or sub-ratios between (and including) the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all sub-ranges or sub-ratios that begin with a minimum value of 1 or more and end with a maximum value of 10 or less. The ranges and / or ratios disclosed in this document represent the average values ​​over the specified range and / or ratio.

[0021] The terms first, second and similar terms are not intended to refer to any specific order or chronology, but refer to different conditions, properties or elements.

[0022] With reference to FIGS. 3, 3A and 3B, a flow sensor subassembly 10 for detecting the flow of a fluidic drug includes a flow tube 12 having an inlet 14 and an outlet 16, a first coupler 18 attached to the inlet 14 of the flow tube 12, a second coupler 20 attached to the outlet 16 of the flow tube 12, a first piezo element 22 attached to the first coupler 18, a second piezo element 24 attached to the second coupler 20 to define a predetermined distance D between the first piezo element 22 and the second piezo element 24, and at least one absorbent sleeve 26 engaged with the first coupler 18, the flow tube 12 and the second coupler 20. In contrast to merely providing the absorbent sleeve 26 in the flow tube and not Petition 870260049370, dated 05 / 25 / 2026, page 19 / 27 6 / 8 Contact or engage the first and second couplers 18, 20, provide at least one absorbent sleeve 26 engaged with the first coupler 18, the flow tube 12 and the second coupler 20. This reduces the amount of ultrasonic energy being transmitted to the flow tube material 12 through the first and second couplers 18, 20, thus reducing the amount of signal noise. The flow sensor subassembly 10 can be used in connection with the flow sensor system 1 of FIG. 1, although the flow sensor subassembly 10 can also be used with other suitable flow sensor systems.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 3, 3A and 3B, in one aspect or embodiment, at least one absorbent sleeve 26 includes a first absorbent sleeve 28 engaged with the first coupler 18 and the flow tube 12 and a second absorbent sleeve 30 engaged with the second coupler 20 and the flow tube 12. The first absorbent sleeve 28 is spaced from the second absorbent sleeve 30 to define a gap 32. The flow tube 12 is not covered by any absorbent material in the gap 32 between the first absorbent sleeve 28 and the second absorbent sleeve 30. The first absorbent sleeve 28 is directly engaged with both the first coupler 18 and the flow tube 12. The second absorbent sleeve 30 is directly engaged with the second coupler 20 and the flow tube 12.

[0024] In another aspect or embodiment, instead of providing the first absorbent sleeve 28 and the second absorbent sleeve 30, at least one absorbent sleeve 26 includes a single piece of material that engages with the first coupler 18, extends along the flow tube 12 and engages with the second coupler 20.

[0025] In one aspect or embodiment, the first absorbent sleeve 28 and the second absorbent sleeve 30 each cover at least 10% of the length of the flow tube 12 between the first and second couplers 18, 20. In one aspect or embodiment, the first absorbent sleeve 28 and the second absorbent sleeve 30 each cover 25% of the length of the flow tube 12 between the first and second couplers 18, 20. In one aspect or embodiment, Petition 870260049370, dated 05 / 25 / 2026, page 20 / 27 7 / 8 The first absorbent sleeve 28 and the second absorbent sleeve 30 each have an outer diameter of 6.2 mm, an inner diameter over the flow tube 12 of 1.38 mm, and an inner diameter over the first and second couplers 18, 20 of 2.91 mm. In one aspect or embodiment, a length of 12 mm of the flow tube 12 is in direct contact with each of the first and second absorbent sleeves 28, 30.

[0026] In one aspect or embodiment, at least one absorbent sleeve 26 is manufactured from a thermoplastic polyurethane and the flow tube 12 is manufactured from stainless steel. The thermoplastic polyurethane may be Pellethane® from Lubrizol. The thermoplastic polyurethane may have a Shore hardness in the range of 53D-76D or 80A-91A as tested according to ASTM D2240. In one aspect or embodiment, at least one absorbent sleeve 26 is manufactured from Pellethane® 2363-55DE from Lubrizol. Other materials with suitable sound-dampening characteristics, such as polyoxymethylene (POM), may also be used.

[0027] Again with reference to FIGS. 3, 3A and 3B, the flow tube 12 is fixed to the first coupler 18 and the second coupler 20 by means of at least one absorbent sleeve 26. More specifically, in one aspect or embodiment, there is no direct and fixed connection between the first and second couplers 18, 20 and the flow tube 12, so that the first and second couplers 18, 20 are not restricted with respect to the flow tube 12 increasing the strength of the ultrasonic waves. An interface between the first and second couplers 18, 20 and the flow tube 12 is free of adhesive with at least one absorbent sleeve fixing the first and second couplers 18, 20 to the flow tube 12.

[0028] In one aspect or embodiment, at least one absorbent sleeve 26 is press-fitted to the first and second couplers 18, 20 and to the flow tube 12. In one aspect or embodiment, at least one absorbent sleeve 26 is adhered to the first and second couplers 18, 20 and to the flow tube 12. In one aspect or embodiment, at least one absorbent sleeve 26 Petition 870260049370, dated 05 / 25 / 2026, page 21 / 27 8 / 8 is overmolded onto the first and second couplers 18, 20 and the flow tube 12. Various combinations of these and other fastening techniques can be used to fasten at least one absorbent sleeve 26 to the first and second couplers 18, 20 and the flow tube 12.

[0029] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a signal level versus time graph is shown, comparing the flow tube subassembly 10 of FIG. 3 with a conventional flow tube subassembly. As shown in FIG. 4, the energy signal level passing through the fluid is higher with the flow tube subassembly 10 of FIG. 3 compared with the conventional flow tube subassemblies. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the energy noise level passing through the flow tube 12 is lower with the flow tube subassembly 10 of FIG. 3 compared with the conventional flow tube subassemblies.

[0030] Thus, the flow tube subassembly 10 of the present application improves the signal-to-noise ratio by providing a higher fluid signal and a lower flow tube noise signal compared to conventional flow tube subassemblies. The flow tube subassembly 10 also eliminates the need for a separate mounting method between the couplers 18, 20 and the flow tube 12.

[0031] Although this disclosure has been described as having exemplary designs, the present disclosure may be further modified within the purpose and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. To the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment or aspect may be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment or aspect. Furthermore, this application is intended to cover such deviations from the present disclosure as to known or usual practice in the art to which this disclosure belongs and which fall within the limits of the appended claims. Petition 870260049370, dated 05 / 25 / 2026, pp. 22 / 27

Claims

1 / 3 CLAIMS 1. Subassembly of flow sensor (10) for detecting flow of a fluidic medicine comprising: a flow tube (12) having an inlet and an outlet; a first coupler (18) fixed to the inlet of the flow tube (12); a second coupler (20) fixed to the outlet of the flow tube (12); a first piezo element (22) fixed to the first coupler (18); a second piezo element (24) fixed to the second coupler (20) to define a predetermined distance between the first piezo element (22) and the second piezo element (24); and at least one absorbent sleeve directly engaged with the first coupler (18), the flow tube (12) and the second coupler (20), characterized in that the absorbent sleeve is disposed over the first coupler (18), the flow tube (12) and the second coupler (20).

2. Subassembly of flow sensor (10), according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one absorbent sleeve comprises a first absorbent sleeve (28) engaged with the first coupler (18) and the flow tube (12) and a second absorbent sleeve engaged (30) with the second coupler (20) and the flow tube (12), the first absorbent sleeve (28) spaced from the second absorbent sleeve (30) to define a gap (32).

3. Subassembly of flow sensor (10), according to claim 2, characterized in that the flow tube (12) is not covered by any absorbent material in the gap (32) between the first absorbent sleeve (28) and the second absorbent sleeve (30).

4. Subassembly of flow sensor (10), according to claim 2, characterized in that the first absorbent sleeve (28) and the second absorbent sleeve (30) each cover at least 10% of a length of the flow tube (12) between the first and second couplers (18, 20).

5. Subassembly of flow sensor (10), according to claim 4, characterized in that the first absorbent sleeve (28) and the second absorbent sleeve (30) each cover 25% of the length of the flow tube (12) between the first and second couplers (18, 20).

6. Subassembly of flow sensor (10), according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that at least one absorbent sleeve (28, 30) comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane and the flow tube (12) comprises stainless steel.

7. Subassembly of flow sensor (10), according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the flow tube (12) is fixed to the first coupler (18) and to the second coupler (20) by means of at least one absorbent sleeve (28, 30).

8. Subassembly of flow sensor (10), according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that an interface between the first and second couplers (18, 20) and the flow tube (12) is free of adhesive.

9. Subassembly of flow sensor (10), according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that at least one absorbent sleeve (28, 30) is press-fitted to the first and second couplers (18, 20) and to the flow tube (12).

10. Subassembly of flow sensor (10), according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that at least one absorbent sleeve (28, 30) is pressure-attached to the first and second couplers (18, 20) and to the flow tube (12).

11. Subassembly of flow sensor (10), according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that at least one absorbent sleeve (28, 30) is pressure overmolded onto the first and second couplers (18, 20) and the flow tube (12).

12. Subassembly of flow sensor (10), according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the flow tube (12) is fixed to the first and second couplers (18, 20) by means of at least one absorbent sleeve (28, 30) and free from direct and fixed connection between the first and second couplers (18, 20) and the flow tube (12), so that the first and second couplers (18, 20) are not restricted in relation to the flow tube (12), thus increasing the intensity of the ultrasonic waves.

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