1516 results about "Flow transducer" patented technology

A method and apparatus for gas control is provided. The apparatus may be used for controlling gases delivered to a chamber, controlling the chamber pressure, controlling the delivery of backside gas between a substrate and substrate support and the like. In one embodiment, an apparatus for controlling gas control includes at least a first flow sensor having a control valve, a first pressure sensor and at least a second pressure sensor. An inlet of the first flow sensor is adapted for coupling to a gas supply. A control valve is coupled to an outlet of the flow sensor. The first pressure sensor is adapted to sense a metric indicative of the pressure upstream of the first flow sensor. The second pressure sensor is adapted to sense a metric indicative of the pressure downstream of the control valve.

A ventilator device and system comprising a rotating compressor, preferably a drag compressor, which, at the beginning of each inspiratory ventilation phase, is accelerated to a sufficient speed to deliver the desired inspiratory gas flow, and is subsequently stopped or decelerated to a basal flow level to permit the expiratory ventilation phase to occur. The ventilator device is small and light weight enough to be utilized in portable applications. The ventilator device is power efficient enough to operate for extended periods of time on internal or external batteries. Also provided is an oxygen blending apparatus which utilizes solenoid valves having specific orifice sizes for blending desired amounts of oxygen into the inspiratory gas flow. Also provided is an exhalation valve having an exhalation flow transducer which incorporates a radio frequency data base to provide an attendant controller with specific calibration information for the exhalation flow transducer.

The disclosure is directed to an implantable device for sensing CSF flow through an implantable ventricular shunt. The sensing device is implanted with the CSF shunt, and includes a flow sensor to sense flow rate or shunt blockage. The sensing device is either placed within or adjacent to the fluid path through the shunt. The sensing device transmits the sensed flow rate to an external monitoring device by wireless telemetry. The sensing device may be integrally formed as part of the shunt, or clamped onto a portion of the shunt, in which case the sensing device may be resusable. An external monitor receives the transmitted flow signal and presents information based on the flow signal. The sensing device may be inductively powered or include its own power supply.

An air conditioning system and control method to allow individual zone thermostats to directly control a variable capacity compressor and adaptively adjust the indoor supply air volume to meet zoning demands, without using static pressure or flow sensors or entering a set of pre-defined air flow values for each zone into a controller. The method controls an air conditioning system that is able to receive signals or commands from individual zone thermostats and give priority to a highest demand zone/thermostat. For example, a priority thermostat can be used to directly control the variable capacity compressor via an indoor controller and outdoor controller.

A transcutaneous energy transfer system with subcutaneous non coupled coils is used to transmit power and signals to an implanted biological support device or sensor, such as a flow sensor for measuring relatively low flow rates, such as hydrocephalic shunt flow. The flow sensor is configured to convert a shear wave generated by a transducer to a longitudinal wave at the interface of a signal pathway and the flow, wherein the longitudinal wave travels parallel to the flow and exits a flow channel to convert to a shear wave which intersects a second transducer. The transcutaneous energy transfer employs a pair of inductive coupling coils, wherein the coils are disposed in zero coupling orientation which can include a perpendicular orientation of corresponding coil axes.

An air flow measuring device includes a housing, flow sensor, and a humidity sensor. The housing defines a bypass flow passage through which intake it passes. A part of intake air is taken into the bypass flow passage to pass through the bypass flow passage. The flow sensor includes a sensing part disposed in the bypass flow passage, and produces a signal which is in accordance with the flow rate of intake air as a result of heat transfer between intake air taken into the bypass flow passage and the sensing part. The humidity sensor includes a sensing part exposed to the intake passage, and projects from an outer wall of the housing into the intake passage. The humidity sensor produces a signal which is in accordance with humidity of intake ail flowing through the intake passage.

A high mass flow sensor device having a flow restrictor formed by a body having a generally cylindrical shape with an upstream end and a downstream end separated by a center portion having pressure taps proximate the junction of the ends with the center portion. Flow passes from upstream to downstream. The upstream end has a decreasing tapering inner surface for contact with the flow and the downstream end having an increasing tapering inner surface for contact with the flow. A center portion has radial and axial restrictor elements positioned forming axial openings in the path of flow through the center portion. The restrictor elements having tapered leading edges. One opening is formed by a central tube having a predetermined diameter and the remaining openings are radially extending members supporting the central tube, each of the radially extending members having substantially the same cross-sectional area as the central tube.

A fluid monitoring and control system includes a central hub having a central processor, a user interface and an input/output port. A plurality of control devices communicate with the central hub. Each control device includes a fluid pipe section including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A fluid valve is coupled in series within the fluid pipe section and an electric motor is mechanically connected to the fluid valve. A temperature sensor, pressure sensor and flow rate sensor are coupled to the fluid pipe section monitoring a temperature, pressure and flow rate of the fluid flow within the fluid pipe section. A control device processor is controllably connected to the electric motor, temperature sensor, pressure sensor and flow sensor. A control device input/output port is coupled to the control device processor, the control device input/output port in communication with the input/output port of the central hub.

A system usable for dredging may include a suction bypass system for automatically maintaining a sufficiently high, liquid flow velocity. Preferably, a flow sensor monitors flow velocity and when the monitor flow decreases to an extent that plugging may occur, a liquid bypass valve is opened and an intake line valve is closed until the flow velocity increases whereupon the valves are returned to their original positions. An automatic level cut removes a relatively constant layer of material from a contoured bottom. The illustrated automatic level cut process comprises adjusting the force with which the suction head engages the bottom, moving the suction head in a direction opposite to the direction of the swing of the boom to keep the suction head pointing straight ahead, and maintaining the suction head to stay substantially level with the bottom even though the angle of the boom increases to the surface of the water body. A leveling device comprising a parallelogram linkage may be used to maintain the suction head substantially level with the bottom. A predetermined amount of load force may be applied by the head against the bottom. Herein, a winch and cable and the controller are operated to lift some of the head weight until the desired predetermined head force is applied to the bottom. A walking system moves the pipe intake for taking a sideways cut without the use of a spud pole, anchors and anchor lines. Large blade members or feet travels in an endless path with the feet entering the bottom while vertically disposed and remained disposed vertically while entering and leaving the bottom so as not to dig or stir the bottom that will cause large liquid turbidity. A low turbidity head cleaning system prevents the head from being plugged and debris or sticky material. Preferably, a rotatable cone-shaped head is provided with spaced rings and bars that define sized openings that limit the size of debris entering into the intake. A fixed comb removes material stuck on the rotating head. A shroud has an open bottom side thereby preventing bottom material from escaping and increasing with turbidity. A suction head articulation system keeps the head pointed in the forward direction of dredge advancement to create a smooth finish grade.

A fluid flow sensor for a device, such as breathing apparatus in the form of a cannula pipe or face mask, the sensor having means for monitoring and indicating the pressure or absence of a fluid flow in a conduit for supplying fluid from a fluid supply to the device. A means is provided responsive to back pressure in the conduit to actuate an indicator of the sensor to alert a use of the device of the presence and/or absence of the fluid flow.

Methods and systems for performing an interventional procedure are presented. A first set of pulses are delivered using at least one image sensor simultaneously with a second set of pulses delivered using at least one flow sensor disposed in an integrated interventional device towards a target region in a subject. Further, structural information corresponding to the target region at a designated time is determined using imaging signals received in response to the first sets of pulses. Additionally, volumetric information corresponding to the target region at the designated time is determined using signals received in response to the second sets of pulses. Moreover, the structural and volumetric information is processed using a determined model to compute one or more diagnostic parameters corresponding to the target region. A diagnostic assessment of the target region is then provided based on the computed diagnostic parameters.

An integrated sensor for automated systems includes a flow sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and a network interface. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the flow sensor includes a temperature sensor (26) which determines the temperature of the fluid flowing in a flow path (12). A heater (18) is coupled to the flow path, and is energized by a controller (20) with sufficient electrical power to raise the temperature of the heater above the measured fluid temperature by a fixed temperature difference. In order to aid in determining the temperature difference, a sensor (24) may be associated with the heater (18). The amount of power required to maintain the temperature difference is a measure of the flow velocity. The volumetric flow rate is the product of the flow velocity multiplied by the area of the flow sensor. The mass flow rate is the product of the volumetric flow rate multiplied by the mass density of the fluid. In a particular embodiment, the pressure sensor is ratiometric.

A method of creating a non-invasive predictor of both physiologic and imposed patient effort from airway pressure and flow sensors attached to the patient using an adaptive mathematical model. The patient effort is commonly measured via work of breathing, power of breathing, or pressure-time product of esophageal pressure and is important for properly adjusting ventilatory support for spontaneously breathing patients. The method of calculating this non-invasive predictor is based on linear or non-linear calculations using multiple parameters derived from the above-mentioned sensors.

A non-contact fluid flow monitor that enables a two component system comprised of a removable conduit and reusable flow rate sensor is described. The monitor is capable of measuring fluid flow velocity and the dimensions of the removable conduit thereby calculating a true volumetric flow rate. The monitor is further capable of determining the refractive index of the fluid thereby verifying that the fluid flowing through the conduit has this expected property.

A flow sensor is provided having a substrate with a sensing element and flow channel aligned over the sensing element. The sensing element senses at least one property of a fluid. The flow channel is aligned by one or more guide elements formed in an alignment layer. The flow channel across the sensing area is accurately and precisely aligned due to the guide elements provided at the wafer-level, facilitating reliable, low-cost, and consistent results among multiple flow sensors. The flow sensor is adapted for use in harsh environments.

A pick and place device, a method and a computer program product for automatic pick- up-height adjustment. A first pneumatic system has a first and second controllable valves. The second controllable valve is connected with its input port to a vacuum source. An output port of the first controllable valve and an output port of the second controllable valve are connected to a common tube in fluid communication with at least one vacuum nozzle of the pick and place device. A second pneumatic system, with an inlet valve and an outlet valve are in fluid communication via a connecting tube. An open air exhaust and a flow controller are arranged in the connecting tube between the inlet valve and the outlet valve. A flow sensor detects the changes of the small air flow. The flow sensor is via a tube in fluid communication with the at least one vacuum nozzle.

A differential pressure flow sensor system comprises a disposable flow sensor which has upstream and downstream pressure sensing devices for detecting a differential pressure in a flow channel. Each sensing device comprises a diaphragm, a capacitor and an inductor electrically coupled to the capacitor so as to form an LC tank circuit. The capacitor and/or inductor can be mechanically coupled to the diaphragm such that a deflection of the diaphragm in response to fluid pressure applied thereto causes a change in the resonant frequency of the LC tank. The differential pressure and flow rate can be determined by detecting changes in the resonant frequency using interrogation electronics which can wirelessly interrogate the devices. A calibration capacitor and/or inductor can be formed on each sensing device and trimmed thereon for calibration purposes. Such pressure flow systems can be implemented in medical applications.

Systems and methods for liquid flow sensing and control for use with a variety of different types of liquid flow measurement and control systems. The liquid flow sensor system senses a flow signal indicative of the flow rate of the liquid flowing in a sensor conduit and analyzes the flow signal to determine, by detecting characteristic changes in the signal, whether a bubble is present in the sensor conduit. Where the system determines that a bubble is present, it may generate an alarm signal indicative of the presence of the bubble. A flow control system incorporating the flow sensor as a feedback source may respond to the detection of a bubble by temporarily freezing the flow control parameters until the bubble has exited the sensor conduit. The flow control system can implement procedures for clearing a bubble from the sensor conduit where the system detects that the bubble has become stuck.

A shunt system for implantation into a patient for diverting excess fluid from the lateral ventricles of the patient's brain to a diversion site. The present shunt includes a pressure transducer for measuring ICP, a rate of flow transducer for measuring the flow rate of the CSF flowing within the shunt, and telemetry circuitry. A remote reader with an antenna is provided to selectively interrogate and provide inductive power to the implanted shunt. Upon interrogation, the pressure and rate of flow measurements are calibrated, multiplexed and transmitted on a carrier signal back to the remote reader/antenna. The reader/antenna extracts the pressure and flow rate data from the carrier wave and further separates the data by demultiplexing the signal. The reader further includes a barometer for providing local barometric pressure and uses this information together with the data from the implanted transducers to calculate and display real-time adjusted ICP, CSF flow-rate within the shunt and brain compliance.

A fluid delivery system having a closed-loop control process for delivering a medical fluid to a patient. A fluid infusion system includes a pump for delivering a fluid to a patient via an administration tube. A flow sensor associated with the administration tube provides an indication of the actual flow rate of fluid in the administration tube. Such a flow sensor may comprise a positive displacement flow sensor constructed using micro-fabrication and/or micro-molding techniques. A reader reads the actual flow rate signal and provides an indication to a controller for controlling the pump. The flow rate information can also be used for providing status information, such as the existence of a blockage in the fluid delivery system.