Threshold-Pressure Priming Valve for Air-Free Flow Sensor Wetting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow sensor systems face challenges in achieving accurate volume delivery during bolus administration in medical devices, particularly in ensuring proper priming and pressure profiles to enhance sensor readiness and measurement accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a priming valve system within the flow sensor system, which includes a valve with a fluid flow path, inlet, outlet, valve seat, and a connector that opens in response to a threshold pressure (5-50 psi) to allow fluid flow, ensuring the flow sensor is properly primed and ready for accurate measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a flow sensor system is used for bolus delivery, then fluid flow measurement is enabled, but air pockets remain in the system reducing measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The priming valve is activated before the bolus delivery to force fluid through the system and eliminate air pockets. This preliminary priming action ensures the fluid path is completely filled with fluid before measurement begins, removing the harmful air pockets that would otherwise reduce measurement accuracy.
2Reliability
If the flow sensor is primed with fluid pressure, then sensor readiness and signal transmission are improved, but the system requires additional pressure control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The priming valve utilizes the inherent pressure from the bolus delivery system itself to perform the priming function. When the bolus is delivered, the pressure wave automatically opens the priming valve and forces fluid through the system, eliminating the need for separate pressure control mechanisms or additional pumping systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The priming valve acts as an intermediary component that translates the bolus delivery pressure into a priming action. It mediates between the bolus delivery system and the fluid path, using the bolus pressure to open the valve and establish proper fluid flow without requiring direct pressure control of the priming mechanism.
3Productivity
If the connector opens at threshold pressure, then fluid flow is allowed through the valve, but precise pressure control is required to prevent premature opening
Solution Approach 1:
The priming valve is designed with a threshold pressure setting (5-50 psi) that can be selected based on the specific application requirements. This parameter change allows the valve to be optimized for different bolus delivery systems and fluid viscosities, ensuring precise opening only when the appropriate pressure is reached.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The priming valve system effectively eliminates air pockets and fully wets the internal surfaces of the flow sensor, significantly enhancing ultrasonic signal transmission and improving the accuracy of fluid flow rate and pressure measurements.
Implementation Method 1
the connector is configured to move relative to the valve seat in response to a threshold pressure within the fluid flow path to allow the fluid to flow
Implementation Method 2
the inner surface of the sidewall of the connector is slidingly and sealingly engaged with the lip portion of the valve seat
Data Source
AI summary
A priming valve includes a fluid flow path, a fluid inlet configured to couple to a fluid outlet of a fluid channel including at least one sensor configured to characterize at least one attribute of a fluid, a fluid outlet, a valve seat, and a connector. The connector engages the valve seat to prevent fluid flow via the fluid flow path. The connector is configured to move relative to the valve seat in response to a threshold pressure within the fluid flow path to allow the fluid to flow via the fluid flow path. A flow sensor sub-assembly for sensing flow of a fluidic medicament may include a priming valve and at least one sensor of a fluid port configured to characterize at least one attribute of a fluid within an administrable fluid source. A method for readying a fluid sensor may use a priming valve.