Spring-Contact Flow Sensor Assembly for Reliable Piezo Bias
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to reduce medication errors during intravenous bolus delivery by providing an automated record of medication, concentration, volume, and time of injection, while also alerting healthcare professionals to inconsistencies with a patient's medical record.
Innovation Solution
A flow sensor system incorporating a circuit board with piezo elements and spring contacts that transmit flow signals to a microprocessor, allowing for accurate measurement and documentation of fluidic medicament delivery, and integrating with a reusable base unit for automatic alerts and data recording.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring contacts are used to provide electrical interface with piezo elements, then electrical connection reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to tolerance stacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs spring contacts instead of rigid electrical contacts to provide a dynamic, compliant connection that automatically compensates for manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations. The spring mechanism maintains consistent electrical pressure and contact reliability without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances on standoff distances and contact positions.
2Measurement precision
If multiple spring contacts are used to ensure equal bias on piezo elements, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple spring contacts into pairs that work together to apply equal and opposite forces on the piezo elements. This merging approach ensures that the piezo elements experience balanced bias forces, improving the accuracy of flow measurements by canceling out mechanical stresses while maintaining a manageable device complexity through symmetric design.
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 system effectively reduces medication errors by providing real-time monitoring and documentation of bolus delivery, ensuring accurate recording and alerting healthcare professionals to potential inconsistencies, thus enhancing patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
a flow sensor having a plurality of piezo elements for transmitting a flow signal indicative of flow of a fluidic medicament
Implementation Method 2
a first pair of spring contacts for bias and electrical interface with a first piezo element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A flow sensor sub-assembly for sensing flow of a fluidic medicament is disclosed. The flow sensor sub-assembly includes a first spring contact and a second spring contact. The spring contacts are secured to a base that has a circuit for conducting an electrical signal to and from the spring contacts to a microprocessor. The first spring contact is in electrical communication with a first piezo element and the second spring contact is in electrical communication with a second piezo element. The first spring contact has a first contact force against the first piezo element and the second spring contact has a second contact force against the second piezo element, and the first and second contact forces are equivalent. A circuit board for interfacing to a flow sensor having a plurality of piezo elements for transmitting a flow signal indicative of flow of fluidic medicament is also disclosed.