Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for dispensing a liquid in a pumping fluid delivery system and a method using a force application assembly. SOLUTION: This method of dispensing a fluid includes three processes. A first one of these processes includes a step of pumping fluid into a resilient variable-volume dispensing chamber 122. The dispensing chamber 122 is in series with a normally present finite fluid impedance and an outlet. The impedance is sufficient so as to cause expansion of the dispensing chamber 122 as it receives pumped fluid even while some fluid flows through the outlet. Another one of these processes includes a step of repeatedly measuring a parameter related to volume of the dispensing chamber over time. A third one of these processes includes a step of controlling the pumping of fluid based on repeated measurements of the parameter to produce a desired fluid flow through the outlet. A corresponding system for dispensing fluid implements these processes. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and a method for fluid delivery.SOLUTION: A system for at least partial closed-loop control of a medical condition is disclosed. The system includes at least one medical fluid pump. The medical fluid pump includes a sensor for determining the volume of fluid pumped by the pump. The medical fluid pump also includes at least one continuous analyte monitor, and a controller. The controller is in communication with the medical fluid pump and the at least one continuous analyte monitor. The controller includes a processor. The processor includes instructions for delivery of medical fluid based at least on data received from the at least one continuous analyte monitor.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control a device such that device operates in a smooth manner. SOLUTION: The system may switch between control architectures or vary gain coefficients used in a control loop to control the device. As the architectures or gains are switched, the control signal may be smoothed, so that the device does not experience an abrupt change in the control signal it receives. In one embodiment, the control signal may be smoothed by adding a decaying offset value to the control signal to create a smoothed control signal that is applied to the device. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of stabilizing front to rear direction of a vehicle with respect to a movement on a ground surface in a specific direction.SOLUTION: A vehicle includes at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel, and the front wheel is characterized by a force perpendicular to an instantaneous force of a vehicle movement. A motor actuator drives each rear wheel, and a controller rules one or more motor actuators so as to dynamically stabilize the vehicle whether the front wheel contacts a ground surface or not according to a regular control rule. Torque is applied to the rear wheel on the basis of a vehicle pitch or a force applied to the front wheel and perpendicular to a moving direction. Furthermore, a periodic rotational modulation is applied to the rear wheel, so that the torque stabilized on the basis of a detected response to either the vehicle pitch or the perpendicular force applied to the front wheel is transmitted. The right and left motor actuators independently control a right rear wheel and a left rear wheel, respectively to cause the rear wheels to continue turning as ruled by user's steering whether the front wheel contacts the ground or not.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of dispensing fluid.SOLUTION: A method of dispensing fluid includes three processes. A first one of these processes includes a step of pumping fluid into a resilient variable-volume dispensing chamber 122 by a pumping assembly 16. The dispensing chamber is in series with a normally existing finite fluid-impedance and an output 110. The impedance is sufficient so as to cause expansion of the dispensing chamber as it receives pumped fluid even while some fluid flows through the output. Another one of these processes includes a step of repeatedly measuring a parameter related to volume of the dispensing chamber over time by using a sensor 550. A third one of these processes includes a step of controlling the pumping of fluid on the basis of repeated measurements of the parameter and producing a desired fluid flow through the output. A corresponding system for dispensing fluid implements these processes.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for dispensing fluid related to a pumping fluid delivery system and a method using a force application assembly.SOLUTION: The method for dispensing fluid includes three processes. A first of the processes includes a step of pumping the fluid into an elastic variable volume dispensing chamber. The dispensing chamber is in series with a usually present limited fluid impedance and an outlet. The impedance is sufficient to expand the dispensing chamber receiving the pumped fluid while part of the fluid flows through the outlet. A second of the processes includes a step of repeatedly measuring a parameter on the volume of the dispensing chamber in time. A third of the processes includes a step of controlling pumping of the fluid based on the repeated measurement of the parameter to generate desired fluid flow through the outlet. These processes are mounted in a corresponding system for dispensing the fluid.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for fore-aft stabilization of a vehicle for motion in a specified direction over an underlying surface.SOLUTION: The vehicle has at least one forward wheel and at least one aft wheel, and the forward wheel is characterized by a force normal to the instantaneous direction of motion of the vehicle. A motor actuator drives each aft wheel, and a controller governs the motor actuator or motor actuators in such a manner as to dynamically stabilize the vehicle, according to a uniform control law, when the forward wheel is in contact with the underlying surface or not. A torque is applied to the aft wheel on the basis of vehicle pitch or the force on the forward wheel normal to the direction of motion. Additionally, a periodic rotational modulation may be applied to the aft wheel, and a stabilizing torque provided based on a detected response, either of vehicle pitch or of normal force on the front wheel. Left and right motor actuators may independently control left and right aft wheels to continue turns as governed by user steering, whether or not forward wheels are in contact with the ground.
Abstract:
Improvements in fluid volume measurement systems are disclosed for a pneumatically actuated diaphragm pump in general, and a peritoneal dialysis cycler using a pump cassette in particular. Pump fluid volume measurements are based on pressure measurements in a pump control chamber and a reference chamber in a two-chamber model, with different sections of the apparatus being modeled using a combination of adiabatic, isothermal and polytropic processes. Real time or instantaneous fluid flow measurements in a pump chamber of a diaphragm pump are also disclosed, in this case using a one-chamber ideal gas model and using a high speed processor to obtain and process pump control chamber pressures during fluid flow into or out of the pump chamber. Improved heater control circuitry is also disclosed, to provide added or redundant safety measures, or to reduce current leakage from a heater element during pulse width modulation control of the heater. Improvements are also disclosed in the application of negative pressure during a drain phase in peritoneal dialysis therapy, and to control the amount of intraperitoneal fluid accumulation during a therapy. Improvements in efficiency are also disclosed in the movement of fluid into and out of a two-pump cassette and heater bag of a peritoneal dialysis cycler, and in the synchronization of the operation of two or more pumps in a peritoneal dialysis cycler or other fluid handling devices using a multi-pump arrangement.
Abstract:
A peristaltic pump, and related system method are provided. The peristaltic pump includes a cam shaft, first and second pinch-valve cams, first and second pinch-valve cam followers, a plunger cam, a plunger-cam follower, a tube receiver, and a spring-biased plunger. The first and second pinch-valve cams are coupled to the cam shaft. The first and second pinch-valve cam followers each engage the first and second pinch-valve cams, respectively. The plunger cam is coupled to the cam shaft. The plunger-cam follower engages the plunger cam. The tube receiver is configured to receive a tube. The spring-biased plunger is coupled to the plunger-cam follower such that the expansion of the plunger cam along a radial angle intersecting the plunger-cam follower as the cam shaft rotates pushes the plunger cam follower towards the plunger and thereby disengages the spring-biased plunger from the tube. A spring coupled to the spring-biased plunger biases the spring-biased plunger to apply the crushing force to the tube.