Abstract: A medical device (10) includes a device housing (12). An in-line thermal mass flow sensor (26) includes a heater (28) and at least one temperature sensor (30). The in-line thermal mass flow sensor is vertically mounted on or in the device housing. The in-line thermal mass flow sensor is configured to measure a flow rate of the fluid through the medical device. At least one electronic processor (18) is programmed to: read the flow rate of the fluid measured by the in-line thermal mass flow sensor; and detect at least one bubble in the fluid based on the measured flow rate.

Abstract: A medical device (10) includes a device housing (12). An in-line thermal mass flow sensor (26) includes a heater (28) and at least one temperature sensor (30). The in-line thermal mass flow sensor is vertically mounted on or in the device housing. The in-line thermal mass flow sensor is configured to measure a flow rate of the fluid through the medical device. At least one electronic processor (18) is programmed to: read the flow rate of the fluid measured by the in-line thermal mass flow sensor, and detect at least one bubble in the fluid based on the measured flow rate.

Abstract: An infusion pump (10) includes a fluid chamber (28) having an outlet valve (34) and a piezo-stack actuator (36) comprising a stack of piezo-electric layers (38). An electronic processor (18) is programmed to operate the outlet valve and the piezo-stack actuator to pump fluid through the fluid chamber at a programmed flow rate.

Abstract: An infusion pump including a fluid chamber having an outlet valve and a piezo-stack actuator including a stack of piezo-electric layers. The infusion pump also includes a linear actuator to measure displacement of the piezo-stack actuator during operation. An electronic processor is programmed to operate the outlet valve and the piezo-stack actuator to pump fluid through the fluid chamber at a programmed flow rate.

Abstract: A medical device (10) for use in a Magnetic Resonance environment includes a keypad (22) having keys (24). Light sources (26) are disposed with respective keys of the keypad to illuminate the respective keys. At least one electronic processor (18) is programmed to: perform user interfacing operations in which user inputs are received via the keypad; during the user interfacing operations, control the light sources to selectively illuminate keys usable in the user interfacing operations; and controlling or configuring the medical device in accord with the user inputs received during the user interfacing operations.

Abstract: A rotary drive for a medical device (10) includes a rotary motor (14) including a rotor (26). A rotary motion encoder (34) is connected to the rotor. The rotary motion encoder is configured to generate a number of encoder steps measuring a rotational distance of the rotor. At least one electronic processor (18) is programmed to determine at least one of a slippage value of the rotary motor measured during motor operation and a coasting value of the rotary motor measured after stopping motor operation based on comparison of an actual count of encoder steps and an expected count of encoder steps.

Abstract: An infusion pump (10) includes a fluid chamber (28) having an outlet valve (34) and a piezo-stack actuator (36) comprising a stack of piezo-electric layers (38). An electronic processor (18) is programmed to operate the outlet valve and the piezo-stack actuator to pump fluid through the fluid chamber at a programmed flow rate.

Abstract: A medical device (10) for use in a Magnetic Resonance environment includes a keypad (22) having keys (24). Light sources (26) are disposed with respective keys of the keypad to illuminate the respective keys. At least one electronic processor (18) is programmed to: perform user interfacing operations in which user inputs are received via the keypad; during the user interfacing operations, control the light sources to selectively illuminate keys usable in the user interfacing operations; and controlling or configuring the medical device in accord with the user inputs received during the user interfacing operations.

Abstract: A medical device (10) includes a device housing (12). An in-line thermal mass flow sensor (26) includes a heater (28) and at least one temperature sensor (30). The in-line thermal mass flow sensor is vertically mounted on or in the device housing. The in-line thermal mass flow sensor is configured to measure a flow rate of the fluid through the medical device. At least one electronic processor (18) is programmed to: read the flow rate of the fluid measured by the in-line thermal mass flow sensor, and detect at least one bubble in the fluid based on the measured flow rate.

Abstract: A rotary drive for a medical device (10) includes a rotary motor (14) including a rotor (26). A rotary motion encoder (34) is connected to the rotor. The rotary motion encoder is configured to generate a number of encoder steps measuring a rotational distance of the rotor. At least one electronic processor (18) is programmed to determine at least one of a slippage value of the rotary motor measured during motor operation and a coasting value of the rotary motor measured after stopping motor operation based on comparison of an actual count of encoder steps and an expected count of encoder steps.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) safe touchscreen display (10) includes a touchscreen (16) and a film (30, 32) that has a high frequency shielding layer (20, 28) and a low frequency shielding layer (18, 26). A bus bar (14) conductively couples the low frequency shielding layer (18, 26) to the high frequency shielding layer (20, 28) around a perimeter of a face of the film (30, 32) and the edge of the film (30, 32). The film (30, 32) is adjacent to a rear face of the touchscreen (16). The bus bar (14) facilitates the connection of the touchscreen (16) and layers (18, 20) to the display (12) to form a Faraday cage around the display components contained within the display housing (11).

Abstract: When employing a valve in a medical device in or near a bore of a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner, MR-compatible materials are employed to minimize the susceptibility of the valve to the strong magnetic fields generated by the MR scanner. An MR-compatible actuator comprises a shame memory alloy (SMA) wire or member (12) that is actuated by application of a constant power signal. The constant power signal is supplied by a control circuit (50) that is generated using a power feedback signal derived from measured current and voltage feedback signals. Once the SMA member is actuated, the power signal can be reduced and pulse width modulated to maintain the SMA member in an active state, which in turn maintains the valve in a closed state until the power signal is terminated.

Abstract: An electrically controlled valve (10) includes a shaft (36), a piezoelectric motor (34) affixed to an end of the shaft (36), a controller (54), a follower (42), a valve member (40), and a valve seat (28). The piezoelectric motor (34) drives the shaft with a first direction and a second opposite direction. The controller (54) provides power to the piezoelectric motor (34) to move the shaft with a first speed and a second speed, the first speed being faster that the second speed. The follower (42) receives the shaft (36), and slides relative to the shaft in response to the shaft moving with the first speed, and grips and moves with the shaft in response to the moving with the second speed and includes a valve member (40). The valve member (40) moves with the follower (42). The valve member (40) is configured to be moved by the follower (42) against the valve seat (28) to restrict fluid flow and to be moved by the follower (42) away from the valve seat to increase the fluid flow.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) safe touchscreen display (10) includes a touchscreen (16) and a film (30, 32) that has a high frequency shielding layer (20, 28) and a low frequency shielding layer (18, 26). A bus bar (14) conductively couples the low frequency shielding layer (18, 26) to the high frequency shielding layer (20, 28) around a perimeter of a face of the film (30, 32) and the edge of the film (30, 32). The film (30, 32) is adjacent to a rear face of the touchscreen (16). The bus bar (14) facilitates the connection of the touchscreen (16) and layers (18, 20) to the display (12) to form a Faraday cage around the display components contained within the display housing (11).

Abstract: An electrically controlled valve (10) includes a shaft (36), a piezoelectric motor (34) affixed to an end of the shaft (36), a controller (54), a follower (42), a valve member (40), and a valve seat (28). The piezoelectric motor (34) drives the shaft with a first direction and a second opposite direction. The controller (54) provides power to the piezoelectric motor (34) to move the shaft with a first speed and a second speed, the first speed being faster that the second speed. The follower (42) receives the shaft (36), and slides relative to the shaft in response to the shaft moving with the first speed, and grips and moves with the shaft in response to the moving with the second speed and includes a valve member (40). The valve member (40) moves with the follower (42). The valve member (40) is configured to be moved by the follower (42) against the valve seat (28) to restrict fluid flow and to be moved by the follower (42) away from the valve seat to increase the fluid flow.

Abstract: An apparatus and method generates a print out of physiological information from a patient (4) undergoing a magnetic resonance scan in a magnetic resonance system (8). The magnetic resonance system includes a main magnet that generates a static magnetic field (B0) through an examination region (12). A recorder device (38) is located adjacent the patient within a five Gauss line and more particularly, in the examination region with the patient at full field. A piezoelectric motor (68) drives a pinion (72) which drives a roller platen (62) of a printer assembly (60). A primary controller board (70) generates electromechanical stepper motor drive signals (90) and a secondary controller board (74) converts the electromechanical stepper motor drive signals (90) to piezoelectric motor drive motor signals (100).

Abstract: When employing a valve in a medical device in or near a bore of a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner, MR-compatible materials are employed to minimize the susceptibility of the valve to the strong magnetic fields generated by the MR scanner. An MR-compatible actuator comprises a shame memory alloy (SMA) wire or member (12) that is actuated by application of a constant power signal. The constant power signal is supplied by a control circuit that is generated using a power feedback signal derived from measured current and voltage feedback signals. Once the SMA member is actuated, the power signal can be reduced and pulse width modulated to maintain the SMA member in an active state, which in turn maintains the valve in a closed state until the power signal is terminated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method generates a print out of physiological information from a patient (4) undergoing a magnetic resonance scan in a magnetic resonance system (8). The magnetic resonance system includes a main magnet that generates a static magnetic field (B0) through an examination region (12). A recorder device (38) is located adjacent the patient within a five Gauss line and more particularly, in the examination region with the patient at full field. A piezoelectric motor (68) drives a pinion (72) which drives a roller platen (62) of a printer assembly (60). A primary controller board (70) generates electromechanical stepper motor drive signals (90) and a secondary controller board (74) converts the electromechanical stepper motor drive signals (90) to piezoelectric motor drive motor signals (100).