Patents Assigned to Fluidnet Corporation
  • Patent number: 8394062
    Abstract: A floating gearbox includes an outer housing with first and second side walls opposite and spaced apart from each other and an inner gear assembly received within the outer housing. The inner gear assembly comprises an inner housing, a first gear member rotatably received within the inner housing, and a second gear member having an output shaft rotatably supported on the inner housing. A slider plate received within the outer housing has first and second pairs of axially aligned elongate openings, wherein the first and second pairs of elongate openings align with a first axis and a second axis, respectively. Pins on the first sidewall are received in the first pair of elongate openings to allow relative sliding movement between the outer housing and the slider plate along the first axis. The inner housing includes pins received in the second pair of elongate openings, allowing relative sliding movement between the inner housing and the slider plate along the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Fluidnet Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin G. Powers
  • Publication number: 20120041413
    Abstract: A portable infusion apparatus and method are provided for controlling the delivery of medicinal fluid to a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: FLUIDNET CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Carlisle, Benjamin G. Powers
  • Patent number: 8067760
    Abstract: A fluid flow control system using flow rate changes to extract additional information from an in-line flow sensor. The system provides the ability to determine a position of a movable flow sensor element of a flow sensor by illuminating a photosensitive pixel array with a light source to create a first set of pixel intensity values introducing an abrupt change to the fluid driving pressure, illuminating the photosensitive pixel array with a light source to create a second set of pixel intensity values, and calculating the difference between the first and second sets of pixel intensity values as a function of pixel position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Fluidnet Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Carlisle, Charles E. Kramer, John M. Kirkman, Jr., Douglas E. Vincent
  • Publication number: 20110251557
    Abstract: A floating gearbox includes an outer housing with first and second side walls opposite and spaced apart from each other and an inner gear assembly received within the outer housing. The inner gear assembly comprises an inner housing, a first gear member rotatably received within the inner housing, and a second gear member having an output shaft rotatably supported on the inner housing. A slider plate received within the outer housing has first and second pairs of axially aligned elongate openings, wherein the first and second pairs of elongate openings align with a first axis and a second axis, respectively. Pins on the first sidewall are received in the first pair of elongate openings to allow relative sliding movement between the outer housing and the slider plate along the first axis. The inner housing includes pins received in the second pair of elongate openings, allowing relative sliding movement between the inner housing and the slider plate along the second axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: FLUIDNET CORPORATION
    Inventor: Benjamin G. Powers
  • Publication number: 20110168270
    Abstract: In one aspect, an extended range fluid flow resistor includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet and defining a fluid passageway therebetween A plunger is slidably received within the fluid passageway and an actuator is rotatably coupled to the housing and the plunger, such that rotation of the actuator causes sliding movement of the plunger within the fluid passageway The plunger has a sealing region and a variable flow region axially adjacent the sealing region Fluid flow through the fluid passageway is prevented when the sealing region is aligned with the inlet and fluid flow through the fluid passageway is permitted when the variable flow region is aligned with the inlet The variable flow region includes a helical groove extending from a first end of the variable flow region adjacent the sealing region and away from the sealing region to a second end of the vanable flow region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: FLUIDNET CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Carlisle, Benjamin G. Powers
  • Patent number: 7895882
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for using an acceleration of a flow control system to determine the density of a fluid relative to the density of an in-line flow object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Fluidnet Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Carlisle, Benjamin G. Powers
  • Publication number: 20110046900
    Abstract: A fluid flow control system using flow rate changes to extract additional information from an in-line flow sensor. The system provides the ability to determine a position of a movable flow sensor element of a flow sensor by illuminating a photosensitive pixel array with a light source to create a first set of pixel intensity values, introducing an abrupt change to the fluid driving pressure, illuminating the photosensitive pixel array with a light source to create a second set of pixel intensity values, and calculating the difference between the first and second sets of pixel intensity values as a function of pixel position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: FLUIDNET CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Carlisle, Charles E. Kramer, John M. Kirkman, JR., Douglas E. Vincent
  • Publication number: 20110028937
    Abstract: A system for controlled delivery of medicinal fluid includes a fluid pathway assembly defining a fluid pathway and including means for calculating a first calculated fluid flow rate using gas laws. The fluid pathway assembly has an inline flow sensor element received within the fluid pathway movable in response to fluid flowing in the fluid pathway. A flow control device is removably attached to the fluid pathway assembly and has a sensor for sensing a position of the inline flow sensor element in the fluid pathway, the position of the inline flow sensor element being representative of a second calculated fluid flow rate. The fluid pathway assembly includes a variable flow resistor adjustable to regulate a rate of fluid flow in the fluid pathway assembly. A drive mechanism attached to the flow control device is operably coupled to the variable flow resistor when the flow control device is attached to the fluid pathway assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: FLUIDNET CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Powers, Jeffrey A. Carlisle, Lawrence M. Kuba
  • Patent number: 7847276
    Abstract: A fluid flow control system using flow rates to extract additional information from an in-line flow sensor. The system provides the ability to determine a position of a movable flow sensor element of a flow sensor by illuminating a photosensitive pixel array with a light source to create a first set of pixel intensity values introducing an abrupt change to the fluid driving pressure, illuminating the photosensitive pixel array with a light source to create a second set of pixel intensity values, and calculating the difference between the first and second sets of pixel intensity values as a function of pixel position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Fluidnet Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Carlisle, Charles E. Kramer, John M. Kirkman, Jr., Douglas E. Vincent
  • Publication number: 20100063765
    Abstract: An infusion pump and method are provided which combine flow rate measurements calibrated by accurate volume measurements over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: FLUIDNET CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Carlisle, Lawrence M. Kuba, John M. Kirkman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7654982
    Abstract: An infusion pump and method are provided which control flow rates with variable fluid pressure and variable series flow resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Fluidnet Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Carlisle, Lawrence M. Kuba, John M. Kirkman, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090234594
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for using flow rate changes to extract additional information from an in-line flow sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: FLUIDNET CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Carlisle, Charles E. Kramer, John M. Kirkman, JR., Douglas E. Vincent
  • Publication number: 20090229374
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for using an acceleration of a flow control system to determine the density of a fluid relative to the density of an in-line flow object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Fluidnet Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Carlisle, Benjamin G. Powers
  • Publication number: 20090131863
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring fluid volume and changes in fluid volume over time, using a simple, low cost architecture is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: FLUIDNET CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Carlisle, Lawrence M. Kuba, John M. Kirkman Jr.
  • Patent number: 7503903
    Abstract: A device for control of fluid flow with closed loop quasi static adjustment of in-line pressure-based resistance. The disclosed device and methods of using the device provide for the ability to control a flow rate with a highly portable device; the ability for an operator to safely use the device with minimal training; the ability to automatically switch between a primary and secondary fluid; the ability to maintain a flow rate through a tubing set even when the control device is removed; and the ability to measure fluids introduced with a manual bolus injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Fluidnet Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Alan Carlisle, Lawrence Michael Kuba
  • Publication number: 20090026146
    Abstract: An infusion pump and method are provided which control flow rates with variable fluid pressure and variable series flow resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: FLUIDNET CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Carlisle, Lawrence M. Kuba, John M. Kirkman, JR.