Patents by Inventor Houston Brown

Houston Brown has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Apparatus and method for measuring drop size in an intravenous drip chamber
    Patent number: 6562012
    Abstract: A capacitive-based apparatus for measuring the volume of a fluid drop passing through an intravenous drip chamber. The apparatus includes a capacitor comprising two parallel plates that are a fixed distance apart and are positioned such that the fluid flow path in the drip chamber is between them. The fluid drop moving through the drip chamber between the plates causes the capacitance of the plates to change. This change in capacitance is measured and from it, the volume of the drop is calculated. The volumes of a series of drops are integrated to provide a measured rate of flow through the drip chamber. This measured rate of flow is compared to the programmed rate of flow and the difference is used to adjust a flow control device to obtain the desired rate of flow. The measured flow rate is also displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Alaris Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Houston Brown, C. William Barnes
  • Power management system
    Patent number: 6348777
    Abstract: In a power supply of a patient care system, a power management system monitors the temperature of an off-line switcher and adjusts the amount of current supplied by the off-line switcher to operate the off-line switcher within a range of temperature and power limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Alaris Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Houston A. Brown, John Mossman, George C. Lysy