Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting an occlusion in an infusion line (200) during an infusion process comprising the steps of receiving a periodically measured value of a force (F) that is applied by a pumping device (1) to push a liquid through the infusion line (200) and that is indicative of the pressure (P) in the infusion line (200), and subtracting from the measured force value (F) a frictional force component (F0), that is indicative of a true frictional force, for correcting the measured force value (F) by the true frictional force. The method is characterized in that the value of the frictional force component (F0) is periodically updated throughout the infusion process by applying an equation that comprises a term that takes into account the measured force (F).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting an occlusion in an infusion line (200) during an infusion process comprising the steps of receiving a periodically measured value of a force (F) that is applied by a pumping device (1) to push a liquid through the infusion line (200) and that is indicative of the pressure (P) in the infusion line (200), and subtracting from the measured force value (F) a frictional force component (F0), that is indicative of a true frictional force, for correcting the measured force value (F) by the true frictional force. The method is characterized in that the value of the frictional force component (F0) is periodically updated throughout the infusion process by applying an equation that comprises a term that takes into account the measured force (F).

Abstract: A peristaltic pump comprises a flexible tube, a compression mechanism being actuatable for compressing the flexible tube, an upstream valve mechanism being actuatable to selectively open or close the tube upstream of the compression mechanism and a downstream valve mechanism being actuatable to selectively open or close the tube downstream of the compression mechanism. A drive mechanism actuates the compression mechanism, the upstream and downstream valve mechanisms. A pressure sensor measures a pressure signal indicative of a pressure in the tube between the upstream and downstream valve mechanisms. First and second signal values indicative of a pressure value downstream the downstream valve mechanism and upstream the upstream valve mechanism, respectively, are computed from the measured pressure signal. A threshold value is computed from the first and second signal values, and the measured pressure signal or a derived signal parameter is compared with the threshold value to detect a fault condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the remaining run time (?ti) of a battery (4) that is supplying power to an appliance (2). The method comprises the steps of: —during operation of the appliance (2) measuring the voltage (Ui) supplied by the battery (4) at different points in time (ti) in order to obtain time-voltage-pairs (t,U,), and—calculating the remaining run time (?ti) of the battery (4), wherein the calculation is based on the measured time-voltage-pairs (ti, Ui) and on a relationship between the measured voltage (Ui), the corresponding point in time (ti) and the total run time (T1) of the battery (4) which can be derived from a time dependent formulation of the Nernst equation for this relationship.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the remaining run time (?ti) of a battery (4) that is supplying power to an appliance (2). The method comprises the steps of: during operation of the appliance (2) measuring the voltage (Ui) supplied by the battery (4) at different points in time (ti) in order to obtain time-voltage-pairs (ti, Ui), and-calculating the remaining run time (?t) of the battery (4), wherein the calculation is based on the measured time-voltage-pairs (ti, Ui) and on a relationship between the measured voltage (Ui), the corresponding point in time (ti) and the total run time (T1) of the battery (4) which can be derived from a time dependent formulation of the Nernst equation for this relationship.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump (1) for pumping a liquid comprises a flexible tube (2) for guiding the liquid to be pumped, a compression means (5) being actuatable for compressing the flexible tube (2), an upstream valve means (3) arranged in an upstream direction with respect to the compression means (5) and being actuatable to selectively open or close the flexible tube (2) upstream of the compression means (5), and a downstream valve means (4) arranged in a downstream direction with respect to the compression means (5) and being actuatable to selectively open or close the flexible tube (2) downstream of the compression means (5). A drive shaft (6) is provided which is rotatable for periodically actuating the compression means (5), the upstream valve means (3) and the downstream valve means (4).

Abstract: A device with a suspended beam and piezoresistive means of detecting displacement of the beam and a method of manufacturing the device are disclosed. The device comprises a support, a suspended beam, moving parallel to the plane of the support, and means of detecting displacement, comprising at least two piezoresistive strain gauges that are not in line with each other. The beam is suspended through detection means. The two gauges are located on two opposite lateral faces of the beam respectively.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump comprises a flexible tube, a compression mechanism being actuatable for compressing the flexible tube, an upstream valve mechanism being actuatable to selectively open or close the tube upstream of the compression mechanism and a downstream valve mechanism being actuatable to selectively open or close the tube downstream of the compression mechanism. A drive mechanism actuates the compression mechanism, the upstream and downstream valve mechanisms. A pressure sensor measures a pressure signal indicative of a pressure in the tube between the upstream and downstream valve mechanisms. First and second signal values indicative of a pressure value downstream the downstream valve mechanism and upstream the upstream valve mechanism, respectively, are computed from the measured pressure signal. A threshold value is computed from the first and second signal values, and the measured pressure signal or a derived signal parameter is compared with the threshold value to detect a fault condition.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump (1) for pumping a liquid comprises a flexible tube (2) for guiding the liquid to be pumped, a compression means (5) being actuatable for compressing the flexible tube (2), an upstream valve means (3) arranged in an upstream direction with respect to the compression means (5) and being actuatable to selectively open or close the flexible tube (2) upstream of the compression means (5), and a downstream valve means (4) arranged in a down-stream direction with respect to the compression means (5) and being actuatable to selectively open or close the flexible tube (2) downstream of the compression means (5). A drive shaft (6) is provided which is rotatable for periodically actuating the compression means (5), the upstream valve means (3) and the downstream valve means (4).

Abstract: A device with a suspended beam and piezoresistive means of detecting displacement of the beam and a method of manufacturing the device are disclosed. The device comprises a support, a suspended beam, moving parallel to the plane of the support, and means of detecting displacement, comprising at least two piezoresistive strain gauges that are not in line with each other. The beam is suspended through detection means. The two gauges are located on two opposite lateral faces of the beam respectively.