Patent ID: 11927465
Assignee: ALCOR SCIENTIFIC LLC
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. A flow sensor system for detecting the presence or absence of flow through a conduit of an enteral feeding system, comprising:
a substantially planar front portion;
a substantially U-shaped channel formed in the front portion and configured to retain the conduit therein, the channel dimensioned to maintain a round cross-sectional geometry of the conduit without compressing the conduit within the channel;
a heat source disposed at a first location at a first portion of the conduit;
a heat detector disposed at a second location at a first portion of the conduit; and
a controller configured to perform the following steps:
determining a reference temperature T1 of a liquid nutrient formula at the second location;
activating the heat source;
measuring a second temperature T2 of the liquid nutrient formula at the second location;
calculating the difference between the reference and second temperatures; and
determining from the difference between the reference and second temperatures whether a partial or complete occlusion is present in the conduit.