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

Claim 12:
13. 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, the heat source including an IR LED;
a photodiode IR sensor, at a location proximate the IR LED, wherein the photodiode IR sensor is configured to be illuminated by the IR LED, and whereby the photodiode IR sensor is used to detect the presence of the conduit in the channel;
a heat detector disposed at a second location at a second portion of the conduit, the heat detector including a thermopile sensor; 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.