Patent ID: 11877983
Assignee: KPR U.S., LLC
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 20:
21. A flow control apparatus comprising:
a housing configured to receive a feeding set;
a pumping device configured to produce a fluid flow in the feeding set;
an ultrasonic sensor including a first sensor component and a second sensor component, the first sensor component configured to emit a first ultrasonic signal through a portion of the feeding set in a first direction and the second sensor component configured to emit a second ultrasonic signal through the portion of the feeding set in a second direction; and
a control circuit configured to switch between a first configuration and a second configuration, whereby the first configuration includes the first sensor component emits the first ultrasonic signal directed to the second sensor component for detection by the second sensor component, and
wherein the second configuration includes the second sensor component emits the second ultrasonic signal directed to the first sensor component for detection by the first sensor component
wherein the ultrasonic sensor is further configured to produce a sensor signal indicative of a condition of the feeding set based on the first ultrasonic signal or the second ultrasonic signal;
wherein the sensor signal is produced based on a comparison between the first ultrasonic signal and the second ultrasonic signal
wherein the comparison compares an amplitude of the detected first ultrasonic signal and an amplitude of the detected second ultrasonic signal, and determines a higher amplitude;
wherein the control circuit includes a switch for switching between the first configuration and the second configuration, and wherein the determined higher amplitude is configured to set the switch in only the first configuration or the second configuration for operation of the flow control apparatus.