Patent ID: 6466879
Filing Date: 2002-10-15
Classification: A61M,G01F

Abstract:
A fluid processing system comprisinga replenishable source containing a volume of a processing fluid having a known density, a circuit to dispense the processing fluid from the source during a processing period, a weigh sensor coupled to the source and operating to sense weight of the source that is proportional to volume of processing fluid present in the source, and a processor coupled to the weigh sensor and operating in response to commands to sequentially pause and resume the processing period, the processor including a counting function that operates in processing steps to (i) record a current weight value of the source at commencement of the processing period; (ii) register a first subsequent weight value (Wt1) of the source upon pause in the processing period; (iii) register a second subsequent weight value (Wt2) of the source upon resumption of the processing period after the pause; (iv) generate an updated current weight value upon resumption of the processing period by adding to the current weight value the difference between Wt2 and Wt1; (v) register a final weight value of the source at termination of the processing period; and (vi) generate a total volume value of processing fluid dispensed from the source during the processing period, which takes into account replenishment of the processing fluid when the processing period is paused, by subtracting the final weight value from the updated current weight value.