Patent ID: 6386050
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: A61M,G01F

Abstract:
A system for monitoring flow comprising:a fluid-bearing passageway having an interrogation region; a heat generator that is physically isolated from fluid flow through said fluid-bearing passageway while being in thermal transfer engagement with said fluid-bearing passageway, said heat generator being configured to selectively introduce temperature fluctuations into said fluid flow through said fluid-bearing passageway; one of an optical and electrical source that is physically isolated from said fluid flow through said fluid-bearing passageway while being operationally associated with said interrogation region to form at least one of a capacitive cell and a light probing arrangement at said interrogation region; a detector positioned relative to said interrogation region to monitor temperature changes within said interrogation region, said detector being configured to measure at least one of resistivity within said interrogation region and light redirected at said interrogation region as a result of interaction with said fluid flow and said fluid-bearing passageway; and rate determination capability connected to said detector to monitor progress of said temperature fluctuations through said fluid-bearing passageway on a basis of measurements of at least one of resistivity and refractive index, said rate determination capability being configured to identify fluid flow rate within said fluid-bearing passageway based upon said monitoring of said progress.