Patent ID: 9134736
Filing Date: 2015-09-15
Classification: A61M,G01F,G05D,G06T,G16H

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for determining a rate of fluid flow in a fluid delivery system comprising a drip chamber and a length of tubing, the apparatus comprising: a. a cradle configured to receive the drip chamber; b. a valve configured to receive the length of tubing and to control a rate of fluid flow through the length of tubing; and c. a flow rate determination element configured to determine a flow rate of fluid passing through the drip chamber, the flow rate determination element comprising, a camera for imaging activity within the drip chamber, a computing device, a memory storage coupled to the computing device, and a set of software instructions stored in the memory storage which when executed by the computing device causes the apparatus to carry out functions, the functions comprising: detecting a presence of a drop of fluid falling within the drip chamber; in response to the detecting, triggering the camera to capture a first image of the drip chamber with the drop falling therein; capturing a second image of the drip chamber with no drop falling therein; eliminating splash effects from the first image of the drip chamber by subtracting from the first image portions of the second image that appear in substantially the same position in each of the first and second images in order to create a drop image that is substantially free of splash effects; and determining a volume of the drop based on the drop image.