Patent ID: 8770010

Claim:
A compact sensor for detecting bubbles and occlusions in a fluid flow comprising: a housing having a channel with a bottom and opposing curved sides, the opposing curved sides having a narrowest portion adapted to receive and provide a pre-load to a tube; a bubble sensor having an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver, the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver placed adjacent a respective one of the opposing curved sides in said housing, whereby the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver are separated by the narrowest portion of the channel; and an occlusion sensor placed at the bottom of the channel between the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver and the opposing curved sides and adjacent and between the narrowest portion of the opposing curved sides in said housing, wherein said bubble sensor and said occlusion sensor are both adjacent the narrowest portion of the opposing curved sides, whereby the opposing curved sides at the narrowest portion pre-load the tube improving accuracy across a range of different tube materials and fluid flow in the tube is monitored for bubbles and occlusions.