Patent ID: 8539981

Claim:
Fluid flow regulator ( 1 ) of the passive type having a fluid inlet adapted to be connected to a fluid reservoir and a fluid outlet ( 13 ) adapted to be connected to a delivery location, said regulator comprising a rigid substrate ( 2 ) and a resilient membrane ( 3 ) tightly linked together in predefined linking areas ( 4 ) so as to define a cavity ( 6 ) therebetween, said cavity ( 6 ) being connected to said fluid outlet ( 13 ) while said membrane ( 3 ) has a first surface ( 12 ) opposite said cavity ( 6 ) which is connected to said fluid inlet, said membrane ( 3 ) having a through hole ( 15 ) contiguous with said cavity ( 6 ), to define a pathway for a fluid from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet ( 13 ), and being flexible so as to be able to come into contact with said substrate ( 2 ), within said cavity ( 6 ) and with a portion including said through hole ( 15 ), in case a fluid applies a pressure on said first surface ( 12 ) that is larger than a first predefined threshold value, which results in hindering a fluid from flowing through said through hole ( 15 ), wherein said membrane ( 2 ) comprises at least one additional through hole ( 15 ) contiguous with said cavity ( 6 ) and arranged such that a fluid may flow through it in case said fluid applies a pressure on said first surface ( 12 ) that is larger than said first predefined threshold value but smaller than a second predefined threshold value, said membrane ( 3 ) and said additional through hole ( 15 ) being further arranged so that a fluid flow rate is be substantially linear as a function of the pressure applied on said first surface ( 12 ) in a range going approximately from said first to said second predefined threshold values.