Systems and methods for accurately measuring fluid

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for measuring the amount of fluid. A fluid source is in fluid communication with a measuring system. The fluid source includes a non-collapsible walled container for dispensing or introducing fluid. The measuring system includes a sensor in fluid communication with the container that senses the volume of the gas, and a system that calculates the amount of fluid flowing through an opening of the container based on the amount of gas flowing through an opening of the container. The volume of gas entering or exiting the container is measured rather than directly measuring the amount of fluid leaving or entering the container to determine in a more accurate, less complicated and less expensive manner the volume of fluid.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:  
     
         1 . A system for containing fluid and for determining an amount of fluid flow, the system comprising: 
 a non-collapsible means for containing fluid;    means for sensing an amount of gas flowing through an opening of said means for containing fluid as fluid flows through an opening of said means for containing fluid, wherein said means for sensing is in fluid communication with said means for containing fluid; and    means for calculating the amount of fluid flowing through an opening of said means for containing fluid based on the amount of gas flowing through an opening of said means for containing fluid, wherein said means for calculating is coupled to said means for sensing.    
     
     
         2 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said means for calculating calculates at least one of: 
 (i) the amount of fluid displaced from said means for containing fluid based on a volume of gas entering said means for containing fluid; and    (ii) the amount of fluid introduced into said means for containing fluid based on a volume of gas exiting said means for containing fluid.    
     
     
         3 . A system as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a means for obtaining a density value of said gas, coupled to said means for calculating, and wherein said means for sensing senses a mass flow of said gas, wherein said means for calculating calculates the amount of fluid based at least in part on said density value and said mass flow of said gas.  
     
     
         4 . A system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said means for calculating comprises a processor.  
     
     
         5 . A system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said means for containing comprises a spike having one or more ports, wherein at least one of said one or more ports is the opening through which fluid flows, and wherein at least one of said one or more ports is the opening through which gas flows.  
     
     
         6 . A system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the fluid comprises contrast medium.  
     
     
         7 . A system as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising means for informing a user of at least one of: 
 (i) the amount of fluid that has been displaced from said means for containing;    (ii) the amount of fluid that has been introduced into said means for containing; and    (iii) the amount of said fluid within said means for containing.    
     
     
         8 . A system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said means for informing is one of a display screen and a digital display.  
     
     
         9 . A system for containing fluid and for sensing an amount of fluid flow, the system comprising: 
 a non-collapsible container;    a sensor in fluid communication with said container, said sensor being configured to measure an amount of gas flowing through an opening of said container as fluid flows through an opening of said container; and    a calculating system configured to calculate an amount of fluid flowing through an opening of said container based on the amount of gas flowing through an opening of said container.    
     
     
         10 . A system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said container comprises one or more ports, wherein at least one of said one or more ports is the opening which fluid flows, and wherein at least one of said one or more ports is the opening through which gas flows.  
     
     
         11 . A system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said sensor senses a mass flow of gas and a density value of gas flowing through an opening of said container.  
     
     
         12 . A system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said calculating system calculates the amount of fluid flowing through an opening of said container based on the mass flow of gas and the density value of the gas flowing through an opening of said container.  
     
     
         13 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said sensor is a dual sensor comprising: 
 a first sensor component for sensing mass flow of the gas; and    a second sensor component for sensing the density value of the gas.    
     
     
         14 . A system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said calculating system comprises at least one of: 
 (i) an analog-to-digital converter; and    (ii) a processor.    
     
     
         15 . A system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the fluid comprises contrast medium.  
     
     
         16 . A system as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a spike in fluid communication with said container, wherein said spike is configured to allow the gas to flow through an opening of said container as the fluid flows through an opening of said container.  
     
     
         17 . A system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said spike comprises one or more ports, wherein at least one of said one or more ports allows fluid to flow, and wherein at least one of said one or more ports allows gas to flow.  
     
     
         18 . A system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said sensor senses a mass flow and density value of the gas flowing through an opening of said container, and wherein said calculating system calculates the amount of fluid flowing through an opening of said container based on the mass flow and density value of the gas.  
     
     
         19 . In a system that includes a non-collapsible container having fluid therein, wherein an amount of the fluid is dispensed from the container, a method for obtaining the amount of the fluid dispensed from the container, the method comprising the steps for: 
 dispensing the amount of the fluid from the container;    measuring an amount of gas flowing into the container upon dispensing the amount of the fluid from the container; and    determining the amount of fluid dispensed from the container by utilizing said amount of gas to calculate the amount of fluid dispensed from the container; and    outputting on an output device the amount of the fluid dispensed from the container.    
     
     
         20 . A method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said step for measuring an amount of gas comprises: 
 measuring a mass flow of said gas; and    measuring a density value of said gas.    
     
     
         21 . A method as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said step for obtaining the amount of the fluid dispensed is performed by a calculating system, and wherein said step for obtaining comprises: 
 dividing the mass flow by the density value to yield a flow of gas.    
     
     
         22 . A method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said step for obtaining the amount of the fluid dispensed further comprises: 
 integrating, with respect to time, the flow of gas to yield a volume of gas, wherein the volume of gas corresponds to the amount of fluid dispensed from the container.    
     
     
         23 . A method as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising the step for zeroing a measuring system before performing said step for measuring an amount of gas, wherein said measuring system performs said step for measuring an amount of gas.  
     
     
         24 . A method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said step for measuring an amount of gas is performed automatically.  
     
     
         25 . A method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said output device is one of: (i) a digital display; and (ii) a display screen.  
     
     
         26 . A system for dispensing sterile fluid and for measuring an amount of sterile fluid that is dispensed while maintaining the sterility of the fluid, the system comprising: 
 a non-collapsible walled container;    a first sensor component coupled in fluid communication with said container that measures a mass flow of gas entering into said container as the sterile fluid is dispensed from said container; and    a processor electrically coupled to said first sensor component that receives said mass flow of gas.    
     
     
         27 . A fluid measuring system as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising a filter system coupled in fluid communication to said first sensor component that removes any impurities present in said gas.  
     
     
         28 . A fluid measuring system as recited in  claim 27 , further comprising a second sensor component for measuring a density value of the gas, wherein said second sensor component is electrically coupled to said processor.  
     
     
         29 . A fluid measuring system as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said non-collapsible walled container comprises one or more ports, wherein at least one of said one or more ports allows sterile fluid to be dispensed from said non-collapsible walled container, and wherein at least one of said one or more ports allows gas to flow into said non-collapsible walled container.  
     
     
         30 . A fluid measuring system as recited in  claim 29 , further comprising a catheter coupled in fluid communication with said container to allow the amount of sterile fluid to dispense from said container, pass through said catheter and enter into a body of a patient.  
     
     
         31 . A fluid measuring system as recited in  claim 26 , wherein said gas is atmospheric air.  
     
     
         32 . A system as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the fluid comprises contrast medium.  
     
     
         33 . A device for dispensing fluid and for sensing an amount of fluid displaced from a container, the device comprising: 
 a non-collapsible container;    a sensor in fluid communication with said container, wherein said sensor comprises: 
 a first sensor component that is configured to measure mass flow of  
   a gas flowing into said container as fluid is displaced from said container; and 
 a second sensor component that is configured to obtain a density value of the gas; and  
   a calculating system configured to calculate the amount of fluid displaced from said container based on the mass flow and density value of the gas.    
     
     
         34 . A device as recited in  claim 33 , wherein said calculating system comprises at least one of: 
 (i) an analog-to-digital converter; and    (ii) a processor.    
     
     
         35 . A device as recited in  claim 33 , wherein said container comprises a spike, and wherein said spike is configured to allow said gas to flow into said container as said fluid is displaced from said container.  
     
     
         36 . A device as recited in  claim 35 , wherein said spike comprises one or more ports, wherein at least one of said one or more ports allows said fluid contained within said container to be displaced from said container, and wherein at least one of said one or more ports allows said gas to flow into said container.  
     
     
         37 . A device as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the gas is atmospheric air.  
     
     
         38 . A device as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the fluid comprises contrast medium.  
     
     
         39 . A computer program product for implementing within a fluid measuring system that includes a computer system, a method for obtaining a volume of fluid displaced from or introduced into a container, the computer program product comprising: 
 a computer readable medium carrying computer program code means for implementing the method, wherein said computer program code means comprises executable code for implementing the steps for: 
 receiving data that is used to calculate a volume of gas flowing through an opening of the container as fluid flows through an opening of the container;  
 calculating the volume of gas, wherein the volume of gas corresponds to the volume of fluid that flows through an opening of the container; and  
 outputting on an output device at least one of: (i) a volume of fluid displaced from the container; (ii) a volume of fluid remaining within the container; and (iii) the volume of fluid introduced into the container.  
   
     
     
         40 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 39 , wherein said step for receiving data comprises: 
 receiving mass flow data representing a mass flow of the gas; and    receiving density data representing a density value of the gas.    
     
     
         41 . A computer program product as recited in claim  40 , wherein said step for calculating comprises: 
 dividing the mass flow of the gas by the density value of the gas to yield a volume flow of the gas, wherein the volume flow of the gas corresponds to a volume flow of the fluid, which is the volume of fluid.    
     
     
         42 . A computer program product as recited in claim  40 , wherein said step for calculating comprises: 
 dividing the mass flow of the gas by the density value of the gas to yield a volume flow of the gas; and    integrating, with respect to time, the volume flow of the gas to yield a total volume of gas, wherein the total volume of gas, which is the volume of the gas, corresponds to a total volume of the fluid, which is the volume of the fluid.