Digital pressure gauge

Abstract

A vacuum pressure regulator system is provided for use in association with a vacuum system in which a vacuum is employed for healthcare purposes, for assisting in monitoring and regulating the vacuum pressure, and having a manual pressure control valve to adjust the treatment vacuum pressure supplied to the patient, a vacuum pressure sensor to sense the treatment vacuum pressure for the patient in the system, and producing a treatment vacuum pressure signal, a sampling circuit which intermittently samples the pressure signal generated by the pressure sensor and generate sampling signals, an electrically powered pressure display circuit, and digital pressure display, for receiving the sampling signals and providing a visible display, and a non-mains power supply.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum pressure regulator device comprising:
 a vacuum regulator;   a sensor for sensing a vacuum pressure;   a circuit in communication with said sensor for sampling the sensed vacuum pressure at a predetermined sampling interval and generating a signal corresponding to the sensed vacuum pressure; and   a digital display for displaying a vacuum pressure reading corresponding to the signal generated by said circuit,   wherein said circuit temporarily shortens the predetermined sampling interval upon detection of a condition.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 1  and further including an adjustment knob for adjusting the vacuum pressure to be applied to the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 2 , wherein the detected condition that causes said circuit to temporarily shorten the predetermined sampling interval is the detection of adjustment of the vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 2 , wherein said control knob is coupled to said vacuum pressure regulator for regulating said vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 1 , wherein said circuit samples the sensed vacuum at a predetermined sampling rate by periodically enabling and disabling said sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 1 , wherein said digital vacuum pressure reading is displayed continuously by said digital display and is updated each time said circuit samples the sensed vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 1 , wherein said digital display is a numerical display. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 1  and further comprising a battery for supplying power to said circuit and said digital display. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 1  and further comprising an input port for connection to a vacuum source, and an output port for connection to the patient, wherein said vacuum regulator is selectively connected between said input port and said output port. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 9  and further comprising a mode selector switch for selection of at least two of the following modes: a regulated mode in which vacuum from the vacuum source is regulated by said vacuum regulator prior to application to the patient, an unregulated mode in which vacuum from the vacuum source is directly applied to the patient without regulation by said vacuum regulator, and an off mode where no vacuum is applied to the patient. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 1 , wherein said vacuum regulator communicates with a regulator well. 
     
     
         12 . A vacuum pressure regulator device for selectively regulating pressure of a vacuum to be applied to a patient, said vacuum pressure regulator device comprising:
 an input port for connection to a vacuum source;   an output port for connection to the patient;   a vacuum regulator selectively connected between said input port and said output port;   a vacuum adjustment knob coupled to said vacuum pressure regulator for manually adjusting the regulated vacuum to be applied to the patient;   a mode selector switch for selection of at least two of the following modes: a regulated mode in which vacuum from the vacuum source is regulated by said vacuum regulator prior to application to the patient, an unregulated mode in which vacuum from the vacuum source is directly applied to the patient without regulation by said vacuum regulator, and an off mode where no vacuum is applied to the patient;   a sensor for sensing a vacuum pressure applied to the patient;   a circuit in communication with said sensor for sampling the sensed vacuum pressure at a predetermined sampling rate and generating a signal corresponding to the sensed vacuum pressure;   a digital display including a numerical display for displaying a vacuum pressure reading corresponding to the signal generated by said circuit, wherein said vacuum pressure reading is displayed continuously by said digital display and is updated each time said circuit samples the sensed vacuum pressure; and   a battery for supplying power to said circuit and said digital display,   wherein said circuit temporarily increases the predetermined sampling rate upon detection of adjustment of the vacuum pressure.   
     
     
         13 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 12 , wherein said mode selector switch is provided for selection of the regulated mode, the unregulated mode, and the off mode. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 12 , wherein said circuit samples the sensed vacuum at a predetermined sampling rate by periodically enabling and disabling said sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 12 , wherein said digital display further includes a visual alarm indicator. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 15 , further comprising a no-pressure signal generator for generating at least one no-pressure signal representing an absence of said vacuum pressure, and an alarm signal generator, wherein said visual alarm indicator is responsive to a no-pressure signal received from said alarm signal generator to generate an alarm. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 12 , wherein said digital display is contained in a display housing, wherein said circuit is at least partially contained in said display housing, and said battery and said pressure sensor are contained in said display housing. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 17  and further including an aperture for receiving a portion of said display housing, and an O-ring for sealing the portion of said display housing within said aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 12 , wherein said battery is rechargeable. 
     
     
         20 . The vacuum pressure regulator device of  claim 12 , wherein said vacuum regulator communicates with a regulator well.