Embodiments relate generally to measuring pressure and more specifically to pressure testing, pressure calibration, and pressure adjustment.
Many devices in the medical field and other technical fields measure a pressure or vacuum value. These devices require periodic testing and calibration, which requires the operator the physically produce precise pressure values. Syringes are frequently used for a variety of applications in the medical environment. While a bare syringe is capable of creating a pressure or vacuum, its limited precision and capacity leaves it unsuitable for many pressure testing applications.
A system embodiment may include: a base platform defining a syringe flange opening configured to receive a syringe barrel flange of a syringe; and a latch assembly configured to movably attach to the base platform via an adjustment screw threaded between the base platform and the latch assembly, where a distance between the base platform and the latch assembly may be changed based on a rotation of the adjustment screw relative to the latch assembly, the latch assembly comprising: a handle configured to rotate relative to the latch assembly; and a latch securing fastener configured to engage a rib of a syringe plunger by rotation of the handle; and where the rib of the syringe plunger may be configured to be secured to the latch assembly via rotation of the handle of the latch assembly; and where rotation of the adjustment screw may be configured to generate a precise pressure within the syringe by moving the syringe plunger relative to the syringe barrel flange, when the rib of the syringe plunger may be secured to the latch assembly.
In additional system embodiments, an increase in the distance between the base platform and the latch assembly may be configured to decrease a pressure value of the syringe. In additional system embodiments, a decrease in the distance between the base platform and the latch assembly may be configured to increase a pressure value of the syringe.
Additional system embodiments may further include: a guidepost further configured to secure the base platform to the latch assembly, where the guidepost runs through a guidepost opening of the base platform and a guidepost opening of the latch assembly. In additional system embodiments, the rib of the syringe plunger may be configured to be released via rotation of the handle of the latch assembly. In additional system embodiments, the handle may be configured to rotate relative to the latch assembly to move a latch securing fastener at least one of: toward the rib and away from the rib.
In additional system embodiments, the latch securing fastener comprises threads configured to mate with threads disposed in a portion of the latch assembly. In additional system embodiments, the adjustment screw comprises a threaded shaft that runs through at least a portion of the base platform and at least a portion of the latch assembly.
Additional system embodiments may further include: a hose configured to be attached to an end of the syringe; and a hose attachment member on the base platform, where the hose attachment member may be configured to receive an end of the hose. Additional system embodiments may further include: a valve assembly configured to be attached to an end of the syringe; and a valve assembly attachment member on the base platform, where the valve assembly attachment member may be configured to receive a portion of the valve assembly.
A method embodiment may include: securing a syringe barrel flange of a syringe to a base platform; securing a latch assembly to the base platform via an adjustment screw threaded between at least a portion of the base platform and at least a portion of the latch assembly; securing a rib of a syringe plunger of the disposable syringe to the latch assembly; and rotating the adjustment screw to adjust a distance between the syringe plunger and the syringe barrel flange to generate a precise pressure within the syringe.
In additional method embodiments, rotation of the adjustment screw adjusts a distance between the base platform and the latch assembly. In additional method embodiments, securing the rib of the syringe plunger of the disposable syringe to the latch assembly further comprises: rotating a handle relative to the latch assembly, where a latch securing fastener may be configured to engage the rib of the syringe plunger by rotation of the handle.
Additional method embodiments may further include: decreasing a pressure value of the syringe by increasing a distance between the base platform and the latch assembly. Additional method embodiments may further include: increasing a pressure value of the syringe by decreasing a distance between the base platform and the latch assembly.
Additional method embodiments may further include: releasing the rib of the syringe plunger of the disposable syringe to the latch assembly. Additional method embodiments may further include: detaching a valve assembly from a valve assembly attachment member on the base platform; and securing the valve assembly to an end of the syringe. Additional method embodiments may further include: detaching a hose from a hose attachment member on the base platform; and securing the hose to an end of the syringe.
Another method embodiment may include: securing a syringe barrel flange of a syringe to a base platform; securing a latch assembly to the base platform via an adjustment screw threaded between at least a portion of the base platform and at least a portion of the latch assembly; moving a syringe plunger relative to the syringe barrel flange to a distance between the syringe plunger and the syringe barrel flange to generate an approximate pressure within the syringe; securing a rib of a syringe plunger of the disposable syringe to the latch assembly; and rotating the adjustment screw to further adjust the distance between the syringe plunger and the syringe barrel flange to generate a precise pressure within the syringe. In additional method embodiments, rotation of the adjustment screw adjusts a distance between the base platform and the latch assembly.
The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principals of the invention. Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present system, device, and method disclosed herein works in conjunction with a syringe to make an assembly that is broadly useful for pressure or vacuum testing. The present pressure adjustment system disclosed herein allows for a disposable syringe to be used as a pump or a vacuum to generate pressure for a pump. The syringe holder systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein allow a user to better hold the flanges of the syringe barrel in order to apply more pressure to the syringe plunger. In some embodiments, the present syringe holder system may use inserted screws to help secure the syringe barrel to a more stable object such as a workbench. The disclosed system may be made of a stiff plastic such as polycarbonate. Other materials are possible and contemplated.
According to one embodiment depicted in
With reference to
The adjustment screw 121 may include a threaded shaft 123 that runs through at least a portion of the base platform 110 and at least a portion of the latch assembly 120. In some embodiments, the latch assembly 120 may have at least one shaft opening or aperture 124, where the shaft may be threaded, allowing the latch assembly 120 to slide relative to the base platform 110 with each rotation of the knob 122. In some embodiments, a corresponding shaft opening 112 in the base platform 110 may be threaded. In other embodiments, the shaft opening 124 in the latch assembly 120 may be threaded. For example, rotation of the knob 122 in a clockwise direction may cause the distance between the latch assembly 120 and the base platform 110 to decrease, which causes the attached syringe plunger 21 to push inward relative to the syringe 20 thereby increasing the pressure value or vacuum value. Likewise, rotation of the knob 122 in a counter-clockwise direction may cause the distance between the latch assembly 120 and the base platform 110 to increase, which causes the attached syringe plunger 21 to pull outward relative to the syringe 20 thereby decreasing the pressure value or vacuum value.
According to one embodiment, the present pressure adjustment system 100 provides a mechanism where the adjustment screw 121 enables a user to make fine, granular, and/or slight adjustments to ensure that the syringe plunger 21 moves a desired amount relative to the syringe 20 to make the pressure value or vacuum value precisely correct. In some embodiments, the base platform 110 may include a threaded opening 112 (see
The latch assembly 120 may be partially secured to the base platform 110 by a guidepost 125 oriented to be parallel with the threaded shaft 123 as viewed along a local plane of the structure. The guidepost 125 and threaded shaft 123 may be oriented in a plane substantially perpendicular to the latch assembly 120 and the base platform 110. The guidepost 125 may run through both a guidepost opening 113 of the base platform 110 and a guidepost opening 126 of the latch assembly 120. The guidepost 125 may have one or more nuts 1251 to prevent either the base platform 110 or the latch assembly 120 from sliding off the guidepost 125. In some embodiments, the guidepost 125 may have an aperture drilled crosswise through an end of the guidepost 125 for insertion of a pin to prevent either the base platform 110 or the latch assembly 120 from sliding off the guidepost 125. In other embodiments, the guidepost 125 may include a flare on an end to prevent either the base platform 110 or the latch assembly 120 from sliding off the guidepost 125.
In reference to
With respect to
For small test volume applications and embodiments, the valves may not be involved: that is, the syringe plunger would be depressed to an approximate pressure value, the lock would be engaged, and the knob would then be used to fine tune the pressure value. In larger volume applications, the syringe plunger would be moved back and forth to create a pumping action to inflate the test volume to a first approximate pressure, then the syringe plunger would be depressed to a closer approximate pressure and locked, then the knob would be utilized to adjust to the final pressure. The method 800 may then include securing one or more of a set of ribs of a syringe plunger to the latch assembly by rotation of a handle of the latch assembly to push a latch securing fastener into contact with the one or more of the set of ribs (step 810).
It is contemplated that various combinations and/or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the above embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments may be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed invention.
Further, it is intended that the scope of the present invention is herein disclosed by way of examples and should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above.
This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/222,886, filed Jul. 16, 2021, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63222886 | Jul 2021 | US |