CA2084604A1 - Fluid handling - Google Patents
Fluid handlingInfo
- Publication number
- CA2084604A1 CA2084604A1 CA002084604A CA2084604A CA2084604A1 CA 2084604 A1 CA2084604 A1 CA 2084604A1 CA 002084604 A CA002084604 A CA 002084604A CA 2084604 A CA2084604 A CA 2084604A CA 2084604 A1 CA2084604 A1 CA 2084604A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- container
- microwave
- microwave energy
- sensor
- fluid
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
- G01F23/22—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water
- G01F23/28—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water by measuring the variations of parameters of electromagnetic or acoustic waves applied directly to the liquid or fluent solid material
- G01F23/284—Electromagnetic waves
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Method and apparatus for sensing fluid interface(s) in a complex fluid such as centrifuged blood includes a sensing assembly with a microwave source and a microwave sensor positioned in spaced opposed relation, the microwave source and sensor defining a microwave propagation path.
Relative motion is induced between the sample container and the microwave energy propagation path in the region between the source and sensor in a direction that intersects and is essentially perpendicular to the microwave energy propagation path; and processor apparatus responsive to the scanning apparatus and the modification in microwave energy sensed by the microwave sensor provides an indication(s) of the location(s) of a fluid interface(s) in the container.
Method and apparatus for sensing fluid interface(s) in a complex fluid such as centrifuged blood includes a sensing assembly with a microwave source and a microwave sensor positioned in spaced opposed relation, the microwave source and sensor defining a microwave propagation path.
Relative motion is induced between the sample container and the microwave energy propagation path in the region between the source and sensor in a direction that intersects and is essentially perpendicular to the microwave energy propagation path; and processor apparatus responsive to the scanning apparatus and the modification in microwave energy sensed by the microwave sensor provides an indication(s) of the location(s) of a fluid interface(s) in the container.
Description
2 ~ 8 ~ 4 FLUID HANDLING
This invention relates to fluid handling, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for sensing interface regions o~ complex fluid materials.
Individual samples o~ biological fluids such as 5 blood are frequently stored and handled for processing in elongated tubular containers. Each biological fluid sample must be reliably identified for positi~e patient source identification and for processing, control and data handling purposes. Typically, a blood sample is manually drawn ~rom 10 a patent into a container and one or more labels are placed on the container for idenkification and con~rol purpos~s.
Th~se labels dif~er in size and frequently are located randomly on the container. After a blood sample is stored in the container, it ~s frequently subjected to further 15 processing ~uch as eentrifugation in which the blood sample is subjected to centrifugal force i-or separating the constituents of the blood sample illtO cellular and seru~
components. In further blood samp:Le processing, accurate determination of the location of ~le air-serum inter~ace 20 and/or the cell serum interface is desirabl~. Labels on ~he container may interfere wi~h and make automated u~e of optical t~chniques for det~rmining the loca~ion of those : interfaces difficult and unreliable.
: In accordance with one aspect o~ the invention, 25 there is provided appara~us for sensing ~luid in a container ~:~
that includes a ~ensing assembly wi~h a microwave source and l a microwave sensor po~itioned in ~paced opp~sed rela~ion, : the microwave sourc~ and sensor defining a microwave propagation path, scanning apparatus for inducing relative 30 motion between the sample container and the microwave energy propagation pa~h in the region between the source and sen~or :. '', ' in a direction that intersects and is essentially perpendicular to the microwa~e energy propagation path; and processor apparatus xesponsive to the scanning apparatus and the modification in microwave ener~y sensed by the microwave 5 sensor for providing an indication(s) of the location(s) of a fluid interface(s) in the container. Preferably, the dif~erential between microwave energy attenuated by a first ~luid in said container and the microwave energy attenuated by a second fluid in said container is at least about ten ~:
10 percent.
In a particular embodiment, the system is used with elongated glass vacutainer that has a length of about ten centimeters, is about two centimeters in diameter and ::
includes a seal member at one end of the vacutainer. The ~ :
15 microwave ~ource pre~erably operates at a frequency of at least ten gigahertz, and in the particular e~bodiment, the microwave source is a Gunn oscillator oper~ing at twenty~
four gigahertz. The scanning rate in that par$icular ~ ;
embodiment i9 ona centimeter per second. The resulting 20 microwav~ energy outputs are independent of paper or plastic label material on the elon~ated container and per~it réliab~e indicia of the locations o~ air-serum and ser~m~
cell interfaces in t~e complex fluid material in the ~::
: container as a func~ion of th~ longitudinal cont~iner length ~ :.
25 ~o ~ obtaine In a particular em~odim~nt, energy attenuated by the glass tube alone is about ~ifty-five p~rcent o~ unattenuated energy, energy attenuated by the . serum component of a blood sample is about twenty perce~t of : unattenuated energy and energy attenuated by:the cellular 30 component of a blood ~ample is about ~en percent o~ :
una~tenuated energy.
~;~: In accordance with another aspect of the invention, ~:
:~ there is provided a method of sensing an interface between. ~`
. .
2 ~
~luid constituents in a complex fluid sample that includes the steps o~ establishing a beam of microwave energy along a predetermined propagation path between a source and a sensor, disposing a sample container that contains a fluid 5 sample with a fluid constituent interface adjacent the propagation path, inducing relative motion between the container and the beam of microwave energy along a path perpendicular to the propagation path so that ~icrowave energy in the path is transmitted through the container, and 10 measuring the microwave energy sensed by the sensor as a function of the longitudinal position of the container to provide an output indicative of the loca~ion of a fluid interface in the sample material in the container.
Other features and advantages of the invention will 15 be seen as the ~ollowing description of a particular emhodiment progresses, in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic view of apparatus in accordance with the invention; :
Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and :::
Fig. 3 is a graph o~ on mPasurements a container of :~
entri~uged blood in c~ordance wi~h the invention. ~:
Descri~tion of Particular Embodiment Wit~ re~erence to Fig. 1, the apparatus includes a clevis type coupling diagrammatically indicated at lO for supporting ten microliter Vacu~ainer 12 that has a diameter of about 1.6 centimeters and a length of about ten :~ :~
centimeters. Vacutainer 12 includes tubular glass tube 14 :.
30 and seal cap 16. Container 12 is initially under vacuum, and a blood sample is drawn into container 12 through cap 16 by the vacuum. Labels 18, 20 are attached to container 12 to provide the pAtient lsample source) identi~ication and ,: ,.: ' ' .. ' . .
`'1..'~'~..:..........
20$~L6~
process control information. A la~el may include ~or data processing bar code information, for example. The container and blood sample are then centrifuged, resulting in a .:
cellular component (packed cells) ~diagrammatically indicated at 22) in the lower part of the tube 14; a separated serum component 24 above the cellular component 22 wi~h an interface 26 between the serum and cellular components; and the top of the serum component 24 provides ~ :
a second interface 28 with air in the upper region 30 of the container.
Coupling lo is connected by shaft 34 to drive 36 twhich in a particular embodiment includes a stepper motor and a rack and pinion drive) for moving container 14 along a vertical path indicated by line 38.
Disposed along path 38 is yoke plate 40 which has aperture 42 and supports microwave source 44 (NA-86791 K~
band Gunn oscillator3 that operates at a frequency of 24.15 gigahertz and at 40 milliwatts power level and is about three centimeters in each dimension. Disposed on yoke disc 40 on t~e opposite side of aperture 42 fxom source 44 is K~
band microwave 5ensor 46 (MA-8~561 Schottky detec~or diode .~ .
that has a minimum bandwidth of about 300 megahertz).
Source 44 and sensor 46 are connect:ed by cables 48, 50 respectively, to processor 52 which is also connected by cable 54 to drive 36. ~n output device in ~he ~orm of s~rip chart recorder 56 is connected to processor 52 by cable 58. ~ ~:
` In syste~ opexation, Vacutainer 12 is at~ached to coupling 10 and pro~. ssor 52 energizes source 4~ to establi~h a ~lcrowaYe beam along path 60 that is transverse : 30 to and intPrsects axis 38 ~or sansing by sensor 46.
Processor 52 khen actuates drive 36 to move Vacutainer 12 at :~
a velocity of one centimeter per second alons axis 38. The ~.
. ' ' ,;: ' ' . .
' ~ .. .
L6~
microwa~e ener~y sensed by sensor 46 is coupled to processor 52 and processed for applica~ion to output device S6.
A graph of resulting process information voltage as a function o~ distance is shown in Fig. 3. In that plot, 5 peak 62 is the unattenuated microwave beam energy and has a value of about 0.75 volt; region 64 is the ~icrowave energy level as attenuated by the cellular component 22 and has a magnitude of about-0.1 volt; region 66 i5 the microwave energy level as attenuated by the serum component 24 and has 10 a magnitude of about 0.15 vol~; region 68 is the attenuated microwave energy level in the region abov~ interface 28 and has a magnitude o~ about 0.45 volt; rsgion 70 is the ~:
microwa~e enargy level (about 0.15 volt) in the serum region 24 as dxive 38 is moving vacutainer 12 in the reverse 15 direc~ion; region 72 is the attenuated microwa~e energy level (slightly less than 0.1 volt~ in cell region 22; and pea~ 74 is the sensor OlltpUt voltage when controller 36 has raised ~acutainer 12 out of the beam path 60 and is about 0.75 Yol~.
As can be seen from the output chart of Flg~ 3, the :
cell-serum inter~ace 26 is indicated at the transition between regions 64 and 66 and between regions 70 and 72; and the location of the ~eru~-air interface 28 is indicated by the transitions between regions 66 and 68 and between 25 reg~ons ~8 and 70. In this example, the cell~serum interface 26 is located about four centimeters above the lower ~nd o~ vacutainer 12 and the serum-air interface 2~ is located about eight centimeters above the Iower end of ; Vacutainer 12. The system thus provides indications of the 30 locations of cell-serum and s~rum-air inter~aces in the contalner 12 for information and control in subsequent : processing and analysis of the blood sample.
,, . ., .:
2~846~
- 6 - ~ .
While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and therefore it is not intended that the invention be limited to he disclosed 5 embodiment or to details thereof, and departures may be made therefrom within the spirit and scope of the invention.
: ' ., ': . ,.;
This invention relates to fluid handling, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for sensing interface regions o~ complex fluid materials.
Individual samples o~ biological fluids such as 5 blood are frequently stored and handled for processing in elongated tubular containers. Each biological fluid sample must be reliably identified for positi~e patient source identification and for processing, control and data handling purposes. Typically, a blood sample is manually drawn ~rom 10 a patent into a container and one or more labels are placed on the container for idenkification and con~rol purpos~s.
Th~se labels dif~er in size and frequently are located randomly on the container. After a blood sample is stored in the container, it ~s frequently subjected to further 15 processing ~uch as eentrifugation in which the blood sample is subjected to centrifugal force i-or separating the constituents of the blood sample illtO cellular and seru~
components. In further blood samp:Le processing, accurate determination of the location of ~le air-serum inter~ace 20 and/or the cell serum interface is desirabl~. Labels on ~he container may interfere wi~h and make automated u~e of optical t~chniques for det~rmining the loca~ion of those : interfaces difficult and unreliable.
: In accordance with one aspect o~ the invention, 25 there is provided appara~us for sensing ~luid in a container ~:~
that includes a ~ensing assembly wi~h a microwave source and l a microwave sensor po~itioned in ~paced opp~sed rela~ion, : the microwave sourc~ and sensor defining a microwave propagation path, scanning apparatus for inducing relative 30 motion between the sample container and the microwave energy propagation pa~h in the region between the source and sen~or :. '', ' in a direction that intersects and is essentially perpendicular to the microwa~e energy propagation path; and processor apparatus xesponsive to the scanning apparatus and the modification in microwave ener~y sensed by the microwave 5 sensor for providing an indication(s) of the location(s) of a fluid interface(s) in the container. Preferably, the dif~erential between microwave energy attenuated by a first ~luid in said container and the microwave energy attenuated by a second fluid in said container is at least about ten ~:
10 percent.
In a particular embodiment, the system is used with elongated glass vacutainer that has a length of about ten centimeters, is about two centimeters in diameter and ::
includes a seal member at one end of the vacutainer. The ~ :
15 microwave ~ource pre~erably operates at a frequency of at least ten gigahertz, and in the particular e~bodiment, the microwave source is a Gunn oscillator oper~ing at twenty~
four gigahertz. The scanning rate in that par$icular ~ ;
embodiment i9 ona centimeter per second. The resulting 20 microwav~ energy outputs are independent of paper or plastic label material on the elon~ated container and per~it réliab~e indicia of the locations o~ air-serum and ser~m~
cell interfaces in t~e complex fluid material in the ~::
: container as a func~ion of th~ longitudinal cont~iner length ~ :.
25 ~o ~ obtaine In a particular em~odim~nt, energy attenuated by the glass tube alone is about ~ifty-five p~rcent o~ unattenuated energy, energy attenuated by the . serum component of a blood sample is about twenty perce~t of : unattenuated energy and energy attenuated by:the cellular 30 component of a blood ~ample is about ~en percent o~ :
una~tenuated energy.
~;~: In accordance with another aspect of the invention, ~:
:~ there is provided a method of sensing an interface between. ~`
. .
2 ~
~luid constituents in a complex fluid sample that includes the steps o~ establishing a beam of microwave energy along a predetermined propagation path between a source and a sensor, disposing a sample container that contains a fluid 5 sample with a fluid constituent interface adjacent the propagation path, inducing relative motion between the container and the beam of microwave energy along a path perpendicular to the propagation path so that ~icrowave energy in the path is transmitted through the container, and 10 measuring the microwave energy sensed by the sensor as a function of the longitudinal position of the container to provide an output indicative of the loca~ion of a fluid interface in the sample material in the container.
Other features and advantages of the invention will 15 be seen as the ~ollowing description of a particular emhodiment progresses, in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic view of apparatus in accordance with the invention; :
Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and :::
Fig. 3 is a graph o~ on mPasurements a container of :~
entri~uged blood in c~ordance wi~h the invention. ~:
Descri~tion of Particular Embodiment Wit~ re~erence to Fig. 1, the apparatus includes a clevis type coupling diagrammatically indicated at lO for supporting ten microliter Vacu~ainer 12 that has a diameter of about 1.6 centimeters and a length of about ten :~ :~
centimeters. Vacutainer 12 includes tubular glass tube 14 :.
30 and seal cap 16. Container 12 is initially under vacuum, and a blood sample is drawn into container 12 through cap 16 by the vacuum. Labels 18, 20 are attached to container 12 to provide the pAtient lsample source) identi~ication and ,: ,.: ' ' .. ' . .
`'1..'~'~..:..........
20$~L6~
process control information. A la~el may include ~or data processing bar code information, for example. The container and blood sample are then centrifuged, resulting in a .:
cellular component (packed cells) ~diagrammatically indicated at 22) in the lower part of the tube 14; a separated serum component 24 above the cellular component 22 wi~h an interface 26 between the serum and cellular components; and the top of the serum component 24 provides ~ :
a second interface 28 with air in the upper region 30 of the container.
Coupling lo is connected by shaft 34 to drive 36 twhich in a particular embodiment includes a stepper motor and a rack and pinion drive) for moving container 14 along a vertical path indicated by line 38.
Disposed along path 38 is yoke plate 40 which has aperture 42 and supports microwave source 44 (NA-86791 K~
band Gunn oscillator3 that operates at a frequency of 24.15 gigahertz and at 40 milliwatts power level and is about three centimeters in each dimension. Disposed on yoke disc 40 on t~e opposite side of aperture 42 fxom source 44 is K~
band microwave 5ensor 46 (MA-8~561 Schottky detec~or diode .~ .
that has a minimum bandwidth of about 300 megahertz).
Source 44 and sensor 46 are connect:ed by cables 48, 50 respectively, to processor 52 which is also connected by cable 54 to drive 36. ~n output device in ~he ~orm of s~rip chart recorder 56 is connected to processor 52 by cable 58. ~ ~:
` In syste~ opexation, Vacutainer 12 is at~ached to coupling 10 and pro~. ssor 52 energizes source 4~ to establi~h a ~lcrowaYe beam along path 60 that is transverse : 30 to and intPrsects axis 38 ~or sansing by sensor 46.
Processor 52 khen actuates drive 36 to move Vacutainer 12 at :~
a velocity of one centimeter per second alons axis 38. The ~.
. ' ' ,;: ' ' . .
' ~ .. .
L6~
microwa~e ener~y sensed by sensor 46 is coupled to processor 52 and processed for applica~ion to output device S6.
A graph of resulting process information voltage as a function o~ distance is shown in Fig. 3. In that plot, 5 peak 62 is the unattenuated microwave beam energy and has a value of about 0.75 volt; region 64 is the ~icrowave energy level as attenuated by the cellular component 22 and has a magnitude of about-0.1 volt; region 66 i5 the microwave energy level as attenuated by the serum component 24 and has 10 a magnitude of about 0.15 vol~; region 68 is the attenuated microwave energy level in the region abov~ interface 28 and has a magnitude o~ about 0.45 volt; rsgion 70 is the ~:
microwa~e enargy level (about 0.15 volt) in the serum region 24 as dxive 38 is moving vacutainer 12 in the reverse 15 direc~ion; region 72 is the attenuated microwa~e energy level (slightly less than 0.1 volt~ in cell region 22; and pea~ 74 is the sensor OlltpUt voltage when controller 36 has raised ~acutainer 12 out of the beam path 60 and is about 0.75 Yol~.
As can be seen from the output chart of Flg~ 3, the :
cell-serum inter~ace 26 is indicated at the transition between regions 64 and 66 and between regions 70 and 72; and the location of the ~eru~-air interface 28 is indicated by the transitions between regions 66 and 68 and between 25 reg~ons ~8 and 70. In this example, the cell~serum interface 26 is located about four centimeters above the lower ~nd o~ vacutainer 12 and the serum-air interface 2~ is located about eight centimeters above the Iower end of ; Vacutainer 12. The system thus provides indications of the 30 locations of cell-serum and s~rum-air inter~aces in the contalner 12 for information and control in subsequent : processing and analysis of the blood sample.
,, . ., .:
2~846~
- 6 - ~ .
While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and therefore it is not intended that the invention be limited to he disclosed 5 embodiment or to details thereof, and departures may be made therefrom within the spirit and scope of the invention.
: ' ., ': . ,.;
Claims (19)
1. Apparatus for sensing a fluid interface in a container comprising sensing apparatus comprising a microwave source and a microwave sensor in spaced relation from said source and defining a microwave energy propagation path therebetween;
scanning apparatus for inducing relative movement between a container to be sensed and said sensing apparatus in a direction essentially perpendicular to and intersecting said microwave energy propagation path; and processor apparatus for energizing said sensing apparatus and said scanning apparatus in coordinated manner to sense the attenuation of the microwave energy in said propagation path as a function of the position of said container in said path to provide an indication of the location of an interface between components of a complex fluid material in said container.
scanning apparatus for inducing relative movement between a container to be sensed and said sensing apparatus in a direction essentially perpendicular to and intersecting said microwave energy propagation path; and processor apparatus for energizing said sensing apparatus and said scanning apparatus in coordinated manner to sense the attenuation of the microwave energy in said propagation path as a function of the position of said container in said path to provide an indication of the location of an interface between components of a complex fluid material in said container.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said container is of elongated tubular configuration.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said scanning apparatus is adapted to induce said relative motion at a rate of at least about one-half centimeter per second.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said container has a length at least four times its width dimension.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing apparatus is supported in fixed position, and said scanning apparatus is adapted to move said container relative to said sensing apparatus in an essentially vertical direction.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said container is of elongated tubular configuration and has a length at least four times its width dimension, said microwave source has an operating frequency in excess of about ten gigahertz, and said scanning apparatus induces said relative motion at a rate of at least about one-half centimeter per second.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is adapted to sense an interference between fluid constituents in a complex fluid, the differential between microwave energy attenuated by a first fluid in said container and the microwave energy attenuated by a second fluid in said container is at least about ten percent of unattenuated microwave energy in said propagation path.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said container is of elongated tubular configuration and includes a cylindrical body and a sealing cap member at one end of said cylindrical body, said container has a length at least four times its width dimension, said microwave source has an operating frequency of about of about twenty-four gigahertz, and said scanning apparatus is adapted to move said container relative to said sensing apparatus in an essentially vertical direction at a rate of about one centimeter per second.
9. A method of sensing an interface between fluid constituents in a complex fluid comprising the steps of establishing a beam of microwave energy along a predetermined propagation path between a source and a sensor, disposing a sample container that contains said complex fluid adjacent said propagation path, inducing relative motion between said container and said beam of microwave energy along a movement path perpendicular to said propagation path so that microwave energy in said propagation path is transmitted through said container, and measuring the microwave energy sensed by said sensor as a function of the longitudinal position of said container in said movement path to provide an output indicative of the location of a fluid interface in the fluid material in said container.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said relative motion is induced at a rate of at least about one-half centimeter per second.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein said microwave source and sensor are supported in fixed position, and said container is moved in an essentially vertical direction along said movement path relative to said microwave source and sensor.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein said container is of elongated tubular configuration and has a length at least four times its width dimension, said microwave source has an operating frequency in excess of about ten gigahertz, and said relative motion is induced at a rate of at least about one-half centimeter per second.
13. The method of claim 9 wherein the differential between microwave energy attenuated by a first fluid in said container and the microwave energy attenuated by a second fluid in said container is at least about ten percent of microwave energy unattenuated by said container.
14. A method of determining the location of a serum-cell interface in a sample of centrifuged blood comprising providing a microwave source and a microwave sensor in spaced relation on opposite sides of a scanning axis to define a microwave energy propagation path essentially perpendicular to said scanning axis, producing relative motion between a container of centrifuged blood and said microwave assembly along said scanning axis; and causing said sensor to sense microwave energy from said source as attenuated by said container and blood to provide an indication of the location of a cell-serum interface in the sample of centrifuged blood in said container.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein said relative motion is induced at a rate of at least about one-half centimeter per second.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein said microwave source and sensor are supported in fixed position, and said container is moved n an essentially vertical direction relative to said microwave source and sensor along said scanning axis.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein the differential between microwave energy attenuated by said serum in said container and the microwave energy attenuated by said cellular component in said container is at least about ten percent of unattenuated microwave energy sensed by said sensor.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein said container is of elongated tubular configuration and has a length at least four times its width dimension, said microwave source has an operating frequency in excess of about ten gigahertz, and said relative motion is induced at a rate of at least about one-half centimeter per second.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein energy attenuated by said container alone is about fifty-five percent of unattenuated microwave energy, energy attenuated by the serum component of said blood sample is about twenty percent of unattenuated microwave energy and energy attenuated by the cellular component of said blood sample is about ten percent of unattenuated microwave energy.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/949,748 US5245292A (en) | 1990-06-12 | 1992-09-23 | Method and apparatus for sensing a fluid handling |
| CA002084604A CA2084604A1 (en) | 1992-09-23 | 1992-12-04 | Fluid handling |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/949,748 US5245292A (en) | 1990-06-12 | 1992-09-23 | Method and apparatus for sensing a fluid handling |
| CA002084604A CA2084604A1 (en) | 1992-09-23 | 1992-12-04 | Fluid handling |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2084604A1 true CA2084604A1 (en) | 1994-06-05 |
Family
ID=25675716
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002084604A Abandoned CA2084604A1 (en) | 1990-06-12 | 1992-12-04 | Fluid handling |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5245292A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2084604A1 (en) |
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| WO2010059247A2 (en) | 2008-11-21 | 2010-05-27 | Cascade Microtech, Inc. | Replaceable coupon for a probing apparatus |
| US8319503B2 (en) | 2008-11-24 | 2012-11-27 | Cascade Microtech, Inc. | Test apparatus for measuring a characteristic of a device under test |
| KR102113856B1 (en) * | 2014-02-21 | 2020-05-21 | 베가 그리이샤버 카게 | Level indicator featuring optimized energy supply |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3265873A (en) * | 1961-10-10 | 1966-08-09 | George K Mckenzie | System for monitoring and control of material in a continuing process |
| US3286163A (en) * | 1963-01-23 | 1966-11-15 | Chevron Res | Method for mapping a salt dome at depth by measuring the travel time of electromagnetic energy emitted from a borehole drilled within the salt dome |
| US4107993A (en) * | 1975-12-29 | 1978-08-22 | Monsanto Company | Method and apparatus for level measurement using microwaves |
| US4873875A (en) * | 1986-06-27 | 1989-10-17 | Prism Technology, Inc. | System for optically interrogating liquid samples and for withdrawing selected sample portions |
-
1992
- 1992-09-23 US US07/949,748 patent/US5245292A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1992-12-04 CA CA002084604A patent/CA2084604A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US5245292A (en) | 1993-09-14 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |