Apparatus and method for sensing fluid level

摘要

An apparatus and method for detecting a fluid level (40) in particular within a transparent reservoir (10) of a surgical instrument. The apparatus and method employ a plurality of radiant sources (53-56) positioned vertically outside the reservoir, each radiant source (53-56) emitting a beam of energy into the reservoir substantially along a transmission path (73-76) that is between about 0 degrees and 41.2 degrees from horizontal. A plurality of receivers (63-66) are positioned vertically outside the reservoir and are each aligned along one of the transmission paths (73-76) of the radiant source. A source baffle (52) and receiver baffle (62) may be attached to the radiant source (53-56) and the receivers (63-66) respectively. The radiant source (53-56) employed may be an L.E.D. in particular an infrared LED and the receivers may be phototransistors.