Flow detector

摘要

A liquid flowed detection system is disclosed for monitoring continuous and discontinuous liquid flow in a fluid circuit. The system includes a holding device for maintaining a drip chamber so that its elongated axis generally lies in a vertical plane. A light emitter is oriented to transmit light along an optical path through the drip chamber and intersecting its elongated axis. A light detector located in the optical path opposite the light emitter, generates a signal representative of light received from the light emitter. A processor receives information from the detector and generates a control signal representative of a variability over time of the light detector signal. When the control signal drops below a predetermined level, a flow absence signal is generated which is then correlated to the system's pump velocity corresponding to a time interval (T). If the flow absence signal occurs continuously in a comparison time interval (T), a warning signal is generated.