Flow monitoring system for a flow control apparatus

1. A flow control apparatus adapted to be loaded with an administration feeding set having an upstream side and a downstream side, said flow control apparatus comprising:

a) a single ultrasonic sensor comprising a receiver assembly and an ultrasonic transmitter assembly, wherein the transmitter assembly transmits, to the receiver assembly, an ultrasonic signal through a portion of the administration feeding set,

b) a microprocessor in operative association with the single ultrasonic sensor for receiving the ultrasonic signal from the receiver assembly, and further in operative association with a software subsystem executed on the microprocessor for detecting the presence or absence of fluid in the upstream side of said administration feeding set, and

c) wherein the software subsystem is in operative association with the single ultrasonic sensor and configured to identify between an upstream flow occlusion and a downstream flow occlusion present within the administration feeding set, as a function of the received ultrasonic signal.

2. The flow control apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a means for preventing fluid flow in said administration feeding set, said means for preventing fluid flow being in operative association with said software subsystem.

3. The flow control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said software subsystem prevents fluid flow in said administration feeding set.

4. The flow control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said software subsystem is capable of identifying whether or not a bag empty condition exists.

5. The flow control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said software subsystem is capable of identifying whether or not normal flow exists.

6. A method of monitoring fluid flow comprising:

a) engaging one end of an administration feeding set to at least one fluid source;

b) loading said administration feeding set having tubing, a valve mechanism, and a mounting member, wherein said valve mechanism and mounting member are engaged to a flow control apparatus;

c) stretching said tubing between said valve mechanism and said mounting member; and

d) generating an ultrasonic signal by a single sensor a positioned adjacent a portion of the tubing, said ultrasonic signal being representative of a presence or absence of fluid in the portion of tubing; and

e) executing a software subsystem on a microprocessor to identify between an upstream occlusion and a downstream occlusion present within said administration feeding set, wherein the microprocessor is operatively connected to the single sensor for receiving the ultrasonic signal and detecting the presence or absence of fluid in the upstream side of the feeding set as a function of the ultrasonic signal, and further wherein the software subsystem uses the ultrasonic signal to determine the upstream and downstream occlusion.

7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising preventing fluid flow in said administration feeding set to identify said downstream occlusion present in said administration feeding set.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein another end of said administration feeding set is engaged to a patient.

9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein executing the software subsystem further comprises identifying whether or not a bag empty condition exists.

10. The method according to claim 6 , wherein executing the software subsystem further comprises identifying whether or not normal flow exists.