System of stepped flow rate regulation using compressible members
View Patent ↗A series of compressible members disposed with a vessel lumen designed to produce a flow rate that increases with respect to an increasing flow material pressure with the rate of increase having a stepped behavior. The first compressible member is designed so as to partially restrict flow so as to allow for only moderate increases in flow rate with respect to flow material pressure. Subsequent compressible members are designed to allow for increases in flow rate greater than the moderate rate of increase when the flow material pressure is above a given flow material pressure.
1. A device comprising:
a vessel lumen for transporting a flow material in a flow direction; and
a plurality of compressible members, each including an opening through which flow material flows, the compressible members being disposed along the vessel lumen for restricting the flow rate of a flow material flowing through the vessel lumen;
wherein the opening of each compressible member along the flow direction has a larger total surface area than the total surface area of the at least one opening of the prior compressible members along the flow direction; and
wherein the opening expands to a larger total surface area as a function of an increase of the flow material pressure.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the opening of each compressible member is configured to expand radially as the pressure of the flow material increases.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the opening of at least one of the plurality of the compressible members is configured to expand at a rate different from the at least one opening of at least one other compressible member.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the opening of each subsequent compressible member along the flow direction does not substantially expand until the opening of the immediately previous compressible members has substantially expanded.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the compressible members has a variable modulus of elasticity, whereby the opening of each of the compressible members is configured to expand as a function of pressure at different rates.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the variable surface area of the opening of each compressible member comprises a single opening having a variable diameter from the opening of at least one other compressible member.
7. A method comprising:
providing a vessel lumen for transporting a flow material in a flow direction; and
providing a plurality of compressible members, each including an opening through which flow material flows, the compressible members being disposed along the vessel lumen for restricting the flow rate of a flow material flowing through the vessel lumen;
wherein the opening of each compressible member along the flow direction includes a larger total surface area than the total surface area of the opening of the prior compressible members along the flow direction; and
wherein the opening expands to a larger total surface area as a function of an increase of the flow material pressure.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the opening of each compressible member is configured to expand radially as the pressure of the flow material increases.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the opening of at least one of the compressible members is configured to expand at a rate different from the opening in at least one other compressible member.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the opening of each subsequent compressible member along the flow direction does not substantially expand until the opening of the immediately previous compressible members has substantially expanded.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein each of the compressible members includes a variable modulus of elasticity, whereby the opening of each of the compressible members is configured to expand as a function of pressure at different rates.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the variable surface area of the opening of each compressible member comprises a single opening including a variable diameter from the opening of at least one other compressible member.