Fluid flow device

1. A fluid flow device, comprising:

a drop chamber, having an interior, a fluid input, and a fluid output;

a drop detector coupled to the drop chamber and configured to detect a fluid drop at the fluid input and to count the number of detected fluid drops in a counting time window;

a pressure sensor configured to monitor a pressure in the interior of the drop chamber; and

a flow rate device configured to determine a fluid flow rate based on a number of fluid drops detected over a time period, and the pressure in the interior of the drop chamber, wherein the fluid flow rate is calculated as ((drop volume)*drops counted)/(counting time window), where drop volume is a function of the monitored pressure and the drops counted and is calculated as drop volume=(volume of fluid measured by pressure differential)/(total drops counted between pressure measurements).

2. The device of claim 1 :

wherein the drop detector is a capacitive sensor.

3. The device of claim 1 :

further comprising a fluid reservoir coupled and configured to supply a fluid to the fluid input of the drop chamber; and

wherein the fluid flow rate is a function of a hydrostatic pressure generated by a fluid in the fluid reservoir.

4. The device of claim 1 :

wherein the flow rate device includes a computing unit configured to track or control the fluid flow rate over time.

5. The device of claim 1 :

wherein the computing unit is configured to generate an alarm in response to at least one of: a fault condition, a minimum fluid supply, a fluid reservoir empty, a minimum fluid flow rate, or a maximum fluid flow rate.

6. The device of claim 1 :

wherein the flow rate device includes a communications unit configured to control the flow control device in response to wireless signals.

7. The device of claim 1 :

wherein the fluid flow device is configured as an intravenous therapy device.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a flow control device coupled to the drop chamber and configured to increase or decrease the number of fluid drops detected over a time period in response to a signal from the flow rate device.

9. The device of claim 8 :

wherein the flow control device is positioned at either the fluid input or the fluid output.

10. The device of claim 8 :

wherein the number of fluid drops detected over the time period is increased or decreased by opening or closing a valve.

11. The device of claim 10 :

wherein the valve is configured to move between a closed position and an open position in response to a magnetic field.

12. The device of claim 11 :

wherein the valve is within the interior of the drop chamber.

13. The device of claim 12 :

wherein the valve includes a first set of magnets;

further comprising a second set of magnets outside of the drop chamber;

wherein the valve is configured to move between a closed and an open positions based on a position of the second set of magnets and the first set of magnets.

14. The device of claim 13 :

wherein the second set of magnets surround an exterior surface of the drop chamber.

15. The device of claim 14 :

wherein the second set of magnets are moved with a servo motor or a linear motor.

16. An article of manufacture including at least one non-transitory, tangible machine readable storage medium containing executable machine instructions for fluid flow, comprising:

a drop chamber, having an interior, a fluid input, and a fluid output;

a drop detector coupled to the drop chamber and configured to detect a fluid drop at the fluid input and to count the number of detected fluid drops in a counting time window;

a pressure sensor configured to monitor a pressure in the interior of the drop chamber; and

a flow rate device configured to determine a fluid flow rate based on a number of fluid drops detected over a time period, and the pressure in the interior of the drop chamber, wherein the fluid flow rate is calculated as ((drop volume)*drops counted)/(counting time window), where drop volume is a function of the monitored pressure and the drops counted and is calculated as drop volume=(volume of fluid measured by pressure differential)/(total drops counted between pressure measurements); and

a flow control device coupled to the drop chamber and configured to increase or decrease the number of fluid drops detected over a time period in response to a signal from the flow rate device; and

a fluid reservoir coupled and configured to supply a fluid to the fluid input of the drop chamber; and

wherein the instructions include:

calculate a fluid fill level of the fluid reservoir;

set the flow control device to an initial opening state;

count a current number of fluid drops entering the drop chamber using the drop detector;

convert the current number of fluid drops into a current flow rate based on the pressure monitored by the pressure sensor, wherein the current flow rate is calculated as ((drop volume)*drops counted)/(counting time window), where drop volume is a function of the monitored pressure and the drops counted and is calculated as drop volume=(volume of fluid measured by pressure differential)/(total drops counted between pressure measurements);

if the current flow rate is different from a desired flow rate, then adjust the flow control device to a next opening state.

17. The article of claim 16 , wherein the instructions further comprise:

generating an alarm in response to at least one of: a fault condition, a minimum fluid level in the fluid reservoir, an empty fluid reservoir, a minimum fluid flow rate, or a maximum fluid flow rate.

18. The article of claim 16 , wherein the instruction for calculating the fluid fill level further comprises:

setting the flow control device to a closed state; and

measuring the drop chamber pressure with the pressure sensor to recheck the fluid fill level of the fluid reservoir.