US 12,239,288 B2
Apparatus and method for monitoring differential pressure
Hilary C. Antonioli, Novi, MI (US)
Filed by Hilary C. Antonioli, Novi, MI (US)
Filed on Dec. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/646,507.
Application 17/646,507 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/924,505, filed on Mar. 19, 2018, granted, now 11,253,140.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/474,648, filed on Mar. 22, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0117471 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 1/00 (2006.01); G01M 3/32 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 1/00142 (2013.01) [A61B 1/00055 (2013.01); A61B 1/00057 (2013.01); G01M 3/3263 (2013.01); A61B 2090/064 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0809 (2016.02)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A leak-detecting apparatus that monitors a differential pressure in a closed-cavity tool during use of the tool to perform a procedure, the apparatus comprising:
a motor driving a pump, the pump having an outlet;
a pressure chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of the pump being connected to the inlet of the pressure chamber, the pressure chamber having an internal volume such that when the tool is coupled to the outlet of the pressure chamber an internal volume of the tool is in fluid communication with the internal volume of the pressure chamber thereby forming a combined internal volume;
wherein the pump is adapted to change air pressure inside the combined internal volume to establish a baseline pressure inside the combined internal volume that is lower than an ambient pressure outside the tool;
a pressure sensor monitoring the air pressure in the combined internal volume;
a processor connected to the motor and the pressure sensor, the processor configured to perform a method of establishing the baseline pressure using the pump by operating the motor and monitoring the air pressure inside the combined internal volume using the pressure sensor during the use of the tool to perform the procedure; and
a start switch, a stop switch and an off switch, each of the switches being in communication with the processor, wherein actuation of the start switch initiates the processor to perform the method, actuation of the stop switch terminates the operation of the motor and terminates the monitoring of the air pressure, without releasing the air pressure in the combined internal volume, and actuation of the off switch terminates the method and releases the air pressure in the combined internal volume.