Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
In a blood fractionation apparatus operable in conjunction with a disposable fluid flow system for separating and collecting a blood fraction from whole blood, and including at least one motor-driven pump for conveying blood through the flow system, a tachometer associated with the motor, and a monitoring device providing an alarm signal in the presence of a fluid absence in the system, a failsafe control circuit comprising, in combination: a flip-flop responsive to applied tachometer pulses from the pump motor for producing an alarm control signal; a series-parallel counter having a reset input, a clock input and a series/parallel enable input, said counter requiring a predetermined number of applied clock pulses following application of a serial enabling signal for producing an output; means for applying said flip-flop output signal to said parallel-serial enable input to enable said counter to a serial mode upon occurrence of said tach pulses; means for applying said fluid absence alarm signal to said reset input to enable operation of said counter upon the occurrence of a fluid absence in the system; means for applying clock pulses to said counter whereby said counter counts to zero over a predetermined time interval upon being conditioned to a serial mode at said serial-enable input and upon being enabled at said reset input; and means responsive to the output of said counter for terminating operation of the pump.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
In a blood fractionation apparatus operable in conjunction with a disposable fluid flow system for separating and collecting a blood fraction from whole blood, and including at least one motor-driven pump for conveying blood through the flow system, a tachometer associated with the motor, and a monitoring device providing an alarm signal in the presence of a fluid absence in the system, a failsafe control circuit comprising, in combination: a flip-flop responsive to applied tachometer pulses from the pump motor for producing an alarm control signal; a series-parallel counter having a reset input, a clock input and a series/parallel enable input, said counter requiring a predetermined number of applied clock pulses following application of a serial enabling signal for producing an output; means for applying said flip-flop output signal to said parallel-serial enable input to enable said counter to a serial mode upon occurrence of said tach pulses; means for applying said fluid absence alarm signal to said reset input to enable operation of said counter upon the occurrence of a fluid absence in the system; means for applying clock pulses to said counter whereby said counter counts to zero over a predetermined time interval upon being conditioned to a serial mode at said serial-enable input and upon being enabled at said reset input; and means responsive to the output of said counter for terminating operation of the pump.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A blood fractionation apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said series-parallel counter is a programmable counter, and a predetermined count is parallel-loaded into said counter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A blood fractionation apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said programmable counter is clocked at a one second rate, and said delay period is equal to said parallel-loaded count.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A blood fractionation apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said parallel-loaded count is four and said delay period is four seconds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
255 words
In a blood fractionation apparatus operable in conjunction with a disposable fluid flow system for separating and collecting a blood fraction from whole blood, and including at least one motor-driven pump for conveying blood through the flow system, a tachometer associated with the motor, and a monitoring device providing an alarm signal in the presence of a fluid absence in the system, a failsafe control circuit comprising, in combination: a flip-flop responsive to applied tachometer pulses from the pump motor for producing an alarm control signal; a series-parallel programmable counter having a reset input, a clock input, a parallel data input and a serial/parallel enable input, said counter producing an output upon counting down from a parallel-loaded count to zero in the absence of a reset signal and following application of a serial enabling signal; means for applying a predetermined initial count signal to said parallel data input; means for applying said flip-flop output signal to said parallel-serial enable input to enable said counter to a serial mode upon occurrence of said tach pulses; means for applying said fluid absence alarm signal to said reset input to enable operation of said counter upon the occurrence of a fluid absence in the system; means for applying clock pulses to said counter whereby said counter counts to zero over a predetermined time interval upon being conditioned to a serial mode at said serial-enable input and upon being enabled at said reset input; and means responsive to the output of said counter for terminating operation of the pump.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
255 words
In a blood fractionation apparatus operable in conjunction with a disposable fluid flow system for separating and collecting a blood fraction from whole blood, and including at least one motor-driven pump for conveying blood through the flow system, a tachometer associated with the motor, and a monitoring device providing an alarm signal in the presence of a fluid absence in the system, a failsafe control circuit comprising, in combination: a flip-flop responsive to applied tachometer pulses from the pump motor for producing an alarm control signal; a series-parallel programmable counter having a reset input, a clock input, a parallel data input and a serial/parallel enable input, said counter producing an output upon counting down from a parallel-loaded count to zero in the absence of a reset signal and following application of a serial enabling signal; means for applying a predetermined initial count signal to said parallel data input; means for applying said flip-flop output signal to said parallel-serial enable input to enable said counter to a serial mode upon occurrence of said tach pulses; means for applying said fluid absence alarm signal to said reset input to enable operation of said counter upon the occurrence of a fluid absence in the system; means for applying clock pulses to said counter whereby said counter counts to zero over a predetermined time interval upon being conditioned to a serial mode at said serial-enable input and upon being enabled at said reset input; and means responsive to the output of said counter for terminating operation of the pump.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A blood fractionation apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said programmable counter is clocked as a one second rate, and said delay period is equal to said parallel-loaded count.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A blood fractionation apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said parallel-loaded count is four and said delay period is four seconds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
200 words
In a blood fractionation apparatus operable in conjunction with a disposable fluid flow system for separating and collecting a blood fraction from whole blood, and including at least one motor-driven pump for conveying blood through the flow system, a tachometer associated with the motor, and a monitoring device providing an alarm signal in the presence of a fluid absence in the system, a failsafe control circuit comprising, in combination: a series-parallel counter having a reset input, a clock input and a series/parallel enable input, said counter requiring a predetermined number of applied clock pulses following application of a serial enabling signal for producing an output; means responsive to said tachometer pulses for enabling said counter to a serial mode; means for applying said fluid absence alarm signal to said reset input to enable operation of said counter upon the occurrence of a fluid absence in the system; means for applying clock pulses to said counter whereby said counter counts to zero over a predetermined time interval upon being conditioned to a serial mode at said serial-enable input and upon being enabled at said reset input; and means responsive to the output of said counter for terminating operation of the pump.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
200 words
In a blood fractionation apparatus operable in conjunction with a disposable fluid flow system for separating and collecting a blood fraction from whole blood, and including at least one motor-driven pump for conveying blood through the flow system, a tachometer associated with the motor, and a monitoring device providing an alarm signal in the presence of a fluid absence in the system, a failsafe control circuit comprising, in combination: a series-parallel counter having a reset input, a clock input and a series/parallel enable input, said counter requiring a predetermined number of applied clock pulses following application of a serial enabling signal for producing an output; means responsive to said tachometer pulses for enabling said counter to a serial mode; means for applying said fluid absence alarm signal to said reset input to enable operation of said counter upon the occurrence of a fluid absence in the system; means for applying clock pulses to said counter whereby said counter counts to zero over a predetermined time interval upon being conditioned to a serial mode at said serial-enable input and upon being enabled at said reset input; and means responsive to the output of said counter for terminating operation of the pump.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A blood fractionation apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for terminating operation of the pump include a flip-flop responsive to the output of said counter.