A removable pressure sensor assembly senses a pressure in an elastically deformable tube conveying blood in an extracorporeal circulator. The assembly includes a main body portion 31 and a pressure measurement element 40 disposed in main body portion 31. Main body portion 31 has a base portion 32with a tube mounting recessed portion 34 such that an intermediate part of a tube 11 is removably fitted such that tube 11 is elastically deformed. Pressure measurement element 40 is exposed to tube 11 so that it measures a pressure of blood inside tube 11. A lid portion 33 holds tube 11 inside tube mounting recessed portion 34 by selectably closing recessed portion 34 of the base portion. Tube mounting recessed portion 34 has a rectangular cross section, and a width L of the rectangular cross section is set to be smaller than an external dimension D of tube 11.

An automated bioreactor system for decellularizing an organ includes a main chamber for containing the organ. The system further includes a reagent chamber containing a liquid phase reagent. A reagent conduit delivers the liquid phase reagent to the main chamber, and a perfusion conduit delivers the reagent from the reagent outlet in the main chamber into the organ. A perfusion pump drives the flow of the reagent. A perfusion pressure sensor detects a pressure of the flowing reagent. A control system controls the perfusion pump to drive the flow of the reagent based on a received input representative of a desired pressure and a received input of the detected pressure. The control system may automatically perform all of the steps of a decellularization protocol based on sensor input. An automated waste decontamination system may also be provided.

Capillary-based pressure threshold sensors are provided for liquids that exploit the properties of hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, oleophobic and amphiphobic porous membranes to detect when fluid passes through the membrane in the event of the pressure across the membrane rising above the breakthrough pressure of a fluid. Example implementations are provided of different configurations for a capillary-based pressure threshold sensor, and of how a capillary-based pressure threshold sensor is used in a medication delivery device or other fluid delivery devices to detect occlusion or other fluid flow condition.

A method for operating a dialysis cassette including a flexible membrane that covers a pump chamber includes allowing a source of fluid to fluidly communicate with the pump chamber of the dialysis cassette, filling the pump chamber with the fluid from the source, mechanically extending the flexible membrane into the pump chamber with a piston head to expel the fluid from the pump chamber through a flow path, and directly sensing a pressure of the fluid flowing through the flow path at a location of the dialysis cassette adjacent to the pump chamber and using the sensed pressure to perform a test prior to delivering fluid to a patient.

A method for operating a dialysis cassette including a flexible membrane that covers a pump chamber includes allowing a source of fluid to fluidly communicate with the pump chamber of the dialysis cassette, filling the pump chamber with the fluid from the source, mechanically extending the flexible membrane into the pump chamber with a piston head to expel the fluid from the pump chamber through a flow path, and directly sensing a pressure of the fluid flowing through the flow path at a location of the dialysis cassette adjacent to the pump chamber and using the sensed pressure to perform a test prior to delivering fluid to a patient.

A sensor system runs real-time software on the processor to receive and log temperature and humidity data from the sensors. A processor processes the data, reformats, if necessary, the data packaged with GPS information provided by the centralized sensor control system, transmits the packaged data (including error checking) to a designated receiver, and provides a diagnostic interface for displaying logged data and status information. This data is time stamped and transmitted to the centralized sensor control system across the external control/data interface.

A sensor system runs real-time software on the processor to receive and log temperature and humidity data from the sensors. A processor processes the data, reformats, if necessary, the data packaged with GPS information provided by the centralized sensor control system, transmits the packaged data (including error checking) to a designated receiver, and provides a diagnostic interface for displaying logged data and status information. This data is time stamped and transmitted to the centralized sensor control system across the external control/data interface.

Identifying and estimating values of atmospheric conditions for use in estimating an altitude of a mobile device. Systems and methods for monitoring one or more conditions before estimating an altitude of a mobile device may receive a reference pressure that was computed using a measurement of pressure from a first reference pressure sensor at a first location, wherein the received reference pressure specifies an estimated pressure for a reference altitude, and determine if a threshold change in measured pressure by the first reference pressure sensor is detected. If the threshold change in measured pressure is detected, the systems and methods may compute a calibration value for the first reference pressure sensor, or if the threshold change in measured pressure is not detected, the systems and methods may identify a previously-determined calibration value. The systems and methods may then compute an adjusted reference pressure using the received reference pressure and either the computed calibration value or the previously-determined calibration value, and compute an estimate of the altitude of the mobile device using the adjusted reference pressure and a measurement of pressure from the mobile device.

Identifying and estimating values of atmospheric conditions for use in estimating an altitude of a mobile device. Systems and methods for monitoring one or more conditions before estimating an altitude of a mobile device may receive a reference pressure that was determined using a measurement of pressure measured by a reference pressure sensor, and determine if a temperature condition is detected. After determining that the temperature condition is not detected, the systems and methods may compute a first estimate of an altitude of a mobile device using the reference pressure. After determining that the temperature condition is detected, the systems and methods may compute an estimate of a pressure at the location of the reference pressure sensor using the reference pressure, a first measurement of temperature that was used to compute the reference pressure, an estimated altitude of the location of the reference pressure sensor, and the reference altitude, and then compute a second estimate of the altitude of the mobile device using the estimate of pressure and a second measurement of temperature that was measured at another location that is different from the location of the reference pressure sensor.

A modular apparatus for attaching sensors and electronics is disclosed. The modular apparatus includes a square recess including a plurality of cavities and a reference cavity such that a pressure sensor can be connected to the modular apparatus. The modular apparatus also includes at least one voltage input hole and at least one voltage output hole operably connected to each of the plurality of cavities such that voltage can be applied to the pressure sensor and received from the pressure sensor.