Fluid delivery mechanism

• US 20020061255A1
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Published: 05/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Khoi Minh Nguyen, Ross, Stephen O?apos;Neil, Scott Wayne Beaver
• Original Assignee: Khoi Minh Nguyen, Ross, Stephen O?apos;Neil, Scott Wayne Beaver
• Inventors: Beaver, Scott Wayne, Nguyen, Khoi Minh, Ross, Stephen O?apos;Neil
• Granted Patent: US 6,585,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/478
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14513 with secondary fluid driving or regulating the infusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14228 with linear peristaltic action, i.e. comprising at least three pressurising members or a helical member
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/503 of gas in a liquid flow, e.g. gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/113 the actuating fluid being controlled by at least one valve
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers

Abstract

The present invention provides an infusion pump 10 for providing a flow of a liquid through an tube 28. The infusion pump 10 includes at least two occluders 152, 162 having an open position and a closed position for releasably pinching-off the tube 28. A metering chamber is disposed between the two occluders 152, 162. A first plunger 72 and a second plunger 73 are provided, each plunger 72, 73 having an open position and a closed position for releasably compressing the metering chamber. In the method of the present invention, an occluder 152 releasably pinches-off the tube near the source of the liquid at a first location. The second occluder 162 releasably pinches-off the tube at a second location that is downstream from the source of the liquid 23 and the first location. The tube 28 is released at the first location and a plunger 72 compresses the tube 28 between the first location and the second location, thereby generating a flow of the liquid through the tube 28 in a direction towards the source of liquid 23.

Claims

1. A device for providing a flow of liquid from a source of the liquid through a tube comprising:

means for pinching-off a section of the tube;

a first means for pushing the liquid in the tube in a flow direction; and

a second means for directing the flow of the liquid through the pinched-off section of the tube towards the source of the liquid;

such that the tube is re-opened using the liquid pushed towards the source of the liquid and through the pinched-off section of the tube thereby improving the accuracy of the flow of the liquid.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the pushing means includes a plunger.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the plunger is a fluid actuated plunger.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the fluid actuated plunger includes a pneumatic cylinder.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein the plunger is a cam actuated plunger.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the directing means includes an occluder.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the occluder is a fluid actuated occluder.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the fluid actuated occluder includes a pneumatic cylinder.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the occluder is a cam actuated occluder.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the pushing means includes a plurality of plungers.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the directing means includes a plurality of occluders.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the directing means includes a plunger and an occluder.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the plunger is a fluid actuated plunger.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the fluid actuated plunger includes a pneumatic cylinder.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the plunger is a cam actuated plunger.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the occluder is a cam actuated occluder.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the occluder is a fluid actuated occluder.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the fluid actuated occluder includes a pneumatic cylinder.

13. A method for infusing a liquid from a source of the liquid through a tube comprising:

occluding the tube; and

compressing the tube to push the liquid in the tube in a direction towards the source of the liquid and through the occluded section of the tube;

such that the tube is re-opened using the liquid pushed towards the source of the liquid and through the pinched-off section of the tube, thereby improving the accuracy of the flow of the liquid.

20. A device for re-opening a tube connected to a source of a liquid, the device comprising:

means for releasably pinching off a section of the tube;

a first means for pushing the liquid in the tube in a flow direction; and

a second means for directing the flow of the liquid through the pinched-off section of the tube towards the source of the liquid;

such that the flow of the liquid re-opens the tube thereby improving the accuracy of the flow of the liquid.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the pushing means includes a plunger.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the plunger is a fluid actuated plunger.;

23. the device of claim 22 wherein the fluid actuated plunger includes a pneumatic cylinder.

24. The device of claim 21 wherein the plunger is a cam actuated plunger.

25. The device of claim 20 wherein the directing means includes an occluder.

26. the device of claim 25 wherein the occluder is a fluid actuated occluder.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein the fluid actuated occluder includes a pneumatic cylinder.

28. The device of claim 25 wherein the occluder is a cam actuated occluder.

29. the device of claim 20 wherein the pushing means includes a plurality of plungers.

30. The device of claim 20 wherein the directing means includes a plurality of occluders.

31. The device of claim 20 wherein the directing means includes a plunger and an occluder.

32. A method of metering fluid in a tube comprising:

closing the tue in a first location;

downstream of the first location, compressing the tube to a first non-occluded position;

downstream of the tube compression, closing the tube in a second location;

releasing the tube in a first location;

decompressing the tube to a second non-relaxed position.

33. The method of claim 32 further including the step of providing a source of liquid in fluid communication with the tube.

34. The method of claim 32 further including the step of providing a closed pressure system.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the step of providing a closed pressure system further includes providing a negative pressure.

36. The method of claim 32 wherein the step of closing the tube further includes utilizing fluid actuation.

37. The method of claim 32 wherein the step of compressing the tube further includes