Peristaltic pump providing simplified loading and improved tubing kink resistance

• US 20060177328A1
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verathon Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Novasys Medical, Inc. (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomas, Simon W.H., Nordell, Benjamin T., Edelstein, Peter S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,722,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/477.200
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1253 by using two or more rollers as squeezing elements, the rollers moving on an arc of a circle during squeezing

Abstract

A peristaltic pump is provided that simplifies the loading of tubing and automatically self-centers the tubing relative to the pump wheel, wherein the pump includes an elongated arm having slotted pinch forks for engaging the tubing. The pinch forks are arranged substantially tangential to the pump wheel to reduce tubing kinking. The pump further includes a spring-loaded clamp that moves the elongated arm between engaged and disengaged positions, the clamp optionally including a sensor element used to detect when the pump is ready for operation.

Claims

1. A peristaltic pump for use with tubing, the pump comprising:

a pump wall;

a pump wheel rotatably coupled to the pump wall;

an elongated arm pivotably coupled to the pump wall in the vicinity of the pump wheel, the elongated arm movable from an engaged position adjacent to the pump wheel, wherein the tubing contacts the pump wheel, to a disengaged position spaced apart from the pump wheel; and

a clamp that moves the elongated arm between the engaged and disengaged positions,

wherein the elongated arm comprises a first pinch fork configured to engage the tubing and center the tubing relative to the pump wheel.

2. The pump of claim 1, wherein the elongated arm further comprises a second pinch fork.

3. The pump of claim 1, wherein the clamp is spring-loaded.

4. The pump of claim 2, wherein the first and second pinch forks include portions defining slots that confine the tubing and prevent slippage of the tubing with respect to the elongated arm.

5. The pump of claim 2 wherein the second pinch fork is configured to provide laminar flow through the tubing.

6. The pump of claim 1, wherein the elongated arm further comprises a bearing surface interposed between the first and second pinch forks that urges the tubing against pump wheel in the engaged position.

7. The pump of claim 1, wherein the clamp includes a projection adapted to mate with a corresponding notch in the elongated arm when the elongated arm is in the engaged position.

8. The pump of claim 1, wherein the clamp is pivotally coupled to the pump wall.

9. The pump of claim 8, wherein clamp includes an extension that defines a ramp, the ramp urging the elongated arm towards the pump wheel when the clamp is actuated to move the elongated arm to the engaged position.

10. The pump of claim 1, wherein the extension supports the elongated arm in the disengaged position.

11. The pump of claim 1, wherein the pump wheel comprises a plurality of rollers.

12. The pump of claim 1, further comprising a sensor operatively coupled to the clamp to determine when the elongated arm is in the engaged position.

13. The pump of claim 3, wherein the clamp locks the elongated arm in the engaged position.

14. A peristaltic pump for use with flexible tubing, the pump comprising:

a plurality of rotatably driven rollers;

an elongated arm pivotably disposed in the vicinity of the pump wheel, the elongated arm movable from an engaged position adjacent to the plurality of rollers, wherein the tubing contacts at least one of the plurality of rollers, to a disengaged position spaced apart from the plurality of rollers; and

a clamp that moves the elongated arm between the engaged and disengaged positions,

wherein the elongated arm comprises a first pinch fork configured to engage the tubing and center the tubing relative to the plurality of rollers.

15. The pump of claim 14, wherein the elongated arm further comprises a second pinch fork.

16. The pump of claim 14, wherein the first and second pinch forks include portions defining slots that confine the tubing and prevent slippage of the tubing with respect to the elongated arm.

17. The pump of claim 14, wherein the elongated arm further comprises a bearing surface interposed between the first and second pinch forks that urges the tubing against at least one of the plurality of rollers in the engaged position.

18. The pump of claim 14, wherein the clamp includes a projection adapted to mate with a corresponding notch in the elongated arm when the elongated arm is in the engaged position.

19. The pump of claim 18, wherein clamp includes an extension that defines a ramp, the ramp urging the elongated arm towards the plurality of rollers when the clamp is actuated to move the elongated arm to the engaged position.

20. The pump of claim 14, further comprising a sensor operatively coupled to the clamp to determine when the elongated arm is in the engaged position.

21. The pump of claim 14, wherein the clamp is spring-loaded and locks the compression arm in the engaged position.