CONTROLLING DEAD VOLUME OF A PISTON PUMP USING AN ADJUSTMENT SCREW
First Claim
1. An apparatus for delivering a fluid, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
an inlet in the housing for receiving the fluid;
an outlet in the housing for discharging the fluid;
an actuator positioned within the housing and moveable between a first position and a second position to displace the fluid from the inlet and through the outlet; and
an adjustable stop operatively positioned relative to the actuator whereby the second position is selected by adjustment of the adjustable stop.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to infusion devices. More particularly, the present invention is directed toward an inexpensive design to adjust the dead space of a piston pump by adjusting the end position of the piston'"'"'s forward stroke. The piston pump may include an actuator member with a piston that articulates between a retracted and a forward position in a piston channel. Movement between the retracted and forward position, a pumping stroke, may expel a known quantity of fluid. Because of manufacturing tolerances, the forward position may not exactly line up with the end of the piston channel, resulting in dead space, or ullage, that may result in less than desired accuracy for fluid volume pumped. Utilization of an adjustable stop or stop that contacts the actuator member at the desired forward position may allow for selective elimination of the ullage and precise adjustment of the fluid pumped.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An apparatus for delivering a fluid, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing; an inlet in the housing for receiving the fluid; an outlet in the housing for discharging the fluid; an actuator positioned within the housing and moveable between a first position and a second position to displace the fluid from the inlet and through the outlet; and an adjustable stop operatively positioned relative to the actuator whereby the second position is selected by adjustment of the adjustable stop. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An adjustable actuator for delivering fluid through a piston channel from an inlet to an outlet, the actuator comprising:
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an armature configured to move between a forward position and a retracted position; a piston coupled to the armature and moveable within the piston channel; and an adjustable stop operably positioned to contact the armature to selectively adjust the forward position.
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10. A method for manufacturing a piston pump comprising:
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providing a pump assembly including; a housing; an inlet in the housing for receiving the fluid; an outlet in the housing for discharging the fluid; a piston channel within the housing through which the fluid flows from the inlet to the outlet; and an actuator positioned within the housing and moveable between a first position and a second position, the actuator driving the fluid stored in the piston chamber toward the outlet when the actuator transitions from the first position to the second position, the actuator comprising; an armature; and a piston coupled to the armature and moveable within the piston channel; placing the actuator in the first position; and adjusting a stop to selectively adjust the position of the actuator in the first position to a desired position in the piston channel.
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeMedtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
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Original AssigneeMedtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
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InventorsElmouelhi, Ahmed
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Application NumberUS11/750,798Publication NumberTime in Patent OfficeDaysField of SearchUS Class Current604/154CPC Class CodesA61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston typeA61M 5/14276 specially adapted for impla...F04B 17/042 the solenoid motor being se...F04B 49/14 Adjusting abutments located...Y10T 29/49236 Fluid pump or compressor ma...
