TUBE OCCLUDER AND METHOD FOR OCCLUDING COLLAPSIBLE TUBES

• US 20090202367A1
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Gray, Larry B., Lanigan, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,766,301 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/394
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1649 with pulsatile dialysis fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/267 used for pumping
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362227 the interface providing means for actuating on functional elements of the cassette, e.g. plungers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36225 with blood pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362261 at least one cassette surface or portion thereof being flexible, e.g. the cassette having a rigid base portion with preformed channels and being covered with a foil
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362264 the filter being a blood filter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362265 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362266 Means for adding solutions or substances to the blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/367 Circuit parts not covered by the preceding subgroups of group A61M1/3621
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/02 Equipment for testing the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/228 with a tubular diaphragm constrictable by radial fluid force
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14224 Diaphragm type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14593 the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/067 the fluid being actuated directly by a piston
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/00 Pumps or pumping installations having flexible working members and specially adapted for elastic fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/02 having bellows
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/12 : by varying the length of stroke of the working members
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/10 : Valves; Arrangement of valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/16 : Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/26 : by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/32 : for containers, e.g. radiators
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/20 : characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

The present invention involves, in some embodiments, mechanisms and methods of occluding collapsible tubing with an occluder to prevent fluid flow therethrough. In some embodiments, a tube occluding mechanism is disclosed that includes a bendable occluding member for creating a force that can be applied to a collapsible tube to occlude the tube. In some embodiments, the collapsible tube can be an inlet/outlet tube on a removable pumping cartridge that is coupled to a reusable pump drive component when the system is in operation. In such embodiments, the occluding mechanism can be attached to the reusable component and can be used to block fluid flow to and from the pumping cartridge. In some embodiments, the occluding member can comprises a spring plate which can create a force to occlude tubing when in a relaxed, unbent configuration, and which can be bent to unocclude the tubing. In some preferred embodiments, in a default configuration of the tube occluder mechanism (when no external force is applied to the occluding member) the tubes are occluded, so that the tube occluder mechanism provides a fail-safe configuration preventing fluid flow to and from a pumping cartridge to which the tubes can be connected.

Claims

1. An occluder mechanism for occluding at least one collapsible tube carrying a liquid, comprising:

an elongated, spring-biased occluding member having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally mounted to a support structure and the second end linked to an occluder blade having a linking end and an occluding end; and

a force actuator arranged and configured to cause transverse deflection of at least a portion of the occluding member between the first end and the second end, reducing the distance between the first end and the second end, wherein

the occluding end of the occluder blade is positioned to compress the at least one collapsible tube when the occluding member is in a relaxed position; and

the occluding end of the occluder blade is retracted from a position that compresses the collapsible tube when said portion of the occluding member is transversely deflected.

2. The occluder mechanism of claim 1, wherein a restoring force to urge return of the occluding member to the relaxed position is created when the force actuator causes deflection of the occluding member.

3. The occluder mechanism of claim 1, wherein the occluding member comprises a spring plate.

4. The occluder mechanism of claim 1, wherein the force actuator comprises an inflatable bladder in selective fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source.

5. The occluder mechanism of claim 4, wherein the fluid is air.

6. The occluder mechanism of claim 4, wherein inflation of the bladder results in deflection of the occluding member, and deflation of the bladder results in the occluding member to return to its relaxed position.

7. The occluder mechanism of claim 1, wherein the occluder blade is slidably mounted in a slot defined by a stationary guide member, and the linking end of the occluder blade is pivotally and slidably connected to the second end of the occluding member.

8. The occluder mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least a component of the force applied by the force actuator is perpendicular to at least a component of the force applied by the occluder blade to compress the at least one collapsible tube.

9. A liquid pumping system comprising:

a reusable medical liquid pump drive system that is constructed and arranged for coupling to a disposable pumping cartridge containing at least one pump chamber, said disposable pumping cartridge configured to be connected in fluid communication with at least one collapsible tube for delivering liquid to a destination; and

an occluder mechanism attached to said reusable pump drive system for occluding said at least one collapsible tube, comprising;

an elongated, spring-biased occluding member having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally mounted to a support structure and the second end linked to an occluder blade having a linking end and an occluding end; and

a force actuator arranged and configured to cause transverse deflection of at least a portion of the occluding member between the first end and the second end, reducing the distance between the first end and the second end, wherein

the occluding end of the occluder blade is positioned to compress the at least one collapsible tube when the occluding member is in a relaxed position; and

the occluding end of the occluder blade is retracted from a position that compresses the at least one collapsible tube when said portion of the occluding member is transversely deflected.

10. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein a restoring force to urge return of the occluding member to the relaxed position is created when the force actuator causes deflection of the occluding member.

11. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein the disposable pumping cartridge is configured to be connected in fluid communication with the body of a patient via the at least one collapsible tube.

12. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein the liquid comprises a biological liquid.

13. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein the liquid comprises a therapeutic liquid.

14. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein the occluding member comprises a spring plate.

15. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein the force actuator comprises an inflatable bladder in selective fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source.

16. The liquid pumping system of claim 15, wherein the fluid is air.

17. The liquid pumping system of claim 15, wherein inflation of the bladder results in deflection of the occluding member, and deflation of the bladder results in the occluding member returning to its relaxed position.

18. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein the occluder blade is slidably mounted in a slot defined by a stationary guide member, and the linking end of the occluder blade is pivotally and slidably connected to the second end of the occluding member.

19. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein at least a component of the force applied by the force actuator is perpendicular to at least a component of the force applied by the occluder blade to compress the at least one collapsible tube.

20. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein the force actuator is controlled by a microprocessor based control system.

21. An occluder mechanism for occluding at least one collapsible tube, comprising:

an elongated, spring-biased occluding member having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally mounted to a support structure and the second end linked to an occluder blade having a linking end and an occluding end; and

a force actuator controlled by a microprocessor based control system and arranged and configured to cause transverse deflection of at least a portion of the occluding member between the first end and the second end, reducing the distance between the first end and the second end, wherein

the occluding end of the occluder blade is positioned to compress the at least one collapsible tube when the occluding member is in a relaxed position; and

the occluding end of the occluder blade is retracted from a position that compresses the at least one collapsible tube when said portion of the occluding member is transversely deflected.

22. The occluder mechanism of claim 21, wherein a restoring force to urge return of the occluding member to the relaxed position is created when the force actuator causes deflection of the occluding member.

23. The occluder mechanism of claim 21, wherein the occluding member comprises a spring plate.

24. The occluder mechanism of claim 21, wherein the force actuator comprises an inflatable bladder in selective fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source.

25. The occluder mechanism of claim 24, wherein the fluid is air.

26. The occluder mechanism of claim 24, wherein inflation of the bladder results in deflection of the occluding member, and deflation of the bladder results in the occluding member returning to its relaxed position.

27. The occluder mechanism of claim 21, wherein the occluder blade is slidably mounted in a slot defined by a stationary guide member, and the linking end of the occluder blade is pivotally and slidably connected to the second end of the occluding member.

28. The occluder mechanism of claim 21, wherein at least a component of the force applied by the force actuator is perpendicular to at least a component of the force applied by the occluder blade to compress the at least one collapsible tube.

29. A method for occluding at least one collapsible tube carrying a liquid with an occluder mechanism comprising an elongated spring-biased occluding member having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally mounted to a support structure, and the second end linked to an occluder blade having a linking end and an occluding end, the occluding end positioned to compress the at least one collapsible tube, the method comprising:

applying a force to transversely deflect at least a portion of the occluding member between the first end and the second end, reducing the distance between the first end and the second end, and causing the occluding end of the occluder blade to retract from compressing the at least one collapsible tube; and

releasing said force to allow a restoring force generated by the occluding member to increase the distance between the first end and the second end, causing the occluding blade to compress the at least one collapsible tube.