Fluid transportation system and method of setting fluid ejection amount

• US 20090312708A1
• Filed: 04/24/2006
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kawasumi, Kazuo, Miyazaki, Hajime
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,954 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0244 Micromachined materials, e.g. made from silicon wafers, microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] or comprising nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection

Abstract

A fluid transportation system includes a fluid transportation device housing a flexible tube, a pump unit for ejecting a fluid by squeezing the tube, a communication section, and a battery, an ejection data processing device having an input device for inputting to the fluid transportation device a driving condition for ejecting a desired ejection amount of the fluid, a display section for displaying at least the driving condition, and a communication device for connecting the fluid transportation device and the ejection data processing device to each other, wherein the fluid transportation device is driven based on the driving condition input from the ejection data processing device.

Claims

1. A fluid transportation system comprising:

a fluid transportation device housing

a flexible tube, a pump unit for ejecting a fluid by squeezing the tube,

a communication section, and

a battery;

an ejection data processing device including

an input device for inputting to the fluid transportation device a driving condition for ejecting a desired ejection amount of the fluid, and

a display section for displaying at least the driving condition; and

a communication device for connecting the fluid transportation device and the ejection data processing device to each other,

wherein the fluid transportation device is driven based on the driving condition input from the ejection data processing device.

2. The fluid transportation system according to claim 1,

wherein the communication device is a wireless communication device, and

the communication device includes at least an antenna, and a transmission/reception switcher, and the communication section includes an antenna, and a transmission/reception switcher.

3. The fluid transportation system according to claim 1,

wherein the communication device is an optical communication device,

the communication device includes at least a light receiving element, a light emitting element, a light reception control circuit, and a light emission control circuit, and

the communication section includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element respectively opposed to the light receiving element and the light emitting element, a light emission control circuit, and a light reception control circuit.

4. The fluid transportation system according to claim 1, the communication device being a wired communication device, further comprising:

a seal member formed of an elastic body and attached to a chassis of the fluid transportation device;

a first connection terminal provided to the seal member and for connecting the inside and the outside of the seal member; and

a second connection terminal provided to the communication device,

wherein the first and second connection terminals are connected to each other when the fluid transportation device is mounted on the communication device, thereby connecting the communication device and the fluid transportation device to each other.

5. The fluid transportation system according to claim 4,

wherein the seal member is mainly composed of an outer periphery fixing section fixed to the chassis of the fluid transportation device, a connection terminal fixing section to which the first connection terminal is implanted to stand, an elastic section connecting the outer periphery fixing section and the connection terminal fixing section.

6. The fluid transportation system according to claim 1, the communication device being a wired communication device, further comprising:

a seal member formed of an elastic body and attached to a chassis of the fluid transportation device; and

a connection terminal implanted to the communication device to stand, and provided with a needle section formed at an end of the connection terminal,

wherein the needle section pierces the seal member and the connection terminal is connected to the connection terminal of the fluid transportation device when the fluid transportation device is mounted on the communication device, and when the fluid transportation device is detached from the communication device, the connection is released and the seal member is closed by the elasticity of the seal member.

7. The fluid transportation system according to claim 1,

wherein a chassis forming the fluid transportation device has a projection-less outer shape, and the chassis and the tube are made of a biocompatible material.

8. The fluid transportation system according to claim 1,

wherein the fluid transportation device is sealed except an inlet and outlet of the tube.

9. The fluid transportation system according to claim 1,

wherein the pump unit includes at least a stepping motor, a gear train for reducing the rotation of the stepping motor, a drive control circuit of the stepping motor, and

the drive control circuit includes a drive pulse setting section for storing a plurality of driving conditions of the stepping motor, and a timer for counting a driving period of the stepping motor, drives the pump unit based on the driving condition input from the ejection data processing device, and stops the pump unit after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

10. The fluid transportation system according to claim 9,

wherein the reduction ratio of the gear train can be changed by changing an arrangement of the gears of the gear train.

11. The fluid transportation system according to claim 1,

wherein the driving condition input to the fluid transportation device includes fundamental data set initially and ejection data of individual fluid transportation device as a driving target set prior to driving the pump unit, and the fundamental data and the ejection data are set separately.

12. The fluid transportation system according to claim 1,

wherein the ejection data is set in accordance with an individual difference in the diameter of a fluid flowing section of the tube, thereby controlling the ejection amount of the fluid.

13. The fluid transportation system according to claim 12,

wherein a correction coefficient is calculated from a ratio between a reference value of the diameter of the fluid flowing section of the tube in the driving condition of the fluid transportation device as a reference and the diameter of the fluid flowing section of the fluid transportation device as the driving target, and

the ejection data of the fluid transportation device is set in accordance with the correction coefficient to correct the ejection amount of the fluid of the fluid transportation device so as to be the same as the ejection amount of the fluid of the fluid transportation device as the reference.

14. The fluid transportation system according to claim 11,

wherein the fluid transportation device is driven with an initial driving term in which the fluid transportation device is driven based on an initial ejection rate and an initial driving period until the ejection of the fluid is started, and an effective driving term following the initial driving term.

15. The fluid transportation system according to claim 9,

wherein the drive control circuit further includes a power supply voltage detection circuit for detecting a voltage of the battery, and

the drive control circuit stops the fluid transportation device when a detection value of the power supply voltage detection circuit becomes lower than a predetermined driving voltage of the pump unit.

16. The fluid transportation system according to claim 1,

wherein the ejection data processing device includes a section for selecting one of a single driving mode for driving the pump unit with a single kind of ejection data, and a multiple driving mode for driving the pump unit with a plurality of kinds of ejection data while switching the plurality of kinds of ejection data.

17. The fluid transportation system according to claim 1,

wherein ejection information data obtained when the fluid transportation device is driven is input from the fluid transportation device to the ejection data processing device via the communication device.

18. The fluid transportation system according to claim 17,

wherein the ejection information data includes at least a stopping reason and a driving period of the fluid transportation device.

19. A method of setting an ejection amount of a fluid, comprising the steps of:

providing a fluid transportation system including

a fluid transportation device housing a flexible tube, a pump unit for ejecting a fluid by squeezing the tube, a communication section, and a power supply,

an ejection data processing device having an input device for inputting to the fluid transportation device a driving condition for ejecting a desired ejection amount of the fluid, a display section for displaying at least the driving condition, and

a communication device for connecting the fluid transportation device and the ejection data processing device to each other; and

driving the fluid transportation device based on the driving condition input from the ejection data processing device,

wherein the driving condition data input to the fluid transportation device includes fundamental data set initially and ejection data of the individual fluid transportation device as a driving target set at execution of the driving, and

the driving step includes the steps of allowing a provider of the fluid transportation system to set the fundamental data by operating the individual ejection data processing device, and allowing a user of the fluid transportation system to set the ejection data by operating the individual ejection data processing device.

20. The method of setting an ejection amount of a fluid according to claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

setting previously a reference value of a diameter of a fluid flowing section of the tube in the driving condition of the fluid transportation device as a reference;

measuring the diameter of the fluid flowing section of the tube of the fluid transportation device as a driving target;

calculating a correction coefficient from a ratio between the reference value of the diameter of the tube and the diameter of the tube of the fluid transportation device as the driving target; and

setting the ejection data of the fluid transportation device corresponding to the correction coefficient, thereby adjusting the ejection amount of the fluid of the fluid transportation device so as to be the same as the ejection amount of the fluid of the fluid transportation device as the reference.