OCCLUDER FOR A MEDICAL INFUSION SYSTEM

• US 20100057016A1
• Filed: 08/27/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Bodwell, Jesse T., Dale, James D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,863,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/250
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3496 Plasmapheresis; Leucopheresis; Lymphopheresis A61M1/3472 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/28 Clamping means for squeezing flexible tubes, e.g. roller clamps tube strippers A61M1/83
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/281 Automatic tube cut-off devices, e.g. squeezing tube on detection of air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/14 for mounting on, or in combination with, hand-actuated valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/06 by means of a screw-spindle, cam, or other mechanical means F16K7/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87161 With common valve operator

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to occluders and, in particular, to occluders for use in medical infusion systems. In one aspect, the occluder contains one or more tubes through which fluid can flow, and the occluder can be automatically controlled to allow or at least partially prevent fluid flow. In some cases, the occluder may be constructed and arranged to fail (e.g., due to loss of power) in a “closed” position, i.e., a position that at least partially prevents fluid flow. In addition, in one embodiment, the occluder may be manually overridden, even when in a failed state, by a user. For instance, in the event of a power failure, a user may be able to manually override the occluder to remove tubing from the occluder. Such occluders may find use, for example, in medical devices such as hemodialysis machines, medical infusion pumps, plasmapheresis devices, and the like.

Claims

1. An occluder for occluding at least one collapsible tube of a medical infusion device, the occluder comprising:

a base defining a pathway for the collapsible tube;

an occluding member rotationally movable about a pivot immobilized relative to the base, the occluding member comprising an occluding element portion that at least partially obstructs the pathway when the occluding member is in a first position but that does not obstruct the pathway when the occluding member is in a second position; and

a biasing member exerting a biasing force on the occluding member, the biasing force urging the occluding member to move into or remain in the first position.

2. The occluder of claim 1, wherein the occluder comprises a lever arm having a first end connected to the pivot, the lever arm being rotationally movable about the pivot between a first position to a second position, the lever arm moving the occluding member between the first position and the second position when the lever arm is moved from the first to the second position.

3. The occluder of claim 2, wherein the occluder comprises an actuator comprising a movable piston immobilized relative to the base, the piston being extendable upon actuation of the actuator from a first position to a second position, wherein extension of the piston into the second position causes the lever arm to move from the first position to the second position and the occluding member to move from the first position into the second position.

4. The occluder of claim 3, wherein the actuator is pneumatic.

5. The occluder of claim 3, wherein the actuator is actuated by a control fluid.

6. The occluder of claim 2, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

7. The occluder of claim 6, wherein the spring is biased to move the lever arm into the first position.

8. The occluder of claim 2, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

9. The occluder of claim 1, further comprising an openable cover able to be immobilized with respect to the base, the cover being able to position and secure the tube within the pathway when the cover is mounted onto the base and in a closed position.

10. The occluder of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a flanged opening allowing the tube within the pathway to exit when the cover is immobilized with respect to the base.

11. The occluder of claim 1, wherein the base defines a pathway for the collapsible tube and a second pathway for a second tube.

12. The occluder of claim 1, wherein the occluding member comprises a second occluding element portion that at least partially obstructs the second pathway when the occluding member is in a first position but that does not obstruct the second pathway when the occluding member is in a second position.

13. The occluder of claim 1, wherein the medical infusion device is a dialysis device.

14. The occluder of claim 1, wherein the occluder is non-electrical.

15. The occluder of claim 1, further comprising a grip member forming part of or immobilized with respect to the occluding member, the grip member being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein movement of the grip member from the first position into the second position moves the occluding member from the first position into the second position.

16. An occluder for occluding at least one collapsible tube of a medical infusion device, the occluder comprising:

a base defining a pathway for the collapsible tube;

an occluding member comprising an occluding element portion that at least partially obstructs the pathway when the occluding member is in a first position but that does not obstruct the pathway when the occluding member is in a second position;

a biasing member exerting a biasing force on the occluding member, the biasing force urging the occluding member to move into or remain in the first position; and

a grip member forming part of or immobilized with respect to the occluding member, the grip member being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein movement of the grip member from the first position into the second position moves the occluding member from the first position into the second position.

17. The occluder of claim 16, wherein the occluding member is rotationally movable about a pivot immobilized relative to the base.

18. The occluder of claim 17, wherein the occluder comprises a lever arm having a first end connected to the pivot, the lever arm being rotationally movable about the pivot between a first position to a second position, the lever arm moving the occluding member between the first position and the second position when the lever arm is moved from the first to the second position.

19. The occluder of claim 18, wherein the occluder comprises an actuator comprising a movable piston immobilized relative to the base, the piston being extendable upon actuation of the actuator from a first position to a second position, wherein extension of the piston into the second position causes the lever arm to move from the first position to the second position and the occluding member to move from the first position into the second position.

20. The occluder of claim 16, further comprising an openable cover able to be immobilized with respect to the base, the cover being able to position and secure the tube within the pathway when the cover is mounted onto the base and in a closed position.

21. The occluder of claim 16, wherein the base defines a pathway for the collapsible tube and a second pathway for a second tube, and wherein the occluding member comprises a second occluding element portion that at least partially obstructs the second pathway when the occluding member is in a first position but that does not obstruct the second pathway when the occluding member is in a second position.

22. An occluder for occluding at least one collapsible tube of a medical infusion device, the occluder comprising:

a base defining a pathway for the collapsible tube;

an occluding member comprising an occluding element portion that at least partially obstructs the pathway when the occluding member is in a first position but that does not obstruct the pathway when the occluding member is in a second position;

a pneumatic actuator having a fluidic inlet and a piston movable from a first position to a second position when the fluidic inlet is pressurized, the movable piston being mechanically interconnected with the occluding member such that extension of the movable piston into the second position causes the occluding member to move into the second position; and

a grip member forming part of or immobilized with respect to the occluding member, the grip member being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein movement of the grip member from the first position into the second position moves the occluding member from the first position into the second position.

23. The occluder of claim 22, wherein the occluding member is rotationally movable about a pivot immobilized relative to the base.

24. The occluder of claim 23, further comprising a lever arm having a first end connected to the pivot, the lever arm being rotationally movable about the pivot between a first position to a second position, the lever arm moving the occluding member between the first position and the second position when the lever arm is moved from the first to the second position.

25. The occluder of claim 24, further comprising a biasing spring biased to move the lever arm into the first position.

26. The occluder of claim 22, further comprising a biasing member exerting a biasing force on the occluding member, the biasing force urging the occluding member to move into or remain in the first position.

27. The occluder of claim 22, further comprising an openable cover able to be immobilized with respect to the base, the cover being able to position and secure the tube within the pathway when the cover is mounted onto the base and in a closed position.

28. The occluder of claim 22, wherein the base defines a pathway for the collapsible tube and a second pathway for a second tube, and wherein the occluding member comprises a second occluding element portion that at least partially obstructs the second pathway when the occluding member is in a first position but that does not obstruct the second pathway when the occluding member is in a second position.

29. An occluder for occluding at least one collapsible tube of a medical infusion device, the occluder comprising:

a base defining a pathway for the collapsible tube;

an occluding member rotationally movable about a pivot immobilized relative to the base, the occluding member comprising an occluding element portion that at least partially obstructs the pathway when the occluding member is in a first position but that does not obstruct the pathway when the occluding member is in a second position;

a lever arm having a first end connected to the pivot, the lever arm being rotationally movable about the pivot between a first position to a second position, the lever arm moving the occluding member between the first position and the second position when the lever arm is moved from the first to the second position;

an actuator comprising a movable piston immobilized relative to the base, the piston being extendable upon actuation of the actuator from a first position to a second position, wherein extension of the piston into the second position causes the lever arm to move from the first position to the second position and the occluding member to move from the first position into the second position;

a biasing spring biased to move the lever arm into the first position;

a grip member forming part of or immobilized with respect to the occluding member, the grip member being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein movement of the grip member from the first position into the second position moves the occluding member from the first position into the second position.

30. The occluder of claim 29, further comprising an openable cover able to be immobilized with respect to the base, the cover being able to position and secure the tube within the pathway when the cover is mounted onto the base and in a closed position.