LINEAR PERISTALTIC PUMP WITH FINGERS AND MEMBRANE AND FINGER FOR SUCH A PUMP

• US 20100296955A1
• Filed: 09/16/2008
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Vial SAS (Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Vial SAS (Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Wolff, Remy
• Granted Patent: US 8,894,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/477.3
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/021 the plate-like flexible member is pressed against a wall by a number of elements, each having an alternating movement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the plate-like flexible member and each having its own driving mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/082 the tubular flexible member being pressed against a wall by a number of elements, each having an alternating movement in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the tubular member and each having its own driving mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/14 having plate-like flexible members

Abstract

The invention relates to a linear peristaltic pump with fingers comprising a membrane positioned between the pumping fingers (250) and the tube, and to a membrane and fingers for a pump such as this. According to the invention, means are provided to keep that part of the membrane against which the fingers (250) press, which part is called the track (212), in permanent contact with the end of the fingers (250) throughout the duration of the pumping cycle, even in the absence of any tube. In this way it is possible to choose a stronger material for the part known as the track. This material will be more rigid than the rubber conventionally used but, by virtue of the means (220, 260) for maintaining contact, the track will not remain pressed against the tube but will, by contrast, be lifted by the finger (250). It will thus be possible to select a stronger material that will suffer less wear. The precision of the pump will be guaranteed for longer and membrane changes that are painstaking and costly in terms of time and in terms of labour will be avoided.

Claims

1. Linear peristaltic pump with fingers, comprising a membrane placed between the pumping fingers and the tubing, wherein means are provided to keep the part of the membrane on which the fingers press, called the track, in permanent contact with the ends of the fingers during the entire pumping cycle, even in the absence of any tubing.

2. Peristaltic pump according to claim 1, wherein the means for putting the track in permanent contact with the ends of the fingers comprise means for mechanically coupling the track to the end of at least one finger.

3. Peristaltic pump according to claim 1, wherein at least the means for putting the track in permanent contact with the ends of the fingers that have two neighbors have a degree of freedom parallel to the pumping direction, so that during a pumping cycle, the track can have reciprocating translational movement, substantially parallel to the pumping direction, with respect to the ends of said fingers.

4. Peristaltic pump according to claim 1, which is provided with means for blocking the overall movement of the track in the direction of flow.

5. Membrane for a peristaltic pump according to claim 1, wherein in the part where the fingers press during operation, called the track, the membrane is equipped with means for mechanically coupling the track to the end of at least one finger, which coupling means constitute part of the means for keeping the ends of the fingers in permanent contact with the track.

6. Membrane according to claim 5, which is provided with means for blocking the overall movement of the track in the direction of flow.

7. Membrane (110, 210) according to claim 5, wherein at least the means for mechanically coupling the track to the ends of fingers that have two neighbors have a degree of freedom parallel to the pumping direction, so that during a pumping cycle, the track can have reciprocating translational movement, substantially parallel to the pumping direction, with respect to the ends of said fingers.

8. Membrane according to claim 5, wherein the track is flexible, but not elastic, due to the combination of its geometry and its material.

9. Membrane according to claim 8, wherein the membrane is made of a rigid frame equipped with means for fixing the membrane inside the pump, the track, and an intermediate flexible membrane connecting the track to the frame in such a way that the membrane forms a continuous, impermeable surface.

10. Membrane according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate membrane is proportioned so as to push the track in the opposite direction from the coupling means in the absence of any pressure, particularly from the pumping fingers.

11. Membrane according to claim 5, wherein the coupling means comprise mushroom-shaped elements engageable in slots extending in the direction of pumping and placed in the end of one or more pumping fingers.

12. Membrane according to claim 5, wherein the coupling means comprise rings placed on the track parallel to the direction of pumping, into which pins on the end of one or more pumping fingers can fit.

13. Membrane according to claim 5, wherein the means for blocking the track comprise a retaining tab placed between two successive coupling means, perpendicular to the direction of pumping.

14. Membrane according to claim 5, wherein the track is extended on both sides of the coupling means by two end tabs.

15. Pumping finger for a peristaltic pump according to claim 1, which is equipped with means for cooperating with the membrane coupling means, the cooperating means constituting part of the means for maintaining permanent contact between the ends of the fingers and the track.

16. Pumping finger according to claim 15, wherein the cooperating means comprise a slot extending in the direction of pumping.

17. Pumping finger according to claim 15, wherein the cooperating means comprise a pin extending perpendicular to the pumping plane.

18. Membrane according to claim 8, wherein the intermediate membrane is overmolded on the frame and the track.

19. Membrane according to claim 12, wherein (a) the rings that must cooperate with fingers that have two neighboring fingers are oblong, with their long axis parallel to the direction of pumping, and/or (b) the rings that must cooperate with the upstream and downstream are circular and forming blocking means for the track.

20. Membrane according to claim 13, wherein the retaining tab is placed in the middle of the track.