FLUID TRANSPORT CARTRIDGE

• US 20130296788A1
• Filed: 07/08/2013
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Primetech Corporation
• Original Assignee: Primetech Corporation
• Inventors: OGIHARA, Ryosuke
• Granted Patent: US 8,986,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2250/00 Specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14228 with linear peristaltic action, i.e. comprising at least three pressurising members or a helical member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/12 having peristaltic action
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers

Abstract

In a fluid transport apparatus, there are cases where a set fluid discharge amount cannot be accurately discharged, due to wear and tear on an elastic tube. Therefore, in a fluid transport apparatus including a fluid transport cartridge and a fluid transport driving unit that are separable from each other, the fluid transport cartridge comprises an elastic tube that transports fluid, a pressing portion that moves between a first position in which a transport path of the fluid is constricted by pressing on the elastic tube from outside and a second position in which the transport path of the fluid is not constricted, and a housing portion that houses a drive mechanism for moving the pressing portion.

Claims

1. A fluid transport cartridge comprising:

a first elastic tube that transports a first fluid;

a second elastic tube that transports a second fluid;

a third elastic tube that transports fluid;

a switching valve that selectively guides one of the first fluid and the second fluid to the third elastic tube;

a pressing portion that moves between a first position in which a transport path of the fluid is constricted by pressing on the third elastic tube from outside and a second position in which the transport path of the fluid is not constricted; and

a housing portion that houses a drive mechanism for moving the pressing portion.

2. The fluid transport cartridge according to claim 1, comprising a transparent external packaging member in a side surface that is opposite a side surface of the housing portion housing the drive mechanism.

3. The fluid transport cartridge according to claim 2, wherein

by using location marks provided on a piston forming the switching valve, it is possible to see, through the transparent external member, whether the switching valve is guiding the first fluid or the second fluid to the third elastic tube.

4. The fluid transport cartridge according to claim 1, wherein

when the housing portion is not housing the drive mechanism, the pressing portion does not press on the third elastic tube.

5. The fluid transport cartridge according to claim 1, wherein

when the housing portion is not housing the drive mechanism, the pressing portion is positioned at the second position by elastic force of the third elastic tube.

6. The fluid transport cartridge according to claim 1, wherein

the pressing portion is a plurality of pressing pins arranged along the third elastic tube in a transport direction of the fluid.

7. The fluid transport cartridge according to claim 6, wherein

the housing portion is a cam housing portion that houses a cam that moves the pressing pin.

8. The fluid transport cartridge according to claim 7, wherein

tips of the pressing pins protrude toward the cam housing portion and have semi-spherical surfaces in a direction opposite a housing direction of the cam.

9. The fluid transport cartridge according to claim 7, wherein

the pressing pins are arranged radially with respect to a rotational center of the cam, and move between the first position and the second position in a radial direction.

10. The fluid transport cartridge according to claim 9, comprising a mounted positioning portion that is shaped as an arc relative to the rotational center and fixes a position of the fluid transport cartridge relative to a fluid transport driving unit that includes the cam.

11. The fluid transport cartridge according to claim 10, wherein

the fluid transport cartridge has a rectangular shape, and

the fluid transport cartridge includes a fixing receiving portion that fixes the fluid transport driving unit to two adjacent edges of the rectangular shape.

12. The fluid transport cartridge according to claim 11, wherein

the two edges are an edge on which an inlet for introducing the fluid into the elastic tube is provided and an edge on which a discharge opening for discharging the fluid from the elastic tube is provided.

13. The fluid transport cartridge according to claim 11, wherein

a hook section that realizes a different fixing function than the fixing receiving portion is included on a flat surface of the rectangular shape.

14. The fluid transport cartridge according to claim 1, comprising, on a side surface of the housing portion housing the drive mechanism, an external packaging member that includes an insertion hole through which is inserted a pressure sensor for measuring pressure of the third elastic tube.