Peristaltic infusion pump and disposable cassette for use therewith

• US 4,537,561 A
• Filed: 02/24/1983
• Issued: 08/27/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medical Technology Limited A Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Medical Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Xanthopoulos, Piritheos E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Croyle, Carlton R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olds, T.
• Application Number:
  US06/469,421
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 604/153, 128/DIG. 12, 417/474-478, 418/45
• US Class Current: 417/63
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/365 Air detectors A61M5/1684 takes precedence; in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3626
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1215 having no backing plate (deforming of the tube only by rollers)
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/12 Pressure infusion

Abstract

An improved peristaltic infusion pump and disposable cassette for use therewith. The cassette includes a hollow conduit arrangement with a section of elastic tubing and adapted to pass intravenous fluids therethrough. The conduit is fixedly mounted in a rigid cassette wherein an intermediate section of the elastic tubing is free to move in a direction perpendicular to the base of the cassette. The infusion pump includes a pump cassette housing designed to properly align and support the cassette and encloses a pump rotor assembly designed to interface with the elastic tube of the cassette so as to generate a peristaltic force in the hollow conduit arrangement.

Claims

1. A peristaltic pump assembly, comprising:

a pump arrangement including a pump cassette housing having portions defining a vertical cassette aperture located adjacent a pump housing enclosing a pump mechanism, said pump cassette housing having means for supporting and aligning a disposable cassette in an operative position relative to said pump mechanism, said pump mechanism having securing means for securing said disposable cassette within said pump cassette housing and a locking mechanism to securely support and retain said cassette in an operative position relative to said securing means while said cassette is positioned in said pump cassette housing, said locking mechanism including a plurality of locking arms and hooks with each arm articulating about a pivot shaft connecting said pump cassette housing with each locking arm and one of said locking hooks located on each locking arm to physically restrain said cassette in its operative position relative to said pump mechanism, and means located in said pump cassette housing for cooperating with said cassette in a predetermined manner for peristaltically pumping fluid;

said cassette having a hollow conduit arrangement including a predetermined length of elastic tubing and first and second connectors with opposite end portions of said tubing being joined to said first and second connectors forming leak-proof junctions with said tubing such that fluid may be pumped through said hollow conduit arrangment;

said cassette further including a single piece cartridge structure of dimensions for fitting in said cassette aperture and being supported by said pump cassette housing having a first means for removably mounting an end portion of said first connector and a second means for removably mounting an end portion of said second connector to permit removal aand replacement of said connectors without dismantling said cartridge, and said tubing being tautly suspended and accessible to said pump mechanism along a portion of the base of said cartridge structure so that said tube is longitudinally elongated in a predetermined manner when fitted in the pump cassette housing;

said cassette including a U-shaped pump shaft opening symetrically positioned along at least one side of said cartridge to expose a predetermined length of said elastic tubing;

said U-shaped pump shaft opening located in an off-center position in the wall of said cartridge structure to expose a predetermined section of said tubing;

wherein said operative position of the cassette causes said tube to be longitudinally elongated about the pump rotor rollers so that peristaltic pumping can be accomplished on said tube, and said elongated tube creates a spring-like tension on said cassette cartridge such that said cassette cartridge is forced out of the pump cassette housing if not restrained.

2. A peristaltic pump according to claim 1 wherein,

said pump mechanism includes microprocessor means for monitoring the index of refraction of fluid passing through said hollow conduit arrangement for monitoring fluid flow through said hollow conduit arrangement and for providing control signals to said pump mechanism responsive to said monitor signals;

and

said cartridge structure is a rigid asymmetrical structure with first and second end portions connected to an intermediate raised section with a first angular structural support buttress located between said first end portion and said intermediate section and a second angular structural support buttress located between said second end portion and said raised intermediate section.

3. A peristaltic pump assembly, comprising:

a pump arrangement including a pump cassette housing having portions defining a vertical cassette aperture located adjacent a pump housing enclosing a pump mechanism, said pump cassette housing having means for supporting and aligning a disposable cassette in an operative position relative to said pump mechanism, said pump mechanism having securing means for securing said disposable cassette within said pump cassette housing and a locking mechanism to securely support and retain said cassette in an operative position relative to said securing means while said cassette is positioned in said pump cassette housing, said locking mechanism including a plurality of locking arms and hooks with each arm articulating about a pivot shaft connecting said pump cassette housing with each locking arm and one of said locking hooks located on each locking arm to physically restrain said cassette in its operative position relative to said pump mechanism, and means located in said pump cassette housing for cooperating with said cassette in a predetermined manner for peristaltically pumping fluid;

said cassette having a hollow conduit arrangement including a predetermined length of elastic tubing and first and second connectors with opposite end portions of said tubing being joined to said first and second connectors forming leak-proof junctions with said tubing such that fluid may be pumped through said hollow conduit arrangement;

said cassette further including a single piece cartridge structure of dimensions for fitting in said cassette aperture and being supported by said pump cassette housing having a first means for removably mounting an end portion of said first connector and a second means for removably mounting and end portion of said second connector to permit removal and replacement of said connectors without dismantling said cartridge, and said tubing being tautly suspended and accessible to said pump mechanism along a portion of the base of said cartridge structure so that said tube is longitudinally elongated in a predetermined manner when fitted in the pump cassette housing;

said cassette including a U-shaped pump shaft opening symmetrically positioned along at least one side of said cartridge to expose a predetermined length of said eleastic tubing;

said U-shaped pump shaft opening located in a horizontally off-center position in the wall of said cartridge structure to expose a predetermined section of said tubing;

wherein said operative position of the cassette causes said tube to be longitudinally elongated about the pump rotor rollers so that peristaltic pumping can be accomplished on said tube, and said elongated tube creates a spring-like tension on said cassette cartridge such that said cassette cartridge is forced out of the pump cassette housing if not restrained.

4. A peristaltic pump assembly, comprising:

a pump arrangement including a pump cassette housing having portions defining a vertical cassette aperture located adjacent a pump housing enclosing a pump mechanism, said pump cassette housing having means for supporting and aligning a disposable cassette in an operative position relative to said pump mechanism, said pump mechanism having means for securing said disposable cassette within said pump cassette housing, and means located in said pump cassette housing for cooperating with said cassette in a predetermined manner for peristaltically pumping fluid;

said cassette having a hollow conduit arrangement including a predetermined length of elastic tubing and first and second connectors with opposite end portions of said tubing being joined to said first and second connectors forming leak-proof junctions with said tubing such that fluid may be pumped through said hollow conduit arrangement;

said cassette further including a single piece cartridge structure of dimensions for fitting in said cassette aperture and beng supported by said pump cassette housing having a first means for removably mounting an end portion of said first connector and a second means for removably mounting an end portion of said second connector to permit removal and replacement of said connectors without dismantling said cartridge, and said tubing being tautly suspended and accessible to said pump mechanism along a portion of the base of said cartridge structure so that said tube is longitudinally elongated in a predetermined manner when fitted in the pump cassette housing;

said cartridge structure further including a rigid assymetric structure having first and second end portions connected by an intermediate raised section with a first angular structural support buttress located between said first end portion and said intermediate raised section and a second angular structual support buttress located between said second end portion and said raised intermediate section, and U-shaped pump shaft openings symmetrically located in a horizontally off-center position along each wall of said cartridge structure to expose a predetermined length of said plastic tube and means for exposing a portion of the sides and base of said second connector;

said pump mechanism further including a pump rotor assembly for generating the peristaltic pressure in said cassette, said pump rotor assembly including a pump rotor plate having a coaxial pump rotor shaft opening and a plurality of disk-shaped rollers mounted on said plate, said rollers being mounted in pairs with one on each side of said plate and each pair of rollers being equally spaced about said pump plate axis at a predetermined radius whereby said rollers laterally extend past said plate so that any structure contacting said rollers does not interfere with said pump rotor plate; and

said means for suspending said tubing includes means for allowing said tube to move in a perpendicular direction relative to said cassette;

said pump mechanism further including a locking mechansim to securely support and retain said cassette in its operative position while said cassette is in said pump cassette housing, said locking mechanism having a plurality of locking arms and hooks, each of said arms articulating about a pivot shaft connecting said pump cassette housing to each locking arm and one of said locking hooks, located on each said locking arm to physically retain said cassette in its operative position relative to said pump mechanism, and said pump mechanism also includes a microprocessor means for monitoring the index of refraction of fluid passing through the hollow conduit arrangement and for providing control signals to said pump mechanism responsive to said monitor signals, said pump housing also includes means for storing an auxilliary battery, said battery being connected to said pump mechanism to power said pump mechanism when a main power supply is unavailable; and

said pump cassette housing including a front panel supporting an OCCLUSION indicator, an AIR indicator, a LOW BATTERY indicator, an ON BATTERY indicator, an ENTER VOLUME indicator, a RATE TO 100 indicator, an ENTER RATE indicator, a REDUCE RATE indicator, a VOLUME switch, a RATE switch, an ON/RESET switch and an EJECT switch.

5. An improved peristaltic pump assembly, comprising:

a pump arrangement including a pump cassette housing located aside a pump housing enclosing a pump mechanism comprising a pump rotor assembly for generating peristaltic pressure in said cassette, said pump rotor assembly having a pump rotor plate with a coaxial pump rotor shaft opening and a plurality of disk-shaped rollers mounted on said plate, said rollers being mounted in pairs with one on each side of said plate and each pair of rollers being equally spaced about said pump plate axis at a predetermined radius whereby said rollers laterally extend past said plate so that any structure contacting said rollers does not interfere with said pump rotor plate; and

said means for suspending said tubing includes means for allowing said tube to move in a perpendicular direction relative to said cassette base, said pump cassette housing having means for supporting and aligning a disposable cassette in an operative position relative to said pump mechanism, said pump mechanism having means for securing said disposable cassette within said pump cassette housing, means located in said pump cassette housing for cooperating with said cassette in a predetermined manner for peristaltically pumping fluid;

said cassette having a hollow conduit arrangement including a predetermined length of elastic tubing and first and second connectors with opposite end portions of said tubing being joined to said first and second connectors and forming leak-proof junctions with said tubing such that fluid may be pumped through said hollow conduit arrangement;

said cassette further including a cartridge structure of dimensions for fitting in and being supported by said pump cassette housing and having a first means for mounting an end portion of said first connector and a second means for mounting an end portion of said first connector and a second means for mounting an end portion of said second connector with said tubing being tautly suspended and accessible to said pump mechanism along a portion of the base of said cartridge structure;

said pump cassette housing including a front panel supporting an OCCLUSION indicator, an AIR indicator, a LOW BATTERY indicator, an ON BATTERY indicator, an ENTER VOLUME indicator, a RATE TO 100 indicator, an ENTER RATE indicator, a REDUCE RATE indicator, a VOLUME switch, a RATE switch, an ON/RESET switch and and EJECT switch;

said pump mechanism including a locking mechanism to securely support and retain said cassette in its operative position while said cassette is in said pump cassette housing, said locking mechanism having a plurality of locking arms and hooks, each of said arms articulating about a pivot shaft connecting said pump cassette housing to each locking arm and one of said locking hooks located on each said locking arm to physically retain said cassette in its operative position relative to said pump mechanism, and said pump mechanism also includes a microprocessor means for monitoring the index of refraction of fluid passing through the hollow conduit arrangement and for providing control signals to said pump mechanism responsive to said monitor signals, said pump housing also includes means for storing an auxilliary battery, said battery being connected to said pump mechanism to power said pump mechanism when a main power supply is unavailable; and

said cartridge structure including a rigid assymetric structure having first and second end portions connected by an intermediate raised section with a first angular structural support buttress located between said first end portion and said intermediate raised section and a second angular structural support buttress located between said second end portion and said raised section and a second angular structural support buttress located between said second end portion and said raised intermediate section, and U-shaped pump shaft openings symmetrically located in a horizontally off-center position along each wall of said cartridge structure to expose a predetermined length of said plastic tube and means for exposing a portion of the sides and base of said second connector.