Peristaltic pump latching mechanism

• US 4,735,558 A
• Filed: 04/08/1986
• Issued: 04/05/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Staar Surgical Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: STAAR Surgical Company
• Inventors: Richey, Keith W., Khanessari, Mortaza, Kienholz, Charles M., Bruns, Willis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Croyle, Carlton R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/849,494
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 417/474, 417/475, 417/476, 417/477, 418/45
• US Class Current: 417/477.2
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1284 Means for pushing the backing-plate against the tubular flexible member

Abstract

A spring-loaded latching mechanism for a peristaltic pump that automatically sets and maintains a desired roller head tension. The spring-loaded latching mechanism includes a pair of counter-rotating latching cams positioned on opposite sides of a pump housing. Each latching cam has an indented or slotted portion for engaging a disposable tubing cassette. The disposable tubing cassette includes a length of flexible tubing supported by a circular race or channel. The latching cams are spring-loaded and, when the disposable tubing cassette is inserted into the pump housing, the latching cams urge the disposable cassette with its length of flexible tubing and circular race against a pump roller head to provide the desired roller head tension.

Claims

1. A latching mechanism having locking cams and latching cams for a peristaltic pump that provides a prescribed roller head tension said mechanism comprising in combination:

a disposable tubing cassette having a length of flexible tubing and means for supporting the length of flexible tubing and further including tabs projecting outwardly from the sides of the tubing cassette for engagement by a pair of locking cams and a pair of latching cams;

a pump housing into which the disposable tubing cassette is inserted;

a pump roller head rotatably attached to said pump housing;

a pair of spring-loaded latchhcing cams rotatably attached to the sides of the pump housing for engaging the disposable tubing cassette and urging the length of flexible tubing and means for supporting the disposable tubing cassette against the pump roller head to provide the prescribed roller head tension;

each of said latching cams including an indented portion for engaging the disposable tubing cassette, for unlocking the latching cams when the disposable tubing cassette is first inserted into the pump housing and locking the latching cams when the disposable tubing cassette is removed from the pump housing; and

a pair of locking cams rotatably attached to the sides of said pump housing which along with the pair of springs lock the latching cams when the latching cams are disengaged from the disposable tubing cassette.

2. The latching mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pump roller head includes a plurality of rollers positioned about the circumference of the roller head.

3. The latching mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for supporting the length of flexible tubing includes a circular race.