Low power portable resuscitation pump

• US 5,577,891 A
• Filed: 10/14/1994
• Issued: 11/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Instech Laboratories, Inc.
• Inventors: Cook, Kenneth P., Loughnane, Michael H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thorpe, Timothy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Korytnyk, Peter G.
• Application Number:
  US08/322,483
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 417/411, 417/53, 417/412, 417/474, 417/475, 417/360, 417/477.3, 417/477.5, 417/477.2, 417/478, 604/153
• US Class Current: 417/53
• 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

Abstract

A pump and a method for pumping liquid or fluid through a pair of resilient tubes includes a pushing mechanism which partially compresses the tubes in a balanced, alternating, rocking manner. The resilient tubes are held in a parallel relationship. The pushing mechanism alternately compresses the tubes. As one of the two parallel tubes is compressed, fluid is pumped out of the tube and at the same time fluid is drawn into the second tube as the latter tube resumes its original shape. The resilience of both tubes also is used to assist the pumping action in a balanced fashion, thereby providing a pump that has low power consumption and is lightweight.

Claims

1. A method for pumping a fluid through a first resilient tube and a second resilient tube each having original shapes and held in a substantially parallel relationship, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) arranging a pushing mechanism having first and second pushing surfaces adjacent said first and second resilient tubes and with respect to a pivot point such that said first and second pushing surfaces contact said first and second resilient tubes, respectively, and rock in opposite directions;

(b) rocking said pushing mechanism such that the first pushing surface partially compresses said first resilient tube;

(c) discharging a first portion of said fluid from an output end of said first resilient tube as said rocking step (b) partially compresses said first resilient tube;

(d) rocking said pushing mechanism such that said second pushing surface partially compresses said second resilient tube while simultaneously allowing said first resilient tube to resume its said original shape;

(e) discharging a second portion of said fluid from an output end of said second resilient tube as said rocking step (d) partially compresses said second resilient tube; and

(f) introducing a third portion of said fluid into said first resilient tube as said first resilient tube resumes its said original shape.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said rocking step (b) and said rocking step (d) further comprise the steps of:

rotating a shaft having an eccentric on one end, about a rotation axis; and

engaging said pushing mechanism with said eccentric such that rotational energy of said shaft is converted into a rocking motion to rock the pushing mechanism.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said fluid includes biological cells and wherein said discharging step (c), said discharging step (e), and said introducing step (f), further comprise the steps of discharging a first portion of said fluid under low pressure, discharging a second portion of said fluid under low pressure, and introducing a third portion of said fluid under low pressure, respectively, so that damage to said biological cells is minimized.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said rocking step (b) and said rocking step (d) further comprise the step of utilizing a force exerted by fluid within a compressed tube to urge the pushing mechanism in a direction away from said compressed tube.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said rocking step (b) and said rocking step (d) further comprise the step of utilizing a force exerted by the resiliency of a compressed tube to urge the pushing mechanism in a direction away from said compressed tube.

12. A pump as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and said second input valves and said first and said second output valves comprise check valves.

13. A pump as recited in claim 5, wherein said check valves are umbrella check valves.

6. A pump for pumping a fluid, said pump comprising:

a removable cartridge including a first resilient tube and a second resilient tube each having an original shape;

means adapted to receive said removable cartridge for compressing said first resilient tube into a compressed tube;

means for reciprocating potential energy that is stored in said first resilient tube when said first resilient tube is compressed, to rock said compressing means as said first resilient tube resumes its said original shape wherein reciprocated potential energy aids said compressing means in a subsequent compression of said second resilient tube; and

means for discharging a first portion of said fluid from a first end of said first resilient tube as said compressing means compresses said first resilient tube and for introducing a second portion of said fluid to an opposite end of said first resilient tube as said first resilient tube resumes its said original shape.

7. A pump as recited in claim 6, wherein all parts of the pump which contact the fluid are located in the removable cartridge.

8. A pump as recited in claim 7, wherein said removable cartridge is adapted for a one-time use.

9. A pump for pumping a fluid comprising:

a first resilient tube and a second resilient tube each having original shapes;

means for holding said first resilient tube and said second resilient tube in a substantially parallel relationship to each other;

a pushing mechanism having first and second pushing surfaces which are positioned adjacent said first resilient tube and said second resilient tube, respectively, and which are aliqned with respect to a pivot point to rock in opposite directions;

driving means for rocking said pushing mechanism between a first and second position, said first pushing surface of said pushing mechanism partially compressing said first resilient tube when moved to said first position and said second pushing surface partially compressing said second resilient tube when moved to said second position;

a first input valve connected to one end of said first resilient tube and a first output valve connected to an opposite end of said first resilient tube; and

a second input valve connected to one end of said second resilient tube and a second output valve connected to an opposite end of said second resilient tube, wherein a first portion of said fluid is pumped out of said first resilient tube through said first output valve as said first pushing surface compresses said first resilient tube while a second portion of said fluid is drawn into said second resilient tube through said second input valve as said second resilient tube resumes its said original shape.

10. A pump as recited in claim 9, wherein said driving means comprises a high efficiency electric motor.

11. A pump as recited in claim 10, wherein said electric motor is powered by a battery power source.

14. A pump for pumping a fluid comprising:

a first resilient tube and a second resilient tube each having original shapes;

means for holding said first resilient tube and said second resilient tube in a substantially parallel relationship to each other;

a pushing mechanism having first and second pushing surfaces positioned adjacent said first resilient tube and said second resilient tube, respectively;

a high efficiency electric motor for rocking said pushing mechanism between a first and second position, said first pushing surface of said pushing mechanism partially compressing said first resilient tube when moved to said first position and said second pushing surface partially compressing said second resilient tube when moved to said second position;

a first input valve connected to one end of said first resilient tube and a first output valve connected to an opposite end of said first resilient tube;

a second input valve connected to one end of said second resilient tube and a second output valve connected to an opposite end of said second resilient tube, wherein a first portion of said fluid is pumped out of said first resilient tube through said first output valve as said first pushing surface compresses said first resilient tube while a second portion of said fluid is drawn into said second resilient tube through said second input valve as said second resilient tube resumes its said original shape;

.

a rotating shaft extending from said electric motor; and

an eccentric means on an end of said rotating shaft for engaging said pushing mechanism and converting rotational motion of said rotating shaft into a rocking motion to rock said pushing mechanism.