Fluid flow control system incorporating a disposable pump cartridge
First Claim
1. A fluid flow control system comprising:
- a disposable cartridge including;
a cartridge housing formed from at least two housing sections which are joined together, said housing sections being provided with at least two fluid connection ports and an opening exposing an interior of said cartridge housing;
a pump having associated inlet and outlet ports and at least one movable pump element provided with an attachment member adapted to be interconnected with a drive element for operating said pump, said pump being positioned within said cartridge housing with said attachment member being located at said opening; and
a separating member positioned within said cartridge housing, said separating member defining, at least in part, a plurality of flow passages respectively fluidly interconnected to said at least two fluid connection ports and the inlet and outlet ports of said pump; and
a control module including;
a control housing having a main body portion and a carrier body portion, said carrier body portion defining a cartridge receiving area that is adapted to receive said disposable cartridge;
a drive unit including a drive element adapted to be drivingly connected to the attachment member of said pump following insertion of the disposable cartridge in said cartridge receiving area; and
means for controlling the operation of said drive unit in order to regulate an operation of said pump.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid flow control system includes a disposable cartridge which is receivable in a shifting carrier body portion of a control module. The disposable cartridge houses a disposable pump and a pressure transducer element which are fluidly interconnected by an internal fluid flow circuit formed in part by an elastomeric separating sheet within the cartridge. Following loading of the cartridge, shifting of the carrier body portion automatically results in a drive connection to the pump, the positioning of various flow control valves within the cartridge and the seating of the pressure transducer element to the control module. External flow lines are readily placed in fluid communication with the internal fluid flow circuit through exterior connection ports provided on the cartridge.
166 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A fluid flow control system comprising:
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a disposable cartridge including; a cartridge housing formed from at least two housing sections which are joined together, said housing sections being provided with at least two fluid connection ports and an opening exposing an interior of said cartridge housing; a pump having associated inlet and outlet ports and at least one movable pump element provided with an attachment member adapted to be interconnected with a drive element for operating said pump, said pump being positioned within said cartridge housing with said attachment member being located at said opening; and a separating member positioned within said cartridge housing, said separating member defining, at least in part, a plurality of flow passages respectively fluidly interconnected to said at least two fluid connection ports and the inlet and outlet ports of said pump; and a control module including; a control housing having a main body portion and a carrier body portion, said carrier body portion defining a cartridge receiving area that is adapted to receive said disposable cartridge; a drive unit including a drive element adapted to be drivingly connected to the attachment member of said pump following insertion of the disposable cartridge in said cartridge receiving area; and means for controlling the operation of said drive unit in order to regulate an operation of said pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A disposable cartridge for use in a fluid flow control system comprising:
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a cartridge housing formed from at least two housing sections which are joined together, said housing sections being provided with at least two fluid connection ports and an opening exposing an interior of said cartridge housing; a pump having associated inlet and outlet ports and at least one movable pump element provided with an attachment member adapted to be interconnected with a drive element for operating said pump, said pump being positioned within said cartridge housing with said attachment member being located at said opening; and a separating member positioned within said cartridge housing, said separating member defining, at least in part, a plurality of flow passages respectively fluidly interconnected to said at least two fluid connection ports and the inlet and outlet ports of said pump. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A fluid flow control system comprising:
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a disposable cartridge including; a cartridge housing formed from at least two housing sections which are joined together, said housing sections being provided with at least two fluid connection ports, an internal fluid flow passage circuit fluidly connected to the connection ports and an opening exposing an interior of said cartridge housing; and a miniature scroll fluid device formed of plastic, said scroll fluid device having associated inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with said internal fluid flow passage circuit and at least one movable work element provided with an attachment member adapted to be interconnected with a drive element for operating said scroll fluid device, said scroll fluid device being positioned within said cartridge housing with said attachment member being located at said opening; and a control module including; a control housing having a main body portion and a carrier body portion, said carrier body portion defining a cartridge receiving area that is adapted to receive said disposable cartridge; a drive unit including a drive element adapted to be drivingly connected to the attachment member of said scroll fluid device following insertion of the disposable cartridge in said cartridge receiving area; and means for controlling the operation of said drive unit in order to regulate an operation of said scroll fluid device. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A disposable cartridge for use in a fluid flow control system comprising:
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a cartridge housing formed from at least two housing sections which are joined together, said housing sections being provided with at least two fluid connection ports, an internal fluid flow passage circuit fluidly connected to the connection ports and an opening exposing an interior of said cartridge housing; and a miniature scroll fluid device formed of plastic, said scroll fluid device having associated inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with said internal fluid flow passage circuit and at least one movable work element provided with an attachment member adapted to be interconnected with a drive element for operating said scroll fluid device, said scroll fluid device being positioned within said cartridge housing with said attachment member being located at said opening. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of establishing a fluid flow control system comprising:
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inserting a cartridge, containing a pump and defining a plurality of fluid flow passages therein, into a carrier body portion of a control module; and shifting the carrier body portion towards a main body portion of the control module to enable a driveshaft, supported by the main body portion, to be drivingly connected to the pump. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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Specification