Pumping and pressure detection using flexible tubes
First Claim
1. A peristaltic pump comprising a flexible line carrying fluid to be pumped, cyclical line compression means arranged repeatedly to compress the line, the pump having an input valve upstream of the line compression means and an output valve downstream of the line compression means, pressure sensing means arranged to provide a signal representative of the pressure in the line between the input and output valves, the said signal being supplied to pump monitoring means, and the monitoring means having indicator means arranged to provide a pump status indication;
- characterised in that the pump monitoring means is arranged to monitor the compression pressure, when both the input and the output valves are closed and pressure is applied to the line by the line compression means.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A peristaltic pump unit (18) has a flexible infusate line (28) which is repeatedly compressed by a flat plate like pusher (30). Transverse valve plates (32, 34), on either side of the pusher (30), operate sequentially to close the line in front of and behind the pusher. A resistive pressure sensor (50), between the two valves, provides signals to a microprocessor (46) which provides the system monitoring capabilities. Consistency in dose rate is provided by arranging for the flexible line (28) to be received in an elongate groove or channel (58) which acts to restrain sideways bulging of the line as it is being compressed by the pusher.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A peristaltic pump comprising a flexible line carrying fluid to be pumped, cyclical line compression means arranged repeatedly to compress the line, the pump having an input valve upstream of the line compression means and an output valve downstream of the line compression means, pressure sensing means arranged to provide a signal representative of the pressure in the line between the input and output valves, the said signal being supplied to pump monitoring means, and the monitoring means having indicator means arranged to provide a pump status indication;
- characterised in that the pump monitoring means is arranged to monitor the compression pressure, when both the input and the output valves are closed and pressure is applied to the line by the line compression means.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A drug infusion unit incorporating a peristaltic pump comprising a flexible line carrying fluid to be pumped, cyclical line compression means arranged repeatedly to compress the line, the pump having an input valve upstream of the line compression means and an output valve downstream of the line compression means, pressure sensing means arranged to provide a signal representative of the pressure in the line between the input and output valves, the signal being supplied to pump monitoring means, and the monitoring means having indicator means arranged to provide a pump status indication;
- characterized in that the pump monitor means is arranged to monitor the compression pressure, when both the input and the output valves are closed and pressure is applied to the line by the line compression means.
- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25)
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22. A peristaltic pump including a flexible line carrying fluid to be pumped, line compression means arranged repeatedly to compress the line, an input valve upstream of the line compression means and an output valve downstream of the line compression means;
- the line compression means comprising a member which is arranged to compress the line against a support, the pump including restraining means preventing or restraining the line from bulging in a direction perpendicular to the compression direction.
- View Dependent Claims (23)
- 26. A contamination-in-line detector comprising a line through which in use a fluid flows, pressure means arranged to apply pressure to the fluid within the line between an input valve and an output valve, and pressure sensing means arranged to provide a signal representative of the pressure in the line between the input and output valves, characterised in that the line is flexible and the pressure means applies pressure to the fluid within the flexible line by compressing said line, the pressure sensing means providing the signal when both the valves are closed and pressure is being applied by the pressure means.
Specification