Plunger assembly for measuring occlusion pressure on a flexible tube
First Claim
1. An assembly for occluding the flow of fluid through a flexible tube, the assembly comprising:
- an anvil positionable nearingly adjacent the flexible tube; and
a plunger assembly movable relative to said anvil comprising;
a plunger sleeve having a first open end;
compression means for selectively contacting and compressing the flexible tube between said compression means and said anvil, the compression means having a contacting portion for contacting the flexible tube and an extending portion, the extending portion being slidably receivable within the plunger sleeve through the first open end of the plunger sleeve;
spring means mounted about the extending portion of the compression means and between the contacting portion of the compression means and the first open end of the plunger sleeve for providing selective movement to the compression means relative to the plunger sleeve; and
sensor means associated with the plunger sleeve and the compression means for translating the displacement of the compression means relative to the plunger sleeve to a measurement of force applied by the compression means to the flexible tube.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plunger assembly for obstructing the flow of fluid through a flexible tube is provided. The assembly comprises a plunger sleeve member having a first open end and a compression mechanism for selectively contacting and compressing the flexible tube. The compression mechanism has a contacting portion for contacting the flexible tube and an extending portion with the extending portion being slidably receivable within the plunger sleeve member through the first open end of the plunger sleeve member. A spring mechanism is mounted about the extending portion of the compression mechanism and between the contacting portion of the compression mechanism and the first open end of the plunger sleeve member for providing selective movement to the compression mechanism relative to the plunger sleeve member. A sensor mechanism associated with the plunger sleeve and the compression mechanism is provided for translating the displacement of the compression means relative to the plunger sleeve to a measurement of force applied by the compression means to the flexible tube.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An assembly for occluding the flow of fluid through a flexible tube, the assembly comprising:
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an anvil positionable nearingly adjacent the flexible tube; and a plunger assembly movable relative to said anvil comprising; a plunger sleeve having a first open end; compression means for selectively contacting and compressing the flexible tube between said compression means and said anvil, the compression means having a contacting portion for contacting the flexible tube and an extending portion, the extending portion being slidably receivable within the plunger sleeve through the first open end of the plunger sleeve; spring means mounted about the extending portion of the compression means and between the contacting portion of the compression means and the first open end of the plunger sleeve for providing selective movement to the compression means relative to the plunger sleeve; and sensor means associated with the plunger sleeve and the compression means for translating the displacement of the compression means relative to the plunger sleeve to a measurement of force applied by the compression means to the flexible tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for occluding a flexible tube to obstruct the flow fluid through the flexible tube, the method comprising:
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providing a plunger assembly and an anvil, the plunger assembly having a plunger sleeve and a plunger tip; providing spring means between the plunger sleeve and the plunger tip positioning the flexible tube between the plunger tip and the anvil mounting spring means between the plunger sleeve and the plunger tip for providing selective movement to the compression means relative to the plunger sleeve member; and moving the plunger sleeve in a direction generally toward the tube causing the plunger tip to simultaneously move in a direction generally toward the tube; and translating the displacement of plunger tip relative to the plunger sleeve into a measurement of force applied by the plunger tip on the flexible tube. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In a plunger assembly for closure of a flexible tube by compression of said flexible tube between the plunger assembly and an anvil, the improvement comprising:
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a plunger sleeve; a tube contacting member slidably receivable within the plunger sleeve; spring means mounted between the plunger sleeve and the tube contacting member for providing selective movement to the tube contacting member relative to the plunger sleeve; and sensor means associated with the plunger sleeve and the tube contacting member for translating the displacement of the compression means relative to the plunger sleeve to a measurement of force applied by the tube contacting member to the flexible tube. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A plunger assembly for occluding the flow of fluid through a flexible tube, the assembly comprising:
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a plunger sleeve having a first open end; compression means for selectively contacting and compressing the flexible tube, the compression means having a contacting portion for contacting the flexible tube and an extending portion, the extending portion being slidably receivable within the plunger sleeve through the first open end of the plunger sleeve; an elastometric washer mounted about the extending portion of the compression means and between the contacting portion of the compression means and the first open end of the plunger sleeve for providing selective movement to the compression means relative to the plunger sleeve; and sensor means associated with the plunger sleeve and the compression means for translating the displacement of the compression means relative to the plunger sleeve to a measurement of force applied by the compression means to the flexible tube;
wherein, said elastometric washer effectively seals the extending portion of the compression means and the sensor means.
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Specification