Temperature compensation system for regulating flow through tubing in a pump

• US 6,503,221 B1
• Filed: 06/12/1997
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Briggs, Kenneth D., Pryce, Dean C., Sampson, Russel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, CRIS LOIREN
• Application Number:
  US08/873,471
• Time in Patent Office: 2,035 Days
• Field of Search: 604/65-67, 604/151, 604/131, 604/156, 604/32, 604/34, 604/30, 128/DIG.12, 417/19, 417/20, 417/32, 417/18, 417/14, 738/610.5, 738/610.6, 732/042.3, 732/025, 374/132-135, 374/163, 374/165, 374/166
• US Class Current: 604/67
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/09 Flow through the pump
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/08 having tubular flexible members F04B43/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/20 by changing the driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0676 by action on flow sources G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence

Abstract

A peristaltic pump is provided with a housing, a pump head in the housing, and a receiving path defined along a housing and pump head for receiving tubing. Two spaced-apart temperature sensors are provided. One temperature sensor is located adjacent the tubing in a heat conduction path along which heat flows between the sensor and the tubing. The other sensor is located outside of the heat conduction path for sensing ambient temperature. The pump operating speed is adjusted as a function of the sensed temperatures. This accommodates the temperature-dependent rate of recovery of the tubing from its peristaltically deformed configuration to its original configuration.

Claims

1. A peristaltic pump adapted to receive a tube, the pump comprising:

a first temperature sensor constructed to be positioned adjacent a portion of a tube disposed within said peristaltic pump, said first temperature sensor constructed to detect a temperature of a tube disposed within said peristaltic pump; and

a second temperature sensor constructed to detect an ambient temperature inside said peristaltic pump, said second temperature sensor positioned at a location thermally isolated from a tube disposed within said peristaltic pump.

2. The pump of claim 1 further including a system for adjusting an operating speed of said peristaltic pump as a function of said temperature of a tube disposed within said peristaltic pump and said ambient temperature.

3. The pump of claim 1 further including an electrical insulator disposed adjacent said first temperature sensor, whereby when a tube is disposed within said peristaltic pump, said electrical insulator is positioned between said first temperature sensor and a tube disposed within said peristaltic pump.

4. A peristaltic pumping system comprising a tube constructed to be peristaltically deformed to cause a fluid within said tube to flow therethrough, a first temperature sensor positioned adjacent said tube for sensing a temperature of said tube, an electrical insulator positioned between said first temperature sensor and said tube, a peristaltic pump head constructed to peristaltically deform said tube, and a second temperature sensor constructed to detect an ambient temperature within said pumping system, said second temperature sensor being thermally isolated from said tube.

5. The pump of claim 4 further including a system for controlling speed of operation of said peristaltic pump head as a function of said temperature of a fluid flowing through said tube and said ambient temperature.