Methods and systems for pulsed delivery of fluids from a pump

• US 6,604,908 B1
• Filed: 07/20/1999
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Bryant, Robert J., Spencer, Geoff P., Gray, Lawrence B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Freay, Charles G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Solak, Timothy P.
• Application Number:
  US09/357,646
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 417/383, 417/392, 417/395, 417/313, 417/20, 417/26, 417/27, 417/38, 604/153, 604/151, 604/131, 604/246, 604/30, 604/403, 604/406, 604/407, 92/79, 92/78.R, 92/96
• US Class Current: 417/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36225 with blood pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362261 at least one cassette surface or portion thereof being flexible, e.g. the cassette having a rigid base portion with preformed channels and being covered with a foil
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362264 the filter being a blood filter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362265 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362266 Means for adding solutions or substances to the blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/367 Circuit parts not covered by the preceding subgroups of group A61M1/3621
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3696 with means for adding or withdrawing liquid substances during the centrifugation, e.g. continuous centrifugation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/053 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 with incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/125 with incorporated filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3396 Reservoirs being alternately filled and emptied for measuring flow rate or delivered volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/22 Valves or arrangement of valves A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/281 Automatic tube cut-off devices, e.g. squeezing tube on detection of air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14224 Diaphragm type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14593 : the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16809 : by repeated filling and emptying of an intermediate volume pressure infusion using positive displacement pumps A61M5/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 : by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16859 : Evaluation of pressure response, e.g. to an applied pulse
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/365 : Air detectors A61M5/1684 takes precedence; in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3626
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/109 : incorporated within extracorporeal blood circuits or systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/113 : in other functional devices, e.g. dialysers or heart-lung machines
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/43 : using vacuum at the blood pump, e.g. to accelerate filling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/546 : of blood flow, e.g. by adapting rotor speed
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/847 : arranged in a cassette
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/851 : Valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/892 : Active valves, i.e. actuated by an external force
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/894 : Passive valves, i.e. valves actuated by the blood
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 13/00 : Pumps specially modified to deliver fixed or variable measured quantities
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/0081 : systems, control, safety measures
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/067 : the fluid being actuated directly by a piston
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/073 : the actuating fluid being controlled by at least one valve
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/107 : the fluid being actuated directly by a piston
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/113 : the actuating fluid being controlled by at least one valve
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 : and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/24 : Bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/06 : Venting

Abstract

A system is disclosed for pumping fluids at desired average flow rates by applying a predetermined force to a pump chamber and pulsing an outlet valve of the pump chamber to deliver a fluid therefrom. In some embodiments, pump chambers are provided within removable pumping cartridges that are constructed and configured to be coupled to a reusable pump drive component. In other embodiments, the pumping cartridges include multiple pump chambers, which pump chambers are operated so that a pump flow rate of one pump chamber is a predetermined fraction of the pump flow rate of another pump chamber within the pumping cartridge.

Claims

1. A fluid metering system comprising:

a reusable component constructed and arranged for operative association with a removable pumping cartridge by coupling to said pumping cartridge, said pumping cartridge including at least one pump chamber having an outlet line having an outlet valve portion therein, said outlet valve portion having a structure different form a structure of at least one other portion of the outlet line; and

a processor configured to control pulsing of said valve portion, a plurality of times while maintaining a force applied to the pump chamber during a pump cycle, to achieve a desired flow rate.

2. The fluid metering system of claim 1, wherein the removable pumping cartridge is disposable and supplied for a single use.

3. The fluid metering system of claim 1, wherein the pumping cartridge includes at least one wall at least partially formed of a flexible membrane.

4. The fluid metering system of claim 3, wherein said flexible membrane comprises an elastic membrane.

5. The fluid metering system of claim 3, wherein the reusable component includes an interface constructed and arranged for creating a fluid-tight seal with the pumping cartridge upon coupling.

6. The fluid metering system of claim 5, wherein the interface includes a depression in contact with and adjacent to the wall of the pump chamber at least partially formed of a flexible membrane when the pumping cartridge is coupled to the reusable component, said depression forming a control chamber in contact with and adjacent to the pump chamber.

7. The fluid metering system of claim 6, wherein the reusable component includes a fluid supply system in fluid communication with the control chamber, the fluid supply system being constructed and arranged to pressurize the control chamber thereby applying a force to the flexible membrane.

8. The fluid metering system of claim 1, wherein the pump chamber further includes an inlet line having and inlet valve therein.

9. The fluid metering system of claim 8, wherein the reusable component further comprises at a first valve actuator constructed and positioned to open and closing the outlet valve and a second valve actuator constructed and positioned for opening and closing the inlet valve.

10. The fluid metering system of claim 9, wherein the reusable component further comprises a force applicator constructed and arranged to apply a force to a surface of the pump chamber.

11. The fluid metering system of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to control operation of the first valve actuator, the second valve actuator, and the force applicator constructed and arranged to apply a force to a surface of the pump chamber.

12. The fluid metering system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to:

actuate the first valve actuator to close the outlet valve;

actuate the second valve actuator to open the inlet valve;

actuate the force applicator to apply a force to the pump chamber, which force tending to increase an internal volume of the pump chamber thereby at least partially filling the pump chamber with a liquid;

actuate the second valve actuator to close the inlet valve, thereby isolating the pump chamber;

actuate the force applicator to apply a force to the pump chamber, which force tending to decrease the internal volume of the pump chamber; and

actuate the first valve actuator to open, for predetermined time periods, and then close the outlet valve, the actuation occurring at predetermined intervals, said predetermined time periods and predetermined intervals selected by the processor to deliver a liquid from the pump chamber at a desired average flow rate.

13. The fluid metering system of claim 1, wherein the processor is contained within the reusable component.

14. The fluid metering system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine a volume of liquid delivered by the pump chamber.

15. A fluid metering system comprising:

a reusable component constructed and arranged for operative association with a removable pumping cartridge by coupling to said pumping cartridge, said pumping cartridge including at least one pump chamber having an outlet line having an outlet valve therein; and

a processor configured to control pulsing of said valve, a plurality of times during a pump cycle, to achieve a desired flow rate, wherein

the pumping cartridge includes at least a first pump chamber and a second pump chamber and wherein the processor is configured to independently control a flow rate of a liquid pumped with said first pump chamber and a flow rate of a liquid pumped with said second pump chamber, such that the flow rate of a liquid pumped with said second pump chamber is a predetermined fraction of the flow rate of a liquid pumped with said first pump chamber.

16. A fluid metering system comprising:

a reusable component constructed and arranged for operative association with a removable pumping cartridge, said pumping cartridge including at least one pump chamber having an inlet line having a first valve therein and an outlet line having a second valve therein, said pump chamber being at least partially formed from a movable surface;

valve actuating means for operating the first valve and the second valve;

pump chamber actuating means for applying a force to said movable surface; and

control means for controlling said valve actuating means and said pump chamber actuating means to deliver a fluid at a desired flow rate from the pump chamber by closing said first valve, applying a force to the movable surface, and pulsing said second valve, by opening and closing said second valve a plurality of times without refilling said pump chamber.