Implantable drug infusion device with peristaltic pump using tube guides

• US 6,626,867 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lüedi, Manfred K., Haase, James M., Christenson, Steven R., Robinson, Reginald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Han, Mark K.
• Application Number:
  US09/561,154
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 604/288.04, 604/93.01, 604/95.01, 604/131, 604/132, 604/134, 604/151, 604/153, 604/890.1, 604/891.1, 417/477.1, 417/477.3, 417/477.5, 417/477.7, 417/477.8, 417/474, 417/476
• US Class Current: 604/153
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0266 Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1253 by using two or more rollers as squeezing elements, the rollers moving on an arc of a circle during squeezing

Abstract

An implantable drug infusion device includes a pump tube for holding a liquid to be pumped. A race is configured to support the tube. A roller assembly is configured to compress the tube against the race at one or more points along the path, and the roller assembly includes at least one roller. A tube guide is operably connected to the roller assembly to align the pump tube with respect to a corresponding roller.

Claims

1. an implantable drug infusion device comprising, in combination:

a pump tube for holding a liquid to be pumped;

a race configured to support the tube along a path;

a roller assembly configured to compress the tube against the race at one or more points along the path, the roller assembly including at least two rollers;

at least one tube guide extending from the roller assembly and from a position immediately adjacent one of the rollers to a position immediately adjacent another of the rollers to align the pump tube with respect to the corresponding rollers.

2. The implantable drug infusion device of claim 1, wherein each tube guide comprises an upper blade and a lower blade.

3. The implantable drug infusion device of claim 2, wherein a portion of the upper blade is inclined downwardly, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the pump tube, toward a trailing edge of the upper blade.

4. The implantable drug infusion device of claim 2, wherein a portion of the lower blade is inclined upwardly, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the pump tube, toward a trailing edge of the lower blade.

5. The implantable drug infusion device of claim 1, wherein the roller assembly comprises at least one trailing arm pivotally connected to the roller assembly, each trailing arm having a roller pivotally secured thereto and a tube guide to align the pump tube with respect to the roller.

6. The implantable drug infusion device of claim 5, wherein the roller assembly comprises three trailing arms.

7. The implantable drug infusion device of claim 5, wherein the roller assembly includes a hub comprising an upper plate, a center plate, and a lower plate, the upper and lower plates each including at least one hooked member, and each trailing arm includes a pivot pin, wherein each hooked member captures a pivot pin of a corresponding trailing arm.

8. The implantable drug infusion device of claim 5, wherein each tube guide comprises an upper blade and a lower blade.

9. An implantable drug infusion device comprising, in combination:

a bulkhead having a race;

a pump tube having an inlet and an outlet and being positioned within the race;

a roller assembly configured to compress the tube against the race at at least one point along the path, the roller assembly including at least two rollers;

a drive assembly to drive the roller assembly relative to the tube along the path so as to move a liquid through the tube; and

at least one tube guide extending from the roller assembly and from a position immediately adjacent one of the rollers to a position immediately adjacent another of the rollers to align the pump tube with respect to the corresponding rollers.

10. The implantable drug infusion device of claim 9, wherein each tube guide comprises an upper blade and a lower blade.

11. The implantable drug infusion device of claim 10, wherein a portion of the upper blade is inclined downwardly, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the pump tube, toward a trailing edge of the upper blade.

12. The implantable drug infusion device of claim 10, wherein a portion of the lower blade is inclined upwardly, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the pump tube, toward a trailing edge of the lower blade.

13. The implantable drug infusion device of claim 9, wherein the roller assembly comprises at least one trailing arm pivotally connected to the roller assembly, each trailing arm having a roller pivotally secured thereto and a tube guide to align the pump tube with respect to the roller.

14. The implantable drug infusion device of claim 13, wherein each tube guide comprises an upper blade and a lower blade.

15. An implantable drug infusion device comprising, in combination:

a bulkhead having a race, a first chamber, and a second chamber;

a pump tube having an inlet and an outlet and being positioned within the race;

a motor assembly positioned within the first chamber; and

a pumphead assembly positioned within the second chamber, the motor assembly driving the pumphead assembly, the pumphead assembly comprising

a roller assembly having a hub, three trailing arms, each trailing arm having a roller and being pivotally connected to the hub;

a drive assembly to drive the roller assembly relative to the tube along the path so the rollers compress the tube to move a liquid through the tube; and

a tube guide extending from each trailing arm and from a position immediately adjacent one of the rollers to a position immediately adjacent another of the rollers to align the pump tube with respect to the corresponding rollers.

16. The implantable drug infusion device of claim 15, wherein each tube guide comprises an upper blade and a lower blade.

17. The implantable drug infusion device of claim 16, wherein a portion of the upper blade is inclined downwardly, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the pump tube, toward a trailing edge of the upper blade.

18. The implantable drug infusion device of claim 16, wherein a portion of the lower blade is inclined upwardly, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the pump tube, toward a trailing edge of the lower blade.