Pump cassette bank

• US 7,632,078 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2003
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Demers, Jason A., Gray, Larry B., McGill, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer; Devon C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weinstein; Leonard J
• Application Number:
  US10/696,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20050095153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,238 Days
• Field of Search: 417/477.2, 417/3, 417/433, 417/427, 417/477.1, 222/255, 137/3, 137/565.29, 137/896, 604/151, 604/153
• US Class Current: 417/477.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0088 Liquid substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/0213 with isolated sections of the tube used as additive reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/0272 Apparatus for treatment of blood or blood constituents prior to or for conservation, e.g. freezing, drying or centrifuging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/0281 Apparatus for treatment of blood or blood constituents prior to transfusion, e.g. washing, filtering or thawing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36225 with blood pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3687 Chemical treatment A61M1/3675 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/125 with incorporated filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/451 by injecting one liquid into another
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/49 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/105 Mixing heads, i.e. compact mixing units or modules, using mixing valves for feeding and mixing at least two components
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/60 Pump mixers, i.e. mixing within a pump
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/81 Combinations of similar mixers, e.g. with rotary stirring devices in two or more receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/811 in two or more consecutive, i.e. successive, mixing receptacles or being consecutively arranged
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/711 for feeding a mixture of components, i.e. solids in liquid, solids in a gas stream
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/715 Feeding the components in several steps, e.g. successive steps
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/8823 using diaphragms or bellows
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 13/02 of two or more fluids at the same time
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/02 having reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/06 the pumps being all of reciprocating positive-displacement type
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/0009 : Special features
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/06 : Pumps having fluid drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/22 : by means of valves F04B49/03 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/06 : Venting
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/16 : Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/22 : Arrangements for enabling ready assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/132 : by controlling the flow of the individual components G05D11/133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/30 : Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0329 : Mixing of plural fluids of diverse characteristics or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0352 : Controlled by pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86131 : Plural
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87652 : With means to promote mixing or combining of plural fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53 : Means to assemble or disassemble
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0911 : Hooked end
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/212 : With expanding or contracting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/438 : Spring-arm catch

Abstract

A plurality of pump cassettes are connected through distribution tubing to a single inlet tube such that the inlet tube is shared by the pump cassettes through the distribution tubing. The plurality of pump cassettes may be symmetrically attached to the distribution tubing. A four-port coupling may be inserted in the distribution tubing for making connection to the inlet tube and a middle one of the pump cassettes when the number of cassettes is an odd number.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in a fluid processing workstation having a plurality of pumps, each pump configured to operate a membrane pump cassette, the apparatus comprising:

a) a plurality of membrane pump cassettes, each membrane pump cassette for coupling with one of the plurality of pumps comprising

a first pump chamber at least partially comprising a membrane for pumping fluid under control of its respective pump; and

a first fluid inlet port in selective fluid communication with the first pump chamber wherein fluid enters the first pump chamber when its respective pump applies negative pressure to the first pump chamber membrane;

b) an inlet tube;

c) distribution tubing that connects the inlet tube to the first fluid inlet port of each of the membrane pump cassette such that the first pump chambers of the membrane pump cassette can be coupled to pump fluid from a common fluid source via the inlet tube and distribution tubing; and

d) a multi-port coupling in the distribution tubing such that the distribution tubing extends away from a first and second port of the coupling, the inlet tube is connected to a third port of the coupling, and the first fluid inlet port of a middle one of the pump cassettes is coupled to a fourth port of the coupling.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of membrane pump cassettes are symmetrically connected to the distribution tubing with respect to the port at which the inlet tube is connected to the multi-port coupling.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the points at which the plurality of membrane pump cassettes are connected to the distribution tubing are equally spaced apart along the distribution tubing.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of incubation bags, each bag being attached to an outlet port on a respective one of the membrane pump cassettes.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a bar code label on each of the incubation bags.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a break-away closure on the inlet tube.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each membrane pump cassette includes a second fluid inlet port with a second fluid inlet tube attached thereto and further including a break-away closure on the second fluid inlet tube.

8. A membrane pump cassette bank comprising:

a) an odd number of membrane pump cassettes, each membrane pump cassette for use with one of a plurality of pumps, each pump configured to operate a membrane pump cassette, each membrane pump cassette including a working solution pump chamber at least partially comprising a membrane for pumping working solution under control of a respective pump; and

a working solution inlet port selectively coupled to the working solution pump chamber wherein working solution enters the working solution pump chamber when its respective pump applies negative pressure to the working solution pump chamber membrane;

b) a working solution inlet tube; and

c) distribution tubing connected between the working solution inlet tube and the working solution inlet ports of the odd number of membrane pump cassettes such that the working solution pump chambers of the membrane pump cassettes can be coupled to pump working solution from a common working solution source via the inlet tube and distribution tubing, wherein;

the working solution inlet tube joins the distribution tubing through a first port of a multi-port coupling,

a middle one of the membrane pump cassettes joins the distribution tubing through a second port of the multi-port coupling, and

an equal number of the membrane pump cassettes are connected to each of two branches of the distribution tubing, the first branch being connected to a third port and the second branch being connected to a fourth port of the multi-port coupling.

9. The membrane pump cassette bank of claim 8 wherein the membrane pump cassettes connected to one branch of the distribution tubing are spaced at given distances from the multi-port coupling, and wherein at those given distances from the multi-port coupling, an equal number of the membrane pump cassettes are connected to another branch of the distribution tubing.

10. The pump cassette bank of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of incubation bags, each bag being attached to an outlet port on a respective one of the membrane pump cassettes.

11. The membrane pump cassette bank of claim 9 further comprising a bar code label on each of the incubation bags.

12. The membrane pump cassette bank of claim 8 further comprising a break-away closure on the working solution inlet tube.

13. The membrane pump cassette bank of claim 8 wherein each membrane pump cassette includes a second fluid inlet port with a second fluid inlet tube attached thereto and further including a break-away closure on the second fluid inlet tube.

14. A membrane pump cassette bank comprising:

a plurality of membrane pump cassettes, each membrane pump cassette for use with one of a plurality of pumps, each pump configured to operate a membrane pump cassette, each membrane pump cassette comprising;

a) a first inlet port and an associated first pump chamber;

b) a second inlet port and an associated second pump chamber, each of the first pump chamber and second pump chamber further comprising a membrane for pumping fluid, the membrane under control of the pump with which the membrane pump cassette is to be used, wherein fluid enters the first pump chamber and second pump chamber when the pump applies negative pressure to the first pump chamber membrane and the second pump chamber membrane respectively;

c) an air vent and associated hydrophobic filter, and

d) outlet port;

the membrane pump cassette bank further comprising;

a working solution inlet tube; and

distribution tubing connected between the working solution inlet tube and the first inlet port of each of the plurality of membrane pump cassettes, such that the first pump chambers of the membrane pump cassettes can be coupled to pump working solution from a common working solution source via the inlet rube and distribution tubing, wherein the working solution inlet tube is connected by a first port of a multi-port coupling to a first and second branch of the distribution tubing through a second and third port, respectively, of the multi-port coupling, such that an equal number of the membrane pump cassettes are connected to each branch of the distribution tubing, and wherein the first inlet port of a middle one of the membrane pump cassettes is coupled to a fourth port of the multi-port coupling.

15. The membrane pump cassette bank of claim 14 wherein the membrane pump cassettes connected to the first branch of the distribution tubing are spaced at given distances from the multi-port coupling, and wherein the membrane pump cassettes connected to the second branch of the distribution tubing are so connected at said given distances from the multi-port coupling.

16. The membrane pump cassette bank of claim 14 further comprising a plurality of incubation bags, each bag being attached to an outlet port on a respective one of the pump cassettes.

17. The membrane pump cassette bank of claim 16 further comprising a bar code label on each of the incubation bags.

18. The membrane pump cassette bank of claim 14 further comprising a break-away closure on the working solution inlet tube.

19. The membrane pump cassette bank of claim 14 further comprising a second fluid inlet tube attached the second inlet port on each of the pump cassettes and further including a break-away closure on each of the second fluid inlet tubes.

20. A kit comprising:

a plurality of membrane pump cassettes, each membrane pump cassette comprising;

a first pump chamber comprising a membrane for pumping fluid under control of a pump to which the membrane pump cassette can be coupled; and

a first fluid inlet port in selective fluid communication with the first pump chamber, the first fluid inlet port allowing fluid to enter the first pump chamber when the pump to which it is coupled applies negative pressure to the membrane;

an inlet tube and associated distribution tubing for connecting the inlet tube to the first fluid inlet port of each of the pump cassettes such that the first pump chambers of the pump cassettes can be coupled to pump fluid from a common fluid source via the inlet tube and distribution tubing; and

a multi-port coupling in the distribution tubing such that a first branch of the distribution tubing extends from a first port of the coupling, and a second branch of the distribution tubing extends from a second port of the coupling, the first fluid inlet tube is connected to a third port of the coupling and the first fluid inlet port of a middle one of the pump cassettes is coupled to a fourth port of the coupling.

21. A kit according to claim 20, further comprising:

a plurality of incubation bags for attachment respectively to an outlet port of each of the pump cassettes.

22. Apparatus for use in a fluid processing workstation, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of membrane pump cassettes, each membrane pump cassette for coupling to a respective pump of a plurality of pumps, each membrane pump cassette comprising;

a) a first pump chamber at least partially comprising a membrane for pumping fluid under control of the pump to which the membrane pump cassette is to be coupled; and

b) a first fluid inlet port in selective fluid communication with the first pump chamber wherein fluid enters the first pump chamber when the pump to which the membrane pump cassette is to be coupled applies negative pressure to the membrane;

the apparatus further comprising;

an inlet tube; and

distribution tubing that connects the inlet tube to the first fluid inlet port of each of the pump cassettes such that the first pump chambers of the pump cassettes can be coupled to pump fluid from a common fluid source via the inlet tube and distribution tubing;

wherein

the distribution tubing extends in two segments from a multi-port coupling with the inlet tube; and

an equal number of membrane pump cassettes is positioned alone each segment of the distribution tubing.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein fluid exits the first pump chamber of the membrane pump cassette when the pump to which the membrane pump cassette is to be coupled applies positive pressure to the membrane of said first pump chamber.