Peristaltic pump with bi-directional pressure sensor
First Claim
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1. Fluid delivery apparatus, comprising:
- a peristaltic pump having an upstream end for receiving a fluid from a fluid source and a downstream end for delivering the fluid to a fluid target, wherein the pump comprises;
a flexible conduit, coupled between the upstream and downstream ends;
a plurality of fingers, which are disposed at respective locations along the conduit and are configured to alternately compress and release the conduit at the locations; and
a pump mechanism, which is coupled to move the fingers between respective compressed and released positions in a cyclical pattern so as to drive the fluid through the conduit by a peristaltic action; and
a single force sensor, which is coupled to one of the fingers and is configured to measure, in alternation, an input pressure of the pump at the upstream end and an output pressure of the pump at the downstream end responsively to a force exerted on the one of the fingers while the one of the fingers is in the released position at different, respective points in the cyclical pattern,wherein the one of the fingers comprises a force relief mechanism for relieving the force on the single pressure sensor when the one of the figures is in the compressed position.
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Abstract
Fluid delivery apparatus includes a peristaltic pump having an upstream end for receiving a fluid from a fluid source and a downstream end for delivering the fluid to a fluid target. A single pressure sensor is configured to measure, in alternation, an input pressure of the pump at the upstream end and an output pressure of the pump at the downstream end.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. Fluid delivery apparatus, comprising:
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a peristaltic pump having an upstream end for receiving a fluid from a fluid source and a downstream end for delivering the fluid to a fluid target, wherein the pump comprises; a flexible conduit, coupled between the upstream and downstream ends; a plurality of fingers, which are disposed at respective locations along the conduit and are configured to alternately compress and release the conduit at the locations; and a pump mechanism, which is coupled to move the fingers between respective compressed and released positions in a cyclical pattern so as to drive the fluid through the conduit by a peristaltic action; and a single force sensor, which is coupled to one of the fingers and is configured to measure, in alternation, an input pressure of the pump at the upstream end and an output pressure of the pump at the downstream end responsively to a force exerted on the one of the fingers while the one of the fingers is in the released position at different, respective points in the cyclical pattern, wherein the one of the fingers comprises a force relief mechanism for relieving the force on the single pressure sensor when the one of the figures is in the compressed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Fluid delivery apparatus, comprising:
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a flexible conduit, having upstream and downstream ends; a plurality of fingers, which are disposed at respective locations along the conduit and are configured to alternately compress and release the conduit at the locations; a pump mechanism, which is coupled to move the fingers between respective compressed and released positions in a cyclical pattern so as to drive a fluid through the conduit by a peristaltic action; and a force sensor coupled to one of the fingers so as to measure a pressure of the fluid in the conduit, which is configured to measure the pressure responsively to a force exerted on the one of the fingers while the one of the fingers is in the released position at one or more specified points in the cyclical pattern, wherein the one of the fingers comprises a force relief mechanism for relieving the force on the sensor when the one of the figures is in the compressed position. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method for fluid delivery, comprising:
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coupling a peristaltic pump having an upstream end and a downstream end to receive a fluid at the upstream end from a fluid source and to deliver the fluid to a patient from the downstream end, wherein the pump comprises; a flexible conduit, coupled between the upstream and downstream ends; a plurality of fingers, which are disposed at respective locations along the conduit and are configured to alternately compress and release the conduit at the locations; and a pump mechanism, which is coupled to move the fingers between respective compressed and released positions in a cyclical pattern so as to drive the fluid through the conduit by a peristaltic action; measuring an input pressure of the pump at the upstream end and an output pressure of the pump at the downstream end in alternation using a single pressure sensor by coupling the single pressure sensor to one of the fingers so as to measure a force exerted on the one of the fingers while the one of the fingers is in the released position at different, respective points in the cyclical pattern; and relieving the force on the single pressure sensor when the one of the figures is in the compressed position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification