Infusion pump
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An infusion pump for administering controlled doses of a fluid, the pump comprising:
- a receptacle for storing the fluid, the receptacle having an outlet for dispensing the fluid;
a plunger;
a propulsion mechanism which urges the plunger in a direction to pressurize the fluid and dispense it through the outlet;
a retaining member which acts on the plunger to control or prevent travel of the plunger; and
a force detector for providing information about the state of the retaining member;
the retaining member operably connected to a motor via a worm and worm-wheel drive, in an arrangement wherein rotation of the worm causes the worm-wheel drive to rotate, and wherein the resulting rotation of the worm-wheel drive controls said travel of the plunger to dispense the fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An infusion pump for administering controlled doses of a fluid comprises: a receptacle (2) for storing the fluid (6), the receptacle having an outlet (8) for dispensing the fluid; a plunger (12); a propulsion mechanism (14) which urges the plunger (12) in a direction to pressurise the fluid (6) and dispense it through the outlet (8); and a retaining member (16) which acts on the plunger (12) to control or prevent travel of the plunger (12); characterised in that the retaining member (16) is operably connected to a stepper motor (24) via a worm (22) and worm-wheel (18) drive.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An infusion pump for administering controlled doses of a fluid, the pump comprising:
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a receptacle for storing the fluid, the receptacle having an outlet for dispensing the fluid; a plunger; a propulsion mechanism which urges the plunger in a direction to pressurize the fluid and dispense it through the outlet; a retaining member which acts on the plunger to control or prevent travel of the plunger; and a force detector for providing information about the state of the retaining member; the retaining member operably connected to a motor via a worm and worm-wheel drive, in an arrangement wherein rotation of the worm causes the worm-wheel drive to rotate, and wherein the resulting rotation of the worm-wheel drive controls said travel of the plunger to dispense the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An infusion pump for administering controlled doses of a fluid, the pump comprising:
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a receptacle for storing the fluid, the receptacle having an outlet for dispensing the fluid; a plunger; a propulsion mechanism which urges the plunger in a direction to pressurize the fluid and dispense it through the outlet; a retaining member which acts on the plunger to control or prevent travel of the plunger; and a brake mechanism for preventing or inhibiting uncontrolled movement of the plunger, wherein the brake mechanism comprises a brake member for engaging with a wall of the receptacle; the retaining member operably connected to a motor via a worm and worm-wheel drive, in an arrangement wherein rotation of the worm causes the worm-wheel drive to rotate, and wherein the resulting rotation of the worm-wheel drive controls said travel of the plunger to dispense the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An infusion pump for administering controlled doses of a fluid, the pump comprising:
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a receptacle for storing the fluid, the receptacle having an outlet for dispensing the fluid; a plunger; a propulsion mechanism which urges the plunger in a direction to pressurize the fluid and dispense it through the outlet; a retaining member which acts on the plunger to control or prevent travel of the plunger, the retaining member operably connected to a stepper motor via a worm and worm-wheel drive; and a brake mechanism for inhibiting uncontrolled movement of the plunger, wherein the brake mechanism comprises a cruciform spring for engaging with a wall of the receptacle.
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20. An infusion pump for administering controlled doses of a fluid, the pump comprising:
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a receptacle for storing the fluid, the receptacle having an outlet for dispensing the fluid; a plunger; a propulsion mechanism which urges the plunger in a direction to pressurize the fluid and dispense it through the outlet; a retaining member which acts on the plunger to control or prevent travel of the plunger, the retaining member operably connected to a stepper motor via a worm and worm-wheel drive; and a brake mechanism for inhibiting uncontrolled movement of the plunger, wherein the brake mechanism comprises a brake member for engaging with a wall of the receptacle, wherein during normal operation of the pump, the brake member adopts a retracted position and does not engage a wall of the receptacle, and if the retaining member breaks, the brake member adopts a rest position and engages a wall of the receptacle.
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21. An infusion pump for administering controlled doses of a fluid, the pump comprising:
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a receptacle for storing the fluid, the receptacle having an outlet for dispensing the fluid; a plunger; a propulsion mechanism which urges the plunger in a direction to pressurize the fluid and dispense it through the outlet; a retaining member which acts on the plunger to control or prevent travel of the plunger, the retaining member operably connected to a stepper motor via a worm and worm-wheel drive; and a brake mechanism for inhibiting uncontrolled movement of the plunger, wherein the brake mechanism comprises a brake member for engaging with a wall of the receptacle, wherein the brake member is adjustable between a rest configuration in which it will engage with a wall of the receptacle to prevent or inhibit relative movement between the plunger and the outlet, and a retracted configuration in which it does not engage with said wall, and wherein the brake member is held in the retracted configuration by the retaining member in normal operation but will be released to adopt the rest configuration if the retaining member fails.
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22. An infusion pump for administering controlled doses of a fluid, the pump comprising:
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a receptacle for storing the fluid, the receptacle having an outlet for dispensing the fluid; a plunger; a propulsion mechanism which urges the plunger in a direction to pressurize the fluid and dispense it through the outlet; a retaining member which acts on the plunger to control or prevent travel of the plunger, the retaining member operably connected to a stepper motor via a worm and worm-wheel drive; and a brake mechanism for inhibiting uncontrolled movement of the plunger, wherein the brake mechanism comprises a brake member for engaging with a wall of the receptacle, and wherein the brake member is arranged to cause the plunger to tilt if the retaining member fails, thereby causing jamming between the plunger and a wall of the receptacle.
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Specification