Tube unit, control unit, and micropump

• US 9,447,783 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2013
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Hajime, Kawasumi, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertheaud, Peter J
• Assistant Examiner(s): KASTURE, DNYANESH G
• Application Number:
  US13/929,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20130287612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 417474-47714, 604/153, 251 4- 10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14228 with linear peristaltic action, i.e. comprising at least three pressurising members or a helical member
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/08 having tubular flexible members F04B43/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/082 the tubular flexible member being pressed against a wall by a number of elements, each having an alternating movement in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the tubular member and each having its own driving mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/095 Piezoelectric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/123 using an excenter as the squeezing element

Abstract

A micropump has a tube unit including a tube and a plurality of fingers, and a control unit including a cam. The tube unit is coupled to the control unit. The control unit encases the tube unit.

Claims

1. A micropump comprising:

a tube unit including a reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet, a tube having a tube inlet in communication with the reservoir outlet and a tube outlet that exits the tube unit, an air vent filter provided between the reservoir outlet and the tube inlet, and a plurality of fingers; and

a control unit including a rotatable cam defined by a rotary plate, the rotary plate being configured as it rotates to contact each of the plurality of fingers to compress the tube, the tube unit being attachable to and detachable from the control unit;

wherein after the tube unit is attached to the control unit, the control unit encases the tube unit;

the reservoir inlet communicates with an exterior of the tube unit, and

the reservoir and reservoir outlet are each entirely encased by the tube unit.

2. The micropump according to claim 1,

wherein the plurality of fingers are located between the tube and the cam after the tube unit is coupled to the control unit.

3. The micropump according to claim 1,

wherein the reservoir has a re-sealable port for introducing fluid into the reservoir.

4. The micropump according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit has a power source mounted thereto which supplies power to the control unit.

5. The micropump according to claim 4,

wherein the power source is attachable to and detachable from the control unit.

6. The micropump according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cover member fixing the tube unit to the control unit; and

an elastic member which biases the tube unit to the control unit.

7. The micropump according to claim 6,

wherein a biasing force of the elastic member is larger than a tube pressing force of the plurality of fingers.

8. The micropump according to claim 1, further comprising:

a tube regulating wall which regulates a shift of the tube caused by the pressing of the plurality of fingers; and

an elastic member disposed between the tube and the tube regulating wall.

9. The micropump according to claim 1,

wherein each of the tube unit and the control unit has an outer periphery and at least a part of both the outer peripheries is transparent.

10. The micropump according to claim 1,

wherein at least one of a power source and a reservoir are housed in the tube unit.

11. A micropump comprising:

a tube unit including a reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet, a tube having a tube inlet in communication with the reservoir outlet and a tube outlet that exits the tube unit, an air vent filter provided between the reservoir outlet and the tube inlet, and a plurality of fingers; and

a control unit including a rotatable cam defined by a rotary plate, the rotary plate being configured as it rotates to contact each of the plurality of fingers to compress the tube, the tube unit being attachable to and detachable from the control unit;

wherein the tube unit is slidably received within a cavity of the control unit so that the tube unit nests within the control unit;

the reservoir inlet communicates with an exterior of the tube unit, and

the reservoir and reservoir outlet are each entirely encased by the tube unit.

12. The micropump according to claim 11, further comprising:

a lid securable to the control unit to fixedly encase the tube unit within the cavity of the control unit.

13. The micropump according to claim 12, further comprising:

an elastic member abutting the lid and biasing the tube unit to the control unit.

14. The micropump according to claim 13,

wherein a biasing force of the elastic member is larger than a tube pressing force of the plurality of fingers.

15. The micropump according to claim 11,

wherein the control unit has a power source mounted thereto which supplies power to the control unit.

16. The micropump according to claim 15,

wherein the power source is attachable to and detachable from the control unit.