Liquid transporting apparatus and liquid transporting method

• US 9,572,925 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): Jellett, Matthew W
• Application Number:
  US14/202,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20140261705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16877 Adjusting flow; Devices for setting a flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85978 With pump

Abstract

A liquid transporting apparatus includes a driving section that transports a the liquid; a control section that controls the driving section, based on a control pattern; and an operation section that is operated to change the control pattern for controlling the driving section.

Claims

1. A liquid transporting apparatus comprising:

a driving mechanism;

a tubular portion configured to hold a liquid and transport a liquid when squeezed or writhed by the driving mechanism;

a needle configured to supply the liquid from the tubular portion to a living body;

a memory configured to store a plurality of control patterns that control squeezing or writhing the tubular portion;

a control device that is configured to;

control the driving mechanism to squeeze or writhe the tube based on a control pattern;

a detachment determining section that is configured to determine whether the needle is detached from the living body;

a body case configured to house the driving mechanism, the tubular portion, the memory and the control device; and

a button provided on an outer surface of the body case, wherein the control device is configured to, upon detection of the button being touched continuously for a predetermined amount of time;

determine, from the detachment determination section, whether the needle is detached from the living body; and

if the needle is not detached from the living body, switch the control pattern to another control pattern of the plurality of control patterns for controlling the driving mechanism.

2. The liquid transporting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device is further configured to:

change the control pattern by setting a plurality of functions, wherein one function of the plurality of functions is set based on a received user input.

3. The liquid transporting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control device is further configured to set one function of the plurality of functions based on a length of time of the touch of the button.

4. The liquid transporting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the one function of the plurality of functions is set by an external remote control device.

5. The liquid transporting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the one function of the plurality of functions adjusts a liquid transport amount by changing the control pattern or stopping the transportation of the liquid.

7. The liquid transporting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is transported by squeezing the tubular portion by driving a plurality of fingers.

8. The liquid transporting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cam, wherein a center of a circle of the tubular portion is coincident with a rotation center of the cam.

9. The liquid transporting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the tubular portion has elasticity enough to be closed when being pressed by a finger and to be returned to an original position when releasing a force from the finger.

10. The liquid transporting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the fingers are operated in a driven basis by receiving a force from a centralized cam.

11. The liquid transporting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

each of the plurality of fingers has a rod-shaped shaft section and a collar-shaped pressing section, and is a T-shape,

each of the rod-shaped shaft sections comes into contact with the centralized cam, and

each of the collar-shaped pressing sections comes into contact with the tubular portion.

12. The liquid transporting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of fingers are radially disposed between the centralized cam and the tubular portion at an equal distance from a rotation center of the centralized cam.

13. The liquid transporting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism further comprises a plurality of reciprocating fingers attached to a centralized hub.

14. The liquid transporting apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the reciprocating fingers operate in a sequential manner to provide the drive for the squeezing or writhing.

15. The liquid transporting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cartridge, wherein the tubular portion is partially disposed in a circular arc shape along an inner surface of a tube guide wall of the cartridge.

16. The liquid transporting apparatus according to claim 15, wherein

the portion of the circular arc shape of the tubular portion is disposed between the inner surface of the tube guide wall and a plurality of fingers, and

a center of a circle of the tubular portion is coincident with a rotation center of the cam.

18. The liquid transporting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising two electrodes, wherein

the detachment determination section includes an impedance measuring section, which is used to make the determination of whether the needle is detached from the living body, and

the impedance measuring section is configured to measure the impedance between the two electrodes.

19. The liquid transporting apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the impedance measuring section:

determines whether an impedance of a result of the measurement is lower than a predetermined threshold, and

if the impedance is lower than the predetermined threshold, determines that the needle is not detached from the living body.

20. The liquid transporting apparatus according to claim 18, wherein

a first electrode of the two electrodes serves as a leading section of the needle, and

a second electrode of the two electrodes serves as an adhesive pad.

6. A liquid transporting method comprising:

transporting a liquid by squeezing or writhing a tubular portion configured to hold the liquid;

controlling, via a control device, a driving mechanism to squeeze or writhe the tubular portion based on a control pattern; and

upon detection of a button, which is attached to a body case that is configured to house the driving mechanism, the tubular portion, a memory and the control device, being touched continuously for a predetermined amount of time;

determining whether a needle that is configured to supply the liquid from the tubular portion to a living body is detached from the living body; and

if the needle is not detached from the living body, switching, via the control device, the control pattern to another control pattern of a plurality of control patterns for controlling the driving mechanism that are stored in a memory.

17. A liquid transporting apparatus comprising:

a body comprising;

a driving mechanism;

a tubular portion configured to hold a liquid and transport a liquid when squeezed or writhed by the driving mechanism;

a needle configured to supply the liquid from the tubular portion to a living body;

a memory configured to store a plurality of control patterns that control squeezing or writhing the tubular portion;

a button attached to the body; and

a control device that is configured to;

control the driving mechanism to squeeze or writhe the tube based on a control pattern; and

when a signal indicating that the button has been touched continuously for a predetermined amount of time is received;

determine whether the needle is detached from the living body; and

if the needle is not detached from the living body, switch the control pattern to another control pattern of the plurality of control patterns for controlling the driving mechanism.