Control unit, tube unit, and micropump

• US 9,631,615 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2013
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2008
• 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): Kramer, Devon
• Assistant Examiner(s): HERRMANN, JOSEPH S
• Application Number:
  US13/929,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20130287606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• 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 43/082 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 43/09 Pumps having electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1223 the actuating elements, e.g. rollers, moving in a straight line during squeezing

Abstract

A micropump including a tube unit including an elastic tube disposed in an arc shape, a plurality of fingers disposed radially from the arc shape of the tube, and a guide frame, which holds the tube and the plurality of fingers. The micropump also includes a control unit including a cam that presses the plurality of fingers, a drive section that applies torque to the cam, a control circuit that carries out a drive control of the drive section, and a machine casing that holds the cam, drive section, and control circuit. The tube unit is mountable in and removable from the control unit in a direction approximately parallel to the plane of rotation of the cam, and is mounted inside a space provided in the machine casing.

Claims

1. A micropump comprising:

a tube unit including a tube and a plurality of fingers;

a control unit including a cam and a control circuit, the tube unit being attachable to and detachable from the control unit;

wherein the tube unit has a power source which supplies power to the control circuit, and the tube deforms via the plurality of fingers in accordance with the rotation of the cam driven by the control circuit; and

wherein a plurality of convexities are formed on the cam that form a plurality of finger pressing surfaces that actuate the plurality of fingers;

the convexities each being separated by a planar surface that extends radially outward from a concentric surface formed on a circle of the cam, and each convexity including a finger pressing surface that includes a finger pressing slope surface and a surface that is arc-shaped, the surface that is arc-shaped being part of the concentric surface and provided in a position that does not press the fingers.

2. The micropump according to claim 1,

wherein the power source is removably mounted to the tube unit.

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

a reservoir detachably attached to the tube unit.

4. The micropump according to claim 3,

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

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

a reservoir housed in the tube unit.

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

a reservoir;

wherein

the reservoir and the power source are housed in the tube unit.

7. A micropump comprising:

a tube unit including a tube and a plurality of fingers;

a control unit including a cam and a control circuit, the tube unit being attachable to and detachable from the control unit;

wherein the tube unit has a power source removably mounted directly thereto which supplies power to the control circuit; and

wherein a plurality of convexities are formed on the cam that form a plurality of finger pressing surfaces that actuate the plurality of fingers;

the convexities are each separated by a planar surface that extends radially outward from a concentric surface formed on a circle of the cam; and

each finger pressing surface includes a finger pressing slope surface and a surface that is arc-shaped, the surface that is arc-shaped being part of the concentric surface and provided in a position that does not press the fingers.

8. The micropump according to claim 7, further comprising

a reservoir detachably attached to the tube unit.

9. The micropump according to claim 8,

wherein the reservoir includes a re-sealable port for injecting a fluid thereinto.

10. The micropump according to claim 7, further comprising a reservoir housed in the tube unit.