PERISTALTIC PUMP ASSEMBLY AND REGULATOR THEREFOR

• US 20090087325A1
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Curlin Medical (Moog Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Curlin Medical (Moog Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thompson, Loren M., Voltenburg, Robert R. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,083,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3341 stabilising pressure or flow to avoid excessive variation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1253 by using two or more rollers as squeezing elements, the rollers moving on an arc of a circle during squeezing
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1284 Means for pushing the backing-plate against the tubular flexible member

Abstract

A peristaltic pump assembly includes a pump body and a cassette removably attached thereto, wherein the cassette includes a race configured to provide a compression surface for a tube supported by the cassette. A roller assembly is operatively connected to the pump body, wherein the roller assembly includes a plurality of rollers configured to apply a predetermined force to the tube, thereby compressing the tube against the race. The peristaltic pump assembly further includes a regulator disposed in the pump body and operatively connected to the cassette, where the regulator is configured to regulate the predetermined force applied to the tube.

Claims

1. A peristaltic pump assembly, comprising:

a pump body;

a cassette removably attached to the pump body, wherein the cassette includes a race configured to provide a compression surface for a tube supported by the cassette;

a roller assembly operatively connected to the pump body, wherein the roller assembly includes a plurality of rollers configured to apply a predetermined force to the tube, thereby compressing the tube against the race; and

a regulator disposed in the pump body and operatively connected to the cassette, wherein the regulator is configured to regulate the predetermined force applied to the tube.

2. The peristaltic pump assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the regulator includes:

a slide member; and

a spring operatively connected to the slide member.

3. The peristaltic pump assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the regulator further includes a pre-loading member operatively connected to the spring, wherein the pre-loading member is configured to apply a predetermined preload to the spring.

4. The peristaltic pump assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein the predetermined preload ranges from about 1.5 lb_f to about 3 lb_f.

5. The peristaltic pump assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein the pre-loading member is selected from shoulder bolts, screws, pegs, pins, shafts, or combinations thereof.

6. The peristaltic pump assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the slide member is configured to move a predetermined distance in response to changes in the peristaltic pump assembly.

7. The peristaltic pump assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the regulator further includes a mounting pin operatively connected to the slide member, a pump body retaining feature operatively connected to the slide member, or combinations thereof, wherein the mounting pin, the pump body retaining feature, or combinations thereof are configured to move in combination with the slide member.

8. The peristaltic pump assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein, when the mounting pin, the pump body retaining feature, or combinations thereof moves, the regulator substantially regulates the predetermined force.

9. The peristaltic pump assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the predetermined force, the other predetermined force, or combinations thereof are substantially constant forces.

10. The peristaltic pump assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the spring is selected from helical springs, clock springs, torsion springs, compression springs, extension springs, leaf springs, elastomeric bodies, or combinations thereof.

11. The peristaltic pump assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the spring is selected from a spring having a spring constant ranging from about 3 lb_f/in to about 5 lb_f/in.

12. A regulator for a peristaltic pump, the regulator comprising:

a slide member; and

a spring operatively connected to the slide member;

wherein the regulator regulates a predetermined force applied to a tube by a plurality of rollers of a roller assembly of the peristaltic pump.

13. The regulator as defined in claim 12, further comprising a pre-loading member operatively connected to the spring, wherein the pre-loading member is configured to apply a predetermined preload to the spring.

14. The regulator as defined in claim 12 wherein the slide member is configured to move a predetermined distance in response to changes in the peristaltic pump assembly.

15. The regulator as defined in claim 12, further comprising a mounting pin, a pump body retaining feature, or combinations thereof operatively connected to the slide member, wherein the mounting pin, the pump body retaining feature, or combinations thereof are configured to move in combination with the slide member.

16. The regulator as defined in claim 15 wherein when the mounting pin, the pump body retaining feature, or combinations thereof moves, the regulator substantially regulates the predetermined force.

17. A method of regulating a force applied to a tube by a plurality of rollers of a roller assembly in a peristaltic pump, thereby compressing the tube, the method comprising:

regulating the force applied to the tube using a regulator disposed in a pump body of the peristaltic pump and operatively connected to a cassette, the cassette being removably attached to the pump body, the cassette including a race configured to provide a compression surface for the tube.

18. The method as defined in claim 17 wherein the regulator includes:

a slide member; and

a spring operatively connected to the slide member, whereby the slide member moves a predetermined distance in response to changes in the peristaltic pump assembly.

19. The method as defined in claim 18 wherein the regulator further includes an attachment member configured to move in combination with the slide member, and wherein regulating the force applied to the tube is accomplished by moving the attachment member.

20. The method as defined in claim 19 wherein moving the attachment member is accomplished by:

compressing the spring upon mounting the cassette to the pump body; and

allowing the slide member including the attachment member to move along a substantially linear path.