INFUSION PUMP WITH INTEGRATED PERMANENT MAGNET

• US 20100209267A1
• Filed: 02/18/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David L. Davis
• Original Assignee: David L. Davis
• Inventors: Davis, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,197,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/412
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/045 using solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/04 Pumps having electric drive
• 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 43/14 having plate-like flexible members

Abstract

Described herein is an infusion pump with an integrated permanent magnet. The permanent magnet is positioned to provide an attractive force that moves an armature to compress a fluid-filled infusion tube. An electromagnet can be activated to overcome the attractive force of the permanent magnet and move the armature away from the infusion tubing. The force required to overcome the permanent magnet is much less than the force required to compress the tubing. For this reason the infusion pump has very low power consumption since much of the pumping work is provided by the permanent magnet.

Claims

1. An infusion pump configured to pump fluid through a flexible tubing, comprising:

an armature configured to compress the tubing when in a first position and uncompress the tubing when in a second position;

a permanent magnet providing an attractive force that moves the armature to the first position to compress the tubing; and

an electronic device configured to overcome the attractive force of the permanent magnet and uncompress the tubing by moving the armature from the first position to the second position.

2. The infusion pump of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises an electromagnet.

3. The infusion pump of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a solenoid.

4. The infusion pump of claim 1, wherein the attractive force exerted by the permanent magnet is a non-linear force matched with the shape of the force required to compress the flexible tubing when it is filled with a liquid.

5. The infusion pump of claim 1, further comprising a downstream pincher and an upstream pincher, wherein the pinchers control fluid movement in the flexible tubing.

6. The infusion pump of claim 5, wherein the downstream pincher and the upstream pincher are mounted on a rocker arm.

7. The infusion pump of claim 6, wherein the rocker arm comprises a magnet.

8. The infusion pump of claim 5, further comprising an upstream sensor configured to detect when the upstream pincher is in the open position.

9. The infusion pump of claim 5, further comprising a downstream sensor configured to detect when the downstream pincher is in the open position.

10. The infusion pump of claim 1, further comprising an occlusion detector, wherein the occlusion detector detects an upstream occlusion.

11. The infusion pump of claim 1, further comprising an occlusion detector wherein the occlusion detector detects a downstream occlusion.

12. The infusion pump of claim 1, further comprising a flow monitor configured to detect the movement of the armature from the second position to the first position.

13. A method of operating an infusion pump, wherein the infusion pump comprises an armature configured to compress and uncompress infusion tubing, and wherein a permanent magnet provides an attractive force that moves the armature to compress the tubing, comprising:

activating an electronic device that overcomes the attractive force of the permanent magnet and moves the armature to uncompress the infusion tubing; and

deactivating the electronic device, wherein the deactivation allows the attractive force of the permanent magnet to compress the infusion tubing.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising sensing an error if activating the electronic device does not result in the armature uncompressing the infusion tubing.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the error indicates an occlusion in the infusion tube that is upstream of the infusion pump.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising sensing an error if deactivating the electronic device does not result in the armature compressing the infusion tubing.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the error indicates an occlusion in the infusion tube that is downstream of the infusion pump.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein activating the electronic device comprises activating an electromagnet.

19. An infusion pump, comprising:

an armature configured to compress an infusion tube when in a first position and uncompress the tube when in a second position;

a permanent magnet providing an attractive force that moves the armature to the first position to compress the tube;

means for activating an electronic device that overcomes the attractive force of the permanent magnet and moves the armature to uncompress the infusion tube; and

means for deactivating the electronic device, wherein the deactivation allows the attractive force of the permanent magnet to compress the infusion tube.

20. The infusion pump of claim 19, wherein the means for activating comprises a control module configured to activate an electromagnet.

21. The infusion pump of claim 19, wherein the means for deactivating comprises a control module configured to deactivate an electromagnet.