PERISTALTIC PUMP

• US 20180106246A1
• Filed: 12/14/2017
• Published: 04/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Kamen, Dean, Kerwin, John M., Murphy, Colin H., Langenfeld, Christopher C., Slate, Michael J, Place, Michael S., Gray, Larry B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,202,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16863 Occlusion detection
• 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: 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: F04B 2205/09 Flow through the pump
• 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 43/09 Pumps having electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/12 having peristaltic action
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1261 the rollers being placed at the outside of the tubular flexible member
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/00 Control , e.g. of pump delivery, or pump pressure of, or safety measures for, machines, pumps, or pumping installations, not otherwise provided for, or of interest apart from, groups F04B1/00 - F04B47/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/666 by detecting noise and sounds generated by the flowing fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/22 Social work or social welfare, e.g. community support activities or counselling services
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/00 ICT specially adapted for medical diagnosis, medical simulation or medical data mining; ICT specially adapted for detecting, monitoring or modelling epidemics or pandemics

Abstract

A peristaltic pump having at least first, second, and third stages is provided. The peristaltic pump includes a plunger, inlet and outlet valves, a spring, and an actuator. The plunger actuates toward and away from a tube, the inlet valve is upstream of the plunger, the outlet valve is downstream of the plunger, the spring biases the plunger toward the tube, and the actuator mechanically engages and disengages from the plunger. In the first stage, the inlet valve is opened and the plunger is actuated from the tube, in the second stage, the inlet valve is closed, the plunger is actuated toward the tube, and the actuator is mechanically disengaged from the plunger, and in the third stage, the outlet valve is opened. In the third stage or in a fourth stage, the actuator actuates the plunger toward the tube to discharge fluid downstream past the outlet valve.

Claims

1. A peristaltic pump for pumping fluid in a plurality of cycles where each cycle has at least first, second, and third stages, the peristaltic pump comprising:

a plunger configured to actuate toward and away from a tube;

an inlet valve upstream of the plunger;

an outlet valve downstream of the plunger;

a spring configured to bias the plunger toward the tube; and

an actuator configured to mechanically engage and disengage from the plunger,

wherein;

in the first stage, the inlet valve is opened and the plunger is actuated from the tube,

in the second stage, the inlet valve is closed, the plunger is actuated toward the tube, and the actuator is mechanically disengaged from the plunger,

in the third stage, the outlet valve is opened, and

in the third stage or in a fourth stage, the actuator actuates the plunger toward the tube to discharge fluid downstream past the outlet valve.

2. The peristaltic pump according to claim 1, wherein in the third stage, the outlet valve is opened and the actuator actuates the plunger toward the tube to discharge fluid downstream past the outlet valve.

3. The peristaltic pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the first stage, the outlet valve is closed.

4. The peristaltic pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuator includes a cam and the plunger is coupled to a cam follower configured to follow the cam.

5. The peristaltic pump according to claim 4, wherein when the actuator mechanically engages with the plunger, the cam follower follows the cam.

6. The peristaltic pump according to claim 4, wherein when the actuator mechanically engages with the plunger, the cam follower and the cam are in physical contact with each other.

7. The peristaltic pump according to claim 4, wherein when the actuator is mechanically disengaged with the plunger, the cam follower does not follow the cam.

8. The peristaltic pump according to claim 4, wherein when the actuator is mechanically disengaged with the plunger, the cam follower and the cam are not in physical contact with each other.

9. The peristaltic pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in each cycle of the peristaltic pump, the first stage occurs prior to the second stage and the second stage occurs prior to the third stage.

10. The peristaltic pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuator, the spring, and the plunger are configured to charge the spring when the actuator actuates the plunger away from the tube.

11. The peristaltic pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuator, spring, and plunger are configured to discharge the spring when the actuator mechanically disengages from the plunger.

12. The peristaltic pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuator is configured to mechanically disengage from the plunger to thereby discharge the spring to bias the plunger against the tube.

13. The peristaltic pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein actuation of the actuator does not correspond to actuation of the plunger when the actuator mechanically disengages from the plunger.

14. The peristaltic pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuator is configured to not contribute to a force of the plunger against the tube.

15. The peristaltic pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuator is configured to mechanically engage the plunger to lift the plunger away from the tube and mechanically disengage the plunger to allow the spring to generate a force from the plunger against the tube.

16. The peristaltic pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the peristaltic pump is configured such that a force of the plunger applied to the tube by the plunger is produced by the spring and not the actuator.

17. A peristaltic pump according to claim 1, for pumping fluid in a plurality of cycles where each cycle has first, second, third, and fourth stages,

wherein:

in the first stage, the inlet valve is opened and the plunger is actuated from the tube,

in the second stage, the inlet valve is closed, the plunger is actuated toward the tube, and the actuator is mechanically disengaged from the plunger,

in the third stage, the actuator is mechanically engaged with the plunger, the actuator actuates the plunger away from the tube, and the outlet valve is opened, and

in the fourth stage, the actuator actuates the plunger toward the tube to discharge fluid downstream past the outlet valve.

18. The peristaltic pump according to claim 17, wherein in the first stage, the outlet valve is closed.

19. The peristaltic pump according to claim 17, wherein the actuator includes a cam and the plunger is coupled to a cam follower configured to follow the cam.

20. The peristaltic pump according to claim 19, wherein when the actuator mechanically engages with the plunger, the cam follower follows the cam.

21. The peristaltic pump according to claim 19, wherein when the actuator mechanically engages with the plunger, the cam follower and the cam are in physical contact with each other.

22. The peristaltic pump according to claim 19, wherein when the actuator is mechanically disengaged with the plunger, the cam follower does not follow the cam.

23. The peristaltic pump according to claim 19, wherein when the actuator is mechanically disengaged with the plunger, the cam follower and the cam are not in physical contact with each other.

24. The peristaltic pump according to claim 17, wherein in each cycle of the peristaltic pump, the first stage occurs prior to the second stage, the second stage occurs prior to the third stage, and the third stage occurs prior to the fourth stage.

25. The peristaltic pump according to claim 17, wherein the actuator, the spring, and the plunger are configured to charge the spring when the actuator actuates the plunger away from the tube.

26. The peristaltic pump according to claim 17, wherein the actuator, spring, and plunger are configured to discharge the spring when the actuator mechanically disengages from the plunger.

27. The peristaltic pump according to claim 17, wherein the actuator is configured to mechanically disengage from the plunger to thereby discharge the spring to bias the plunger against the tube.

28. The peristaltic pump according to claim 17, wherein actuation of the actuator does not correspond to actuation of the plunger when the actuator mechanically disengages from the plunger.

29. The peristaltic pump according to claim 17, wherein the actuator is configured to not contribute to a force of the plunger against the tube.

30. The peristaltic pump according to claim 17, wherein the actuator is configured to mechanically engage the plunger to lift the plunger away from the tube and mechanically disengage the plunger to allow the spring to generate a force from the plunger against the tube.

31. The peristaltic pump according to claim 17, wherein the peristaltic pump is configured such that a force of the plunger applied to the tube by the plunger is produced by the spring and not the actuator.