Platen pump

• US 5,911,716 A
• Filed: 01/24/1992
• Issued: 06/15/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BMR Medical, Ltda.
• Original Assignee: I-Flow Corporation (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Rake, Kenneth W., Earhart, Donald M., Judge, Orvil L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reichle, K. M.
• Application Number:
  US07/824,855
• Time in Patent Office: 2,699 Days
• Field of Search: 604/890.1, 604/31, 604/131-135, 604/140-143, 604/145, 604/146, 604/147, 604/150, 604/151, 604/153, 604/154, 604/155, 604/891.1, 128/DIG. 12, 128/DIG. 13
• US Class Current: 604/890.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/148 flexible, e.g. independent bagsA61M5/155 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/12 Pressure infusion

Abstract

An infusion pump formed by a fluid containing shell and a pressurizing shell. A conical helical spring is attached within the pressurizing shell. A circular fluid bag with an outlet tube is placed within the fluid containing shell. The bottom of the fluid containing shell is contoured to match the contour of the fluid bag. The fluid containing shell and the pressurizing shell are threadably received within one another so that by screwing the shells together the spring is compressed to pressurize the fluid bag. A platen distributes the force of the spring over a substantially flat area of the bag.

Claims

1. An infusion apparatus comprising:

a fluid delivery bag connected to an outlet tube, said fluid delivery bag having a bottom side and a top side, said bottom side having a curved contour about its periphery and said top side having a substantially flat central portion;

a first shell having threads and a closed end;

a second shell threadably engaged with said first shell, said second shell having a chamber for receiving said delivery bag, said chamber having a bottom contour which approximates the contour of said bottom side of said fluid delivery bag;

a conical helical spring, having a first coil end attached to said closed end of said first shell, and a second coil end; and

a platen having a non-planar bottom surface configuration which is complementary to said bottom contour of said second shell and a top surface, said top surface of said platen attached to said second end of said helical spring, wherein said helical spring exerts a force on said top surface of said platen and wherein said bottom surface of said platen exerts a force on said top side of said fluid delivery bag when said fluid delivery bag is placed in said chamber of said second shell.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second coil end is larger than said first coil end.

3. An infusion apparatus comprising:

a fluid delivery bag connected to an outlet tube, said fluid delivery bag having a bottom side and a top side, said bottom side having a curved contour about its periphery and said top side having a substantially flat central portion;

a first shell having threads and a closed end;

a second shell threadably engaged with said first shell, said second shell having a chamber having a bottom contour which approximates the contour of said bottom side of said fluid delivery bag;

a conical helical spring, having a first coil end attached to said closed end of said first shell, and a second small coil end; and

a platen having a non-planar bottom surface configuration which is complementary to said bottom contour of said second shell and a top surface, said top surface of said platen attached to said second end of said helical spring, wherein said helical spring exerts a force on said top surface of said platen and wherein said bottom surface of said platen exerts a force on said flat central portion of said fluid delivery bag when said fluid delivery bag is placed in said chamber of said second shell.

4. An infusion apparatus comprising:

a fluid delivery bag connected to an outlet tube, said fluid delivery bag having a top surface with a substantially flat central portion;

a first shell having a closed end;

a helical spring attached to said closed end of said first shell;

a second shell threadably engaged with said first shell and having a chamber therein for holding said fluid delivery bag between said first shell and said second shell; and

a platen attached to said helical spring, said platen having a non-planar bottom surface configuration which is complementary to a bottom contour of said chamber and a top surface, said platen for distributing a force exerted from said spring to the substantially flat central portion of said fluid delivery bag, wherein when said second shell is engaged with said first shell, said helical spring exerts force on said top surface of said platen and said bottom surface of said platen exerts force on said fluid delivery bag so as to force a fluid contained with said fluid delivery bag through the outlet tube.