Peristaltic pump and related method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12020798-B2
Application number	US-202217825387-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2022
Priority date	Dec 21, 2011
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

A peristaltic pump, and related method, are disclosed that includes a cam shaft, a plunger-cam follower, a tube receiver, a spring, a plunger, a door, and a plunger lift lever. The cam shaft includes a plunger cam. The plunger-cam follower engages with the plunger cam of the cam shaft. The spring provides a bias and the plunger is biased toward the tube receiver by the spring. The plunger is coupled to the plunger-cam follower where expansion of the plunger cam along a radial angle intersecting the plunger-cam follower as the cam shaft rotates actuates the plunger away from the tube receiver. The door lever can be actuated between a first position and a second position. The plunger lift lever is coupled to the door lever to actuate the plunger away from the tube receiver when the door lever is actuated to the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A peristaltic pump, comprising:
a cam shaft including a plunger cam;
a plunger-cam follower configured to engage the plunger cam of the cam shaft;
a tube receiver configured to receive a tube;
a spring configured to provide a bias;
a plunger biased toward the tube receiver by the spring, the plunger coupled to the plunger-cam follower, wherein expansion of the plunger cam along a radial angle intersecting the plunger-cam follower as the cam shaft rotates actuates the plunger away from the tube receiver;
a door lever configured to be actuated between a first position and a second position; and
a plunger lift lever operatively coupled to the door lever, the plunger lift lever configured to actuate the plunger away from the tube receiver when the door lever is actuated to the second position.

2. The peristaltic pump according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a position sensor configured to determine a position of the plunger; and
a processor coupled to the position sensor, wherein the processor is configured to estimate fluid flow within the tube utilizing the position of the plunger.

3. The peristaltic pump according to claim 2 , further comprising an angle sensor operatively coupled to the cam shaft configured to determine an angle of rotation of the cam shaft.

4. The peristaltic pump according to claim 2 , wherein the processor compares a first static region of the position sensor to a second static region of the position sensor to estimate the fluid flow.

5. The peristaltic pump according to claim 4 , wherein the processor determines the first static region by identifying the first static region within a predetermined range of angles as indicated by an angle sensor.

6. The peristaltic pump according to claim 5 , wherein the processor determines the second static region by identifying the second static region within a second predetermined range of angles as indicated by the angle sensor.

7. The peristaltic pump according to claim 5 , wherein the processor determines the first static region and the second static region by measuring the position of the plunger as determined by the position sensor at predetermined angles as indicated by the angle sensor.

8. The peristaltic pump according to claim 6 , wherein the processor determines the first static region by identifying a peak movement of the plunger as measured by the position sensor and identifies the second static region to be after the identified peak movement.

9. The peristaltic pump according to claim 6 , wherein the processor determines the second static region by identifying an end of the first static region.

10. The peristaltic pump according to claim 2 , wherein the processor compares a first static region measured by the position sensor to a second static region measured by the position sensor to estimate the fluid flow.

11. The peristaltic pump according to claim 1 , further comprising an electric motor operatively coupled to the cam shaft to apply a rotational torque to the cam shaft.

12. A peristaltic pump, comprising:
a motor;
a cam shaft operatively coupled to the motor such that rotation of the motor rotates the cam shaft;
a plunger cam coupled to the cam shaft for rotation therewith;
a pivot shaft;
a plunger pivotally coupled to the pivot shaft, the plunger having a cam follower configured to engage the plunger cam of the cam shaft, wherein the plunger is configured to pivot to a first position to compress a tube and to a second position away from the tube;
a bias member configured to bias the plunger to the first position to compress the tube;
a door lever configured to be actuated between an open position and a closed position; and
a plunger lift lever operatively coupled to the door lever, the plunger lift lever configured to actuate the plunger against the bias member when the door lever is actuated to the open position.

13. The peristaltic pump according to claim 12 , further comprising:
a position sensor configured to measure a position of the plunger; and
a processor configured to estimate a volume of fluid discharged from the tube when the bias member causes the plunger to move towards the first position, wherein:
the plunger and the plunger cam are configured to compress the tube using only a force of the bias member,
the plunger cam is configured to only retract the plunger to the second position, and
the plunger is configured to engage the plunger cam such that the plunger cam does not force the plunger against the tube.

14. A method of pumping fluid, the method comprising:
providing a cam shaft including a plunger cam;
engaging a plunger-cam follower with the plunger cam of the cam shaft;
receiving a tube in a tube receiver;
biasing a plunger toward the tube, the plunger coupled to the plunger-cam follower;
actuating the plunger away from the tube receiver by expanding the plunger cam along a radial angle intersecting the plunger-cam follower as the cam shaft rotates;
actuating a door lever from a first position and a second position; and
lifting the plunger away from the tube by actuation of the door lever from the first position to the second position.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
estimating fluid flow within the tube by utilizing the position of the position of the plunger as measured by a position sensor.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining an angle of rotation of the cam shaft.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
comparing a first static region of the position sensor to a second static region of the position sensor to estimate the fluid flow.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
determining the first static region by identifying the first static region within a predetermined range of angles as indicated by an angle sensor.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
determining the first static region by identifying a peak movement of the plunger as measured by the position sensor and identifying the second static region to be after the identified peak movement.

20. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising:
determining the second static region by identifying an end of the first static region.

Assignees

• Deka Products Lp

Inventors

• Kamen Dean
• Kerwin John M
• Murphy Colin H
• Langenfeld Christopher C
• Slate Michael J
• Place Michael S
• Gray Larry B

Classifications

• G06T2207/20104

  Interactive definition of region of interest [ROI] · CPC title

• G01F1/00

  Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow (measuring a proportion of the volume flow G01F5/00) · CPC title

• A61M25/00

  Catheters; Hollow probes (dilators A61M29/00; {peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00} ; for measuring or testing A61B; {materials for catheters A61L29/00}) · CPC title

• A61M5/16886

  for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters · CPC title

• A61M5/16877

  Adjusting flow; Devices for setting a flow rate · CPC title