Bearing for umbilicus of a fluid processing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9545637-B2
Application number	US-201514693518-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2015
Priority date	Apr 22, 2015
Publication date	Jan 17, 2017
Grant date	Jan 17, 2017

Abstract

A fluid circuit for use with a fluid processing assembly, the fluid circuit comprising an umbilicus having a first end, a second end, an axis of rotation, and a cross-sectional circumference; a one-piece bearing secured to the umbilicus at a location between the first and second ends, the bearing having an axis of rotation and including an inner lumen which directly engages the umbilicus and includes a plurality of traction features, which bear against the umbilicus to prevent relative rotation of the bearing and the umbilicus; and the plurality of traction features comprising a first traction feature configured to engage the umbilicus at a first length between the first and second ends and a second traction feature configured to engage the umbilicus at a second length between the first and second ends.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid circuit for use with a fluid processing assembly, the fluid circuit comprising:
an umbilicus having a first end, a second end, an axis of rotation, and a cross-sectional circumference; and
a one-piece bearing secured to the umbilicus at a location between the first and second ends, the bearing having an axis of rotation and including an inner lumen which directly engages the umbilicus and includes a plurality of traction features, which bear against the umbilicus to prevent relative rotation of the bearing and the umbilicus;
wherein the plurality of traction features comprises a first traction feature which comprises a plurality of projections disposed at a first rotational angle about the axis of rotation and is configured to engage the umbilicus at a first and second length between the first and second ends, and a second traction feature which comprises a plurality of projections disposed at a second rotational angle about the axis of rotation and is configured to engage the umbilicus at a third and fourth length between the first and second ends.

2. The fluid circuit of claim 1 , wherein the traction features are oriented transversely to the axis of rotation of the bearing and umbilicus.

3. The fluid circuit of claim 1 , wherein the cross section of the umbilicus at the first and second lengths have generally offset ovular shapes when engaged by the traction features.

4. The fluid circuit of claim 1 , wherein the traction features are disposed on tabs circumferentially disposed about the axis of rotation of the bearing.

5. The fluid circuit of claim 4 , further comprising a third traction feature which comprises a plurality of projections disposed at the first rotational angle about the axis of rotation and is configured to engage the umbilicus at a fifth and sixth length between the first and second ends.

6. The fluid circuit of claim 1 , wherein a third traction feature is disposed diametrically opposed to the first traction feature about the cross-section of the umbilicus between the first and second ends.

7. The fluid circuit of claim 1 , wherein the umbilicus comprises material that includes a thermoplastic elastomer.

8. A fluid circuit for use with a fluid processing assembly, the fluid circuit comprising:
an umbilicus having a first end, a second end, an axis of rotation, and a cross-sectional circumference;
a one-piece bearing secured to the umbilicus at a location between the first and second ends, the bearing having an axis of rotation and including an inner lumen which directly engages the umbilicus and includes a plurality of tabs disposed about the axis of rotation of the urn bilious;
wherein the plurality of tabs comprises:
a first tab, disposed at a first rotational angle about the axis of rotation, having a configuration of traction features which comprises a first traction feature configured to engage the umbilicus at a first compression location positioned between a first and second length between the first and second ends of the umbilicus, and a second traction feature configured to engage the umbilicus at a second compression location positioned between a third and fourth length between the first and second ends of the umbilicus, wherein each traction feature comprises a plurality of projections;
a second tab disposed at a second rotational angle about the axis of rotation, having no traction features configured to engage the umbilicus at a compression location between the first and second lengths and between the third and fourth lengths;
a third tab disposed at a third rotational angle about the axis of rotation, having the configuration of traction features of the first tab, wherein each traction feature comprises a plurality of projections; and
a fourth tab, disposed at a fourth rotational angle about the axis of rotation, having no traction features configured to engage the umbilicus at a compression location between the first and second lengths and between the third and fourth lengths;

wherein the traction features bear against the umbilicus at the compression locations to prevent relative rotation of the bearing and the umbilicus.

9. The fluid circuit of claim 8 , wherein the traction features are oriented transversely to the axis of rotation of the bearing and umbilicus.

10. The fluid circuit of claim 8 , wherein the second and fourth tabs comprise no traction features configured to engage the umbilicus.

11. The fluid circuit of claim 8 , wherein the one or more compression locations of the umbilicus have generally offset ovular cross-sectional shapes when engaged by the traction features.

12. The fluid circuit of claim 8 , wherein the tabs are disposed circumferentially about the axis of rotation of the bearing.

13. The fluid circuit of claim 8 , wherein the first and third tabs are disposed diametrically opposed to each other about the cross-section of the umbilicus, and the second and fourth tabs are disposed diametrically opposed to each other about the cross-section of the umbilicus.

14. The fluid circuit of claim 8 , wherein the umbilicus comprises material including a thermoplastic elastomer.

15. A fluid circuit for use with a fluid processing assembly, the fluid circuit comprising:
an umbilicus having a first end, a second end, an axis of rotation, and a generally circular cross-section having a circumference;
a one-piece bearing secured to the umbilicus at a location between the first and second ends, the bearing having an axis of rotation and including an inner lumen which directly engages the umbilicus and includes a plurality of traction features, which bear against the umbilicus at compression locations to prevent relative rotation of the bearing and the umbilicus;
wherein the plurality of traction features comprises:
a first traction feature which comprises a plurality projections disposed at a first rotational angle about the axis of rotation and is configured to engage the umbilicus at a first compression location which is positioned between a first and second length between the first and second ends of the umbilicus;
a second traction feature which comprises a plurality of projections disposed at a second rotational angle about the axis of rotation and is configured to engage the umbilicus at a second compression location which is positioned between a third and fourth length between the first and second ends of the umbilicus;
a third traction feature which comprises a plurality of projections disposed at a third rotational angle about the axis of rotation and is configured to engage the umbilicus at a third compression location which is positioned between the first and second length between the first and second ends of the umbilicus; and
a fourth traction feature which comprises a plurality of projections disposed at a fourth rotational angle about the axis of rotation and is configured to engage the umbilicus at a fourth compression location which is positioned between the third and fourth length between the first and second ends of the umbilicus;

wherein the cross-sectional shape of the umbilicus at any of the compression locations is non-circular.

16. The fluid circuit of claim 15 , wherein the traction features are disposed on tabs circumferentially disposed about the axis of rotation of the bearing.

17. The fluid circuit of claim 15 , wherein the first and third compression locations are disposed diametrically opposed to each other about the cross-section of the umbilicus.

18. The fluid circuit of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of traction features furthe

Assignees

• Fenwal Inc

Inventors

• Manzella Salvatore
• Pieper Gregory G

Classifications

• B04B5/0442 Primary

  with means for adding or withdrawing liquid substances during the centrifugation, e.g. continuous centrifugation · CPC title

• B04B9/12 Primary

  Suspending rotary bowls {; Bearings; Packings for bearings} · CPC title

• A61M1/3693

  using separation based on different densities of components, e.g. centrifuging · CPC title

• B04B2005/0492

  with fluid conveying umbilicus between stationary and rotary centrifuge parts · CPC title

• F16C11/06

  Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints (universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts F16D3/16) · CPC title