Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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PRESSURE PUMP FOR FLUIDS
~AVING JAWS AND END-SLOTS
Technical Field and Prior Art
In PCT International Publication No.W082/03254,
entitled "MINIATURE ROTARY INFUSION PUMP WITH SLIDE
LATCH AND DETACHABLE POWER SOURCE", wearable pumps for
continuous medicament administration are disclosed. As
one type of use for such pumps, a chemotherapeutic agent
or the like may be continuously administered to a tumor
site of a patient, for example in the liver or pancreas,
through an implanted catheter, while the infusion pump,
being small enough to be carried or worn, continuously
pumps a predetermined dose of chemotherapeutic agent on
a continuous 24 hour a day basis. Excellent clinical
results have been achieved by this type of treatment~
Alternatively, medicines or other solutions having
higher dosage requirements may also be applied by the
pump.
2Q It is, of course, most desirable for the patient to
be able to load new supplies of solution into such a
pump for controlled 24 hour delivery thereof. However,
since the pump may be small to be wearable and since the
patient may be elderly or debilitated, it is desirable
for the loading technique to be as simple and as
foolproof as possible. While the cited PCT publication
represents an improvement in this respect over the
devices of respectively U.S~ Patent No. 3,908,657, and
Belgian Patent No. 886,687 entitled "MINIATURE INFUSION
_ 3Q PUMP", this present application in turn provides an
improvement in the ease and foolproof characteristic of
loading of a tiny solution bag into a small, wearable
pump in which the tubing is properly positioned for the
desired reliable pumping which can be provided by the
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pump of this invention. Thus by this invention the
therapy which is available through a miniature pump
capable of administering medication on a 24 hour ~asis
becomes available to even more people despite visual
handicaps, age, and state of debilitation, to open up
this promising therapy to such people without the need
of as frequent medical supervision, permitting the
people to live at home and to go about daily activities
while being treated. This pump can be used to pump a
self-contained, small bag of solution, and it can be
also used to pump larger volumes of parenteral and other
solution as desired.
Descri tion of the Invention
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In accordance with this invention a pressure pump
for fluids throush flexible tubing is provided which
comprises a pressure member of generally circular
periphery and means for moving the pressure member in
orbital motion about an axis of rotation. A sleeve
member is also positioned about the pressure member and
spaced for receiving and retaining the flexible tubing
in an annular space between the pressure member and the
sleeve member, with the tubing surrounding the pressure
member for pumping of fluids through the tubing.
The sleeve member is divided into a pair of jaws
attached together at one end in hinged relation to
permit opening and closing of the jaws about the
pressure member to facilitate installation of the tubing.
In accordance with this invention, the jaws define
end surfaces which abut together in the closed position,
and slots defined through the end surfaces communicating
between the annular space and the area outside the
pressure pump to receive lengths of the flexible tubing
occupying the annular space and extending into and out
of the annular space through the slots.
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The slots are preferably proportioned to cause the
lengths of tubing in the slots to abut together while
the jaws are closed, to reduce the possibility of fluid
leakage through the tubing when the pressure member is
displaced in its orbital motion toward the abutting
lengths of tubing in the slots. Thus it becomes
possible for no leaXage to take place through the tubing
when the pressure pump is stopped, irrespective of tne
orbital position of the pressure member, since the
tubing will be compressed, blocXing flow, by the orbital
member in any of its orbital positions.
It may also be preferable for the slots to permit
the lengths of tubing therein to each be folded about an
angle of substanti~lly 180. This provides room for
latch means to be provided to retain the jaws in closed
position. When it is desired to open the jaws, the
latch means is removed from engagement with the jaws to
permit their opening. Th~ latch means can be a sliding
member or any other type of latching means.
Alternatively, added slot means can be formed into
the latch means which engages the jaws. The lengths of
tubing thus do not have to be folded about an angle of
substantially 180 but instead can pass upwardly through
the slot in the latch means. This avoids any possible
Xinking of the tubing that may be caused by folding it
about the angle of substantially 180 as described above.
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An aspect of the invention is as follows:
In a pressure pump for fluids through flexible
tubing which comprises a pressure member of generally
circular periphery, means for moving said pressure member
in orbital motion about an axis of rotation, and a sleeve
member positionable about said pressure member and spaced
for receiving and retaining the flexible tubing in an
annular space between the pressure member and the sleeve
member with the tubing surrounding said pressure member
for pumping of fluids through said tubing, the sleeve
member being divided into a pair of jaws attached together
at one end in hinged relation to permit opening and closing
of the jaws about the pressure member to facilitate install-
ation of the tubing, the improvement comprising, in combina-
5 tion:said jaws defining end surfaces which abut together
in the closed position, slots defined through said end
surfaces communicating between said annular space and
the outside to receive lengths of said flexible tubing
occupying said annular space and extending into and ou-t
of said annular space through said slots and movable latch
means to retain said jaws in abutting relation about said
end surfaces, said latch means defining a slot proportioned
to permit said tubing to extend through said slot of -the
latch means while the jaws are held in closed relation
by said latch means, whereby said lengths of tubing are
folded abou-t an angle substanti.ally less than 180 by
said jaws and latch means.
Description of the Drawings
Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspect-
ive view of the pressure pump of this invention with the
jaws in fully open position in preparation for loading of
the flexible tubing.
Figure 2 is another perspective view of the pressure
pump showing how one jaw can be rotated to its closed
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position and the tube threaded through the slot on the
end surface thereof.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing
how the other jaw can be brought to its closed position
and the tubing threaded through the slot and the end
surface thereof in similar manner to the first jaw.
Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing
how one form of latch means can be brought *orward to
retain the jaws in closed position.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative
embodiment of the pressure pump of this invention, shown
in a configuration sirnilar to that of Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the pressure pump
of Figure 5, shown carried in a housing, with the pump
carrying tubing connecting between a small bag of
solution at one end and a catheter at the other end, and
showing the latch means in closed position with the
tubing passing therethrough.
Description of Specific Embodiment
Referring to Figs 1 through 4, a pressure pump 10 in
accordance with this invention is provided. Pressure
pump 10 may be carried by any type of casing that may be
desired, typically for example in the manner of the
previously cited PCT publication, and the details of the
pressure pump of this invention may be similar to the
structure of that PCT publication or alternatively the
cited U.S. Patent No. 3,908,657, except as otherwise
disclosed herein.
Pressure pump 10 includes a pressure member 12 of
generally circular periphery, rotatably attached to a
crank on a shaft which is rotatable by motor 14, through
gear box 15, so that pressure member 12 moves in orbital
motion about an axis of rotation to achieve the orbital
motion.
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Sleeve member 16 is positionable about the pressure
member and spaced for receiving and retaining flexible
tubing 18 in an annular space 20 which is definable
between the pressure member 12 and sleeve member 16 for
pumping of fluids through the tubing by the orbital
motion of pressure member 12.
Sleeve member 16 is divided into a pair of jaws 22
attached together at one end in hinged relation about
pin 24 to permit opening and closing of jaws 22 about
pressure member 12, to facilitate installation of tubing
18.
Knob 26 may be provided for manual rotation of the
crankshaft that carries pressure member 12, to orbitally
move the pressure member to facilitate the installation
of tubing 18. Also, sliding latch 28 is provided to
latch jaws 22 into their closed position by sliding
about latching projections 30, to prevent the reopening
of jaws 22 during operation as particularly shown in
Figure 4. The specific design of latch member 28 may be
as disclosed in previously cited PCT publication.
In accordance with this invention, jaws 22 each
define end surfaces 32 which abut together in the closed
position as shown for example in Figures 3 or 4. Slots
34 are defined through end surfaces 32, being
proportioned to communicate between annular space 20 and
the outside of pressure pump 10 to receive lengths of
tubing 18 which extend from the exterior into annular
space 20, and once again extending out of annular space
20 into the exterior region about pump 10. Accordingly,
tubing 18 may connect at one end to a container of
solution which is to be administered to a patient, and
at its other end to a catheter communicating with the
arteriovenous system of a patient, and optionally
extending to an actual organ of the patient, for example
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a tumor site at the liver, the pancreas, or elsewhere.
I~en jaws 22 are in their closed position, the orbital
motion of pressure member 12 causes solution to be
pumped through tubing 18 at an exactly predetermined,
low volume rate in a manner dependent upon the velocity
of such orbital motion of pressure me~ber 12.
As can be seen in Figure 2, tubing 18 can be folded
in each slot 34 about an angle of substantially 180 so
that the tubing within annular space 20 undergoes a
substantially 180 bend as it extends through slots 34,
with the exterior length 35 of tubing 18 extending in
substantially the opposite direction from tubing at the
other side of slot 34 as it extends out of slot 34.
Since slot 34 permits each of the lengths of tubing
within them to be bent in this manner, it becomes
possible to slide latch 28 into engagement with
projections 30 of ~aws 22 without interference with
tubing 18.
It is also pre*erred for slots 34 to be so
proportioned that lengths of tubing 18 in the slots abut
together while the jaws are closed. For example, note
abutting surfaces 36 of tubing 18 in Figure 4. This
reduces the possibility of fluid leakage through tubing
18 in the circumstance where pressure member 12 is
displaced in its orbital motion toward the abutting
lengths of tubing in slots 34. In other words, because
of the orbital positioning of pressure member 12, the
tubing in annular space 20 is always closed at one
point, i.e., in that direction in which the pressure
member is displaced from its center of orbital motion.
However, if the sections of tubing within slots 34 were
spaced from each other, the tubing might not be closed
when the direction of orbital displacement of pressure
member 12 is positioned between the two lengths of
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tubing in slots 34. However, when lengths of tubing
within slots 34 abut each other, at least one segment of
the tubing can be sealed closed by pressure member 12 in
every possible orbital position of the pressure member,
to avoid the risk of uncontrolled liquid flow through
tubing 18.
The structure of this invention is very easy to load
with tubing 18 so that it becomes more usable by an
elder~y or debilitated person. The basic steps of
loading are illustrated by Figures 1-4. First, tubing
18 is placed between the open jaws 22 and pressure
member 12. One of the jaws 22 is then closed as shown
in Figure 2, and tubing 18 placed into slot 34 and bent
double into an angle of approximately 180. The other
lS jaw 22 is then closed, with tubing 18 placed in the
other slot 34 as shown in Figure 2 to achieve the
configuration of Figure 3. Thereafter, the segments of
tubing 18 are stretched down into their bent, 180
relationship by pulling downwardly, and latch 28 is
passed over the jaws and tubing to form the latche~
configuration of Figure 4.
Thereafter, pump 10 can be operated, with liquid
passing through tubing 18 in a manner which is entirely
dependent upon the rate of orbital motion of pressure
member 12.
The configuration of the pump of this invention is
also advantageous because it avoids the situation where
the tubing is wound about the pressure member more than
360. This results in a higher flow capacity, when
compared with prior models of the pump operating at
equal power outputs. Thus the battery operated pumps
will last longer when designed in accordance with this
invention, all else being equal, and higher flow
capacities can be achieved.
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Pressure sensing means may be provided as a safety
measure to shut off the pump in the event of an
occlusion or blockage of the pump output.
Referring to Figures 5 and 6, a pump design is shown
which may be identical to that of Figures 1 through 4
except as otherwise indicated herein.
Pressure pump lOa includes pressure member 12a which
is rotatable by motor 14a in a manner similar to the
previous embodiment. Sleeve member 16a, divided into
jaws 22a, is provided to receive tubing 18a in the space
defined between pressure member 12a and sleeve 16a when
jaws 22a are in their closed position, all as in the
previous embodiment.
Sliding latch 28a is provided as previously
described, and may be of identical design to the
previous embodiment and to that of the cited PCT
publication except for the presence of cut away slot 40
positioned with its open mouth at the front end of
sliding latch 28a. Accordingly, tubing 18a, when
mounted in pump lOa, does not have to bend into a
substantially 180 angle as in the embodiment of Figures
1 through 3, but instead tubing 18a can extend upwardly
through end slots 34a of jaws 22a, and then through slot
40 of latch 28a, forming an angle of approximately 90
with the lengths of tubing occupying slots 34a in
typically abutting relation, to eliminate any
possibility of occlusion of tube 18a by kinking. Thus,
tubing 18a can communicate with a bag of solution 42 at
one end and with a catheter adapter 44, for example, at
its other end.
Bag 44 may be retained within housing 46, which also
carries pump lOa as shown. Housing 46 has a hinged lid
48 which may be latched by latch member 28a in a manner
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described in further detail in the cited PCT
publication. Pump housing 46 and its ancillary parts
may also be of the design cited in that publication.
Alternatively, bag 42 may be a liter of parenteral
solution hanging from an IV pole, with pump lOa being
also attached to the IV pole for precise administration
o~ large volume parenteral solutions or, if desirea,
large volumes of enteral solutions in an enteral feeding
system through the gastrointestinal tract. The speed of
the pump can be controlled by appropriate gearing to
give any desired controllable range of flow volume. The
pump of this invention may, of course, carry a battery,
or may be powered by any desired power source.
The above has been offered for illustrative purposes
only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the
invention of this application, which is as defined in
the claims below.
