10966results about "Flexible member pumps" patented technology

A piston-type infusion pump is provided having an improved method of occlusion detection. The infusion pump includes processing circuitry for controlling the drive mechanism to infuse medication to a patient, including a sensor to track the position of the syringe plunger, thereby metering the amount of medication dispensed to the patient. The processing circuitry also includes a force sensor for providing signals indicative of the presence of occlusions along the infusion path. The operation of the drive mechanism causes delivery of medication to the patient. The infusion pump is constructed to be watertight.

A method of dispensing fluid includes three processes. A first one of these processes includes pumping fluid into a resilient variable-volume dispensing chamber. The dispensing chamber is in series with a normally present finite fluid impedance and an output. The impedance is sufficient so as to cause expansion of the dispensing chamber as it receives pumped fluid even while some fluid flows through the output. Another one of these processes includes repeatedly measuring a parameter related to volume of the dispensing chamber over time. A third one of these processes includes controlling the pumping of fluid based on repeated measurements of the parameter to produce a desired fluid flow through the output. A corresponding system for dispensing fluid implements these processes.

The invention describes rolled electroactive polymer devices. The invention also describes employment of these devices in a wide array of applications and methods for their fabrication. A rolled electroactive polymer device converts between electrical and mechanical energy; and includes a rolled electroactive polymer and at least two electrodes to provide the mechanical / electrical energy conversion. Prestrain is typically applied to the polymer. In one embodiment, a rolled electroactive polymer device employs a mechanism, such as a spring, that provides a force to prestrain the polymer. Since prestrain improves mechanical / electrical energy conversion for many electroactive polymers, the mechanism thus improves performance of the rolled electroactive polymer device.

The invention relates to membrane pumps for delivering liquids. More specifically, a pump is provided having a pump housing with a pump cavity formed between first and second wall portions thereof, and an pump membrane pump membrane having first and second membrane surfaces arranged within the pump cavity, whereby a pump chamber is provided between the first wall portion and the first membrane surface, and an actuation chamber is provided between the second wall and the second membrane surface. Inlet means comprising an inlet valve in fluid communication with the pump chamber, and outlet means comprising an outlet valve in fluid communication with the pump chamber are provided. The pump membrane has a maximum volume position, and a drained volume position in which the first membrane surface in a stretched state abuts the first wall. To drive the membrane, actuating means for periodically shifting the pump membrane between the maximum volume position and the drained volume position is provided, thereby, in a situation of use, providing a flow of fluid.

The present invention provides systems, methods and apparatuses for medical fluid delivery systems that employ a pumping cassette. In particular, the present invention provides systems, methods and apparatuses for cassette-based dialysis therapies including hemodialysis, hemofiltration, APD (including tidal modalities) and CFPD. The embodiments described include a combined pump / valve housing, a fail safe pump / valve arrangement, a cassette auto-alignment feature, a pumping membrane material, a multiplexing valve arrangement, an expert fluid pumping management system, an integral port vent and an in-line air separation chamber and combinations of each of these.

A microfluidic device comprises pumps, valves, and fluid oscillation dampers. In a device employed for sorting, an entity is flowed by the pump along a flow channel through a detection region to a junction. Based upon an identity of the entity determined in the detection region, a waste or collection valve located on opposite branches of the flow channel at the junction are actuated, thereby routing the entity to either a waste pool or a collection pool. A damper structure may be located between the pump and the junction. The damper reduces the amplitude of oscillation pressure in the flow channel due to operation of the pump, thereby lessening oscillation in velocity of the entity during sorting process. The microfluidic device may be formed in a block of elastomer material, with thin membranes of the elastomer material deflectable into the flow channel to provide pump or valve functionality.

A method of dispensing a therapeutic fluid from a line includes providing an inlet line connectable to an upstream fluid source. The inlet line is in downstream fluid communication with a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber has a pump outlet. The method also includes actuating a force application assembly so as to restrict retrograde flow of fluid through the inlet while pressurizing the pumping chamber to urge flow through the pump outlet. A corresponding system employs the method.

A delivery device includes a durable housing portion and a separable disposable portion that selectively engage and disengage from each other. The disposable housing portion secures to the patient-user and may be disposed of after it has been in use for a prescribed period. Components that normally come into contact with a patient-user or with infusion media are supported by the disposable housing portion for disposal after the prescribed use, while the durable housing portion supports other components such as electronics for controlling delivery of infusion media from the reservoir and a drive device and drive linkage.

A first electrode and a sacrificial layer are sequentially formed on a substrate, and then first openings for forming supports inside are formed in the first electrode and the sacrificial layer. The supports are formed in the first openings, and then a second electrode is formed on the sacrificial layer and the supports, thus forming a micro electro mechanical system structure. Afterward, an adhesive is used to adhere and fix a protection structure to the substrate for forming a chamber to enclose the micro electro mechanical system structure, and at least one second opening is preserved on sidewalls of the chamber. A release etch process is subsequently employed to remove the sacrificial layer through the second opening in order to form cavities in an optical interference reflection structure. Finally, the second opening is closed to seal the optical interference reflection structure between the substrate and the protection structure.

A peristaltic pump, and related system method are provided. The peristaltic pump includes a cam shaft, first and second pinch-valve cams, first and second pinch-valve cam followers, a plunger cam, a plunger-cam follower, a tube receiver, and a spring-biased plunger. The first and second pinch-valve cams are coupled to the cam shaft. The first and second pinch-valve cam followers each engage the first and second pinch-valve cams, respectively. The plunger cam is coupled to the cam shaft. The plunger-cam follower engages the plunger cam. The tube receiver is configured to receive a tube. The spring-biased plunger is coupled to the plunger-cam follower such that the expansion of the plunger cam along a radial angle intersecting the plunger-cam follower as the cam shaft rotates pushes the plunger cam follower towards the plunger and thereby disengages the spring-biased plunger from the tube. A spring coupled to the spring-biased plunger biases the spring-biased plunger to apply the crushing force to the tube.

Apparatuses and methods for pumping fluid are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus is a miniature pump that includes a shape memory wire that obtains a plastic condition below a transformation temperature and has a memorized shape such that the shape memory wire produces a work stroke by returning to the memorize shape at least at the transformation temperature. A spring biased against the shape memory wire is deflected by the work stroke to deform the shape memory wire from the memorized shape below the transformation temperature. A fluid pump is coupled to the shape memory wire and driven by the biased spring and shape memory wire to produce a fluid flow. The miniature pump can be incorporated into a self-contained infusion device in the form of a compact self-adhesive patch including a fluid reservoir, control electronics and power supply that is place directly at the infusion site of a user.

The present invention relates to transducers, their use and fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention also relates to devices including an electroactive polymer to convert between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention further relates to compliant electrodes that conform to the shape of a polymer included in a transducer. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.

A liquid pumping apparatus for pumping liquids, more specifically a linear peristaltic pump apparatus. The apparatus consists of a high durometer compressible elastomeric liquid flow tube (12), an infeed valve assembly (26), an outfeed valve assembly (38), an extensible and retractable actuator anvil (34) having a round surface which engages the flow tube (12) at all times, an opposed anvil (24.1) having a round surface in engagement with the flow tube at all times, the flow tube being held between the anvils (34, 24.1) in a slightly compressed state when the anvil (34) is retracted, and a control assembly (100) for causing the movable anvil to be sequentially extended and retracted to cause flow within the flow tube (12) from the infeed valve assembly (26) to the outfeed valve assembly (38). With this apparatus the lumen of the flow tube (12) to the sides of the anvils is not completely reduced to zero volume during displacement compression whereby gas embolisms do not erupt or explode when discharged. Two principal embodiments are disclosed, one having infeed and outfeed check valves which oclude the flow tube, and the other having check valves.

Hemodialysis dialysis systems are disclosed. Hemodialysis systems of the invention may include a dialysate flow path including a balancing circuit, a mixing circuit, and / or a directing circuit. The circuits may be defined within one or more cassettes. The fluid circuits may be at least partially isolated, spatially and / or thermally, from electrical components of the system. A gas supply may be provided in fluid communication with the dialysate flow path and / or the dialyzer to urge dialysate through the dialyzer and blood back to the patient. The hemodialysis systems may include fluid handling devices, actuated using a control fluid, optionally delivered using a detachable pump. Fluid handling devices may be generally rigid and of a spheroid shape, optionally with a diaphragm dividing the device into compartments.

A pump for pumping fluid includes a tube platen, a plunger, a bias member, inlet and outlet valves, an actuator mechanism, a position sensor, and a processor. The plunger is configured for actuation toward and away from the infusion-tube when the tube platen is disposed opposite to the plunger. The tube platen can hold an intravenous infusion tube. The bias member is configured to urge the plunger toward the tube platen.

A repeater system may control a pump by using a repeater and a user interface. An adhesive patch system may be used for affixing a pump or other object to a human body. Such an adhesive patch system may include two sets of adhesive members, each member including an adhesive material on at least one side so as to attach to the body. The members of the first set are spaced to allow the members of the second set to attach to the body in spaces provided between the members of the first set, and the members of the second set are spaced to allow members of the first set to detach from the body without detaching the members of the second set. Also, fill stations and base stations are provided for personal pump systems.

A menu driven reprogrammable drug pump is provided with a memory, such as flash memory, a display, a keyboard, and a communications port to allow a generic pump to be programmed with a desired pump application (therapy) program and patient specific settings. Programming and data transfer with another pump or a computer to and from the patient pump is by the communications port that allows local and / or remote communications with the pump. Flash memory stores the pump application program during use. Patient safety is provided by a cassette identification system, an occlusion detection system, and a latch / lock detection system. Automated testing of the pump is by a closed loop testing system.

A delivery device includes a durable housing portion and a separable disposable portion that selectively engage and disengage from each other. The disposable housing portion secures to the patient-user and may be disposed of after it has been in use for a prescribed period. Components that normally come into contact with a patient-user or with infusion media are supported by the disposable housing portion for disposal after the prescribed use, while the durable housing portion supports other components such as electronics for controlling delivery of infusion media from the reservoir and a drive device and drive linkage.

The invention describes devices for performing thermodynamic work on a fluid, such as pumps, compressors and fans. The thermodynamic work may be used to provide a driving force for moving the fluid. Work performed on the fluid may be transmitted to other devices, such as a piston in a hydraulic actuation device. The devices may include one or more electroactive polymer transducers with an electroactive polymer that deflects in response to an application of an electric field. The electroactive polymer may be in contact with a fluid where the deflection of the electroactive polymer may be used to perform thermodynamic work on the fluid. The devices may be designed to efficiently operate at a plurality of operating conditions, such as operating conditions that produce an acoustic signal above or below the human hearing range. The devices may be used in thermal control systems, such as refrigeration system, cooling systems and heating systems.

A hydraulic pump powering system includes a mobile vehicle, a first electric current generator device, and one or more electric pump motors. The mobile vehicle has first and second prime movers. The first electric current generator device is disposed onboard the mobile vehicle and is configured to be mechanically coupled with the first prime mover to convert movement created by the first prime mover into first electric current. The one or more electric pump motors are configured to receive the first electric current to power a hydraulic pump. The second prime mover is configured to generate movement that is converted into a propulsive force that propels the mobile vehicle. The one or more electric pump motors are configured to receive the first electric current in order to power the hydraulic pump to pump a fluid into a pumping location located off-board the mobile vehicle.

A volume of fluid moved by a pump, such as a pump in an APD system, may be determined without direct measurement of the fluid, such as by flow meter, weight, etc. For example, a volume of a pump chamber (181) (having a movable element that varies the volume of the pump chamber) may be determined by measuring pressure in the pump chamber and a reference chamber, both while the two chambers are isolated from each other, and after the two chambers are fluidly connected so that pressures in the chambers may equalize. Equalization of the pressures may be assumed to occur in an adiabatic way, e.g., a mathematical model of the system that is based on an adiabatic pressure equalization process may be used to determine the pump chamber volume. In one embodiment, pressures measured after the chambers are fluidly connected may be measured at a time before complete pressure equalization has occurred, and thus the pressures for the pump and reference chambers measured after the chambers are fluidly connected may be unequal, yet still be used to determine the pump chamber volume.

The present invention involves, in some embodiments, reusable pump drive systems, which are coupled to removable, and preferably disposable, pumping cartridges. The invention provides, in some embodiments, novel pumping cartridges for use in pumping systems. One such cartridge includes an integrated filter element therein for filtering fluids, for example fluids pumped to the body of a patient in a medical procedure. In some embodiments, the integrated filter is utilized as a blood clot removal filter and in other embodiments is used to remove particulates liquids infused to a patient. The filter element includes a filter with pores therein that are preferably sized to permit essentially unrestricted flow of individual human blood cells therethrough and to block or collect blood clots, cell clumps, particulates etc. with sizes substantially larger than the average size of a human blood cell.

Microfluidic methods and devices for heterogeneous binding and agglutination assays are disclosed, with improvements relating to mixing and to reagent and sample manipulation in systems designed for safe handling of clinical test samples.

A system, apparatus, and method for processing a sample for chemical and / or biological analysis, and detecting one or more target substances. A first system of microfabricated components includes at least a reservoir and a channel, and a second system of detection components including at least a lens. The lens is focused on a sensing platform of the first system. The sensing platform is coupled to the reservoir by the channel. Various types of detection systems can be utilized with the present invention including fluorescence detection systems with a laser that is positioned to illuminate a sample in the sensing platform. The microfabricated components include one or more pumps, valves, mixers, and filters. A thermoelectric cooler can be positioned to control the temperature of at least one of the microfabricated components. A variety of component configurations can be implemented, and a variety of different processes can be performed, depending on the configuration of components. The device can also be networked with other information processing devices and share data regarding substances detected from the sample.

A hydraulic pump powering system includes a mobile vehicle, a first electric current generator device, and one or more electric pump motors. The mobile vehicle has first and second prime movers. The first electric current generator device is disposed onboard the mobile vehicle and is configured to be mechanically coupled with the first prime mover to convert movement created by the first prime mover into first electric current. The one or more electric pump motors are configured to receive the first electric current to power a hydraulic pump. The second prime mover is configured to generate movement that is converted into a propulsive force that propels the mobile vehicle. The one or more electric pump motors are configured to receive the first electric current in order to power the hydraulic pump to pump a fluid into a pumping location located off-board the mobile vehicle.

A pumping system 10 provides a physiological pulsatile flow and includes controller 121, a pump drive head 50 coupled to a motor 12 and a fluid housing 52 having at least one port 60. The port 60 includes a ball valve retainer region 69, a valve seat 73, and an occluder ball 71 disposed in the ball valve retainer region 69. During operation, the motor 12 forces the fluid in and out the fluid housing 52 and causes the occluder ball 71 to move from a first position whereby the fluid cannot pass through the port 60, to a second position whereby the fluid moves annular to and generally around the occluder ball 71. This movement creates a slight flow reversal that “breaks up” any blood clots that may form. The pumping system may be used as part of a cardiopulmonary bypass system, a ventricular assist device (VAD) and / or a heart pump.