worm) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`lntemauonal Bureau
`
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`(51) International l’8tel1tCl8SSlll¢8tl0|1 6 1
`F04B 43,08
`
`(11) International Publication Number:
`WO 97/34084
`(43) International Publication Date:
`18 September 1997 (l8.09.97)
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`
`10 March 1997 (l0.03.97)
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`08/615,704
`08/731,777
`03/751,548
`08/784,759
`
`12 March 1996 (1203.96)
`18 October 1996 (l8.10.96)
`18 November 1996 (I8.lI.96)
`16 January I997 (1601.97)
`
`US
`US
`US
`US
`
`T. AU. AZ. BB. BG. BR. BY.
`EE, ES, FI, GB, GE, HU, IL,
`. KZ. LK. LR. LS. LT. LU. LV.
`ls. ll’. KE. KG. KP.
`, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU,
`MD, MG, MK, MN,
`SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, TI, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, UZ, VN,
`ARIPO patent (GH, KE, L MW, s1), sz, UG), Eurasian
`patent (AM. AZ. BY. KG. K-Z. MD. RU. T-l. TM). European
`Patent (AT. BE. CH. DE. DK. ES. Fl. FR. GB. GR. IE. IT.
`LU. MC. NL. PT. SE). OAPl Patent (BF. Bl. CF. CG. Cl.
`CM. GA. GN. ML. MR. NE. SN. TD. TC‘)-
`
`(71)(72) Applicant and Inventor: MOUBAYED, Ahmad-Maher Published
`[US/US]; 22212 Destello, Mission Viejo, CA 92691 (US).
`With international search report.
`
`(72) Inventor: JESTER, Robelio, B.; Lago Tanganica 716, Jardines
`Del Lago, Mexcali, Baja California (MX).
`
`(74) Agent: GILLIAM. Frank, D.; Suite 200, 4565 Ruffner Street,
`San Diego, CA 92111 (US).
`
`(54) Title: PERISTALTIC PUMP WITH PINCH FINGERS FOR PROVIDING COMPLETE OCCLUSION
`
`(57) Abstract
`
`A peristaltic pump (10) for pumping liquids through a
`resilient tube (58). One embodiment of the pump includes a
`curved concave platen (26) against which the resilient tube
`is placed.
`In a second embodiment,
`the pump is a linear
`pump having a generally planar platen (80).
`In the first and
`second embodiments a lobe cam (30) is positioned adjacent
`to the platen and tube. A plurality of pump fingers (48) are
`mounted between the tube and cam in a manner permitting
`radial movement of the pump fingers in the fiist embodiment
`and linear movement in the second embodiment. The lobe end
`presses the tube sufficiently to occlude the tube and prevent
`back flow without ever pressing and damaging the tube. A
`transverse pinch finger (66) is provided on each pump finger,
`extending from the tube pressing face of each pump finger. At
`the tube occluding position, the pump finger nearly occludes
`the tube and the pinch finger completes occlusion without
`pressing the tube beyond the fully occluded position.
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-001
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-001
`
`

`
`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`Codes used to identify States party to the PCI‘ on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international
`applications under the PCT.
`
`Armenia
`Austria
`Australia
`Barbados
`Belgium
`Burkina Faso
`Bulgaria
`Benin
`Brazil
`Belann
`Canada
`Central African Republic
`Congo
`Switzerland
`Cote d'lvoire
`Cameroon
`China
`Czechoslovakia
`Clech Republic
`Germany
`Denmark
`Estonia
`
`AM
`AT
`AU
`BB
`BE
`BF
`BG
`BJ
`BR
`BY
`CA
`CF
`CG
`CH
`CI
`CM
`CN
`CS
`CZ
`DE
`DK
`EE
`ES
`Fl
`FR
`GA
`
`G3
`G1!
`
`United Kingdom
`Georgia
`Guinea
`Greece
`Hungary
`Ireland
`Italy
`181381!
`Kenya
`Kyrgystan
`Democratic People's Republic
`of Korea
`Republic of Korea
`Kazakhstan
`Liechtenstein
`Sri Lanka
`Liberia
`Lithuania
`Luxembourg
`Latvia
`Monaco
`Republic of Moldova
`
`MW
`MX
`NE
`N1.
`NO
`NZ
`PL
`PT
`RO
`RU
`SD
`SE
`SG
`SI
`SK
`SN
`SZ
`TD
`TC
`1']
`'1'!‘
`UA
`UG
`US
`UZ
`VN
`
`Malawi
`Mexico
`Niger
`Netherlands
`Norway
`New Zealand
`Poland
`Portugal
`Romania
`Russian Federation
`Sudan
`Sweden
`Singapore
`Slovenia
`Slovakia
`Senegal
`Swaziland
`Chad
`Togo
`Tajikistan
`Trinidad and Tobago
`Ukraine
`Uganda
`United States of America
`Uzbekistan
`Viet Nam
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-002
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-002
`
`

`
`WO 97134084
`
`PCT/US97/03676
`
`TITLE OF THE INVENTION
`
`PERISTALTIC PUMP WITH PINCH FINGERS FOR PROVIDING COMPLETE OCCLUSION
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates in general to fluid pumps and
`
`more specifically to a peristaltic pump with a cam driven
`
`plurality of fingers for sequentially engaging a resilient
`
`tube to create liquid flow through the tube and detectors
`
`for detecting occlusion of the tube at the input and output
`
`of the pump.
`
`Conventional
`
`linear
`
`and rotary peristaltic pumps
`
`typically have a section of resilient tubing positioned
`
`between a wall
`
`and a set of rollers or
`
`reciprocating
`
`pushers that progressively compress sections of the tubing
`
`to pump liquids.
`
`Such pumps are often used in medical
`
`applications, such as intravenous infusion or withdrawing
`
`fluids such as in a wound drainage system.
`
`These pumps
`
`operate in a positive manner and are capable of generating
`
`substantial outlet pressures.
`
`Typical
`
`linear peristaltic pumps
`
`include
`
`those
`
`described by Sorg et al.
`
`in U.S. Patent 2,877,714,
`
`Borsannyi
`
`in U.S. Patent No. 4,671,792 Heminway et al.
`
`in
`
`U.S. Patent No. 4,893,991 and Canon in U.S. Patent No.
`
`4.728,265. While generally effective,
`
`these pumps are
`
`large,
`
`complex and cumbersome,
`
`requiring ea drive shaft
`
`parallel to a resilient tube and a plurality of cams along
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-003
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-003
`
`

`
`W0 97/34084
`
`PCTlUS97l03676
`
`2
`
`the drive shaft to move pushers toward and away from the
`
`tube.
`
`Rotary peristaltic pumps generally dispose a resilient
`
`tube along’ a circular' path, with a number of rollers
`
`mounted around the circumference of
`
`a circular
`
`rotor
`
`sequentially rolling along the tube to occlude the tube and
`
`force liquid through the tube. Typical of such pumps are
`
`those disclosed by Soderquist et al.
`
`in U.S. Patent No.
`
`4,886,431 and Kling in U.S. Patent No. 3,172,367.
`
`These
`
`pumps often have relatively low efficiency and impose high
`
`shear and tension stresses on the tube causing internal
`
`tube wall erosion or spallation.
`
`The tube may eventually
`
`be permanently deformed so that the tube becomes flattened
`
`into a more oval shape and carries less liquid.
`
`Another type of peristaltic pump has a tube arranged
`
`along a circular path with a cam member within the circle
`
`sequentially moving a plurality of blunt pushers or fingers
`
`outwardly to sequentially compress the tube from one end of
`
`the path to the other. Typical of these pumps are those
`
`shown by Gonner in German Patent No. 2,152,352 and Tubospir
`
`in Italian Patent No. 582,797.
`
`These pumps
`
`tend to be less
`
`complex than linear
`
`peristaltic pumps. However,
`
`the pressure imposed by the
`
`blunt fingers reduces tube life, sometimes causing internal
`
`tube wall
`
`erosion
`
`or
`
`spallation, which
`
`results
`
`in
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-004
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-004
`
`

`
`WO 97/34084
`
`PCT/US97/03676
`
`3
`
`particulate matter getting into the fluid stream.
`
`Tube
`
`with different wall
`
`thicknesses cannot be accomodated by
`
`these pumps, since with thinner than standard tubes the
`
`fingers will not properly occlude the tube and with thicker
`
`than standard tubes the tube will close prematurely and be
`
`subject
`
`to excessive compression,
`
`requiring higher
`
`cam
`
`drive power and causing excessive wear on the cam and tube.
`
`In many
`
`applications
`
`of peristaltic pumps,
`
`in
`
`particular medical
`
`applications,
`
`it
`
`is
`
`important
`
`to
`
`promptly detect when the pump ceases to operate due to an
`
`occlusion in the pump tube either before or after the pump.
`
`An input occlusion occurring in the tube leading to the
`
`pump will cause the tube to collapse due to the fluid being
`
`sucked from the input side and pushed out the output side.
`
`An output occlusion occurring in the tube leading away from
`
`the pump will continue to push liquid into the output tube,
`
`inflating the tube and possibly causing it to burst.
`
`In
`
`either case, fluid flow to the end use is stopped.
`
`These pumps
`
`tend to be
`
`less complex than linear
`
`peristaltic pumps.
`
`However,
`
`the pressure imposed by the
`
`blunt fingers reduces tube life, sometimes causing internal
`
`tube wall
`
`erosion
`
`or
`
`spallation, which
`
`results
`
`in
`
`particulate matter getting into the fluid stream.
`
`Tube
`
`with different wall
`
`thicknesses cannot be accommodated by
`
`these pumps, since with thinner than standand tubes the
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-005
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-005
`
`

`
`wo 97/34034
`
`PCT/US97/03676
`
`4
`
`fingers will not properly occlude the tube and with thicker
`
`than standard tubes the tube will close prematurely and be
`
`subject
`
`to excessive compression,
`
`requiring higher
`
`cam
`
`drive power and causing excessive wear on the cam and tube.
`
`Thus,
`
`there is a continuing need for both curvilinear
`
`and linear peristaltic pumps of greater simplicity, small
`
`size,
`
`low drive power requirements, which can accommodate
`
`resilient tubes of varying wall
`
`thickness while reducing
`
`wear and internal erosion of the resilient tube and which
`
`can automatically generate an emergency signal when either
`
`the input or output becomes occluded.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The above-noted problems, and others, are overcome in
`
`accordance with this
`
`invention by a peristaltic pump
`
`having,
`
`in one embodiment,
`
`a concave curved, generally
`
`circular, platen for supporting a resilient tube, a multi-
`
`lobe
`
`cam rotatable about
`
`the
`
`center of
`
`the platen
`
`concavity, and a plurality of pump fingers riding on the
`
`cam as
`
`cam followers
`
`and guided to move
`
`in a radial
`
`direction toward and away from said platen.
`
`In another embodiment,
`
`the pump has a generally planar
`
`platen for supporting a resilient
`
`tube,
`
`a plurality of
`
`parallel cams mounted on a rotatable shaft, a plurality of
`
`pump fingers, each riding on one of said cams.
`
`Each pump finger has a face for engaging a tube on
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-006
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-006
`
`

`
`WO 97134084
`
`PCT/US97/03676
`
`5
`
`said circular or planar platen.
`
`Each face includes a
`
`narrow pinch finger spring centered in the face and biased
`
`to extend beyond the face.
`
`Upon rotation of
`
`the cam or cams,
`
`the pump finger
`
`closest to the highest area on the corresponding cam in the
`
`direction of rotation will be moved outwardly in a radial
`
`direction to squeeze the tube against the platen. As the
`
`cam or cam assembly continues to rotate,
`
`the second pump
`
`finger will squeeze the tube as the pinch finger on the
`
`first pump finger occludes the tube,
`
`to force liquid in the
`
`tube to flow in the desired direction as the cam or cam
`
`assembly
`
`rotates.
`
`As
`
`cam rotation continues,
`
`the
`
`subsequent fingers will sequentially squeeze the tube to
`
`push liquid and then occlude the tube. At the same time,
`
`a pump finger just behind a lobe will move away from the
`
`tube, allowing the tube to expand and fill with liquid.
`
`This sequence continues as cam rotation proceeds.
`
`In a second embodiment a pump having a rotary platen
`
`having pump fingers and pinch fingers, each pump finger has
`
`a face for engaging a tube on said circular platen.
`
`Each
`
`face includes a narrow pinch finger spring centered in the
`
`face and biased to extend beyond the face.
`
`Further, each
`
`pump finger includes a roller between the body of the pump
`
`finger and the cam to ride on the cam in the manner of a
`
`roller bearing, reducing wear.
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-007
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-007
`
`

`
`WO 97/34084
`
`PCT/US97/03676
`
`6
`
`When the cam is rotated,
`
`the pump finger closest to
`
`the highest area on the cam (widest lobe)
`
`in the direction
`
`of rotation will be moved outwardly in a radial direction
`
`to squeeze the tube against
`
`the platen.
`
`As
`
`the cam
`
`continues to rotate,
`
`the second pump finger will squeeze
`
`the tube as
`
`the pinch finger on the first pump finger
`
`occludes the tube,
`
`to force liquid in the tube to flow in
`
`the same direction as the cam rotates.
`
`As cam rotation
`
`continues,
`
`the subsequent fingers will sequentially squeeze
`
`the tube to push liquid and then occlude the tube. At the
`
`same time,
`
`the pump finger just behind the lobe will move
`
`away from the tube, allowing the tube to expand and fill
`
`with liquid.
`
`This
`
`sequence continues as can\ rotation
`
`proceeds.
`
`One embodiment of the pump includes pressure sensing
`
`means at
`
`the input and output
`
`ends of
`
`the pump
`
`for
`
`detecting collapse of the resilient tube due to an input
`
`occlusion and for detecting inflation of the resilient tube
`
`due to an output occlusion.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`Details of the invention, and of preferred embodiments
`
`thereof, will be further understood upon reference to the
`
`drawing, wherein:
`
`Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pump with the
`
`casing open and partially cut—away and one pump finger and
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-008
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-008
`
`

`
`WO 97/34084
`
`PCT/US97/03676
`
`7
`
`pump finger mounted pinch finger cut—away;
`
`Figure 2
`
`is a side elevation of
`
`the pump at
`
`the
`
`beginning of a pumping cycle with the casing closed and the
`
`near side casing removed to show the internal components;
`
`Figure 3 is a detail side elevation view of the pump
`
`finger assembly having a spring biased pinch finger and
`
`with the pinch finger partially cut-away;
`
`Figure 4 is a detail side elevation view of a pump
`
`finger with an alternate pinch finger embodiment;
`
`Figure 5 is a schematic side elevation view of the
`
`pump with input and output occlusion detection means;
`
`Figure 6 is a side elevation view of a curvilinear
`
`pump having platen mounted pinch fingers;
`
`Figure 7 is a detail side elevation view, partially
`
`cut away, of the pinch finger assembly having a spring
`
`biased pinch finger;
`
`Figure 8
`
`is a section view,
`
`taken on line 8--8 in
`
`Figure 7;
`
`Figure 9 is a detail side elevation view of a fixed
`
`pinch finger tip;
`
`Figure 10
`
`is a
`
`side elevation view of
`
`a
`
`linear
`
`peristaltic pump with platen mounted pinch fingers;
`
`Figure 11 is an elevation view, partially cut away, of
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-009
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-009
`
`

`
`WO 97/34084
`
`I’CTfUS97l03676
`
`8
`
`a second embodiment of
`
`the pump of Figure 1, having a
`
`planar platen;
`
`Figure 12 is a detail view, partially cut away, of one
`
`embodiment of a pinch finger useful with the pump of Figure
`
`11; and
`
`Figure 13 is a detail view of a second embodiment of
`
`a pinch finger useful with the pump of Figure 11.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMODIMENTS.
`
`Referring to Figures
`
`1
`
`and 2,
`
`there is
`
`seen a
`
`curvilinear peristaltic pump 10 having a casing basically
`
`consisting of a front plate 12, a back plate 14 and spacers
`
`16.
`
`The casing is held together by a plurality of bolts 19
`
`for ease of assembly and disassembly as needed. A removable
`
`cover 18 is secured to casing 10.
`
`Each spacer 16 includes
`
`a block 20 having a hole therethrough cooperating with a
`
`pin or bolt 22 and hook—shaped cover extensions 24 to hold
`
`cover in place.
`
`Cover 18 includes a concave curvilinear platen 26.
`
`While platen 26 may have any suitable surface, generally a
`
`cylindrical surface is preferred. As best seen in Figures
`
`2 and 3, a resilient tube 28 may be laid along platen 26,
`
`exiting through the open space between each pair of
`
`extensions 24.
`
`A multi-lobed cam 30 is mounted for rotation about an
`
`axle 32 that extends through suitable bearings in front and
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-010
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-010
`
`

`
`WO 97/34084
`
`PCT/US97/03676
`
`9
`
`back plates 12 and 14. Cam 30 may have any suitable number
`
`of
`
`lobes,
`
`two or more.
`
`For optimmn performance with
`
`smallest size,
`
`the three-lobe cam shown is preferred.
`
`Where platen 26 is cylindrical, axle 32 is preferably at
`
`the axis of the platen.
`
`Cam 30 can be rotated in either
`
`direction to pump
`
`liquid through tube
`
`28
`
`in either
`
`direction.
`
`For convenience of operation explanation, cam
`
`30 will
`
`be
`
`considered to be
`
`rotating clockwise,
`
`as
`
`indicated by arrow 34.
`
`Any suitable drive means may be
`
`used to rotate cam 30.
`
`In the preferred embodiment shown,
`
`an electric drive motor 36 extends through opening 37 in
`
`back plate 14 and is mounted on the back surface of front
`
`plate 12. Motor 36 has a drive shaft 38 extending through
`
`front plate 12 to a pulley 40. A drive belt 42 extends from
`
`pulley 40 to pulley 44 mounted on cam axle 32. Pulleys 40
`
`and 44 are sized to provide the desired cam rotation speed.
`
`A variable speed motor 36 may be used to allow cam rotation
`
`speed to be easily varied.
`
`If desired, a gear system could
`
`be used in place of belt 42, or a different drive system
`
`could be used, such as a conventional hydraulic drive,
`
`in
`
`place of the electric motor and belt drive system shown.
`
`A. plurality’ of‘ pump fingers 48,
`
`as best
`
`seen in
`
`Figures 1 and 3, are mounted for radial movement on front
`
`plate 12 and back plate 14 between cam 30 and platen 26.
`
`Any suitable number of pump fingers 48 may be used. Where
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-011
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-011
`
`

`
`WO 97134084
`
`PCT/US97/03676
`
`10
`
`a greater number of cam lobes are used,
`
`fewer fingers will
`
`generally be used.
`
`On the other hand, if narrow fingers 48
`
`are used, a larger number may be provided. A large scale
`
`pump will generally use a larger number of fingers.
`
`A
`
`preferred number of pump fingers 48 for a three—lobe cam 30
`
`of maximum efficiency coupled with small size is from 7 to
`
`11 pump fingers, with 9 generally being optimum. As seen
`
`in Figure 1, a plurality of opposed radial grooves 50 are
`
`provided in front plate 12 and back plate 14
`
`to receive
`
`side extensions 52 that extend into grooves 50 and are
`
`freely movable therealong.
`
`In the embodiment of’ Figures 1-4,
`
`a. pinch finger
`
`assembly having a narrow pinch finger 66 is spring centered
`
`in the face and biased to extend beyond the face. Each pump
`
`finger 48, as best seen in Figure 3,
`
`includes a cylindrical
`
`recess 54 at a first end 56 for rotatably receiving a
`
`bearing roller 58. Rollers 58 freely roll on the surface
`
`of cam 30 in the manner of roller bearings,
`
`reducing wear
`
`on the cam surface.
`
`Side extensions 52 as seen in Figure
`
`1 are formed on the sides of pumping finger 48.
`
`A
`
`transverse,
`
`inverted "T" slot 62 is formed across the top
`
`of pump finger 48.
`
`A base 64 mounting a transverse pinch
`
`finger
`
`66 fits within slot 62, with pinch finger
`
`66
`
`extending through a transverse slot in the pumping surface
`
`along second end 68 of pump finger 48, as seen in Figure 1.
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-012
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-012
`
`

`
`WO 97/34084
`
`PCT/US97/03676
`
`l l
`
`A spring 70 biases base 64 and pinch finger 66 toward the
`
`extended position.
`
`The pump operates in the following manner. As seen in
`
`Figure 2,
`
`two lobes of cam 30 are located at the beginning
`
`and end of
`
`the series of pump
`
`fingers 48.
`
`.At
`
`this
`
`position, pump fingers 48 engaging the central portion of
`
`tube 28 along the middle of platen 26 are relatively
`
`withdrawn and those at the ends are relatively extended,
`
`thereby creating a zone of occlusion.
`
`Thus,
`
`the central
`
`portion of tube 28 is filled with liquid and the ends are
`
`substantially occluded. As cam 30 rotates in the direction
`
`of arrow 34,
`
`the second left pump finger 48 is pressed
`
`further against
`
`tube 28 while the rightmost pump finger
`
`begins to withdraw.
`
`Liquid is thus pushed in a zone of
`
`occlusion toward the right or outlet end of tube 28 and
`
`begins to exit. As cam rotation continues, pump fingers 48
`
`are sequentially extended from the left and withdrawn at
`
`the right, forcing liquid in tube 28 toward the outlet end.
`
`As seen in the central region of tube 28 in Figure 2,
`
`pinch fingers
`
`66 under
`
`the forces of
`
`springs
`
`70 are
`
`relatively extended.
`
`The
`
`leftmost
`
`pump
`
`finger 48
`
`is
`
`slightly extended, but second end 68 of pump finger 48 has
`
`not entirely occluded tube 28.
`
`Pinch finger 48 is extended
`
`sufficiently under the force of spring 70 to occlude the
`
`tube. With a thin wall
`
`tube 28, pinch finger 48 will
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-013
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-013
`
`

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`WO 97/34084
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`PCT/US97/03676
`
`12
`
`extend further to close the tube. With a thick walled
`
`tube, pinch finger will only extemd a shorter distance
`
`until
`
`the tube is closed.
`
`Thus, only enough force is
`
`applied through the pinch finger to close the tube.
`
`In prior art pumps,
`
`the pumping finger extended only
`
`a single preset distance under the strong mechanical force
`
`of a cam. With those arrangements,
`
`thin tubes are not
`
`entirely occluded and thick walled tubes are crushed beyond
`
`closure, often resulting in rapid wear,
`
`internal wall
`
`erosion and spallation with the resulting injection of
`
`particles of wall material into the liquid stream, of great
`
`concern in many infusion operations. Only a short degree
`
`of extension and retraction of pinch fingers 66 is required
`
`to produce this highly advantageous result,
`
`typically from
`
`about
`
`.2 to 1.0 mm.
`
`Figure 4
`
`shows a side elevation view of a second
`
`embodiment of pump fingers 48. Here the pump fingers 48
`
`use a pinch finger in the form of a fixed transverse ridge
`
`71 across the surface 68 of the pump fingers in place of
`
`the spring biased pinch fingers 66 of the embodiment of
`
`Figure 3. While the Figure 3 embodiment
`
`is generally
`
`preferred for lowest tube wear and the ability to work well
`
`tubes of slightly varying diameter and wall thickness,
`
`in
`
`other cases the lower cost version of Figure 4 may be
`
`preferred where the tube is more dimensionally uniform or
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-014
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-014
`
`

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`WO 97/341084
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`‘
`
`PCT/US97/03676
`
`13
`
`the motor has sufficient, power and the tube can take
`
`greater compression.
`
`Figure 5
`
`shows
`
`the pump of Figures
`
`1-3 with a
`
`mechanism for detecting occlusion in either the input or
`
`output portions of tube 28. Strain gauge beams 80 and 82
`
`are secured at their proximal ends to spacers 16 by bolts
`
`84 or
`
`the like adjacent
`
`to the input and output ends,
`
`respectively, of tube 28. Any suitable strain gauge means,
`
`such as the strain gauge beams shown may be used,
`
`including
`
`any conventional strain gauge transducers may’ be used.
`
`Sensor members 86 and 88 on the distal end of beams 80 and
`
`82
`
`engage
`
`the
`
`input
`
`and output
`
`ends
`
`of
`
`tube
`
`28,
`
`respectively.
`
`Stain gauges
`
`80
`
`and 82 operate in a
`
`conventional manner,
`
`generating an electrical
`
`signal
`
`proportional
`
`to the degree to which the beam is bent as
`
`tube 28 expands or contracts.
`
`The signal from strain gauge
`
`beams 80 and 82 can be directed to any suitable device for
`
`sounding an alarm,
`
`shutting down
`
`the pump, etc.,
`
`as
`
`desired. Strain gauge beam 80 can thus generate a signal
`
`when the input portion of
`
`tube 28 collapses due to an
`
`upstream occlusion and strain gauge beam can generate a
`
`signal when the output portion of tube 28 expands due to a
`
`downstream occlusion.
`
`Referring to Figure 6,
`
`there is seen a curvilinear
`
`peristaltic pump 10 having a casing basically consisting of
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-015
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-015
`
`

`
`WO 97/34084
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`PCT/US97/03676
`
`l 4
`
`a back plate 14
`
`(and corresponding front plate 12)
`
`and
`
`spacers 16.
`
`The casing is held together by a plurality of
`
`bolts 19 for ease of assembly and disassembly as needed. A
`
`removable cover 18 is secured to casing 10.
`
`Each spacer 16
`
`includes a block 20 having a hole therethrough cooperating
`
`with a pin or bolt 22 and hook-shaped cover extensions 24
`
`to hold cover 18 in place.
`
`Cover 18 includes a concave curvilinear platen 26.
`
`While platen 26 may have any suitable surface, generally a
`
`cylindrical surface is preferred.
`
`A resilient tube 28 may
`
`be laid along platen 26, exiting through the open space
`
`between each pair of extensions 24.
`
`A.multi-lobed cam 30 is mounted for rotation about an
`
`axle 32 that extends through suitable hearings in front and
`
`back plates 12 and 14. Cam 30 may have any suitable number
`
`of
`
`lobes,
`
`two or more.
`
`For optimum performance with
`
`smallest size,
`
`the three-lobe cam shown is preferred.
`
`Where platen 26 is cylindrical, axle 32 is preferably at
`
`the axis of the platen.
`
`Cam 30 can be rotated in either
`
`direction to pump
`
`liquid through tube
`
`28
`
`in either
`
`direction.
`
`For convenience of operation explanation, cam
`
`30 will be
`
`considered to be
`
`rotating clockwise,
`
`as
`
`indicated by arrow 34.
`
`Any suitable drive means may be
`
`used to rotate cam 30.
`
`In the preferred embodiment shown,
`
`an electric drive motor 36 extends through opening 38 in
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-016
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-016
`
`

`
`W0 97/34084
`
`A
`
`PCT/US97/03676
`
`1 5
`
`back plate 14 and is mounted on the back surface of front
`
`plate 12. Motor 36 has a drive shaft extending through
`
`front plate 12 to a pulley 40. A drive belt 42 extends from
`
`pulley 40 to pulley 44 mounted on cam axle 32. Pulleys 40
`
`and 44 are sized to provide the desired cam rotation speed.
`
`A variable speed motor 36 may be used to allow cam rotation
`
`speed to be easily varied.
`
`If desired, a gear system could
`
`be used in place of belt 42, or a different drive system
`
`could be used, such as a conventional hydraulic drive,
`
`in
`
`place of the electric motor and belt drive system shown.
`
`A plurality of pump fingers 48 are mounted for radial
`
`movement on front plate 12 and back plate 14 between cam 30
`
`and platen 26. Any suitable number of pump fingers 48 may
`
`be used. Where a greater number of cam lobes are used,
`
`fewer fingers will generally be used.
`
`On the other hand,
`
`if narrow fingers 48 are used,
`
`a larger number may be
`
`provided. A large scale pump will generally use a larger
`
`number of fingers.
`
`A preferred number of pump fingers 48
`
`for a three-lobe cam 30 of maximum efficiency coupled with
`
`small size is from 7 to 11 pump fingers, with 9 generally
`
`being optimum.
`
`Preferably, a plurality of opposed radial grooves (not
`
`seen) are provided in back plate 14 and a corresponding
`
`front plate to receive side ridges 52 that extend into the
`
`corresponding grooves. The extension and ridge arrangement
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-017
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-017
`
`

`
`WO 97134084
`
`PCT/US97/03676
`
`16
`
`allows the pump fingers 48 to slide radially toward and
`
`away from axis 32 as the cam lobes gradually extend and
`
`retract against the pump fingers.
`
`Each pump finger 48 includes a transverse cylindrical
`
`recess at a first end 50 for rotatably receiving a bearing
`
`roller 54. Rollers 54 freely roll on the surface of cam 30
`
`in the manner of roller bearings, reducing wear on the cam
`
`surface.
`
`As detailed in Figures 6 and 7,
`
`a transverse,
`
`"T"
`
`shaped slot 56 is formed across cover 18 with the slot leg
`
`extending front platen 26.
`
`A. base 58 fits within the
`
`crosspiece of "T" slot 56.
`
`A transverse pinch finger 60
`
`extends from base 58 and fits with in the leg portion of
`
`"T" slot 56 and has a tip 62 extending out of the slot to
`
`extend above the platen surface.
`
`One or more springs 64
`
`(preferably two, as seen in Figure 8) bias base 58 and tip
`
`62 of pinch finger 60 toward the extended position.
`
`The pump operates in the following manner. As seen in
`
`Figure 6,
`
`two lobes of cam 30 are located at the beginning
`
`and end of
`
`the series of pump
`
`fingers 48.
`
`At
`
`this
`
`position, pump fingers 48 engaging the central portion of
`
`tube 28 along the middle of platen 26 are relatively
`
`withdrawn and those at the ends are relatively extended,
`
`thereby creating a zone of occlusion.
`
`Thus,
`
`the central
`
`portion of tube 28 is filled with liquid and the ends are
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-018
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-018
`
`

`
`WO 97/34084
`
`PCT/US97/03676
`
`17
`
`substantially occluded. As cam 30 rotates in the direction
`
`of arrow 34,
`
`the second left pump finger 48 is pressed
`
`further against
`
`tube 28 while the rightmost pump finger
`
`begins to withdraw.
`
`Liquid is thus pushed in a zone of
`
`occlusion toward the right or outlet end of tube 28 and
`
`begins to exit. As cam rotation continues, pump fingers 48
`
`are sequentially extended from the left and withdrawn at
`
`the right, forcing liquid in tube 28 toward the outlet end.
`
`As seen in the central region of tube 28 in Figure 6,
`
`pinch fingers 60 under
`
`the forces of springs 164 are
`
`relatively’ extended.
`
`The
`
`leftmost, pinch finger 60
`
`is
`
`slightly extended, but second end 68 of pump finger 48 has
`
`not entirely occluded tube 28.
`
`Pinch finger 60 is extended
`
`sufficiently, under the force of spring 164, opposite pump
`
`finger 48 to occlude the tube. With a thin wall
`
`tube 28,
`
`tip 62 of pinch finger 60 will extend further to occlude
`
`the tube. With a thick walled tube, tip 62 of pinch finger
`
`60 will only extend a shorter distance until
`
`the tube is
`
`occluded.
`
`Thus, only enough force is applied through the
`
`pinch finger to occlude the tube.
`
`In prior art pumps,
`
`the pumping finger extended only
`
`a single preset distance under the strong mechanical force
`
`of a cam. With those arrangements,
`
`thin tubes are not
`
`entirely occluded and thick walled tubes are crushed beyond
`
`closure, often resulting in rapid wear,
`
`internal wall
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-019
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-019
`
`

`
`WO 97/34084
`
`PCT/US97/03676
`
`18
`
`erosion and spallation with the resulting injection of
`
`particles of wall material into the liquid stream, of great
`
`concern in many infusion operations. Only a short degree
`
`of extension and retraction of pinch fingers 60 is required
`
`to produce this highly advantageous result,
`
`typically from
`
`about
`
`.2 to 1.0 mm.
`
`Figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the platen
`
`mounted pinch fingers
`
`that
`
`is useful with either
`
`the
`
`curvilinear platen of Figure 6 or the flat platen of Figure
`
`10. Here,
`
`the pinch fingers are in the form of transverse
`
`tips or ridges 66 formed across the surface of platen 26
`
`transverse to tube 28.
`
`Pump fingers 48 are set such that when a pump finger
`
`is moved to the full distance toward tube 28,
`
`the pinch
`
`finger tips 66 will penetrate slightly more than would be
`
`required for full occlusion.
`
`Then, an undersized tube will
`
`still be fully" occluded and, an oversize tube will be
`
`penetrated by tips 66 to a slightly greater extent. Due to
`
`the small area and rounded ends on tips 66, significant
`
`damage to tube 28 is unlikely.
`
`Tips 66 can be formed during manufacturing of plater
`
`28 by conventional manufacturing methods, or may be secured
`
`as individual strips to the platen surface by welding,
`
`adhesive bonding, etc. While the embodiment of Figure 9 is
`
`simple and inexpensive to manufacture and generally very
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-020
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-020
`
`

`
`WO 97/34084
`
`PCT/US9 7/03676
`
`19
`
`effective, for optimum tube life the embodiment of Figures
`
`7 and 8 is preferred.
`
`Figure 10 shows another pump embodiment in which the
`
`platen mounted pinch finger system of the invention can be
`
`used. Here,, a tube 70 rests on a flat platen 72.
`
`A set
`
`of cams 74 is mounted on an axle 76 arranged parallel to
`
`platen 72. Axle 76 is mounted on a uprights 78 through
`
`bearings 80. Axle 76 may be rotated by any suitable drive
`
`means,
`
`such as an electric motor
`
`(not
`
`shown). The
`
`cam
`
`assembly 74, drive, etc. are all conventional
`
`in the art.
`
`Typically each cam may be in the form of an off-center
`
`circle, ellipse, etc.
`
`A pump finger 82 is mounted in a conventional support,
`
`allowing vertical movement relative to platen 72. As axle
`
`76 is rotated, cams 74 progressively push pump fingers 82
`
`down against tube 70 from one end toward the other, forcing
`
`liquid in tube 70 to move in that direction. As explained
`
`above,
`
`the occluding distance between each pump finger 82
`
`and platen 72
`
`is
`
`fixed so
`
`that
`
`a
`
`tube of precise
`
`predetermined wall
`
`thickness will be just barely fully
`
`occluded.
`
`If the walls of tube 70 are greater than normal,
`
`the tube will be crushed and damaged.
`
`If the tube walls
`
`are thinner than normal, full occlusion will not occur and
`
`back flow through the pump will occur, so that the expected
`
`pumping rate will not be achieved.
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-021
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-021
`
`

`
`wo 97/34084
`
`PCT/US97/03676
`
`20
`
`A plurality of pinch fingers 60 of the sort detailed
`
`in Figures 7 and 8 are arranged in slots 84 in platen 70,
`
`arranged transverse to tube 70. Of course,
`
`the pinch tip
`
`embodiment of Figure 4 may also be used.
`
`As described
`
`above, with a normal
`
`tube,
`
`the tips of pinch fingers 60
`
`will be spring pressed toward tube 70 to extend slightly
`
`above the surface of platen 72 to fully occlude the tube.
`
`With a thinner walled tube, pinch fingers will be spring
`
`pressed to further extend above the platen surface, so that
`
`tube 70 is still occluded. Where the walls of tube 70 are
`
`oversize,
`
`the tips of pinch fingers 60 may only extend a
`
`shorter distance until the tube is occluded.
`
`Thus,
`
`the platen mounted pinch fingers in both the
`
`embodiments of Figures 1 and 5 will accomodate a range of
`
`tube sizes without either damaging the tube or degrading
`
`pump performance.
`
`Figure 11 schematically illustrate a second embodiment
`
`of out peristaltic pump, having a linear platen 180.
`
`A
`
`shaft 182 is rotatably nmunted through bearings 184 on
`
`posts 186 with the shaft generally parallel to platen 180.
`
`A plurality of cams 188 are fixed to shaft 182 in a
`
`contiguous, parallel relationship.
`
`Cams 188 may have any
`
`suitable configuration. Typically, cams 188 could have a
`
`circular periphery with the shaft passing through each cam
`
`off center, could be an ellipse, could be multi-lobed as
`
`ACTA EX. 1014-022
`
`ACTA Ex. 1014-022
`
`

`
`WO 97/34084
`
`PCT/US97/03676
`
`21
`
`cam 30 in Figure 2, etc.
`
`The line passing through shaft
`
`182 and the outermost portion of each cam is progressively
`
`radially offset through the set of cams.
`
`Each
`
`cam 188
`
`engages
`
`a
`
`pump
`
`finger
`
`190
`
`for
`
`longitudinal m