초록 ▼

The present invention involves, in some embodiments, mechanisms and methods of occluding collapsible tubing with an occluder to prevent fluid flow therethrough. In some embodiments, a tube occluding mechanism is disclosed that includes a bendable occluding member for creating a force that can be app

The present invention involves, in some embodiments, mechanisms and methods of occluding collapsible tubing with an occluder to prevent fluid flow therethrough. In some embodiments, a tube occluding mechanism is disclosed that includes a bendable occluding member for creating a force that can be applied to a collapsible tube to occlude the tube. In some embodiments, the collapsible tube can be an inlet/outlet tube on a removable pumping cartridge that is coupled to a reusable pump drive component when the system is in operation. In such embodiments, the occluding mechanism can be attached to the reusable component and can be used to block fluid flow to and from the pumping cartridge. In some embodiments, the occluding member can comprises a spring plate which can create a force to occlude tubing when in a relaxed, unbent configuration, and which can be bent to unocclude the tubing. In some preferred embodiments, in a default configuration of the tube occluder mechanism (when no external force is applied to the occluding member) the tubes are occluded, so that the tube occluder mechanism provides a fail-safe configuration preventing fluid flow to and from a pumping cartridge to which the tubes can be connected.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An occluder mechanism for occluding at least one collapsible tube carrying a liquid, comprising: an elongated, spring-biased occluding member having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally mounted to a support structure and the second end linked to an occluder b

What is claimed is: 1. An occluder mechanism for occluding at least one collapsible tube carrying a liquid, comprising: an elongated, spring-biased occluding member having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally mounted to a support structure and the second end linked to an occluder blade having a linking end and an occluding end; and a force actuator arranged and configured to cause transverse deflection of at least a portion of the occluding member between the first end and the second end, reducing the distance between the first end and the second end, wherein the occluding end of the occluder blade is positioned to compress the at least one collapsible tube when the occluding member is in a relaxed position; and the occluding end of the occluder blade is retracted from a position that compresses the collapsible tube when said portion of the occluding member is transversely deflected. 2. The occluder mechanism of claim 1, wherein a restoring force to urge return of the occluding member to the relaxed position is created when the force actuator causes deflection of the occluding member. 3. The occluder mechanism of claim 1, wherein the occluding member comprises a spring plate. 4. The occluder mechanism of claim 1, wherein the force actuator comprises an inflatable bladder in selective fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source. 5. The occluder mechanism of claim 4, wherein the fluid is air. 6. The occluder mechanism of claim 4, wherein inflation of the bladder results in deflection of the occluding member, and deflation of the bladder results in the occluding member to return to its relaxed position. 7. The occluder mechanism of claim 1, wherein the occluder blade is slidably mounted in a slot defined by a stationary guide member, and the linking end of the occluder blade is pivotally and slidably connected to the second end of the occluding member. 8. The occluder mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least a component of the force applied by the force actuator is perpendicular to at least a component of the force applied by the occluder blade to compress the at least one collapsible tube. 9. A liquid pumping system comprising: a reusable medical liquid pump drive system that is constructed and arranged for coupling to a disposable pumping cartridge containing at least one pump chamber, said disposable pumping cartridge configured to be connected in fluid communication with at least one collapsible tube for delivering liquid to a destination; and an occluder mechanism attached to said reusable pump drive system for occluding said at least one collapsible tube, comprising: an elongated, spring-biased occluding member having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally mounted to a support structure and the second end linked to an occluder blade having a linking end and an occluding end; and a force actuator arranged and configured to cause transverse deflection of at least a portion of the occluding member between the first end and the second end, reducing the distance between the first end and the second end, wherein the occluding end of the occluder blade is positioned to compress the at least one collapsible tube when the occluding member is in a relaxed position; and the occluding end of the occluder blade is retracted from a position that compresses the at least one collapsible tube when said portion of the occluding member is transversely deflected. 10. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein a restoring force to urge return of the occluding member to the relaxed position is created when the force actuator causes deflection of the occluding member. 11. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein the disposable pumping cartridge is configured to be connected in fluid communication with the body of a patient via the at least one collapsible tube. 12. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein the liquid comprises a biological liquid. 13. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein the liquid comprises a therapeutic liquid. 14. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein the occluding member comprises a spring plate. 15. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein the force actuator comprises an inflatable bladder in selective fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source. 16. The liquid pumping system of claim 15, wherein the fluid is air. 17. The liquid pumping system of claim 15, wherein inflation of the bladder results in deflection of the occluding member, and deflation of the bladder results in the occluding member returning to its relaxed position. 18. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein the occluder blade is slidably mounted in a slot defined by a stationary guide member, and the linking end of the occluder blade is pivotally and slidably connected to the second end of the occluding member. 19. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein at least a component of the force applied by the force actuator is perpendicular to at least a component of the force applied by the occluder blade to compress the at least one collapsible tube. 20. The liquid pumping system of claim 9, wherein the force actuator is controlled by a microprocessor based control system. 21. An occluder mechanism for occluding at least one collapsible tube, comprising: an elongated, spring-biased occluding member having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally mounted to a support structure and the second end linked to an occluder blade having a linking end and an occluding end; and a force actuator controlled by a microprocessor based control system and arranged and configured to cause transverse deflection of at least a portion of the occluding member between the first end and the second end, reducing the distance between the first end and the second end, wherein the occluding end of the occluder blade is positioned to compress the at least one collapsible tube when the occluding member is in a relaxed position; and the occluding end of the occluder blade is retracted from a position that compresses the at least one collapsible tube when said portion of the occluding member is transversely deflected. 22. The occluder mechanism of claim 21, wherein a restoring force to urge return of the occluding member to the relaxed position is created when the force actuator causes deflection of the occluding member. 23. The occluder mechanism of claim 21, wherein the occluding member comprises a spring plate. 24. The occluder mechanism of claim 21, wherein the force actuator comprises an inflatable bladder in selective fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source. 25. The occluder mechanism of claim 24, wherein the fluid is air. 26. The occluder mechanism of claim 24, wherein inflation of the bladder results in deflection of the occluding member, and deflation of the bladder results in the occluding member returning to its relaxed position. 27. The occluder mechanism of claim 21, wherein the occluder blade is slidably mounted in a slot defined by a stationary guide member, and the linking end of the occluder blade is pivotally and slidably connected to the second end of the occluding member. 28. The occluder mechanism of claim 21, wherein at least a component of the force applied by the force actuator is perpendicular to at least a component of the force applied by the occluder blade to compress the at least one collapsible tube. 29. A method for occluding at least one collapsible tube carrying a liquid with an occluder mechanism comprising an elongated spring-biased occluding member having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally mounted to a support structure, and the second end linked to an occluder blade having a linking end and an occluding end, the occluding end positioned to compress the at least one collapsible tube, the method comprising: applying a force to transversely deflect at least a portion of the occluding member between the first end and the second end, reducing the distance between the first end and the second end, and causing the occluding end of the occluder blade to retract from compressing the at least one collapsible tube; and releasing said force to allow a restoring force generated by the occluding member to increase the distance between the first end and the second end, causing the occluding blade to compress the at least one collapsible tube.