Pump module
Inventors
Moser, Beat • Zweifel, Adrian • Widmer, Beat • Butler, Martin • Christen, Lukas • Good, Roman • Napoletano, Daniel
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10653439-B2
Publication Date
2020-05-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
A pump module with a casing having at least one pump piston is mounted in a reciprocatingly movable manner and may include a sealing element which, in pumping operation, abuts in a sealing manner against a cylinder. An embodiment of a pump module, which is easy to produce and can be disinfected or sterilized in a simple manner, includes a pump piston that can be fixated in a parking position in which the sealing element does not abut against the cylinder.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an inexpensive medical pump module in which at least one pump piston is mounted in a reciprocating manner and provided with at least one sealing element. In a pumping operation, the sealing element sealingly abuts against a cylinder, while in a parking position the sealing element does not abut against the cylinder.
A locking element is arranged on the casing and interacts with a locking counter-element provided on the pump piston to fix the pump piston in the parking position. In one configuration, the locking element comprises a pawl formed integrally on the casing and elastically preloaded radially against the pump piston, and the locking counter-element comprises two radial projections provided at an axial distance from one another between which the locking element engages in the parking position.
To enable sterilization or disinfection despite the parking position, a conical in-feed device is disposed ahead of the cylinder such that, in the parking position, the sealing element is arranged in the conical in-feed device and sets a radial gap between the sealing element and a casing wall circumferentially surrounding the sealing element. This radial gap allows at least one of a fluid and a gas to flow around the pump piston for sterilization or disinfection.
The provided material also includes a cylinder insert associated with the pump piston, which in pumping operation encloses the sealing element between itself and the plunger body, and an end face of the cylinder insert abuts against a valve block that forms inlet and outlet passages to the cylinder insert and receives inlet and outlet valve elements.
Claims Coverage
The provided material includes three independent claims. Each independent claim defines a pump module with a reciprocating pump piston and a sealing element, and adds specific locking and sealing or sterilization interface features.
Integrally formed elastically preloaded pawl locking in a parking position
A pump module comprises a casing in which at least one pump piston is mounted in a reciprocating manner and provided with at least one sealing element which in a pumping operation sealingly abuts against a cylinder, and further comprising a locking element arranged on said casing which in a parking position, in which said sealing element does not abut against said cylinder, interacts with a locking counter-element provided on said pump piston for fixing said pump piston in the parking position; wherein said locking element comprises a pawl formed integrally on the casing and elastically preloaded radially against the pump piston, and said locking counter-element comprises two radial projections provided at an axial distance from one another between which said locking element engages in the parking position.
Conical in-feed device creating a radial gap for sterilization or disinfection in parking position
A pump module comprises a casing in which at least one pump piston is mounted in a reciprocating manner and provided with at least one sealing element which in a pumping operation sealingly abuts against a cylinder, and further comprising a locking element arranged on said casing which in a parking position, in which said sealing element does not abut against said cylinder, interacts with a locking counter-element provided on said pump piston for fixing said pump piston in the parking position; further comprising a conical in-feed device disposed ahead of said cylinder, wherein the smallest inner diameter of said conical in-feed device substantially corresponds to the inner diameter of said cylinder; and wherein in the parking position said sealing element is arranged in said conical in-feed device such that a radial gap is set between said sealing element and a casing wall circumferentially surrounding said sealing element to allow for at least one of a fluid and a gas to flow around the pump piston for sterilization or disinfection.
Cylinder insert enclosing sealing element and valve block forming inlet/outlet passages
A pump module comprising a casing in which at least one pump piston is mounted in a reciprocating manner and comprises a plunger body provided with at least one sealing element which in a pumping operation sealingly abuts against a cylinder and further comprising a cylinder insert which is associated with said pump piston and which in pumping operation encloses said sealing element between itself and said plunger body and wherein an end face of said cylinder insert abuts against a valve block which forms inlet and outlet passages to said cylinder insert and receives inlet and outlet valve elements.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is directed to a pump module having a sealing element that seals against a cylinder during pumping and is fixed in a parking position by a locking arrangement. One independent claim specifies an integrally formed, elastically preloaded pawl engaging between two axially spaced radial projections, another specifies a conical in-feed device that positions the sealing element to set a radial gap for sterilization or disinfection flow, and the third specifies a cylinder insert that encloses the sealing element and an abutting valve block that forms inlet and outlet passages and receives valve elements.
Stated Advantages
Allows for at least one of a fluid and a gas to flow around the pump piston for sterilization or disinfection while the sealing element is arranged in the parking position.
Fixes the pump piston in the parking position so the sealing element does not abut against the cylinder in the parking position.
Documented Applications
Sterilization or disinfection of the pump piston/pump module during or associated with use, with the radial gap allowing flow of at least one of a fluid and a gas for sterilization or disinfection.
Medical pump module use.
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