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Publication Number
US-7695255-B2
Publication Date
2010-04-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
A pump for generating fluid flow in an elastic tubular conduit. The pump comprises a plurality of electrically operated valves, each valve being positionable adjacent to the conduit. Each valve has a valve head configured to alternate from a first position in which the lumen of the conduit adjacent to the valve head is unobstructed and a second position in which the lumen of the conduit adjacent to the valve head is obstructed. The pump also comprises a driver configured to control the positions of the valve heads, so as to execute a predetermined temporo-spatial array of valve head positions.
Core Innovation
An electromagnetically actuated peristaltic pump is described for generating fluid flow in an elastic tubular conduit having a lumen. The pump uses electrically operated valves positioned adjacent to the conduit, where each valve includes a valve head configured to alternate between a first position in which the lumen adjacent to the valve head is unobstructed and a second position in which the lumen adjacent to the valve head is obstructed. By alternating the valve-head positions, a predetermined lumen-obstruction pattern is produced to generate directed flow.
A driver comprising at least one electromagnet is configured to control the positions of the valve heads so as to execute a predetermined temporo-spatial array of valve head positions. The described valve-head position arrays alternate between unobstructed and obstructed lumen states and are implemented to produce fluid flow in the elastic tubular conduit. Multiple valve arrangements and temporo-spatial activation sequences are discussed, including embodiments with 3 valves and 4 valves.
A dedicated driving mechanism is further described that includes an X shaped metal lever pivotable around an axis, a first auxiliary lever pivotable about the axis, and a second auxiliary lever pivotable about the axis. The mechanism includes an intermittently activatable electromagnet that generates a magnetic field between a first metal core arm and a second metal core arm. The magnetic field causes rotation of an auxiliary lever about the axis when extremities of the lever arm are not between the first and second core arms so as to bring the extremities between the first and second core arms.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes two independent claims. Across both, the coverage includes four electrically operated valves with alternating unobstructed/obstructed valve-head positions, an electromagnet-based driver executing a predetermined temporo-spatial array, and a mechanism using an X shaped metal lever with auxiliary levers actuated by an intermittently activatable electromagnet and a magnetic field between first and second metal core arms.
Four electrically operated valves with alternating lumen obstruction
Four electrically operated valves, each positionable adjacent to the conduit, each having a valve head configured to alternate from a first position in which the lumen of the conduit adjacent to the valve head is unobstructed to a second position in which the lumen adjacent to the valve head is obstructed.
Temporo-spatial electromagnet driver for valve-head positioning
A driver comprising at least one electromagnet configured to control the positions of the valve heads to execute a predetermined temporo-spatial array of valve head positions.
X shaped metal lever with auxiliary levers
A mechanism comprising an X shaped metal lever pivotable around an axis, a first auxiliary lever pivotable about the axis, and a second auxiliary lever pivotable about the axis.
Intermittently activatable electromagnet actuating auxiliary lever extremities
An intermittently activatable electromagnet generating, when activated, a magnetic field between a first metal core arm and a second metal core arm, wherein the magnetic field causes rotation of an auxiliary lever about the axis when extremities of the lever arm are not between the first and second core arms so as to bring the extremities between the first and second core arms.
The independent claims collectively cover a peristaltic pump architecture in which four electrically operated valves alternately obstruct and unobstruct the conduit lumen, an electromagnet-based driver executes a predetermined temporo-spatial valve-head position array, and an X-shaped metal lever linkage with auxiliary levers is repositioned via an intermittently activatable electromagnet whose magnetic field acts between first and second metal core arms.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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