EP2558723B1 - Élément de pompe pour pompe à tube - Google Patents

Élément de pompe pour pompe à tube Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2558723B1
EP2558723B1 EP11716216.4A EP11716216A EP2558723B1 EP 2558723 B1 EP2558723 B1 EP 2558723B1 EP 11716216 A EP11716216 A EP 11716216A EP 2558723 B1 EP2558723 B1 EP 2558723B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tube
pump
valve
rod element
valve members
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP11716216.4A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2558723B9 (fr
EP2558723A1 (fr
Inventor
Jan Erik Vest Hansen
Ole MØLBY
Jens Brusgaard Vestergaard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
VEINUX APS
Original Assignee
VEINUX APS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by VEINUX APS filed Critical VEINUX APS
Priority to EP15171185.0A priority Critical patent/EP2947318A1/fr
Priority to EP11716216.4A priority patent/EP2558723B9/fr
Publication of EP2558723A1 publication Critical patent/EP2558723A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2558723B1 publication Critical patent/EP2558723B1/fr
Publication of EP2558723B9 publication Critical patent/EP2558723B9/fr
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B43/00—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B43/00—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members
    • F04B43/08—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members having tubular flexible members
    • F04B43/082—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members having tubular flexible members the tubular flexible member being pressed against a wall by a number of elements, each having an alternating movement in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the tubular member and each having its own driving mechanism
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B43/00—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members
    • F04B43/08—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members having tubular flexible members
    • F04B43/088—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members having tubular flexible members with two or more tubular flexible members in series
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B43/00—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members
    • F04B43/08—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members having tubular flexible members
    • F04B43/09—Pumps having electric drive
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B53/00—Component parts, details or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B1/00 - F04B23/00 or F04B39/00 - F04B47/00
    • F04B53/10—Valves; Arrangement of valves
    • F04B53/1037—Flap valves

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a tube pump comprising a pump element inserted in a tube for the generation of a fluid flow within the tube.
  • the invention furthermore relates to a pump element for such a tube pump and to a method of creating a flow of a fluid within an at least partly flexible tube.
  • Positive displacement tube pumps such as roller pumps or peristaltic pumps are known for pumping a fluid through a flexible tube or hose and are widely used in e.g. medical applications such as for instance in infusion pump systems, dialysis pumps, or bypass pumps for circulatory support.
  • a benefit of such pump types making them especially advantageous in medical applications is the absence of moving parts in contact with the fluid, whereby the pumps may be relatively easily sterilized.
  • the peristaltic pumps, roller pumps and tube pumps however suffer from a number of drawbacks. Firstly, the pumping involves a complete or near complete compression or squeezing of the tube either by rollers, contact plates, or shoes to obtain the desired fluid flow within the tube. This inevitably leads to large wear on the part of the tube within the pump. The tube therefore regularly needs to be moved relative to the pump for the compression to be exerted on another part of the tube or exchanged completely thereby resulting in an excessive use of tube material and a need for longer tubes.
  • US 5 947 167 which is considered to be the closest prior art discloses a cartridge pump comprising a metering chamber with a valve at each end. The two valves are aligned in the same direction so as to allow unidirectional liquid flow. When an external compression is applied to the chamber by means of electromechanical actuators, the liquid contained therein is forcibly expelled.
  • the complete or near complete compression of the tube or hose may result in excessive large stresses and shear forces experienced by the fluid causing damages to the fluid molecules or separation of colloids and slurry fluids.
  • a tube pump according to apparatus claim 1 comprising a tube and a pump element inserted in the tube, the pump element comprising a rod element and at least a first and a second non-return valve member positioned a distance apart on the rod element and oriented in the same direction relative to the rod element so as to allow for a fluid flow in the tube through the first valve member, along the rod element, and through the second valve member.
  • the tube comprises an at least partly flexible tube portion between the first and second valve members such that a repeated deformation of the flexible tube portion acts to alternately close and open the valve members thereby generating a fluid flow through the tube.
  • the non-return valve may be a so-called check valve, a clack valve, or one-way valve, and is a mechanical device, a valve, which normally will allow a fluid (liquid or gas) to flow through it in only one direction.
  • the non-return valve may close the fluid passageway off partly or fully in its closed position.
  • the whole tube may be flexible and may be made in a material such as a thermoplastic or a rubber, and may be reinforced. Alternatively or additionally, only a portion of the tube may be flexible, such as comprising a length of a flexible hose or comprising flexible tube wall portions.
  • a tube pump By a tube pump according to the above may by very simple means be obtained an effective pump for and mechanism for pumping a fluid through the tube.
  • the fluid flow is generated as the deformation of the tube between the at least two non-return valve members acts to squeeze the fluid out of the tube space between the valve members and out through one of the non-return valve members.
  • a negative pressure is created in the space, closing the one valve member and opening the other drawing in fluid from upstream the tube.
  • a repeated deformation repeats the above described alternately opening and closing of the valve members thereby generating a fluid flow within the tube.
  • the deformation may in an embodiment of the invention involve a compression of the tube from one or more sides and/or may involve a decompression of the tube.
  • the tube need not be completely compressed or squeezed to generate an efficient pumping motion of the fluid. Rather, even relatively small deformations of the tube may be enough to obtain a relatively high pumping efficiency due to the construction of the tube pump with the pump element comprising two or more non-return valve members. This is further advantageous in minimizing the wear on the tube caused by the repeating deformation and thereby minimizing the risk of leaking and loss of the fluid and contamination of the surroundings.
  • the smaller amount of deformation of the tube needed for obtaining an efficient pump further leads to lower stresses and shear forces experienced by fluid, which may prevent damaging of fluid molecules and help to keep colloids and slurry fluids from separating. This may be especially advantageous in pumping of specific types of fluid such as e.g. blood or other fluids comprising fragile or vulnerable components.
  • the tube pump is further advantageous in that it may be operated to deliver a pulsed flow e.g. like the heart which may be advantageous in e.g. bypass pumps or in some infusion pumps.
  • the pump element may be pre-manufactured in one or more sizes dimensioned to tubes of different diameters and/or shapes.
  • the tube pump is advantageous in comprising only few parts and can be fast and easily assembled and made ready for pumping. Further, the tube pump is inexpensive to manufacture and inexpensive to maintain as the use of a hose or tube makes for a relatively low-cost maintenance item compared to other pump types.
  • a further advantage is that the tube pump may be constructed to yield a compact yet robust and efficient pump.
  • valve members Because of rod element of the pump element, the valve members will be positioned in the tube at a predefined distance apart given by and fixed by the rod element whereby the amount of pumping may be equally well defined for each deformation of the tube and possible to determine on beforehand.
  • the rod element being relatively stiff and inelastic compared to the flexible tube portion, the rod element aids the tube portion to relax and return to its undeformed shape after each deformation and each pumping movement.
  • the tube portion may be ready for a new deformation and pumping cycle faster.
  • the rod element enable a fast and simple assembly of the pump element and the tube pump as all the parts of the pump element may by mounted one after another on the rod element.
  • the assembly may advantageously be performed from only one side which enables a high-speed and automated mass production.
  • the rod element enables a fast yet precise and well-controlled insertion of the pump element into the tube.
  • the rod element may further be provided with recesses for the different parts of the pump element to be placed in. This facilitates the mounting and positioning of the parts on the rod element. Furthermore, the distances between the parts and especially the distance between the valve members and thereby the pumping volume may hereby be determined and controlled accurately.
  • the predetermined and fixed distance between the valve members eases the mounting or placing of the tube pump in a pumping apparatus such as an infusion pump.
  • the rod element may attain elongate shapes of different and/or varying cross sections such as e.g. a circular cylindrical shape, a rectangular cylindrical shape, a hollow cylindrical shape, or a helical shape.
  • the rod element may further comprise two or more parallel or non-parallel bars.
  • the pump element extends into the tube from one end of the tube, and the pump element further comprises at least one sealing part engaging with the tube wall in a fluid tight fashion in one end of the tube.
  • the pumping element is easily inserted into a tube portion and that the pump element may also act as a coupling member for coupling the tube to another part such as e.g a further tube, an infusion bag, a syringe or the like without or with only minimal leaking.
  • the assembled tube pump may be made ready with only one connection or coupling.
  • the sealing part may engage with the tube wall by friction.
  • the sealing part may comprise one or more gaskets e.g. in the shape of a ring or band of rubber or another deformable or flexible material.
  • the pump element extends through the entire length of the tube and comprises sealing parts engaging with the tube wall in a fluid tight fashion in both ends of the tube.
  • a tube length of a predetermined length may be pre-manufactured and pre-assembled with the pump element already inserted and secured to the tube wall.
  • the sealing parts may be brought to engage with the tube wall such as to be able to withstand a higher fluid pressure e.g. by involving heat sealing or shrinking.
  • the tube is connected to a further tube via a connection part.
  • the connection part may be configured as a pipe connection part on the end of the pumping element.
  • the tube pump may be easily fastened and secured to e.g. another tube, an infusion bag, syringe or the like for pumping the fluid to or from such other part. This further yields the possibility to use less expensive tubes or hoses leading to or from the tube pump without being constrained by any tube diameter or tube material applied in the tube pump.
  • the tube pump comprises at least one actuator of an electroactive polymer material arranged for deforming the flexible tube portion when actuated.
  • the electroactive polymer material may be arranged on a wall portion of said flexible tube portion and may hereby act to compress or enlarge the tube diameter when actuated by the application of a current to the electroactive polymer material.
  • the electroactive polymer material may for instance comprise a silicone and an electrically conductive layer.
  • the flexible tube portion may by squeezed or compressed e.g. by the application of vacuum to the tube, prior to the electroactive polymer material being wrapped or otherwise arranged on the wall portion.
  • the electroactive polymer material is thereby prestressed by the tube portion.
  • a pretension of the electroactive polymer material in the range of 10-50%, such as in the range of 20-30% may increase the efficiency of the electroactive polymer material.
  • the electroactive polymer material is subjected to a current, the length of the material film wrapped around the tube expands allowing for the tube diameter to increase creating a draw in the tube cavity.
  • the tube portion is again compressed creating the pumping motion.
  • More pump units may be placed parallel or in series to increase the overall efficiency of the pump.
  • the above described tube pump actuated by an electroactive polymer material may advantageously be driven by e.g. solar cells thereby obtaining a pump which may be manufactured at low costs and a reliable pump suitable for for example outdoor pumping of water for e.g. the watering of plants or animals, or for the oxidization of lakes or water holes by pumping water from the surface down to the bottom or vice versa.
  • the disclosed tube pumps may work efficiently together with solar cells, in that the tube pumps may work in a discontinuous manner whenever power is available with no need for large capacitors, but may yield at least a single if not several pumping strokes with only minimal power.
  • the tube pump comprises at least one actuator comprising a movable contact plate arranged for deforming the flexible tube portion by compressing the tube when actuated.
  • the actuator may be linear or non-linear and may comprise one or more contact plates placed to move towards each other and/or towards a base, so that the tube may be compressed from one or more sides.
  • the tube pump may comprise at least two pump elements placed serially.
  • the pumping effect may be increased equivalently by repeatingly deforming the tube in several positions between sets of valve members.
  • the tube may hereby be deformed in a peristaltic movement.
  • At least one of the valve members comprises a flexible diaphragm and/or membrane fitted onto the rod element and sized to at least partly engage in its closed position with the inner wall of the tube.
  • the pump element and thereby the tube pump may hereby be constructed of very few parts in that the valve function is simply obtained by the flexible membrane moving relative to the inner tube wall. Further, the valve members may be easily positioned onto the rod element and may be easily exchanged if needed. The pump element and thereby the tube pump may hereby be manufactured at very low costs.
  • valve members comprise valves placed in valve housings which at least partly engage with the inner wall of the tube.
  • valve opening is primarily established in the valve housings, whereby the valve opening is not dependent on the positioning within the tube and therefore may be determined precisely beforehand and independent of the tube properties. Further, such construction may be more robust.
  • At least one of the valve members comprises a flexible funnel shaped membrane and a perforated disk fitted onto the rod element, the disk being sized to engage with the interior of the tube in a fluid tight fashion.
  • the membrane may be sized to cover the disk perforations if pressed against the disk.
  • a very compact yet efficient non-return valve which may be configured to completely or partly close off any flow effectively in the one direction while allowing for a full flow in the other direction caused by a pressure difference across the valve.
  • the valve may be opened by only a small pressure in dependence of the material properties and stiffness of the funnel shaped membrane.
  • the funnel shaped (i.e. conical, cup shaped, or trumpet shaped) membrane increases the efficiency of the valve and provides for a smooth continuous transition from its closed to its open position and vise versa without any 'flapping' or sudden changes of its shape.
  • a more even pumping motion without or with only minimal cudden changes in the flow speed may be obtained.
  • the disk lies sealingly against the interior of the tube so that the only possible fluid flow is through the perforations or openings in the disk.
  • the funnel shaped membrane is mounted on the rod element only allowing for any possible fluid flow around the membrane in the space between the membrane and the tube walls.
  • the membrane is oriented so that the interior of funnel is oriented towards the disk.
  • the membrane lies against the disk.
  • the membrane may lie completely or partly against the disk surface.
  • the membrane covers at least some of the perforations in the disk preventing the fluid flow therethrough.
  • the membrane is deformed due to the increased pressure on the disk side of the valve so that a gap is established between the disk and the membrane allowing for a fluid flow through the perforations in the disk and around the membrane.
  • the perforations in the disk may be applied as openings or holes through the disk placed randomly or in a pattern.
  • the perforations may be placed a distance from the rod element or next to the rod element.
  • the perforations may e.g. be applied to the disk by the punching of a star shaped central hole in the disk both functioning as the hole for the disk to be mounted on the rod element and providing the perforations for the valve function.
  • the disk may be manufactured from e.g. a thermoplast, a metal, or a rubber material.
  • the funnel shaped membrane may be punched or cut out from a foil, a film or a cloth of e.g. a silicone material.
  • the membrane may have a circular or oval shape with a central hole of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the rod element (optionally of the diameter of the recessed rod element) where the membrane is to be placed.
  • the membrane may be shaped e.g. by thermoshaping or thermoforming.
  • the central part of the funnel shaped membrane attains an angle in the range of 10-40 degrees relative to the rod element. In a preferred embodiment the cone angle lies in the range of 20-35 degrees such as approximately 30 degrees.
  • the funnel shaped membrane in the inlet valve may be manufactured from a material of a lower stiffness than the membrane in the outlet valve to ensure an easier an faster closing of the inlet valve therby increasing the efficiency of the tube pump.
  • the tube pump may comprise a free flow prevention device mounted on the rod element between the first and second valve members, the free flow prevention device comprising a valve element which in the closed configuration of the device is sized to engage with the interior of the tube in a fluid tight fashion, and which is configured to be opened by the deformation of the flexible tube portion pressing on at least a part of the valve element.
  • the valve element may simply comprise an element initially filling out the interior of the tube but deforming differently from the tube, so that openings between the element and the tube may occur when the tube is deformed e.g. as a part of the pumping, and such that the tube will again be closed when the deformation of the tube seizes.
  • the free flow prevention device may advantageously completely prevent any fluid flow when the tube is not deformed and pumping is not intended. Hereby, a more reliable and automatic closing of the tube may be achieved without the need for any manual interaction such as the conventional manually placing of clamps on the tube.
  • the free flow prevention device further acts to make the open and closed configurations of the pump, and the phases of the pumping more distinct.
  • the free flow prevention device may further be used in a priming of the pump, i.e. in filling the pump cavity between the valve members with fluid prior to initiating the pumping. This may be achieved by pressing (automatically or manually) on the tube near the device opening the free flow prevention device.
  • the free flow prevention device is furthermore advantageous in preventing the free flow while still allowing the pumping with only small pressure forces on the tube.
  • the stiffness of the free flow prevention device may be tailored to require a desired minimum deformation of the tube or minimum deformation force on the tube to enable any fluid flow.
  • the valve element of the free flow prevention device may comprise a funnel-shaped membrane of a larger diameter than the interior diameter of the tube, thereby sealing off the tube when not compressed.
  • the funnel shaped membrane may be manufactured from a flat cloth in the same way as described in relation to the funnel shaped membranes of the valve members. Advantages of a funnel shaped membrane are as described in relation to the funnel shaped membranes of the valve members.
  • the valve element of the free flow prevention device may comprise a foam member preferably of a foam with closed cells and e.g. of a cubic shape.
  • the foam member is easily deformed with minimal forces and may be manufactured and assembled efficiently and at low costs.
  • the prevention of any free flow in the tube pump is especially important in relation to applications of the tube pump in infusionpumps, where the unintended free flow of medicine is estimated to have added to or been the direct cause of death of about 500 persons in the USA.
  • the invention relates to a pump element for a tube pump as described above, where the pump element is configured for insertion into a tube and to aid in generating a flow of a fluid within the tube.
  • the pump element comprises a rod element with at least a first and a second non-return valve members positioned a distance apart on the rod element and oriented in the same direction relative to the rod element so as to allow for a fluid flow through the first valve member, along the rod element, and through the second valve member.
  • the pump element when inserted in a flexible tube may act to generate a fluid flow through the tube upon repeated deformation of said tube between said first and second valve members.
  • the invention in this aspect may relate to a pump element as an isolated product independent of the tube pump for which it is intended to be used.
  • a pump element according to the above is advantageous for the same reasons as apply to the tube pump given in the previous.
  • the pump element is advantageous in comprising only few parts and which may be easily assembled. Also the pump element is inexpensive to manufacture and therefore advantageous as a disposable product, which may be advantageous for medical applications or in the food industry where hygiene or sterile equipments are of outmost importance.
  • the pump element is further advantageous in being easy and fast to insert in a tube whereby a tube pump may be made ready for operation fast and easily.
  • valve members will inevitably be inserted in a tube at the predefined distance apart as given by their position on the rod element, whereby the amount of pumping may be equally well defined for a given deformation of the tube.
  • the pump element further comprises a sealing part positioned on one side of the first and second valve members and configured to establish a fluid tight connection to an end part of a tube when the pump element is inserted in the tube.
  • the pump element may comprises a pipe connection part configured for connecting the pump element to a further tube, syringe, infusion bag or the like.
  • the first and second valve members comprise valves belonging to the group of ball valves, duckbill valves, diaphragm valves, wafer valves, check valves, swing check valves, disc check valves, split disc check valves, tilting disk check valves, cross slit valves, umbrella valves, and lift-check valves.
  • valve members used in one pump element may of different types.
  • the inlet valve may be relatively soft compared to the outlet valve whereby a larger pressure is needed to open the outlet valve thereby minimizing or avoiding any free flow in the tube. This may be especially advantageous for pumps involving dosing of medicine where it is important to know the exact flow through the pump to ensure the correct dosage.
  • the connecting rod is made of a bendable material such as a thermoplast.
  • a bendable material such as a thermoplast.
  • the connecting rod is made of a plastic material such as e.g. PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), a rubber, or a metal alloy.
  • the invention further relates to an infusion pump comprising a tube pump according to any of the embodiments described in the preceding.
  • the advantages hereof are as given in relation to the tube pump.
  • the infusion pump is advantageous in making the use of a drip counter and a flow regulator superfluous, as otherwise conventionally applied in infusion pumps, as the tube pump can be controlled and regulated to give a certain number of pulses per time whereby the flow may be accurately determined.
  • the infusion pump can maintain a constant flowrate throughout the entire emptying of the infusion bag and regardless of how the infusion bag is placed.
  • conventional infusion pumps uses the gravity for a continued and complete emptying of the infusion bag for which reason it may be essential that the infusion bag and the tube leading from the infusion bag must hang or be held correctly.
  • a non-return valve member is used in a tube pump as described above, where the valve member is configured for insertion into a tube and to aid in controlling a flow of a fluid within the tube.
  • the valve member comprises a flexible funnel shaped membrane, and a perforated disk sized to engage with the interior of the tube in a fluid tight fashion.
  • the valve member further comprises a rod element onto which the disk and the membrane are mounted.
  • the funnel shaped membrane in the closed configuration of the valve member is placed such as to cover the disk perforations.
  • the membrane is mounted on the rod element by sticking the rod element through a hole in the membrane, the hole being of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the rod.
  • the invention relates to a method for creating a flow of a fluid according to method claim 14 within an at least partly flexible tube, comprising the steps of connecting at least a first and a second non-return valve member to a connecting rod element a distance apart and such that said first and second valve members are oriented in the same direction relative to the rod element, and inserting the rod element with the valve members into the tube such that said valve members when closed at least partly engage with the tube wall.
  • the method further comprises repeatingly deforming at least a part of the tube between the first and second valve members thereby alternately closing and opening the valve members and thereby generating a fluid flow through the tube.
  • FIG 1 shows an embodiment of a tube pump, 100 according to the invention and as seen in a cross sectional view.
  • the same tube pump is seen in a perspective view in figure 2 .
  • the tube pump 100 comprises a tube 101 (in grey) into which is inserted a pump element 102.
  • the pump element 102 is also depicted in figure 2 below in a perspective view as seen before insertion into the tube.
  • the pump element 102 comprises two or more non-return valve members 103 attached to a rod element 104 in a spaced apart manner.
  • the two valve members are oriented in the same direction relative to the rod element 104, so that a fluid inside the tube portion 101 may only flow in one direction through the two valve members 103 as illustrated by the arrow 105.
  • the valve members 103 here comprises split disc or duo check valves comprising a split disk which is dimensioned to have a larger surface area than the tube cross sectional area so that the disks only allow for a fluid flow in the one direction.
  • the rod element 104 here is in the shape of a flat bar for optimally supporting the split disk valves but could also have other shapes such as circular. Other possible shapes are shown in some of the following figures.
  • the pump element 102 further comprises a connecting part 106 at its end for connecting to another tube or hose 107.
  • the connection part 106 could equally well be dimensioned and shaped to connect to tubes of smaller or larger diameters, to e.g. a syringe, or a infusion bag or the like.
  • the pump element further comprises a sealing part 108 establishing a fluid tight connection between the pump element and the tube 101 when the pump element is inserted herein.
  • the sealing part may optionally comprise one or more gaskets (not shown).
  • FIGS 3A and 3B illustrate the working principle of the tube pump 101 in general.
  • the tube 101 surrounding the pump element 102 comprises a flexible tube wall portion 301 positioned between the two valve members 103.
  • the pumping is generated by deforming the tube between the valve members 103, which in this illustrated example is performed by an actuator compressing the tube 101 by means of two movable contact plates 302, the first valve member 103a will remain closed due to the increased pressure in the tube, whereas the second valve member 103b will be opened. Thereby the fluid is forced in the direction of the arrow 303.
  • FIGS 4A and 4B illustrates the same pumping principle, but where the deformation of the tube 101 is effected by an electroactive polymer material 400 which changes its size considerably when subjected to a current.
  • the electroactive polymer material 400 is placed in or on a part of the flexible tube wall thereby acting to compress the tube when actuated.
  • FIG 5 is shown another embodiment of a pump element 102 configured for insertion into a tube 101.
  • the tube 101 in this case comprises two bands 501 of an electroactive polymer material which when activated may act to compress the tube 101 in two places.
  • the pump element 102 in this embodiment comprises three valve members 103 which each comprises a disk check valve 502 in a valve housing 503.
  • the valve housings 503 are dimensioned to fit inside the tube 101 on either side of each band 501 of electractive polymer material.
  • Both sealing parts 108 in each end of the pump element 102 are hollow or perforated allowing the fluid to flow past the sealing parts inside the tube.
  • the bands of electroactive polymer material may be activated on after the other in serial thereby generating a peristaltic pumping motion.
  • Figures 6A and 6B likewise illustrate the use of electroactive polymer material in the actuator deforming the tube 101 in a tube pump 100 according to the invention.
  • the electroactive polymer material is placed in broader ribbons or bands 601 in a hinged frame 502.
  • Figure 6A shows the actuator bands 601 in their relaxed state where the frame parts 602 lay up against the tube wall.
  • FIG 6B can be seen how the electroactive polymer bands 601 contract when electrically activated (as indicated by the hatched lines) thereby forcing the frame parts 602 to compress or squeeze the tube 101.
  • Non-return valve members may be applied in the pump element 102 as illustrated in the figures 7-11 . These figures also illustrate different possible shapes of the rod element 104 and of the pipe connection or coupling part 106.
  • the pump element 102 as shown in figure 7 comprises valve members 103 in the shape of flexible diaphragms or membranes 701 fitted onto the rod element and sized to at least partly engage in their closed position with the inner wall of the tube 100.
  • the pump element alone is shown in figure 7A , as inserted in a tube and in a tube pump in figure 7B and 7C in a side view and perspective view, respectively.
  • the pump element 101 may additionally or alternatively comprise valves of the disk check type 801 ( figure 8A and 8B ), valves of a soft or elastic material such as a silicone, rubber or thermoplastic material and with a movable lid providing for the valve opening 901 ( figure 9 ), duckbill valves 1001 ( figure 10A and B ), or ball valves 1101 ( figure 11 ).
  • Figure 12 illustrates an example of a tube pump 100 with a number of pump elements 102 placed in one or more tubes 101 in a serial.
  • the pumping effect may be correspondingly increased, in that the tube or tubes 101 may be compressed in more than one place. This may advantageously be done one place after each other thereby establishing a peristaltic movement.
  • the figure further illustrates how two or more tube parts 101 may be coupled to each other and brought in fluid connection by means of the one or more pump elements 102.
  • Fig. 13 illustrates an infusion pump 1301 comprising a tube pump 100 and a pump element 102 according to embodiments of the invention.
  • the pump element 101 is inserted in a tube, coupling the tube to a further tube or hose at each end of the pump element which may be coupled at one end to a syringe 1302 and at the other to an infusion bag of bottle (not shown).
  • the infusion pump using a tube pump according to the invention is advantageous over conventional infusion pumps by being able to provide a well-controlled and steady flow irrespective of the orientation of the pump (independent of the gravity force) and irrespective of the amount of fluid left in the infusion container. Rather the infusion speed and amount can be precisely controlled and regulated by controlling the actuator force of the one or more actuators deforming the flexible tube, 1303.
  • the tube pump according to the various embodiments may likewise advantageously be applied in other types of pumps such as pumps driven by solar cells for instance in pumps for increased oxidisation of water where water from lower regions of for instance a lake or water basin is raised and pumped to higher regions thereby mixing the water.
  • the disclosed tube pumps may work efficiently together with solar cells in that the tube pumps may work in a discontinuous manner whenever power is available, and may yield at least a single if not several pumping strokes with only minimal power.
  • Figure 14 discloses an embodiment of a pump element 102 inserted into a flexible tube thereby forming a tube pump 100.
  • the figure shows the different parts of the pump elements as assembled and in an exploded view, respectively.
  • the two non-return valve members 103 each comprise a funnel-shaped flexible membrane 1401 of a smaller diameter than the interior diameter of the tube 101.
  • These membranes may initially be flat membranes of circular shape provided with a central hole of smaller dimension than the diameter of the rod element.
  • the membranes may as an example be punched out or cut from films or foils of a flexible material such as silicone.
  • the funnel shaped membranes are each placed on the rod element 104 next to a disk 1402 of an outer dimension and shape so as to lie and seal against the interior of the tube.
  • the disks 1402 comprise a number of openings 1403 which may be placed next to the rod element as illustrated on one of the valve members 1405 or as a pattern on the disk 1406.
  • the non-return valve member is closed as illustrated in the topmost configuration in figure 14 , the funnel shaped membrane 1401 lies against at least the outer part of the neighbouring disk 1402.
  • the rod element 104 may optionally be provided with recesses for receiving and positioning the different parts of the pump element whereby the distance between the non-return valve members and thereby the pumping volume can be determined and controlled accurately.
  • the pump element illustrated in figure 14 further comprises a free flow prevention device 1410 which is a valve element configured such that it only opens and allows for passage of a fluid when affected by a pressure from the exterior on the tube.
  • a free flow prevention device 1410 which is a valve element configured such that it only opens and allows for passage of a fluid when affected by a pressure from the exterior on the tube.
  • the free flow prevention device is simply made of a circular membrane placed on the rod element 104 somewhere between the two valve members 103 and of an outer diameter larger that the interior diameter of the tube 101.
  • the membrane of the free flow prevention device is given a funnel shape by being pushed on the rod element through a hole of a smaller dimension than the diameter of the rod element.
  • the tube deforms differently than the free flow prevention device making openings between the device and the tube wall for the fluid to flow through.
  • the free flow prevention device attains its undeformed shape and closes off any flow through the tube again.
  • the free flow prevention device may advantageously be used to prime the tube pump, i.e. fill the tube cavity between the non-return valve members with fluid prior to initiating any pumping. This may be performed by simply pressing manually or automatically on the tube near the free flow prevention device,
  • Figure 15 shows a tube pump 100 and a pump element 102 similar to the pump element described in relation to figure 14 .
  • the tube pump is configured to be attached to other tubes or hoses via the connection parts 106 in each end of the pump element and placed on each end of the rod element 104.
  • the first perforated disk 1501 (the openings in the disk not shown in the figure) sealing of the one end of the tube 101 and the connection part 106 is manufactured in one piece.
  • the tube pump may in this way be manufactured from a minimal number of parts which furthermore may be effectively and fast assembled in a production line from optionally just one side.
  • Figure 16 depicts an embodiment of a tube pump suitable to be actuated by means of an electroactive polymer material 400.
  • an intermediate member 1600 is applied on a part of the rod element 104 between the fist and second non-return valve members 103.
  • the tube may be shrinked or squeezed onto or close to the intermediate member 1600 by the application of vacuum to the pump element and the electroactive polymer material (not shown) is wrapped tightly around the compressed tube and the vacuum is released.
  • the electroactive polymer material is actuated, the material expands thereby allowing the tube of the tube pump wrapped by the material to expand likewise and vice versa.
  • the non-return valve members comprise flexible membranes and perforated disks like in the embodiment described in relation to the figures 14 and 15 .
  • the type of the non-return valves used is however not of importance in relation to the described use of the electroactive polymer material, and other types of non-return valves may therefore likewise be applied in relation to the depicted tube pump of figure 16 .
  • the connection parts 106 are configured to receive and connect to tubes or hoses through interior passageways.
  • the tube may for instance be made of a material comprising closed pores 1700 as illustrated in figure 17A .
  • the tube may have a tube wall comprising grooves or channels 1701 as sketched in figure 17B whereby the tube diameter may be decreased considerably during the tube compression with minimal wear and fatigue on the tube.
  • Figure 18 shows sketches of another embodiment of a free flow prevention device 1410 according to the invention.
  • the free flow prevention device is shaped as a hatch-like member 1800 in connection to one of the non-return valve members 103 and likewise placed on the rod element (not shown).
  • the flow is prevented in both directions of the tube.
  • a compression and a deformation of the tube 101 causes the free flow prevention device to open as the tube wall presses against the hatch-like member 1800.
  • the outlet valve 1802 is further opened and the inlet valve 1803 closed by the increased fluid pressure.
  • the outlet valve 1802 is closed and the inlet valve 1803 is opened by the lower pressure in the tube cavity between the valves. Furthermore, the free flow prevention device closes due to the relaxation of the tube.
  • the described free flow device may likewise be applied in combination with other types of non-return valves than the ones illustrated here.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
  • Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)

Claims (14)

  1. Pompe tubulaire (100) comprenant un tube (101), dotée d'une partie tubulaire au moins partiellement souple (301) et d'un élément de pompage (102) inséré dans ledit tube, laquelle pompe tubulaire étant caractérisée par le fait que l'élément de pompage comprend un élément en forme de barre (104) et au moins un premier et un second éléments soupapes anti-retour (103) positionnés à distance sur ledit élément en forme de barre et orientés dans un même sens par rapport à l'élément en forme de barre de manière à permettre un écoulement de fluide dans le tube via le premier élément soupape (103a), le long de l'élément en forme de barre (104) et via le second élément soupape (103b) et dans laquelle la partie tubulaire au moins partiellement souple (301) est positionnée entre lesdits premier et second éléments soupapes (103) de manière à ce qu'une déformation répétée de ladite partie tubulaire au moins partiellement souple (301) agisse en fermant et en ouvrant alternativement les éléments soupapes (103) en générant ainsi un écoulement de fluide dans le tube (101).
  2. Pompe tubulaire selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle l'élément de pompage s'étend dans le tube (101) depuis une extrémité du tube et dans laquelle l'élément de pompage comprend en outre au moins une pièce d'étanchéité (108) s'engageant dans la paroi du tube de manière étanche au fluide dans une extrémité du tube.
  3. Pompe tubulaire selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle l'élément de pompage s'étend sur toute la longueur du tube et comprend des pièces d'étanchéité (108) s'engageant dans la paroi du tube de manière étanche au fluide dans les deux extrémités du tube.
  4. Pompe tubulaire selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant au moins un actionneur en matériau polymérique électroactif (400, 501, 601) conçu pour déformer ladite partie tubulaire souple s'il est actionné.
  5. Pompe tubulaire selon la revendication 4, dans laquelle ledit matériau polymérique électroactif est disposé sur une partie paroi de ladite partie tubulaire souple (301).
  6. Pompe tubulaire selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle au moins un des éléments soupapes (103) comprend une membrane souple en forme de tunnel (1401) et un disque perforé (1402) ajusté sur l'élément en forme de barre (104), le disque étant dimensionné de manière à s'engager dans l'intérieur du tube (101) de manière étanche au fluide.
  7. Pompe tubulaire selon la revendication 6, dans laquelle la membrane (1401) est dimensionnée de manière à couvrir les perforations du disque lorsqu'elle est comprimée contre le disque.
  8. Pompe tubulaire selon la revendication 6 ou 7, dans laquelle la membrane est montée sur l'élément en forme de barre en collant l'élément en forme de barre dans un trou de la membrane, le trou ayant un diamètre inférieur au diamètre de la barre.
  9. Pompe tubulaire selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre un dispositif de prévention d'écoulement libre (1410) monté sur ledit élément en forme de barre (104) entre lesdits premier et second éléments soupapes (103), ce dispositif de prévention d'écoulement libre comprenant un élément soupape qui, en position fermée du dispositif, est dimensionné de manière à s'engager dans l'intérieur du tube de manière étanche au fluide et qui est conçu pour être ouvert par ladite déformation de ladite partie tubulaire souple (301) appuyant sur au moins une partie dudit élément soupape.
  10. Pompe tubulaire selon la revendication 8, dans laquelle l'élément soupape du dispositif de prévention d'écoulement libre comprend une membrane en forme de tunnel.
  11. Pompe tubulaire selon la revendication 8, dans laquelle l'élément soupape du dispositif de prévention d'écoulement libre comprend un élément en mousse.
  12. Elément de pompage (102) pour pompe tubulaire (100), doté d'une partie tubulaire au moins partiellement souple, dans lequel l'élément de pompage est conçu pour être inséré dans un tube (101) et pour aider à générer un écoulement de fluide dans le tube, l'élément de pompage étant caractérisé par le fait qu'il comprend un élément en forme de barre (104) comportant au moins un premier et un second éléments soupapes anti-retour (103) positionnés à distance sur ledit élément en forme de barre et orientés dans un même sens par rapport à l'élément en forme de barre de manière à permettre un écoulement de fluide dans le premier élément soupape (103a), le long de l'élément en forme de barre (104) et dans le second élément soupape (103b), dans lequel l'élément de pompage, une fois inséré dans le tube (101), est apte à générer un écoulement de fluide dans ledit tube sur déformation répétée de ladite partie tubulaire au moins partiellement souple entre lesdits premier et second éléments soupapes (103).
  13. Pompe à infusion comprenant une pompe tubulaire selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10,
  14. Procédé de création d'un écoulement de fluide dans un tube au moins partiellement souple (101), caractérisé par le fait qu'il comprend les étapes de
    - connexion d'au moins un premier et un second éléments soupapes anti-retour (103) à un élément de connexion en forme de barre (104) à distance et de manière à ce que lesdits premier et second éléments soupapes soient orientés dans un même sens par rapport à l'élément en forme de barre,
    - insertion dudit élément en forme de barre avec lesdits éléments soupapes dans ledit tube (101) de manière à ce que lesdits éléments soupapes, une fois fermés, s'engagent au moins partiellement dans la paroi du tube,
    - déformation répétée d'au moins une partie du tube entre lesdits premier et second éléments soupapes en fermant et en ouvrant ainsi alternativement lesdits éléments soupapes et en générant ainsi un écoulement de fluide dans le tube.
EP11716216.4A 2010-04-16 2011-04-15 Élément de pompe pour pompe à tube Not-in-force EP2558723B9 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP15171185.0A EP2947318A1 (fr) 2010-04-16 2011-04-15 Élément de pompe pour pompe à tube
EP11716216.4A EP2558723B9 (fr) 2010-04-16 2011-04-15 Élément de pompe pour pompe à tube

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP10160177A EP2378121A1 (fr) 2010-04-16 2010-04-16 Élément de pompe pour pompe à tube
EP11716216.4A EP2558723B9 (fr) 2010-04-16 2011-04-15 Élément de pompe pour pompe à tube
PCT/EP2011/056036 WO2011128440A1 (fr) 2010-04-16 2011-04-15 Élément de pompe pour une pompe à tube

Related Child Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP15171185.0A Division-Into EP2947318A1 (fr) 2010-04-16 2011-04-15 Élément de pompe pour pompe à tube
EP15171185.0A Division EP2947318A1 (fr) 2010-04-16 2011-04-15 Élément de pompe pour pompe à tube

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2558723A1 EP2558723A1 (fr) 2013-02-20
EP2558723B1 true EP2558723B1 (fr) 2015-06-10
EP2558723B9 EP2558723B9 (fr) 2015-09-02

Family

ID=42829080

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10160177A Withdrawn EP2378121A1 (fr) 2010-04-16 2010-04-16 Élément de pompe pour pompe à tube
EP11716216.4A Not-in-force EP2558723B9 (fr) 2010-04-16 2011-04-15 Élément de pompe pour pompe à tube
EP15171185.0A Withdrawn EP2947318A1 (fr) 2010-04-16 2011-04-15 Élément de pompe pour pompe à tube

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10160177A Withdrawn EP2378121A1 (fr) 2010-04-16 2010-04-16 Élément de pompe pour pompe à tube

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP15171185.0A Withdrawn EP2947318A1 (fr) 2010-04-16 2011-04-15 Élément de pompe pour pompe à tube

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20130108477A1 (fr)
EP (3) EP2378121A1 (fr)
DK (1) DK2558723T3 (fr)
WO (1) WO2011128440A1 (fr)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9687619B2 (en) * 2011-11-08 2017-06-27 Resmed Limited Electrically stimulated mask and/or associated components
CA2889910A1 (fr) * 2012-01-19 2013-07-25 Veinux Aps Pompe a tube
US9464609B2 (en) * 2013-09-06 2016-10-11 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Fuel delivery system including integrated check valve
US10744295B2 (en) 2015-01-13 2020-08-18 ResMed Pty Ltd Respiratory therapy apparatus
WO2017218420A1 (fr) * 2016-06-13 2017-12-21 Graco Minnesota Inc. Pompe à membrane tubulaire mécanique
FR3096094B1 (fr) * 2019-05-14 2022-11-25 Ams R&D Sas Pompe de circulation de fluide.

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US3289232A (en) * 1964-12-28 1966-12-06 Hoover Co Pump control, check valve and drive coupling means for shampooing and scrubbing device
US3881846A (en) * 1973-08-06 1975-05-06 Outboard Marine Corp Fluid pump with resilient pumping membrane
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US4106675A (en) * 1976-12-22 1978-08-15 The Kendall Company Liquid sampling device
NZ200222A (en) * 1981-04-15 1985-12-13 Wellcome Australia Elastic chamber pump:controlling pumping rate and indicating faults in fluid line
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2558723B9 (fr) 2015-09-02
EP2378121A1 (fr) 2011-10-19
EP2947318A1 (fr) 2015-11-25
WO2011128440A1 (fr) 2011-10-20
DK2558723T3 (en) 2015-07-06
US20130108477A1 (en) 2013-05-02
EP2558723A1 (fr) 2013-02-20

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