JP5358518B2 - Tube pump - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tube pump which can attach a sensor to a tube-pressing block and, thereafter, assembly the sensor to a body case irrespective of the size and shape of a sensor terminal. <P>SOLUTION: The tube pump 100 deforms a flexible tube 220 to be drawn by a driving part A and transfers a liquid in the tube. A sensor block 30 arranged at a position where the tube is led to an outer part from the driving part A is inserted from the inside to an attaching opening formed on an upper casing 10 and is projected to the outside and fixed. The sensor block 30 has first, second and third protrusion parts 33, 34, 35 arranged in the order to form first and second valley parts 31, 32 through which the tube passes, and a completion sensor 250 and a closure sensor 260 are arranged in the first protrusion part 33 and in the third protrusion part 35 respectively. The transmission part 270 of air bubble sensor is arranged in the third protrusion part 35 and a reception part 271 is arranged at the second protrusion part 34. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tube pump used for supplying a medical solution in a supply pack into the body, for example.

  The tube pump has a function of transferring the liquid in the tube by deforming the flexible tube so that it is handled in order from the upstream side to the downstream side by a driving unit such as a roller driven by a motor. For example, in the treatment of pain, it is used to inject a drug solution in a supply pack connected to the upstream side into a human body.

  The tube pump needs to stop operating when the chemical in the supply pack is finished and when a blockage occurs on the downstream side. For this reason, in FIG. 2 of Patent Document 1, an end sensor that detects the end of the chemical solution by a change in the outer shape of the tube is provided on the upstream side of the driving unit, and an occlusion sensor that detects a blockage by the change in the outer shape of the tube on the downstream side A tube pump provided with the above is disclosed.

  Further, FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1 discloses a tube pump in which the upstream sensor of the drive unit is eliminated and only the sensor provided on the downstream side detects the end of the chemical liquid and the occurrence of the blockage. Yes.

JP 2008-208808 JP

  However, Patent Document 1 does not disclose a specific configuration for arranging the end sensor and the blockage sensor, but each sensor is formed so as to sandwich the tube in order to detect a change in the outer shape of the tube. Need to be placed in a protruding case. For this reason, conventionally, a configuration has been adopted in which a tube pressing block as a protruding case is disposed at a position where the tube is led out from the drive unit, and a sensor is incorporated in the tube pressing block.

  However, in the conventional configuration, since the tube holding block is attached from the outside of the main body case, depending on the size and shape of the sensor terminal, the sensor cannot be attached to the tube holding block in advance. After the tube holding block is attached to the case, it is necessary to attach the sensor into the tube holding block from the inside of the main body case, and the work becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and is a tube that can be assembled to a main body case after the sensor is attached to the tube pressing block regardless of the size and shape of the sensor terminal. The object is to provide a pump.

  In order to achieve the above object, the tube pump according to the present invention is configured to transfer the liquid in the tube by deforming the flexible tube so as to be handled by the drive unit. A main body case that is configured in combination and contains a component including a drive unit, and a tube pressing block that is fixed to the upper case of the main body case and is fixed by sandwiching a tube between the upstream side and the downstream side of the drive unit. The tube holding block is assembled with a sensor for detecting a signal for controlling the transfer of the liquid adjacent to a tube fixed to the tube, and is then modularized. It is a structure that is inserted and fixed.

In this case, the tube holding block is modularized and inserted into the mounting opening from the inside of the upper case, and a part of the tube holding block protrudes and is fixed to the outside. that ing from the stopper.

  Further, the tube holding block is disposed upstream from the drive unit, and an end sensor that detects a reduction in the diameter of the tube, and a block sensor that is disposed downstream from the drive unit and detects an increase in the diameter of the tube, At least one sensor among the bubble sensors arranged on either the upstream side or the downstream side of the drive unit and detecting bubbles in the tube can be incorporated.

The above-mentioned tube pressing block integrally includes first, second, and third protrusions arranged in order so as to form first and second troughs through which the upstream and downstream tubes of the drive unit pass. Preferably, the end sensor is disposed in the first protrusion, the blockage sensor is disposed in the third protrusion, and at least a part of the bubble sensor is disposed in the second protrusion.
In the tube pump for transferring the liquid in the tube by deforming the flexible tube so as to be handled by the drive unit,

  According to the present invention, by attaching the tube holding block from the inside of the upper case, the sensor can be attached to the tube holding block regardless of the size and shape of the sensor terminal, and assembled into the main body case in a modular state. This can improve the efficiency of assembly work.

Also , a modular tube holding block is inserted into the mounting opening from the inside of the upper case and a part of the body protrudes outward, and a stopper that is arranged outside the upper case and fixed to the body part because the configuration, even what kind of size and shape sensor terminal, easily can assemble Rukoto to the body portion, the workability is improved, in addition, a portion protruding outside the upper case When stress is applied at the time of mounting the tube cassette, the force is distributed from the outside of the upper case to the stopper fixed to the main body portion, so that there is no risk of the main body portion coming off from the upper case.

  In addition, when the end sensor and the blockage sensor are used, it is possible to reliably detect the end of the chemical solution and the occurrence of blockage on the downstream side, and when the bubble sensor is used, bubbles are mixed into the tube. In such a case, it can be detected, and the operation of the drive unit can be appropriately controlled.

  Moreover, a space can be utilized effectively by arrange | positioning each sensor in each projection part of a tube holding | suppressing block.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the tube pump which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the tube pump of FIG. It is a rear view which shows the tube pump of FIG. It is a front view which shows the tube pump of FIG. It is a top view which shows the tube cassette assembled | attached to the tube pump of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the inside of the sensor block provided in the tube pump of FIG. The assembly | attachment relationship of the bubble sensor arrange | positioned in the sensor block of FIG. 6 and a sub-frame is shown, (A) is a side view, (B) is a front view. It is a perspective view which fractures | ruptures and shows a part of sensor block of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the sensor block of FIG. It is a bottom view of the sensor block of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the assembly structure of the drive part and sensor block of the tube pump of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the stopper for fixing the tube cassette of the tube pump of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the control system of the tube pump of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of an action | operation of the tube pump of FIG.

  Embodiments of a tube pump according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Initially, the whole structure of the tube pump 100 is demonstrated based on FIGS. 1 to 4 show an appearance of a tube pump 100 according to an embodiment, FIG. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 2 is a plan view, FIG. 3 is a rear view, and FIG. 4 is a front view.

  The tube pump 100 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape by combining the upper casing 10 and the lower casing 20, and a battery, a control circuit, a motor, and the like are housed in an interior surrounded by these casings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of operation buttons 11 including a power button are disposed on the upper casing 10, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) 12 as a display panel is attached to the center. ing.

  Moreover, the attachment part A which attaches the tube cassette 200 shown in FIG. 5 is formed in the right side of the upper surface of the upper casing 10. In the mounting portion A, a rotary shaft 13 of a built-in motor is led out at the center position, and is arranged so as to be vertically slidable around the rotary shaft 13 and is a circular spring plate urged upward by a built-in spring. 14. A tube holding block (hereinafter referred to as a sensor block) 30 in which a sensor to be described later is incorporated, and an interlock function attached in the vicinity of the sensor block 30 to assistly fix the tube cassette 200 to the mounting portion A. A stopper 40 is attached.

  The sensor block 30 includes first, second, and third protrusions 33 that are arranged in order so as to form first and second valley portions 31 and 32 through which tubes of the tube cassette 200 attached to the attachment portion A are passed. , 34 and 35 are formed integrally. The sensor block 30 is formed of a resin such as a PEEK material having excellent mechanical strength, wear resistance, and chemical resistance.

  Further, an eject button 15 that is operated when removing the tube cassette 200 attached to the drive unit A and a lock lever 16 that locks the operation of the eject button 15 are attached to the back surface of the upper casing 10. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the tube cassette 200 forms a cylindrical wall 212 along the outer periphery of the disk-shaped bottom plate 211, and a flexible tube 220 along the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall 212. The three rollers 230 are arranged so as to crush the tube 220, and a shaft hole 240 through which the rotary shaft 13 of the motor is inserted from the back of the mounting portion A is formed in the center of these rollers 230. ing.

  When the tube cassette 200 is attached to the tube pump 100, the hook-shaped protrusion formed on the bottom surface of the tube cassette 200 is aligned with the groove formed on the attachment portion A, and the spring plate 14 is pressed by the bottom plate 211 while not shown. Press down until the hook-shaped protrusion is locked by the locking mechanism. Thereby, the rotating shaft 13 contacts the peripheral surface of each roller, and one of the tubes 220, in this example, the upstream side (in side) is inserted into the first valley 31 of the sensor block 30. On the other hand, in this example, the downstream side (out side) is inserted into the second valley portion 32.

  When the tube cassette 200 is attached to the tube pump 100 and the motor is rotated to rotate the rotating shaft 13 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2, the three rollers 230 engaged therewith rotate counterclockwise and rotate clockwise. Revolve. Thereby, the tube 220 is deformed in order so as to be handled, and the liquid in the tube 220 can be transferred. The rotating shaft 13 and the roller 230 of these motors constitute a drive unit that handles the tube 220. The sensor block 30 is arranged at a position where the tube 220 is led out from the drive unit.

  When removing the tube cassette 200 from the tube pump 100, the interlock by the stopper 40 is released, then the lock lever 16 is slid to release the lock, and the eject button 15 is pushed. Thereby, the lock mechanism is released, the spring plate 14 is raised by the action of a spring (not shown), and the tube cassette 200 can be removed from the attachment portion A.

  Next, the configuration of the sensor block 30 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of the sensor block 30 provided in the tube pump 100 of FIG. 1, FIG. 7 shows a combination of a subframe and a receiver, (A) is a side view, and (B) is a front view. 8 is a perspective view showing a part of the sensor block 30 in a cutaway view, FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the sensor block 30, and FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the sensor block 30.

  The tube pump 100 according to the present embodiment includes an end sensor 250 that detects a reduction in the diameter of the tube 220, a block sensor 260 that detects an increase in the diameter of the tube, and a transmission unit that forms a bubble sensor that detects bubbles in the tube. 270 and a receiver 271 are provided in the sensor block 30.

  The end sensor 250 has a first protrusion so as to detect a change in the diameter of the tube 200 on the upstream side of the drive unit inserted into the first valley 31 of the sensor block 30 when the tube cassette 200 is set. Arranged in the portion 33. The occlusion sensor 260 has a third protrusion so as to detect a change in the diameter of the tube 200 on the downstream side of the drive unit inserted in the second valley portion 32 of the sensor block 30 when the tube cassette 200 is set. Arranged in the portion 35. Thus, space can be used effectively by disposing each sensor in the protruding portion of the sensor block 30 disposed at a position where the tube 220 is led out to the outside. A relatively large opening is provided on the outer surface of the first and third protrusions 33 and 35 in order to facilitate the incorporation of the sensor, the wiring process of the bubble sensor, and the confirmation of the working state. The openings are closed by lids 36 and 37, respectively.

  In addition, the bubble sensor is configured such that when the tube cassette 200 is set, the transmission unit 270 detects the bubbles in the tube 220 on either the upstream side or the downstream side of the drive unit, in this example, on the downstream side. 3, the receiving portion 271 is disposed on the second projecting portion 34, and is disposed so as to sandwich the downstream tube 220 inserted in the second valley portion 32.

  The bubble sensor detects bubbles in the tube 220 by receiving the sound wave emitted from the transmission unit 270 by the reception unit 271. Since the transmittance of sound waves differs between liquid and bubbles, the presence or absence of bubbles is detected using the difference. Specifically, the intensity of the sound wave received by the receiving unit 271 is strong when the inside of the tube is filled with the solution, and becomes weak when air bubbles enter the tube. Therefore, it can be determined that bubbles are included when the intensity of the sound wave becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold.

  The receiving portion 271 of the bubble sensor receives the receiving surface from the opening 34a formed on the second valley portion 32 side of the second protruding portion 34 by the subframe 51 attached to the sensor frame 50 fixed to the sensor block 30. It is supported by exposing a part of. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the subframe 51 includes a U-shaped first holding part 51a and a second holding part 51b that are opened upward in the drawing, and a receiving part 271. Is supported from the lower side and the rear side.

  Note that if the contact area between the receiving unit 271 of the bubble sensor and the sub frame 51 as the support member is large, the sound wave generated from the transmitting unit 270 wraps around the sensor frame 50 and the sub frame 51, and this becomes a noise component. Reduce the accuracy of bubble detection. For this reason, the receiving portion 271 is formed with a protrusion 271a around the first holding portion 51a of the subframe 51 so as not to come into contact with the surface. Thereby, the receiving unit 271 can avoid the surface contact with the subframe 51, the propagation of vibrations from the transmitting unit 270 to the receiving unit 271 via the sensor frame 50 can be reduced, and the accuracy of bubble detection can be increased.

  In addition, the second holding portion 51b of the subframe 51 has an opening 34a formed in the second protrusion 34 of the sensor block 30 by pushing the back surface of the receiving portion 271 when assembled to the sensor block 30 (see FIG. 6). A support surface 51c is formed so that the front end of the receiving portion 271 enters and is securely pushed. As a result, when the receiver 271 is assembled to the second protrusion 34 of the sensor block 30, it is pressed toward the tube 220 to be detected, the position of the receiver 271 is accurately determined, and the clearance is eliminated to receive. Shaking of the portion 271 can be suppressed.

  In addition, as a bubble sensor, you may use what consists of two parts of the transmission part 270 and the receiving part 271 as mentioned above, and you may use what integrated the transmission part and the receiving part. . When an integrated bubble sensor is used, for example, it may be disposed in the second protrusion 34 of the sensor block 30. In the case of being composed of two parts as in the embodiment, the arrangement of the receiving unit and the transmitting unit may be opposite to the above.

  On the other hand, the end sensor 250 includes a plate-shaped load sensor 251 and a resin contact portion 252 that is attached to the distal end of the load sensor 251 and contacts the tube 220. It is inserted and fixed to a slide base 52 fixed to the sensor frame 50. The load sensor 251 is a strain gauge formed by printing a balanced bridge type resistor on a ceramic substrate. When the contact portion 252 is displaced and deformed, the deformation can be taken out as a change in electric resistance. Note that the strain gauge may employ a configuration in which a tape-like gauge pattern is attached to a highly rigid material, for example, a ceramic plate material or a metal plate material.

  The first protrusion 33 of the sensor block 30 has an opening 33a that opens to the first trough 31 side, and the contact portion 252 is exposed to the first trough 31 from the opening 33a. Thus, the tube 220 is inserted into the first valley portion 31. When the supply of the chemical solution in the supply pack connected to the upstream side is finished during the operation of the tube pump 100 and the solution in the tube 220 is exhausted, the pressure is reduced (vacuum), the diameter of the tube 220 is reduced, and the end sensor 250 is reached. Output changes in the negative direction. When this change falls below a predetermined threshold, it is detected as an end.

  As with the end sensor 250, the block sensor 260 includes a plate-shaped load sensor 261 and a resin contact portion 262 that is attached to the tip of the load sensor 261 and contacts the tube 220. The base end of 261 is inserted into a slide base 53 fixed to the sensor frame 50 and fixed. When the contact portion 262 is displaced and deformed, the load sensor 261 can take out this deformation as a change in electric resistance.

  The third protrusion 35 of the sensor block 30 has an opening 35a that opens toward the second valley 32, and the contact portion 262 is exposed to the second valley 32 from the opening 35a. Due to this, the tube 220 is inserted into the second valley portion 32 and abuts on the tube 220. If a blockage occurs on the downstream side during the operation of the tube pump 100, the pressure is increased, the diameter of the tube 220 is increased, and the output of the blockage sensor 260 changes in the positive direction. When this change exceeds a predetermined threshold, it is detected that a blockage has occurred.

  The slide bases 52 and 53 are fixed to the sensor frame 50 by screws 52a and 53a, respectively, and can be adjusted with respect to the sensor frame 50 by loosening the screws 52a and 53a. The position of 262 can be independently adjusted in the radial direction of the tube 220. The change in the diameter of the tube 220 is, for example, about 30 microns, and the load is about 100 grams. Therefore, in order to accurately detect the change in the diameter, the positioning of the sensor is important. In addition, the structure in which the positions of the two sensors on the upstream side and the downstream side are adjusted at the same time cannot be adjusted sufficiently. Thereby, the change of the diameter of the tube 220 can be detected reliably.

  At the time of assembling the sensor block 30, as shown in FIG. 9, the subframe 51 is inserted and fixed in a state where the receiving unit 271 is temporarily arranged on the second protrusion 34. By fixing the sensor frame 50 to the sensor block 30 from this state, the subframe 51 is also fixed together.

  Next, the end sensor 250 and the closing sensor 260 are attached to the slide guides 52 and 53, and inserted into the first and third protrusions 33 and 35 so that the contact portions 252 and 262 are exposed from the openings 33a and 35a. Then, the slide bases 52 and 53 are fixed to the sensor frame 50 with screws 52a and 53a. At this time, adjustment is made so that the positions of the contact portions 252 and 262 become predetermined positions.

  Subsequently, the lids 36 and 37 are bonded to the first and third protrusions 33 and 35 with an adhesive, respectively, and if necessary, a waterproof sealant is filled in the case of the sensor block 30 to form a sensor. The assembly of block 30 is completed.

  Next, assembly of the sensor block 30 in the tube pump 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing an assembly structure of the mounting portion A of the tube pump 100 and the sensor block 30, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which the stopper 40 of the tube pump 100 is removed.

  The sensor block 30 assembled as described above is inserted into the mounting opening formed in the upper casing 10 from the inner side (back side), and is fixed to protrude outward. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the base 60, the waterproof packing 61, and the motor frame 62 of the spring plate 14 are fixed to the mounting portion A of the upper casing 10 from the back side with screws. Then, the sensor block 30 is inserted through mounting holes 61a and 62a formed in the waterproof packing 61 and the motor frame 62, and screwed.

  Next, the configuration of the control system of the tube pump 100 of the embodiment will be described based on FIG. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an outline of a control system of the tube pump 100. In this example, only a part necessary for the description of the embodiment is taken out and described in a simplified manner, and the description of the flow rate control and timer control necessary as a function of the tube pump 100 is omitted.

  The control circuit mainly includes a control device 300 that controls the entire tube pump 100, an EEPROM 301 that stores a program for operating the control device 300 and various data, and an AC adapter that supplies power from an external power source. 302, a battery 303, a button battery 305 for driving the calendar IC 304, a motor driver 307 for driving and controlling the motor 306, a main switch 11a that is operated when the power switch is turned on to turn on / off the device, an LCD 12, an end sensor 250, a blockage A sensor 260, a transmission unit 270 and a reception unit 271 that constitute a bubble sensor, an alarm device 308, and the like are connected.

  When the end sensor 250 detects that the upstream tube diameter D has fallen below the first threshold Th1 during operation, the control device 300 operates the attachment portion A (motor 306) in response to the start instruction. It has a function of stopping the motor 306 when the blockage sensor 260 detects that the tube diameter D exceeds the second threshold Th2 and when the bubble sensor 270/271 detects bubbles in the tube. The control device 300 drives the alarm device 308 at the same time when the motor is stopped as described above, and performs alarm output (sound output and LED blinking).

  Next, operation | movement of the tube pump 100 of embodiment comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated based on FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of the tube pump 100.

  This process starts when the main switch 11a is turned on with the tube cassette 200 mounted. The attachment detection of the tube cassette 200 is performed using the blockage sensor 260 without using a dedicated sensor. That is, when the tube cassette 200 is attached to the attachment portion A and the tube is passed through the first and second troughs, a load change occurs in the blockage sensor 260 without the presence of the cassette. Is detected. First, in step S <b> 1, the control device 300 starts the rotation of the motor 306. Subsequently, in steps S2 to S5, the control device 300 checks the output of each sensor.

  In step S <b> 2, the control device 300 determines whether or not the tube diameter D is less than the first threshold Th <b> 1 based on the output of the end sensor 250. When the tube diameter D is less than the first threshold value Th1, the control device 300 determines that the liquid in the chemical solution bag has ended, stops the rotation of the motor 306 in step S6, and in step S7. After alarm output, the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the tube diameter D is not less than the first threshold value Th1, the control device 300 determines whether or not the tube diameter D exceeds the second threshold value Th2 in step S3 based on the output of the blockage sensor 260. judge. When the tube diameter D exceeds the second threshold Th2, the control device 300 determines that a blockage has occurred on the downstream side of the tube 220, stops the rotation of the motor 306 in step S6, and performs step S7. After the alarm is output at, the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the tube diameter D does not exceed the second threshold value Th2, the control device 300 determines in step S4 whether there are bubbles in the tube 220 based on the output of the bubble sensor 270/271. To do. If it is determined that there is a bubble, the control device 300 stops the rotation of the motor 306 in step S6, and then terminates the processing after outputting an alarm in step S7.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that there are no bubbles in the tube 220, the control device 300 determines in step S5 whether or not the main switch 11a is on. If the main switch 11a is on, the process returns to step S2, and the determinations in steps S2 to S5 are repeated while the motor 306 is rotated. If the main switch 11a is off, the control device 300 stops the rotation of the motor 306 in step S6, and after the alarm is output in step S7, the process ends.

  According to the embodiment, by attaching the tube pressing block (sensor block 30) from the inside of the upper case 10, regardless of the size and shape of the sensor terminal, the sensor is attached to the tube pressing block and then attached to the main body case. The assembly work can be made more efficient.

100 Tube pump 10 Upper casing 20 Lower casing 30 Sensor block (Tube holding block)
31, 32 Valleys 33, 34, 35 Protrusion 40 Stopper 50 Sensor frame 51 Subframe 200 Tube cassette 220 Tube 230 Roller 250 End sensor 251 Load sensor 252 Contact portion 260 Blocking sensor 261 Load sensor 262 Contact portion 270 Transmitter (bubble) Sensor)
271 Receiver (bubble sensor)
300 Controller 306 Motor

Claims (3)

In the tube pump for transferring the liquid in the tube by deforming the flexible tube so as to be handled by the drive unit,
A body case configured by combining an upper case and a lower case, and including a component including the drive unit;
A tube pressing block fixed to the upper case of the main body case and sandwiched and fixed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the drive unit;
The tube holding block is modularized with a sensor for detecting a signal for controlling the transfer of the liquid adjacent to a tube fixed to the tube holding block, and then is attached to a mounting opening formed in the upper case. inserting Ri structures der to be fixed, a part from the inside of the modular the upper case is inserted into the mounting opening is arranged a body portion secured to protrude outwardly, the outside of the upper case the A tube pump comprising a stopper fixed to a main body portion .   An end sensor that is disposed upstream of the drive unit and detects a reduction in the diameter of the tube, and a block sensor that is disposed downstream of the drive unit and detects an increase in the diameter of the tube. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the bubble sensors arranged on either the upstream side or the downstream side of the drive unit and detecting bubbles in the tube is incorporated. Tube pump. The tube pressing block integrally includes first, second, and third protrusions that are arranged in order so as to form first and second valleys through which the upstream and downstream tubes of the driving unit pass. The end sensor is disposed in the first protrusion, the blockage sensor is disposed in the third protrusion, and at least a part of the bubble sensor is disposed in the second protrusion. The tube pump according to claim 2 .

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