US20060251532A1 - Roller pump - Google Patents
Roller pump Download PDFInfo
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- US20060251532A1 US20060251532A1 US10/548,367 US54836705A US2006251532A1 US 20060251532 A1 US20060251532 A1 US 20060251532A1 US 54836705 A US54836705 A US 54836705A US 2006251532 A1 US2006251532 A1 US 2006251532A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- roller
- tube
- housing
- depression
- pump
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- 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.)
- Abandoned
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- 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
- F04B43/12—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members having peristaltic action
- F04B43/1253—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members having peristaltic action by using two or more rollers as squeezing elements, the rollers moving on an arc of a circle during squeezing
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a roller pump that pumps a fluid contained in a tube in a blood circuit, an infusion circuit, and the like.
- roller pumps which pump fluids inside medical tubing are widely used in medical facilities.
- treatment is carried out using an extracorporeal blood system that takes a patient's blood outside the body for processing such as purification and oxygenation and then return the blood to the patient.
- This extracorporeal blood system was first applied to hemodialysis, and is nowadays used for pump-oxygenators, artificial livers, and plasma separators too.
- a blood circuit is formed using tubes and connectors.
- polyvinyl chloride tubes are widely used, but recently olefin tubes are used too.
- Roller pumps are employed to propel blood carried in such tubing.
- roller pumps are also used to propel dialysate to a dialyzer through tubing.
- a typical roller pump includes a housing with a curved inner wall surface to which a tube is to be attached, a rotor connected with a rotor of a motor and axially supported in the housing, and rollers rotatably fixed to the rotor. As the rotor rotates, the rollers move to squeeze the tube against the inner wall surface of the housing, thereby forcing a fluid in the tube to flow.
- the present invention aims to prevent damage to a tube in a roller pump which pumps a fluid contained in the tube by squeezing it against a housing with a roller, so that the tube can be used continuously for a long time.
- the stated aim can be achieved by a roller pump that pumps a fluid contained in a tube by squeezing the tube against a wall surface of a housing with a roller, characterized in that a depression which a part of the tube enters when squeezed with the roller is formed on at least one of a roller surface of the roller and the wall surface of the housing.
- the tube can be used continuously for a long time without a tube material getting mixed in with the fluid.
- the depression may be continuously formed around a circumference of the roller surface of the roller.
- the depression may be formed as a ring (i.e. concentric with the roller surface).
- the depression may be formed in the middle of the roller surface in a direction of a rotation axis of the roller.
- a projection may be formed on the wall surface of the housing in an area corresponding to the depression on the roller surface of the roller.
- Such a projection aids the part of the tube to enter the depression.
- the projection may be continuously formed a long the tube.
- a width of the depression in a direction of a rotation axis of the roller may be no smaller than a wall thickness of the tube and no larger than three times the wall thickness of the tube.
- a depth of the depression may be no smaller than a wall thickness of the tube.
- the stated aim can also be achieved by a roller pump that pumps a fluid contained in a tube by squeezing the tube against a wall surface of a housing with a roller, characterized in that the roller includes a plurality of disc rollers which are separately rotatable.
- At least three disc rollers of the plurality of disc rollers may contact the tube when the tube is squeezed with the roller.
- a gap which a part of the tube enters when squeezed with the roller may be provided between adjacent disc rollers of the plurality of disc rollers.
- a width of the gap may be no smaller than a wall thickness of the tube and no larger than three times the wall thickness of the tube.
- the wall surface of the housing may be a curved inner wall surface of the housing, wherein a rotor which moves the roller along the inner wall surface of the housing is provided in the housing, with the roller being rotatably attached to the rotor.
- the above effects can be achieved with such a typical roller pump.
- the above effects can equally be achieved with any roller pump that pumps a fluid contained in a tube by squeezing it against a housing with a roller.
- FIG. 1 is a front view of a roller pump to which embodiments of the invention relate.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a roller in the first embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 3 is a representation of how a tube is deformed when pressed by the roller shown in FIG. 2 and when pressed by a conventional roller.
- FIG. 4 is a representation of how a tube is deformed in a roller pump which is a modification to the first embodiment.
- FIG. 5 is a representation of how a tube is deformed in a roller pump which is another modification to the first embodiment.
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a roller in the second embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 7 is a representation of how a tube is deformed when pressed by the roller shown in FIG. 6 .
- FIG. 8 shows a situation where a tube is squeezed with a conventional roller.
- a roller pump of the present invention is descried byway of embodiments below, with reference to the drawings.
- FIG. 1 is a front view of a roller pump 1 to which embodiments of the invention relate.
- roller pump 1 is roughly made up of a case 100 and a pumphead unit (central unit) 200 .
- the pumphead unit 200 is secured to the bottom of the case 100 .
- the pumphead unit 200 includes a housing 10 having a curved inner wall surface 11 to which a tube 50 is to be attached, a rotor 20 axially supported in the housing 10 , and a plurality of rollers 30 mounted on the rotor 20 .
- the tube 50 carries a fluid, and is made of an elastic material.
- Example materials of the tube 50 include polyvinyl chloride, and an olefin elastomer such as polybutadiene.
- the tube 50 is laid along the inner wall surface 11 of the housing 10 in the form of a circular arc.
- the rotor 20 has a plurality of roller mounting units 21 (eight in FIG. 1 ) which are spaced with each other on its periphery.
- the rotor 20 is connected with a rotor of a motor (not illustrated).
- a driving power of the motor i.e. a rotational power of the rotor of the motor
- a driving power of the motor is transmitted to rotate the rotor 20 .
- the rotor 20 is positioned to create a gap 40 in which the tube 50 can be inserted, between its periphery and the inner wall surface 11 of the housing 10 .
- the rollers 30 are each shaped like a cylinder, and are made of aluminum or a resin as one example.
- the rollers 30 are axially supported by the roller mounting units 21 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis 35 (see FIG. 2 ).
- the rollers 30 are positioned to project from the periphery of the rotor 20 . This being so, a gap 41 between the rollers 30 and the inner wall surface 11 of the housing 10 is smaller than the gap 40 and therefore smaller than an outside diameter of the tube 50 .
- the rollers 30 move as the rotor 20 rotates, as shown in FIG. 1 . During this, the rollers 30 rotate while contacting the tube 50 and pressing it against the inner wall surface 11 . This squeezes the tube 50 and pumps the fluid contained in the tube 50 .
- rollers 30 are rotatably attached to the roller mounting units 21 , the rollers 30 turn free on their own when coming into contact with the tube 50 . Accordingly, a pressure exerted on the tube 50 by the rollers 30 is smaller than in the case where the tube 50 is pressed by rollers which do not turn free.
- rollers 30 Characteristics and effects of the rollers 30 are explained in detail below, based on the first and second embodiments of the invention.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a roller 30 in the first embodiment.
- the roller 30 is constricted in the middle in a direction of the rotation axis 35 , to create a depression 31 .
- the depression 31 is a ring-shaped groove formed around a whole circumference of a roller surface 30 A of the roller 30 .
- roller surface 30 A is symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis 35 , and is smaller in diameter in the middle in the direction of the rotation axis 35 than in the other parts.
- FIG. 3A shows a situation where the tube 50 is pressed by the roller 30 having the depression 31
- FIG. 3B shows a situation where the tube 50 is pressed by a conventional roller 60 having no depression.
- roller 30 can be formed simply by forming the depression 31 in a conventional roller, a manufacturing process is easy. Also, the manufacturing process is easier when compared with the case of forming a depression in a housing.
- a width w of the depression 31 i.e. a width of an open end of the depression 31
- a width w of the depression 31 it is preferable for the width w of the depression 31 to be no smaller than the wall thickness t of the tube 50 , to achieve the above effect.
- a width of an internal space of the tube 50 is about ( ⁇ D/2 ⁇ 2t) (where D is the outside diameter of the tube 50 and t is the wall thickness of the tube 50 ). This being so, the width w of the depression 31 needs to be no larger than (D/2 ⁇ 2t).
- the width w of the depression 31 is larger than three times the wall thickness t of the tube 50 (i.e. 3t), the effect of alleviating the load on the tube 50 by allowing part of the tube 50 to escape into the depression 31 may not be achieved. Accordingly, the width w of the depression 31 is preferably no larger than 3t.
- a depth d of the depression 31 is preferably no smaller than the tube thickness t (t ⁇ d), to allow a sufficient amount of tube to escape into the depression 31 .
- the depth d of the depression 31 is more preferably no smaller than twice the tube thickness t (2t ⁇ d).
- a single depression 31 is formed in the middle of the roller 30 in the direction of the rotation axis 35 in FIGS. 2 and 3 .
- two or more depressions may be formed in the roller 30 in the direction of the rotation axis 35 .
- the depression 31 around the circumference of the roller 30 is preferable to continuously form the depression 31 around the circumference of the roller 30 especially in the shape of a ring, as shown in FIG. 2 .
- a certain degree of effect can still be achieved even when the depression 31 is formed discontinuously around the circumference of the roller 30 .
- the inner wall surface 11 of the housing 10 is flat in the direction of the rotation axis 35 , as shown in FIG. 3A .
- a projection 11 a may be formed on the inner wall surface 11 in an area corresponding to the depression 31 , as shown in FIG. 4 .
- the projection 11 a aids the middle part 50 a to enter the depression 31 .
- part of the tube 50 is more smoothly pushed into the depression 31 .
- the load on the tube 50 can be alleviated effectively.
- the depression 31 is formed on the roller surface 30 A of the roller 30 .
- a depression 12 may be formed on the inner wall surface 11 of the housing 10 , as shown in FIG. 5 .
- the middle part 50 a partially enters the depression 12 .
- damage to the tube 50 can be prevented as in the case where the tube 50 is squeezed with the roller 30 having the depression 31 .
- roller 30 having the depression 31 can be combined with the housing 10 with the inner wall surface 11 having the depression 12 .
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a roller 30 in the second embodiment.
- the roller 30 is formed by a plurality of disc-shaped rollers (hereafter “disc rollers”) 32 which are axially supported by a rotation axis 35 so as to be separately rotatable.
- Each of the disc rollers 32 moves as the rotor 20 rotates, and separately rotates in contact with the tube 50 .
- FIG. 7 shows a situation where the tube 50 is pressed by this roller 30 .
- the roller 30 has three disc rollers 32 , namely, one middle disc roller 32 a and two side disc rollers 32 b .
- the number of disc rollers is not limited to such, as the roller 30 may have two disc rollers or four or more disc rollers.
- the disc rollers 32 are arranged at predetermined intervals to ease independent rotations.
- the roller 30 has the plurality of disc rollers 32 that are separately rotatable. According to this construction, differences in frictional force acting upon the tube 50 squeezed with the roller 30 are reduced when compared with the case where a conventional roller is used, as explained below. As a result, damage to the tube 50 is prevented.
- FIG. 8 shows a situation where the tube 50 is squeezed with the conventional roller 60 .
- the tube 50 distorts in its extending direction near the area in contact with the roller 60 .
- the middle part 50 a distorts more than the side parts 50 b .
- a contact length of the tube 50 with the roller 60 in a rotation direction of the roller 60 is greater in the middle part 50 a (L 1 ) than in the side parts 50 b (L 2 ).
- a shifting speed of the roller-contact area on the surface of the tube 50 is different between the middle part 50 a and the side parts 50 b . This being the case, when the tube 50 is squeezed with the roller 60 , the middle part 50 a is partially pushed toward the side parts 50 b.
- the shifting speed of the roller-contact area on the surface of the tube 50 is different between the middle part 50 a and the side parts 50 b .
- a peripheral speed of the roller 60 is uniform for all of the middle part 50 a and the side parts 50 b . This causes different frictional forces to act between the surface of the tube 50 and the surface of the roller 60 , thereby damaging the tube 50 .
- the tube 50 may be twisted or cracked.
- part of the tube 50 can be smoothly pushed from the middle part 50 a toward the side parts 50 b and from the side parts 50 b toward further outside.
- the roller 30 has only two disc rollers, the effect of reducing the differences in frictional force on the tube 50 can be produced to some extent.
- the roller 30 has three or more disc rollers as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the middle part 50 a and the side parts 50 b can each be pressed by a separate disc roller. Therefore, the number of disc rollers in the roller 30 is preferably three or more.
- any of the disc roller 32 a and the disc rollers 32 b shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 may further be divided by two, thereby providing many thin disc rollers. This enhances the effect of reducing the differences in frictional force on the tube 50 .
- a width of an internal space of the tube 50 is about ( ⁇ D/2 ⁇ 2t) (where D denotes the outside diameter of the tube 50 and t denotes the wall thickness of the tube 50 ).
- D denotes the outside diameter of the tube 50
- t denotes the wall thickness of the tube 50
- an interval between the disc rollers 32 b is preferably no larger than ( ⁇ D/2 ⁇ 2t).
- a width Wa of the disc roller 32 a is smaller than ( ⁇ D/2 ⁇ 2t).
- a gap may be provided between adjacent disc rollers 32 (i.e. between the disc roller 32 a and each of the disc rollers 32 b in FIGS. 6 and 7 ).
- a gap serves to accommodate part of the tube 50 like the depression 31 in the first embodiment.
- a gap w 1 between adjacent disc rollers 32 is preferably no smaller than the wall thickness t of the tube 50 and no larger than three times the wall thickness t (i.e. 3t), as in the first embodiment.
- the roller pump 1 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with the case 100 which includes the display unit 130 and the operation unit 120 and the pumphead unit 200 which is attached to the case 100 , but the invention is not limited to such.
- the display unit and the operation unit may be omitted, or the pumphead unit may be provided separately from the case instead of being attached to the case.
- the tube 50 is set in the housing 10 in a horizontal direction so that the fluid flows from right to left in the drawing, but this is not a limit for the invention, which is equally applicable to any roller pump that pumps a fluid contained in a tube by squeezing the tube against a housing with a roller.
- the same effect as above can be achieved when the roller 30 of any of the first and second embodiments is applied to a roller pump in which a tube is set to make a U-turn in a housing.
- a typical construction of a roller pump is such that a rotor to which rollers are rotatably fixed is placed in a housing so as to move the rollers along an inner wall surface of the housing to which a tube is to be attached.
- the same effect as above can be achieved when the roller 30 of any of the first and second embodiments is applied to such a typical roller pump.
- the effect can equally be achieved when the roller 30 is applied to any roller pump that pumps a fluid contained in a tube by squeezing it against a housing with a roller.
- a roller pump according to any of the above embodiments and modifications can be used in a blood circuit such as a hemodialysis circuit, a pump-oxygenator, an artificial liver, or a plasma separator.
- a dialyzer containing a dialyzing membrane (hollow fiber) is connected with a tube for circulating blood and a tube for circulating dialysate.
- the tube is set in the roller pump.
- the roller pump may equally be used in an infusion circuit such as a peritoneal dialysis circuit.
- an infusion circuit a tube for circulating an infusion is set in the roller pump.
- the roller pump in a blood circuit or an infusion circuit in this way, the tubing that forms the circuit can be used continuously for a long time without a tube material getting mixed in with blood or an infusion.
- the invention can be used for a circuit such as a blood circuit or an infusion circuit to prevent damage to tubing that forms the circuit.
- a circuit such as a blood circuit or an infusion circuit to prevent damage to tubing that forms the circuit.
- the tubing can be used continuously for a long time without a tube material getting mixed in with fluids in the tubing.
Abstract
To prevent damage to a tube in a roller pump which pumps a fluid contained in the tube by squeezing it against an inner wall surface of a housing with a roller, so that the tube can be used continuously for a long time. A depression which a part of the tube enters when squeezed with the roller is formed on at least one of a roller surface of the roller and the inner wall surface of the housing. This alleviates a load on the tube, thereby preventing damage to the tube. Alternatively, the roller may include a plurality of disc rollers that are separately rotatable. This reduces differences in frictional force acting upon the tube when squeezed by the roller, thereby preventing damage to the tube. According to these constructions, the tube can be used continuously for a long time.
Description
- The present invention relates to a roller pump that pumps a fluid contained in a tube in a blood circuit, an infusion circuit, and the like.
- In recent years, roller pumps which pump fluids inside medical tubing are widely used in medical facilities.
- For instance, treatment is carried out using an extracorporeal blood system that takes a patient's blood outside the body for processing such as purification and oxygenation and then return the blood to the patient. This extracorporeal blood system was first applied to hemodialysis, and is nowadays used for pump-oxygenators, artificial livers, and plasma separators too.
- In the extracorporeal blood system, a blood circuit is formed using tubes and connectors. Conventionally, polyvinyl chloride tubes are widely used, but recently olefin tubes are used too. Roller pumps are employed to propel blood carried in such tubing. In dialysis, roller pumps are also used to propel dialysate to a dialyzer through tubing.
- A typical roller pump includes a housing with a curved inner wall surface to which a tube is to be attached, a rotor connected with a rotor of a motor and axially supported in the housing, and rollers rotatably fixed to the rotor. As the rotor rotates, the rollers move to squeeze the tube against the inner wall surface of the housing, thereby forcing a fluid in the tube to flow.
- Since such a roller pump presses the tube to pump the fluid, a load is exerted on the tube. This being so, when used continuously, the tube is worn away or scraped away. The tube may even be cracked depending on its material. This makes it difficult to use the tube continuously for a long time. Especially when the tube is formed from an olefin such as PP (polypropylene), the tube tends to be worn or scraped away or cracked.
- Also, if an inner wall of the tube is scraped away, the removed tube material gets mixed in with the fluid, thereby damaging the fluid.
- The present invention aims to prevent damage to a tube in a roller pump which pumps a fluid contained in the tube by squeezing it against a housing with a roller, so that the tube can be used continuously for a long time.
- The stated aim can be achieved by a roller pump that pumps a fluid contained in a tube by squeezing the tube against a wall surface of a housing with a roller, characterized in that a depression which a part of the tube enters when squeezed with the roller is formed on at least one of a roller surface of the roller and the wall surface of the housing.
- According to this construction, a part of the tube enters the depression when squeezed with the roller. This alleviates a load on the tube, so that damage to the tube is prevented. As a result, the tube can be used continuously for a long time without a tube material getting mixed in with the fluid.
- Here, the depression may be continuously formed around a circumference of the roller surface of the roller.
- Here, the depression may be formed as a ring (i.e. concentric with the roller surface).
- Here, the depression may be formed in the middle of the roller surface in a direction of a rotation axis of the roller.
- Here, a projection may be formed on the wall surface of the housing in an area corresponding to the depression on the roller surface of the roller.
- Such a projection aids the part of the tube to enter the depression.
- Here, the projection may be continuously formed a long the tube.
- Here, a width of the depression in a direction of a rotation axis of the roller may be no smaller than a wall thickness of the tube and no larger than three times the wall thickness of the tube.
- Here, a depth of the depression may be no smaller than a wall thickness of the tube.
- The stated aim can also be achieved by a roller pump that pumps a fluid contained in a tube by squeezing the tube against a wall surface of a housing with a roller, characterized in that the roller includes a plurality of disc rollers which are separately rotatable.
- According to this construction, differences in frictional force acting upon the tube when squeezed with the roller are reduced. This prevents damage to the tube. As a result, the tube can be used continuously for a long time without a tube material getting mixed in with the fluid.
- Here, at least three disc rollers of the plurality of disc rollers may contact the tube when the tube is squeezed with the roller.
- According to this construction, the differences in frictional force on the tube are more effectively reduced.
- Here, a gap which a part of the tube enters when squeezed with the roller may be provided between adjacent disc rollers of the plurality of disc rollers.
- According to this construction, a part of the tube enters the gap when squeezed with the roller. This alleviates a load on the tube, with it being possible to prevent damage to the tube.
- Here, a width of the gap may be no smaller than a wall thickness of the tube and no larger than three times the wall thickness of the tube.
- Here, the wall surface of the housing may be a curved inner wall surface of the housing, wherein a rotor which moves the roller along the inner wall surface of the housing is provided in the housing, with the roller being rotatably attached to the rotor.
- The above effects can be achieved with such a typical roller pump. The above effects can equally be achieved with any roller pump that pumps a fluid contained in a tube by squeezing it against a housing with a roller.
-
FIG. 1 is a front view of a roller pump to which embodiments of the invention relate. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a roller in the first embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 3 is a representation of how a tube is deformed when pressed by the roller shown inFIG. 2 and when pressed by a conventional roller. -
FIG. 4 is a representation of how a tube is deformed in a roller pump which is a modification to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 5 is a representation of how a tube is deformed in a roller pump which is another modification to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a roller in the second embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 7 is a representation of how a tube is deformed when pressed by the roller shown inFIG. 6 . -
FIG. 8 shows a situation where a tube is squeezed with a conventional roller. - A roller pump of the present invention is descried byway of embodiments below, with reference to the drawings.
- Overall Construction of a Roller Pump
-
FIG. 1 is a front view of aroller pump 1 to which embodiments of the invention relate. - In the drawing, the
roller pump 1 is roughly made up of acase 100 and a pumphead unit (central unit) 200. - The
case 100 contains various control units (not illustrated). Thecase 100 is also equipped with adisplay unit 130 and anoperation unit 120 on its outer face. - The
pumphead unit 200 is secured to the bottom of thecase 100. Thepumphead unit 200 includes ahousing 10 having a curvedinner wall surface 11 to which atube 50 is to be attached, arotor 20 axially supported in thehousing 10, and a plurality ofrollers 30 mounted on therotor 20. - The
tube 50 carries a fluid, and is made of an elastic material. Example materials of thetube 50 include polyvinyl chloride, and an olefin elastomer such as polybutadiene. Thetube 50 is laid along theinner wall surface 11 of thehousing 10 in the form of a circular arc. - The
rotor 20 has a plurality of roller mounting units 21 (eight inFIG. 1 ) which are spaced with each other on its periphery. Therotor 20 is connected with a rotor of a motor (not illustrated). A driving power of the motor (i.e. a rotational power of the rotor of the motor) is transmitted to rotate therotor 20. - The
rotor 20 is positioned to create agap 40 in which thetube 50 can be inserted, between its periphery and theinner wall surface 11 of thehousing 10. - The
rollers 30 are each shaped like a cylinder, and are made of aluminum or a resin as one example. Therollers 30 are axially supported by theroller mounting units 21 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis 35 (seeFIG. 2 ). - The
rollers 30 are positioned to project from the periphery of therotor 20. This being so, agap 41 between therollers 30 and theinner wall surface 11 of thehousing 10 is smaller than thegap 40 and therefore smaller than an outside diameter of thetube 50. - According to this construction, the
rollers 30 move as therotor 20 rotates, as shown inFIG. 1 . During this, therollers 30 rotate while contacting thetube 50 and pressing it against theinner wall surface 11. This squeezes thetube 50 and pumps the fluid contained in thetube 50. - Here, since the
rollers 30 are rotatably attached to theroller mounting units 21, therollers 30 turn free on their own when coming into contact with thetube 50. Accordingly, a pressure exerted on thetube 50 by therollers 30 is smaller than in the case where thetube 50 is pressed by rollers which do not turn free. - Characteristics and effects of the
rollers 30 are explained in detail below, based on the first and second embodiments of the invention. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of aroller 30 in the first embodiment. - In the drawing, the
roller 30 is constricted in the middle in a direction of therotation axis 35, to create adepression 31. Thedepression 31 is a ring-shaped groove formed around a whole circumference of aroller surface 30A of theroller 30. - Which is to say, the
roller surface 30A is symmetrical with respect to therotation axis 35, and is smaller in diameter in the middle in the direction of therotation axis 35 than in the other parts. - (Effect of the
Roller 30 in the First Embodiment) -
FIG. 3A shows a situation where thetube 50 is pressed by theroller 30 having thedepression 31, whereasFIG. 3B shows a situation where thetube 50 is pressed by aconventional roller 60 having no depression. - In
FIG. 3B , when theroller 60 presses thetube 50 which is laid on aninner wall surface 111 of ahousing 110, amiddle part 50 a of thetube 50 in a direction of arotation axis 65 of theroller 60 is acted upon by a force of stretching to bothside parts 50 b, as indicated by hollow arrows. As a result, a heavy load is exerted on the tube 50 (especially in theside parts 50 b). This is one of the major causes of damage to thetube 50. - In
FIG. 3A , on the other hand, when theroller 30 presses thetube 50 which is laid on theinner wall surface 11 of thehousing 10, theside parts 50 b are pressed flat by theroller surface 30A, but themiddle part 50 a partially enters thedepression 31. In other words, when thetube 50 is pressed by theroller 30, themiddle part 50 a can partially escape into thedepression 31. This alleviates the load on the tube 50 (especially in theside parts 50 b) Hence damage to thetube 50 is prevented. - Since the
roller 30 can be formed simply by forming thedepression 31 in a conventional roller, a manufacturing process is easy. Also, the manufacturing process is easier when compared with the case of forming a depression in a housing. - (Details of the Depression 31)
- If a width w of the depression 31 (i.e. a width of an open end of the depression 31) is smaller than a wall thickness t of the
tube 50, part of thetube 50 may not be able to enter thedepression 31. Therefore, it is preferable for the width w of thedepression 31 to be no smaller than the wall thickness t of thetube 50, to achieve the above effect. Meanwhile, in a state where thetube 50 is pressed by a roller, a width of an internal space of thetube 50 is about (π D/2−2t) (where D is the outside diameter of thetube 50 and t is the wall thickness of the tube 50). This being so, the width w of thedepression 31 needs to be no larger than (D/2−2t). Also, if the width w of thedepression 31 is larger than three times the wall thickness t of the tube 50 (i.e. 3t), the effect of alleviating the load on thetube 50 by allowing part of thetube 50 to escape into thedepression 31 may not be achieved. Accordingly, the width w of thedepression 31 is preferably no larger than 3t. - Meanwhile, a depth d of the
depression 31 is preferably no smaller than the tube thickness t (t≦d), to allow a sufficient amount of tube to escape into thedepression 31. The depth d of thedepression 31 is more preferably no smaller than twice the tube thickness t (2t≦d). - Regarding the position and number of depressions, a
single depression 31 is formed in the middle of theroller 30 in the direction of therotation axis 35 inFIGS. 2 and 3 . Alternatively, two or more depressions may be formed in theroller 30 in the direction of therotation axis 35. This produces a similar effect, since part of thetube 50 enters each of the depressions as thetube 50 is squeezed with theroller 30. In this case, it is desirable to form the depressions to be as symmetrical as possible with respect to the direction of therotation axis 35. - Also, to achieve the above effect, it is preferable to continuously form the
depression 31 around the circumference of theroller 30 especially in the shape of a ring, as shown inFIG. 2 . However, a certain degree of effect can still be achieved even when thedepression 31 is formed discontinuously around the circumference of theroller 30. - (Modifications to the First Embodiment)
- In the first embodiment, the
inner wall surface 11 of thehousing 10 is flat in the direction of therotation axis 35, as shown inFIG. 3A . Alternatively, aprojection 11 a may be formed on theinner wall surface 11 in an area corresponding to thedepression 31, as shown inFIG. 4 . - By doing so, when the
tube 50 is squeezed with theroller 30, theprojection 11 a aids themiddle part 50 a to enter thedepression 31. In other words, part of thetube 50 is more smoothly pushed into thedepression 31. Hence the load on thetube 50 can be alleviated effectively. - Here, it is preferable to form the
projection 11 a continuously along thetube 50. - In the first embodiment, the
depression 31 is formed on theroller surface 30A of theroller 30. As an alternative, adepression 12 may be formed on theinner wall surface 11 of thehousing 10, as shown inFIG. 5 . - In this case, when the
tube 50 is squeezed with theconventional roller 60 which has no depression, themiddle part 50 a partially enters thedepression 12. This alleviates the load on the tube 50 (especially in theside parts 50 b). Hence damage to thetube 50 can be prevented as in the case where thetube 50 is squeezed with theroller 30 having thedepression 31. - It should be obvious that the
roller 30 having thedepression 31 can be combined with thehousing 10 with theinner wall surface 11 having thedepression 12. -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of aroller 30 in the second embodiment. - In the drawing, the
roller 30 is formed by a plurality of disc-shaped rollers (hereafter “disc rollers”) 32 which are axially supported by arotation axis 35 so as to be separately rotatable. Each of the disc rollers 32 moves as therotor 20 rotates, and separately rotates in contact with thetube 50.FIG. 7 shows a situation where thetube 50 is pressed by thisroller 30. - In
FIGS. 6 and 7 , theroller 30 has three disc rollers 32, namely, onemiddle disc roller 32 a and twoside disc rollers 32 b. However, the number of disc rollers is not limited to such, as theroller 30 may have two disc rollers or four or more disc rollers. Note here that the disc rollers 32 are arranged at predetermined intervals to ease independent rotations. - Thus, the
roller 30 has the plurality of disc rollers 32 that are separately rotatable. According to this construction, differences in frictional force acting upon thetube 50 squeezed with theroller 30 are reduced when compared with the case where a conventional roller is used, as explained below. As a result, damage to thetube 50 is prevented. - (Effect of the
Roller 30 in the Second Embodiment) - Causes of damage to the
tube 50 when thetube 50 is squeezed with a conventional roller include not only the one described in the first embodiment but also the following. -
FIG. 8 shows a situation where thetube 50 is squeezed with theconventional roller 60. - As shown in the drawing, when the
roller 60 rolls while pressing thetube 50, thetube 50 distorts in its extending direction near the area in contact with theroller 60. - Here, the
middle part 50 a distorts more than theside parts 50 b. Also, a contact length of thetube 50 with theroller 60 in a rotation direction of theroller 60 is greater in themiddle part 50 a (L1) than in theside parts 50 b (L2). Furthermore, a shifting speed of the roller-contact area on the surface of thetube 50 is different between themiddle part 50 a and theside parts 50 b. This being the case, when thetube 50 is squeezed with theroller 60, themiddle part 50 a is partially pushed toward theside parts 50 b. - Thus, the shifting speed of the roller-contact area on the surface of the
tube 50 is different between themiddle part 50 a and theside parts 50 b. On the other hand, a peripheral speed of theroller 60 is uniform for all of themiddle part 50 a and theside parts 50 b. This causes different frictional forces to act between the surface of thetube 50 and the surface of theroller 60, thereby damaging thetube 50. - If such differences in frictional force on each part of the
tube 50 accumulate, thetube 50 may be twisted or cracked. - When the
roller 30 shown inFIG. 6 rolls while pressing thetube 50, thetube 50 distorts in its extending direction near the area in contact with theroller 30 and themiddle part 50 a is partially pushed toward theside parts 50 b, in the same manner as inFIG. 8 . In this case, however, thedisc roller 32 a in contact with themiddle part 50 a and thedisc rollers 32 b in contact with theside parts 50 b rotate independently from each other. Therefore, a peripheral speed of each of the disc rollers 32 can be varied according to the shifting speed of the corresponding part of thetube 50. This reduces the differences in frictional force acting on thetube 50. Also, by varying the number of revolutions of thedisc rollers 32 b with reference to that of thedisc roller 32 a, part of thetube 50 can be smoothly pushed from themiddle part 50 a toward theside parts 50 b and from theside parts 50 b toward further outside. - By reducing the differences in frictional force acting upon the
tube 50 in this way, damage to thetube 50 can be prevented. - (Width, Number, and Interval of the Disc Rollers 32)
- Even when the
roller 30 has only two disc rollers, the effect of reducing the differences in frictional force on thetube 50 can be produced to some extent. However, if theroller 30 has three or more disc rollers as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7 , themiddle part 50 a and theside parts 50 b can each be pressed by a separate disc roller. Therefore, the number of disc rollers in theroller 30 is preferably three or more. - Also, any of the
disc roller 32 a and thedisc rollers 32 b shown inFIGS. 6 and 7 may further be divided by two, thereby providing many thin disc rollers. This enhances the effect of reducing the differences in frictional force on thetube 50. - Furthermore, provision of many disc rollers makes it possible to deal with the case when the
tube 50 shifts away from theroller 30, as explained below. - In the example of
FIGS. 6 and 7 where the number of disc rollers 32 is three, if thetube 50 shifts away from theroller 30 in the direction of therotation axis 35, one of thedisc rollers 32 b may deviate from thetube 50. However, if the number of disc rollers 32 is four or more, even when thetube 50 somewhat shifts away from theroller 30 in the direction of therotation axis 35, themiddle part 50 a and theside parts 50 b are each pressed by a different disc roller without fail. Hence damage to thetube 50 can be effectively prevented. - In a state where the
tube 50 is pressed by a roller, a width of an internal space of thetube 50 is about (π D/2−2t) (where D denotes the outside diameter of thetube 50 and t denotes the wall thickness of the tube 50). This being so, to press theside parts 50 b with thedisc rollers 32 b, an interval between thedisc rollers 32 b is preferably no larger than (π D/2−2t). In this case, a width Wa of thedisc roller 32 a is smaller than (π D/2−2t). - No gap may be provided between adjacent disc rollers 32 (i.e. between the
disc roller 32 a and each of thedisc rollers 32 b inFIGS. 6 and 7 ). However, if a gap is provided, such a gap serves to accommodate part of thetube 50 like thedepression 31 in the first embodiment. In this case, a gap w1 between adjacent disc rollers 32 is preferably no smaller than the wall thickness t of thetube 50 and no larger than three times the wall thickness t (i.e. 3t), as in the first embodiment. - Modifications to the Embodiments
- The
roller pump 1 shown inFIG. 1 is provided with thecase 100 which includes thedisplay unit 130 and theoperation unit 120 and thepumphead unit 200 which is attached to thecase 100, but the invention is not limited to such. For example, the display unit and the operation unit may be omitted, or the pumphead unit may be provided separately from the case instead of being attached to the case. - In the
roller pump 1 shown inFIG. 1 , thetube 50 is set in thehousing 10 in a horizontal direction so that the fluid flows from right to left in the drawing, but this is not a limit for the invention, which is equally applicable to any roller pump that pumps a fluid contained in a tube by squeezing the tube against a housing with a roller. For example, the same effect as above can be achieved when theroller 30 of any of the first and second embodiments is applied to a roller pump in which a tube is set to make a U-turn in a housing. - Like the
roller pump 1 shown inFIG. 1 , a typical construction of a roller pump is such that a rotor to which rollers are rotatably fixed is placed in a housing so as to move the rollers along an inner wall surface of the housing to which a tube is to be attached. The same effect as above can be achieved when theroller 30 of any of the first and second embodiments is applied to such a typical roller pump. The effect can equally be achieved when theroller 30 is applied to any roller pump that pumps a fluid contained in a tube by squeezing it against a housing with a roller. - Example Applications
- A roller pump according to any of the above embodiments and modifications can be used in a blood circuit such as a hemodialysis circuit, a pump-oxygenator, an artificial liver, or a plasma separator.
- In a hemodialysis circuit, a dialyzer containing a dialyzing membrane (hollow fiber) is connected with a tube for circulating blood and a tube for circulating dialysate. Here, to propel the blood or the dialysate in each tube, the tube is set in the roller pump.
- The roller pump may equally be used in an infusion circuit such as a peritoneal dialysis circuit. In an infusion circuit, a tube for circulating an infusion is set in the roller pump.
- By employing the roller pump in a blood circuit or an infusion circuit in this way, the tubing that forms the circuit can be used continuously for a long time without a tube material getting mixed in with blood or an infusion.
- The invention can be used for a circuit such as a blood circuit or an infusion circuit to prevent damage to tubing that forms the circuit. As a result, the tubing can be used continuously for a long time without a tube material getting mixed in with fluids in the tubing.
Claims (20)
1. A roller pump that pumps a fluid contained in a tube by squeezing the tube against a wall surface of a housing with a roller, characterized in that
a depression which a part of the tube enters when squeezed with the roller is formed on at least one of a roller surface of the roller and the wall surface of the housing.
2. The roller pump of claim 1 ,
wherein the depression is continuously formed around a circumference of the roller surface of the roller.
3. The roller pump of claim 2 ,
wherein the depression is formed as a ring.
4. The roller pump of claim 2 ,
wherein the depression is formed in the middle of the roller surface in a direction of a rotation axis of the roller.
5. The roller pump of claim 2 ,
wherein a projection is formed on the wall surface of the housing in an area corresponding to the depression on the roller surface of the roller.
6. The roller pump of claim 5 ,
wherein the projection is continuously formed along the tube.
7. The roller pump of claim 1 ,
wherein a width of the depression in a direction of a rotation axis of the roller is no smaller than a wall thickness of the tube and no larger than three times the wall thickness of the tube.
8. The roller pump of claim 1 ,
wherein a depth of the depression is no smaller than a wall thickness of the tube.
9. The roller pump of claim 1 ,
wherein the wall surface of the housing is a curved inner wall surface of the housing, and
a rotor which moves the roller along the inner wall surface of the housing is provided in the housing, with the roller being rotatably attached to the rotor.
10. A roller pump that pumps a fluid contained in a tube by squeezing the tube against a wall surface of a housing with a roller, characterized in that
the roller includes a plurality of disc rollers which are separately rotatable.
11. The roller pump of claim 10 ,
wherein at least three disc rollers of the plurality of disc rollers contact the tube when the tube is squeezed with the roller.
12. The roller pump of claim 10 ,
wherein a gap which a part of the tube enters when squeezed with the roller is provided between adjacent disc rollers of the plurality of disc rollers.
13. The roller pump of claim 12 ,
wherein a width of the gap is no smaller than a wall thickness of the tube and no larger than three times the wall thickness of the tube.
14. The roller pump of claim 10 ,
wherein the wall surface of the housing is a curved inner wall surface of the housing, and
a rotor which moves the roller along the inner wall surface of the housing is provided in the housing, with the roller being rotatably attached to the rotor.
15. A blood circuit in which a blood circulation tube is set in the roller pump of claim 1 .
16. An infusion circuit in which an infusion circulation tube is set in the roller pump of claim 1 .
17. A dialysis circuit comprising:
a dialyzer which performs dialysis by having blood and dialysate pass through a dialyzing membrane;
at least one of a blood circulation tube and an infusion circulation tube; and
the roller pump of claim 1 in which the tube is set and which pumps a fluid contained in the tube to the dialyzer.
18. A blood circuit in which a blood circulation tube is set in the roller pump of claim 10 .
19. An infusion circuit in which an infusion circulation tube is set in the roller pump of claim 10 .
20. A dialysis circuit comprising:
a dialyzer which performs dialysis by having blood and dialysate pass through a dialyzing membrane;
at least one of a blood circulation tube and an infusion circulation tube; and
the roller pump of claim 10 in which the tube is set and which pumps a fluid contained in the tube to the dialyzer.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2003-074514 | 2003-03-18 | ||
JP2003074514A JP2008069633A (en) | 2003-03-18 | 2003-03-18 | Roller pump |
PCT/JP2004/003703 WO2004083640A2 (en) | 2003-03-18 | 2004-03-18 | Roller pump |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20060251532A1 true US20060251532A1 (en) | 2006-11-09 |
Family
ID=33027810
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/548,367 Abandoned US20060251532A1 (en) | 2003-03-18 | 2004-03-18 | Roller pump |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20060251532A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1616097A2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2008069633A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2004083640A2 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100005655A1 (en) * | 2008-07-14 | 2010-01-14 | Blue-White Industries, Ltd. | Tubing installation tool for a peristaltic pump and methods of use |
CN107288859A (en) * | 2016-04-11 | 2017-10-24 | 乌尔里希有限及两合公司 | Peristaltic pump |
US20240093683A1 (en) * | 2021-01-22 | 2024-03-21 | Enplas Corporation | Fluid handling system |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102014004476A1 (en) * | 2014-03-28 | 2015-10-01 | Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland Gmbh | Peristaltic pump, pumping device and portable blood treatment device |
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US2982225A (en) * | 1959-01-23 | 1961-05-02 | Ronald E Thompson | Rotary pump of tube-compression type |
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DE3431189A1 (en) * | 1984-08-24 | 1986-03-06 | Linnhoff & Thesenfitz Maschinen- und Anlagenbau GmbH, 8754 Großostheim | ROTATIONAL HOSE PUMP |
-
2003
- 2003-03-18 JP JP2003074514A patent/JP2008069633A/en active Pending
-
2004
- 2004-03-18 US US10/548,367 patent/US20060251532A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2004-03-18 EP EP04721721A patent/EP1616097A2/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2004-03-18 WO PCT/JP2004/003703 patent/WO2004083640A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
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US645132A (en) * | 1899-11-29 | 1900-03-13 | Major J Robinson | Rotary engine. |
US1765360A (en) * | 1926-02-18 | 1930-06-24 | Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie | Rotary pump |
US2987004A (en) * | 1955-07-29 | 1961-06-06 | Jerome L Murray | Fluid pressure device |
US2982225A (en) * | 1959-01-23 | 1961-05-02 | Ronald E Thompson | Rotary pump of tube-compression type |
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US4131399A (en) * | 1975-07-08 | 1978-12-26 | Rhone-Poulenc Industries | Peristaltic tube pump with means preventing complete occlusion of tube |
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---|---|---|---|---|
US20100005655A1 (en) * | 2008-07-14 | 2010-01-14 | Blue-White Industries, Ltd. | Tubing installation tool for a peristaltic pump and methods of use |
CN107288859A (en) * | 2016-04-11 | 2017-10-24 | 乌尔里希有限及两合公司 | Peristaltic pump |
US20240093683A1 (en) * | 2021-01-22 | 2024-03-21 | Enplas Corporation | Fluid handling system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2004083640A3 (en) | 2005-01-06 |
WO2004083640A2 (en) | 2004-09-30 |
EP1616097A2 (en) | 2006-01-18 |
JP2008069633A (en) | 2008-03-27 |
WO2004083640A8 (en) | 2005-12-22 |
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Legal Events
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: JMS CO., LTD., JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:FUJII, JUNYA;ITO, NAOTSUGU;REEL/FRAME:017747/0135 Effective date: 20050824 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |