# US 11,441,554 B2 · Operating device, method for operating an operating device, diaphragm pump having an operating device and a diaphragm pump device, and a blood treatment apparatus having a diaphragm pump > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,554 B2 - Document ID: US11441554B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/470,564 - Filed: 2017-12-18 - Published: 2019-11-21 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-21 - Assignees: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH - Applicants: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH - Inventors: Jens Anderle; Hannes Wirtl - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441554B2 ## CPC - F04B 43/073: the actuating fluid being controlled by at least one valve - A61M 60/268: the displacement member being flexible, e.g. membranes, diaphragms or bladders - F04B 43/06: Pumps having fluid drive - F04B 43/0733: {with fluid-actuated pump inlet or outlet valves; with two or more pumping chambers in series} - F04B 49/065: {and making use of computers} - F04B 49/22: by means of valves (F04B49/03 takes precedence) - F04B 2201/12: Parameters of driving or driven means - F04B 2205/01: Pressure before the pump inlet - F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract An actuating device mechanically controls a membrane pump device. The device includes a base body having a mounting face for a membrane pump device and through which a control fluid line passes that extends from a control fluid port to a control fluid opening that opens at the mounting face. A control fluid valve arranged in the control fluid line influences a cross-section of the control fluid line and has an adjustment device that has a fluid actuator arranged on the mounting face. A working fluid valve influences a cross-section of a working fluid line that passes through the base body. The control fluid valve and the working fluid valve are electrically connected to a control device that electrically controls the control fluid valve and the working fluid valve. Moreover, a membrane pump is provided that has an actuating device and a membrane pump device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An actuating device for mechanically controlling a membrane pump device for conveying fluids, the actuating device comprising a base body that comprises a mounting face for mounting a membrane pump device and through which a control fluid line passes, the control fluid line extending from a control fluid port to a control fluid opening that opens at the mounting face, a control fluid valve arranged in the control fluid line and designed to influence a cross section of the control fluid line, an adjustment device that comprises a fluid actuator arranged on the mounting face for providing an adjustment movement, and a working fluid valve that is designed to influence a cross section of a working fluid line that passes through the base body, wherein the working fluid valve is fluidically coupled to the adjustment device via the working fluid line, a working fluid pressure sensor is arranged in the working fluid line and is configured to detect a working fluid pressure in the working fluid line, the control fluid valve, the working fluid valve, and the working fluid pressure sensor are electrically connected to a control device that is designed to electrically control the control fluid valve and the working fluid valve, a control fluid pressure sensor is arranged on the base body, and the control fluid pressure sensor is electrically connected to the control device and is designed to detect a control fluid pressure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the control device includes an observer algorithm and is configured such that, on the basis of the observer algorithm, a mass flow rate of fluid of the membrane pump device is determined depending on pressure signals from the control fluid pressure sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein a concave control chamber is formed on the mounting face as a movement chamber for a pump membrane, and the control fluid opening opens at a surface of the control chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the working fluid line is fluidically connected to the control fluid port. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A membrane pump for conveying fluids, comprising the actuating device and the membrane pump device according to claim 1. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The membrane pump according to claim 5, wherein the membrane pump device has: a pump chamber body in which there is formed a recess that is closed by a resilient membrane to form a pump chamber, an inflow path that connects an input port to an inlet opening of the pump chamber, an outflow path that connects an outlet opening of the pump chamber to an output port, an inlet valve provided in the inflow path for influencing the flow of liquid in the inflow path, and an outlet valve provided in the outflow path for influencing the flow of liquid in the outflow path. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A blood treatment device having a container for providing a medical liquid, and the membrane pump according to claim 5 for conveying a medical liquid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The blood treatment device of claim 7, wherein said blood treatment device is a dialysis device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The blood treatment device of claim 7, wherein said medical liquid is an anticoagulation solution. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The membrane pump of claim 5, wherein said conveying fluids are medical liquids for blood treatment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The actuating device of claim 1, wherein said conveying fluids are medical liquids for blood treatment. ### Claim 12 An actuating device for mechanically controlling a membrane pump device for conveying fluids, the actuating device comprising a base body that comprises a mounting face for mounting a membrane pump device and through which a control fluid line passes, the control fluid line extending from a control fluid port to a control fluid opening that opens at the mounting face, a control fluid valve arranged in the control fluid line and designed to influence a cross section of the control fluid line, an adjustment device that comprises a fluid actuator arranged on the mounting face for providing an adjustment movement, and a working fluid valve that is designed to influence a cross section of a working fluid line that passes through the base body, wherein the control fluid valve and the working fluid valve are electrically connected to a control device that is designed to electrically control the control fluid valve and the working fluid valve, a vacuum line is formed in the base body, the vacuum line extends from a vacuum port to a control chamber or to the control fluid line, a vacuum valve is arranged in the control fluid line and is designed to influence a cross section of the vacuum line, the vacuum valve is electrically connected to the control device, a control fluid pressure sensor is arranged on the base body, and the control fluid pressure sensor is electrically connected to the control device and is designed to detect a control fluid pressure. ### Claim 13 An actuating device for mechanically controlling a membrane pump device for conveying fluids, the actuating device comprising a base body that comprises a mounting face for mounting a membrane pump device and through which a control fluid line passes, the control fluid line extending from a control fluid port to a control fluid opening that opens at the mounting face, a control fluid valve arranged in the control fluid line and designed to influence a cross section of the control fluid line, a first adjustment device and a second adjustment device each arranged on the base body and each comprising a respective fluid actuator arranged on the mounting face for providing an adjustment movement, the first adjustment device having a first working fluid valve and the second adjustment device having a second working fluid valve, the first working fluid valve and the second working fluid valve are each designed to influence a cross section of at least one working fluid line that passes through the base body, wherein the control fluid valve, the first working fluid valve, and the second working fluid valve are electrically connected to a control device that is designed to electrically control the control fluid valve, the first working fluid valve, and the second working fluid valve, the first working fluid valve is in the form of a switch valve and the second working fluid valve is in the form of a proportional valve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The actuating device according to claim 13, wherein the control device is configured such that the second working fluid valve is controlled by the control device, the control device determines a mass flow rate of fluid in the membrane pump device, and the control device determines a target pressure value for the second working fluid valve, depending on the determined mass flow rate of fluid, in such a manner that a constant mass flow rate of fluid is generated during a discharge phase of the membrane pump device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The actuating device of claim 13, wherein the second working fluid valve is in the form of a pressure regulating valve. ### Claim 16 A method for operating an actuating device for mechanically controlling a membrane pump device, the actuating device comprising a base body that comprises a mounting face for mounting a membrane pump device and through which a control fluid line passes, the control fluid line extending from a control fluid port to a control fluid opening that opens at the mounting face, a control fluid valve arranged in the control fluid line and designed to influence a cross section of the control fluid line, an adjustment device that comprises a fluid actuator arranged on the mounting face for providing an adjustment movement, and a working fluid valve that is designed to influence a cross section of a working fluid line that passes through the base body, wherein the control fluid valve and the working fluid valve are electrically connected to a control device that is designed to electrically control the control fluid valve and the working fluid valve, wherein on the basis of an observer algorithm, the control device determines a mass flow rate of fluid in the membrane pump device depending on pressure signals of a control fluid pressure sensor, and the control device determines a target pressure value for the working fluid valve depending on the determined mass flow rate of fluid, in order to ensure a constant mass flow rate of fluid during a discharge phase of the membrane pump device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the actuating device further comprises a vacuum line and a vacuum valve, and the control device controls the control fluid valve and the vacuum valve during a discharge phase of the membrane pump device in such a manner that the control fluid line and the vacuum line are blocked.