Back to results
US 11,939,968 B2Granted
Pumping system
AssigneeAltra LLC
InventorMatthew G. Morris, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a pumping system that includes a parallel dual chamber pumping mechanism and an attachable disposable cassette. The disposable cassette may include a multi-laminate membrane, which facilitates efficient, accurate and uniform delivery of fluids. The membrane can be held in intimate contact with the pumping fingers of the pumping mechanism by electrostatic or magnetic attraction, thereby allowing the pump to pull a vacuum without the need for a preloaded elastomeric pumping segment.
Claims23
A pumping system comprising:
- (a) a disposable cassette comprising:
- (i) a body having a sealed top side, an open bottom side, an inlet port disposed on a first end and an outlet port disposed on a second end;
- (ii) a first pumping chamber disposed within the open bottom side between a first inlet valve and a first outlet valve;
- (iii) a second pumping chamber disposed within the open bottom side between a second inlet valve and a second outlet valve, wherein the first and second pumping chambers are positioned in parallel with each other;
- and
- (iv) a membrane adhered to and sealing the open bottom side defining a fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port;
- and
- (b) a pumping mechanism comprising:
- (i) a chassis configured for removable attachment to the disposable cassette;
- (ii) a motor disposed within a length of the chassis and positioned in parallel to the flow path;
- (iii) a camshaft disposed adjacent to and in mechanical communication with the motor, wherein the camshaft comprises a plurality of lobes disposed along a length thereof;
- (iv) a first finger drive arm hingedly attached to the chassis and positioned parallel to the motor, wherein a bottom portion of the first finger drive arm is in mechanical communication with the camshaft and a top portion of the first finger drive arm has a plate configured to mechanically couple to the membrane;
- (v) a second finger drive arm hingedly attached to the chassis and positioned opposing the first finger drive arm, wherein a bottom portion of the second finger drive arm is in mechanical communication with the camshaft, and wherein the first and second finger drive arms are 180° out of phase with each other and a top portion of the second finger drive arm has a plate configured to mechanically couple to the membrane;
- and
- (vi) a plurality of valve arms hingedly attached to the chassis, wherein a lower portion of each valve arm is in mechanical communication with one of the plurality of lobes on the camshaft and an upper portion of each valve arm is configured to respectively actuate each of the first and second inlet valves and the first and second outlet valves,
- wherein the membrane is not stretched by the pumping system while in use.
13 more elements
A disposable cassette for use in a pumping system comprising:
- (a) a body having a sealed top side, an open bottom side, an inlet port disposed on a first end and an outlet port disposed on a second end;
- (b) a first pumping chamber disposed within the open bottom side between a first inlet valve and a first outlet valve;
- (c) a second pumping chamber disposed within the open bottom side between a second inlet valve and a second outlet valve, wherein the first and second pumping chambers are positioned in parallel with each other, and a first fluid path extending from the first inlet valve to the first outlet valve is symmetric to a second fluid path extending from the second inlet valve to the second outlet valve, the first and second fluid paths having an equivalent length;
- and
- (d) a membrane adhered to and sealing the open bottom side defining a fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port, the membrane being configured for contacting drive arms of the pumping system,
- wherein the membrane is not stretched by the pumping system while in use.
3 more elements
A pumping mechanism comprising:
- (a) a chassis configured for removable attachment to a disposable cassette;
- (b) a motor disposed within a length of the chassis and positioned in parallel to the flow path;
- (c) a camshaft disposed adjacent to and in mechanical communication with the motor, wherein the camshaft comprises a plurality of lobes disposed along a length thereof;
- (d) a first finger drive arm hingedly attached to the chassis and positioned parallel to the motor, wherein a bottom portion of the first finger drive arm is in mechanical communication with the camshaft and a top portion of the first finger drive arm has a plate configured to mechanically couple to a membrane of the disposable cassette;
- (e) a second finger drive arm hingedly attached to the chassis and positioned opposing the first finger drive arm, wherein a bottom portion of the second finger drive arm is in mechanical communication with the camshaft, and wherein the first and second finger drive arms are 180° out of phase with each other and a top portion of the second finger drive arm has a plate configured to contact mechanically couple to the membrane of the disposable cassette;
- (f) a plurality of strain gauges disposed on a surface of each of the first and second pumping finger drive arms in contact with the membrane of the disposable cassette and configured to monitor fluid pressure within first and second pumping chambers of the disposable cassette when attached thereto;
- and
- (g) a plurality of valve arms hingedly attached to the chassis, wherein a lower portion of each valve arm is in mechanical communication with one of the plurality of lobes on the camshaft and an upper portion of each valve arm is configured to respectively actuate inlet valves and outlet valves of the disposable cassette,
- wherein the pumping mechanism is configured such that the membrane of the disposable is not stretched while in use.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.