# US 12,000,388 B2 · Peristaltic pump > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,388 B2 - Document ID: US12000388B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/439,306 - Filed: 2020-03-13 - Published: 2022-05-19 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-15 - Assignees: NxStage Medical, Inc. - Applicants: NxStage Medical, Inc. - Inventors: Joseph A. Hoell, Jr.; Alexander Muller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000388B2 ## CPC - F04B 43/1284: {Means for pushing the backing-plate against the tubular flexible member} - A61M 5/14232: {Roller pumps} - 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 A peristaltic pump actuator includes a rotor element supporting rollers, the rotor element being configured to rotate about a rotor axis and the rollers each being configured to rotate about a roller axis that is parallel to the rotor axis. The rotor element and each of the rollers is constrained such that the rotor element and rollers are able to rotate only about their respective axes. A shoe having a displacement axis perpendicular to the rotor axis is forced against the rollers by an urging element without rotation in any axis. A tube may be placed between the shoe and the rollers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An actuator of a peristaltic pump, comprising: a rotor element supporting rollers, the rotor element being configured to rotate about a rotor axis and the rollers each being configured to rotate about a roller axis that is parallel to the rotor axis; the rotor element and each of the rollers being constrained such that the rotor element and rollers are able to rotate only about their respective axes; and a shoe having a displacement axis perpendicular to the rotor axis; and a linear bearing supporting the shoe, wherein the shoe is forced against the rollers by a spring without rotation in any axis, the shoe is constrained against all modes of displacement except toward and away from the rotor axis of the rotor element by the linear bearing, and the linear bearing includes an outer cylindrical sleeve which holds a pair of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sleeves spaced apart from each other, a supporting shaft passes through the pair of the PTFE sleeves, a cavity is defined by an outer surface of the supporting shaft, an inner surface of the outer cylindrical sleeve, and edges of each of the pair of the PTFE sleeves, and the cavity is filled with a lubricant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The actuator of claim 1, wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The actuator of claim 1, wherein said shoe is further constrained against yaw rotation by a sliding housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The actuator of claim 1, further comprising: guard elements positioned along the rotor element between the rollers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The actuator of claim 4, wherein the guard elements are second rollers, each of the second rollers having an axis extending radially away from the rotor axis and perpendicular to the rotor axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The actuator of claim 5, wherein each of the second rollers has a width measured along its axis, and the second rollers extend at least on one side of a pumping tube segment that is positioned between the rotor element and the shoe. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The actuator of claim 6, wherein the second rollers extend on both sides of the pumping tube segment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The actuator of claim 1, wherein the shoe spans less than 150 degrees of arc. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The actuator of claim 1, wherein the peristaltic pump generates pressure pulses without 1 RPM components. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The actuator of claim 1, wherein the lubricant is soaked in a sponge that is disposed in the cavity. ### Claim 11 A method of operating a peristaltic pump, comprising: squeezing a tube between at least one actuator roller and a pump shoe by urging the pump shoe toward the at least one actuator roller; and constraining movement of the at least one actuator roller in one rotating direction and constraining the pump shoe to a single displacement and no rotational directions by a linear bearing that includes an outer cylindrical sleeve which holds a pair of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sleeves spaced apart from each other, a supporting shaft passing through the pair of the PTFE sleeves, a cavity being defined by an outer surface of the supporting shaft, an inner surface of the outer cylindrical sleeve, and edges of each of the pair of the PTFE sleeves, and the cavity being filled with a lubricant. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the urging is effective to minimize a total force on the tube required for occlusion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said pump shoe is constrained against yaw rotation by a sliding housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said pump shoe is constrained against yaw rotation by a sliding housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the lubricant is soaked in a sponge that is disposed in the cavity.