# US 2019/0170134 A1 · Peristaltic pump > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170134 A1 - Document ID: US20190170134A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/271,046 - Filed: 2019-02-08 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-21 - Assignees: DEKA Products Limited Partnership - Applicants: DEKA Products Limited Partnership - Inventors: Dean Kamen; John M. Kerwin; Colin H. Murphy; Christopher C. Langenfeld; Michael J. Slate; Michael S. Place; Larry B. Gray - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170134A1 ## CPC - G16H 20/17: delivered via infusion or injection - A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61M 5/142: Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps - A61M 5/14228: {with linear peristaltic action, i.e. comprising at least three pressurising members or a helical member} - A61M 5/1452: {pressurised by means of pistons} - A61M 5/16831: {Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies (low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066)} - A61M 5/1684: {by detecting the amount of infusate remaining, e.g. signalling end of infusion} - A61M 5/16877: {Passive flow controllers; Devices for setting a flow rate (clamp-type valves A61M39/28)} - A61M 5/16886: {for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters} - A61M 5/1689: {Drip counters} - A61M 25/00: Catheters; Hollow probes (dilators A61M29/00; {peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00} ; for measuring or testing A61B; {materials for catheters A61L29/00}) - F04B 43/08: having tubular flexible members (F04B43/12 takes precedence) - F04B 43/082: {the tubular flexible member being pressed against a wall by a number of elements, each having an alternating movement in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the tubular member and each having its own driving mechanism} - F04B 43/12: having peristaltic action - F04B 43/1223: {the actuating elements, e.g. rollers, moving in a straight line during squeezing} - F04B 43/1261: {the rollers being placed at the outside of the tubular flexible member} - F04B 49/00: Control {, e.g. of pump delivery, or pump pressure} of, or safety measures for, machines, pumps, or pumping installations, not otherwise provided for, or of interest apart from, groups F04B1/00 - F04B47/00 - F04B 49/065: {and making use of computers} - G01F 1/00: Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow (measuring a proportion of the volume flow G01F5/00) - G01F 1/666: {by detecting noise and sounds generated by the flowing fluid} - G01F 23/296: Acoustic waves - G06Q 50/22: Social work or social welfare, e.g. community support activities or counselling services - G16H 10/65: stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD - G16H 30/00: ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of medical images (computed tomography A61B6/03) - G16H 40/63: for local operation - G16H 40/67: for remote operation - G16H 50/00: ICT specially adapted for medical diagnosis, medical simulation or medical data mining; ICT specially adapted for detecting, monitoring or modelling epidemics or pandemics - G16Z 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass - A61M 5/16863: {Occlusion detection} - A61M 2205/18: with alarm - A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means - A61M 2205/3375: Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means - A61M 2205/3379: Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates - A61M 2205/3592: using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission - A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers - A61M 2205/581: by audible feedback - A61M 2205/582: by tactile feedback - A61M 2205/6009: for matching patient with his treatment, e.g. to improve transfusion security - A61M 2205/6054: Magnetic identification systems - A61M 2205/6072: Bar codes - F04B 43/09: Pumps having electric drive - F04B 2201/0201: Position of the piston - F04B 2205/09: Flow through the pump - G06T 2207/20104: Interactive definition of region of interest [ROI] - G16H 40/60: for the operation of medical equipment or devices - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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)} - 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) - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G16Z: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A peristaltic pump having at least first, second, and third stages is provided. The peristaltic pump includes a plunger, inlet and outlet valves, a spring, and an actuator. The plunger actuates toward and away from a tube, the inlet valve is upstream of the plunger, the outlet valve is downstream of the plunger, the spring biases the plunger toward the tube, and the actuator mechanically engages and disengages from the plunger. In the first stage, the inlet valve is opened and the plunger is actuated from the tube, in the second stage, the inlet valve is closed, the plunger is actuated toward the tube, and the actuator is mechanically disengaged from the plunger, and in the third stage, the outlet valve is opened. In the third stage or in a fourth stage, the actuator actuates the plunger toward the tube to discharge fluid downstream past the outlet valve. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A peristaltic pump for pumping fluid in a plurality of cycles where each cycle has at least a first stage and a second stage, the peristaltic pump comprising: a biased plunger biased toward a tube; a first valve upstream of the biased plunger; a second valve downstream of the biased plunger; and an actuator configured to engage and disengage from the biased plunger, wherein: in the first stage, the first valve is opened and the biased plunger is moved away from the tube by the actuator, in the second stage, the first valve is closed, the biased plunger is moved toward the tube, and the actuator is disengaged from the biased plunger, and the actuator allows the biased plunger to move toward the tube to discharge fluid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The peristaltic pump according to claim 1, wherein in a third stage, the second valve is opened and the actuator causes the biased plunger to move toward the tube to discharge fluid downstream past the second valve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The peristaltic pump according to claim 2, wherein in each cycle of the peristaltic pump, the first stage occurs prior to the second stage and the second stage occurs prior to the third stage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The peristaltic pump according to claim 2, wherein in the first stage, the second valve is closed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The peristaltic pump according to claim 2, wherein the actuator, a spring, and the biased plunger are configured to discharge the spring when the actuator disengages from the biased plunger. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The peristaltic pump according to claim 2, wherein the actuator is configured to disengage from the biased plunger to thereby discharge a spring to bias the biased plunger against the tube. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The peristaltic pump according to claim 2, wherein movement of the actuator does not correspond to movement of the biased plunger when the actuator disengages from the biased plunger. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The peristaltic pump according to claim 2, wherein the actuator is configured to engage the biased plunger to lift the biased plunger away from the tube and disengage the biased plunger to allow a spring to generate a force from the biased plunger against the tube. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The peristaltic pump according to claim 2, wherein the peristaltic pump is configured such that a force of the biased plunger applied to the tube by the biased plunger is produced by a spring and not the actuator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The peristaltic pump according to claim 1, wherein in the first stage, the second valve is closed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The peristaltic pump according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a cam and the biased plunger is coupled to a cam follower configured to follow the cam. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The peristaltic pump according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a cam and the biased plunger is coupled to a cam follower configured to follow the cam. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The peristaltic pump according to claim 12, wherein when the actuator engages with the biased plunger, the cam follower follows the cam. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The peristaltic pump according to claim 12, wherein when the actuator engages with the biased plunger, the cam follower and the cam are in physical contact with each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The peristaltic pump according to claim 12, wherein when the actuator is disengaged with the biased plunger, the cam follower does not follow the cam. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The peristaltic pump according to claim 12, wherein when the actuator is disengaged with the biased plunger, the cam follower and the cam are not in physical contact with each other. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The peristaltic pump according to claim 1, wherein the actuator, a spring, and the biased plunger are configured to discharge the spring when the actuator disengages from the biased plunger. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The peristaltic pump according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to disengage from the biased plunger to thereby discharge a spring to bias the biased plunger against the tube. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The peristaltic pump according to claim 1, wherein movement of the actuator does not correspond to movement of the biased plunger when the actuator disengages from the biased plunger. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The peristaltic pump according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to engage the biased plunger to lift the biased plunger away from the tube and disengage the biased plunger to allow a spring to generate a force from the biased plunger against the tube. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The peristaltic pump according to claim 1, wherein the peristaltic pump is configured such that a force of the biased plunger applied to the tube by the biased plunger is produced by a spring and not the actuator. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A peristaltic pump according to claim 1, for pumping fluid in the plurality of cycles where each cycle has the first stage, the second stage, a third stage, and a fourth stage, wherein: in the third stage, the actuator is engaged with the biased plunger, the actuator moves the biased plunger away from the tube, and the second valve is opened, and in the fourth stage, the actuator moves the biased plunger toward the tube to discharge fluid downstream past the second valve. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The peristaltic pump according to claim 22, wherein in the first stage, the second valve is closed. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The peristaltic pump according to claim 22, wherein the actuator includes a cam and the biased plunger is coupled to a cam follower configured to follow the cam. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The peristaltic pump according to claim 24, wherein when the actuator engages with the biased plunger, the cam follower follows the cam. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The peristaltic pump according to claim 24, wherein when the actuator engages with the biased plunger, the cam follower and the cam are in physical contact with each other. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The peristaltic pump according to claim 24, wherein when the actuator is disengaged with the biased plunger, the cam follower does not follow the cam. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The peristaltic pump according to claim 24, wherein when the actuator is disengaged with the biased plunger, the cam follower and the cam are not in physical contact with each other. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The peristaltic pump according to claim 22, wherein in each cycle of the peristaltic pump, the first stage occurs prior to the second stage, the second stage occurs prior to the third stage, and the third stage occurs prior to the fourth stage. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) The peristaltic pump according to claim 22, wherein the actuator, a spring, and the biased plunger are configured to charge the spring when the actuator moves the biased plunger away from the tube. ### Claim 31 (depends on 22) The peristaltic pump according to claim 22, wherein the actuator, a spring, and the biased plunger are configured to discharge the spring when the actuator disengages from the biased plunger. ### Claim 32 (depends on 22) The peristaltic pump according to claim 22, wherein the actuator is configured to disengage from the biased plunger to thereby discharge a spring to bias the biased plunger against the tube. ### Claim 33 (depends on 22) The peristaltic pump according to claim 22, wherein movement of the actuator does not correspond to movement of the biased plunger when the actuator disengages from the biased plunger. ### Claim 34 (depends on 22) The peristaltic pump according to claim 22, wherein the actuator is configured to engage the biased plunger to lift the biased plunger away from the tube and disengage the biased plunger to allow a spring to generate a force from the biased plunger against the tube. ### Claim 35 (depends on 22) The peristaltic pump according to claim 22, wherein the peristaltic pump is configured such that a force of the biased plunger applied to the tube by the biased plunger is produced by a spring and not the actuator. ### Claim 36 A method for pumping fluid, the method comprising: biasing a plunger toward a tube; opening a first valve in a first stage; moving the plunger away from the tube in the first stage; closing the first valve in a second stage; moving the plunger toward the tube in the second stage; disengaging the actuator from the plunger in the second stage; and moving the plunger toward the tube to discharge fluid.