Flow Restriction Devices, Methods, and Systems
AssigneeNxStage Medical, Inc.
InventorEric ZOGLIO
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flow restrictor includes a flexible tube held in a housing and a linear actuator connected through an intermediate link to a distal link via a first revolute joint proximate the linear actuator and a second revolute joint connecting the intermediate and distal links. The distal link has a distal end adjacent the flexible tube and the intermediate and distal links are constrained to move such that when the linear actuator moves the first revolute joint toward the linear actuator, the distal end of the distal link is driven into the side of the tube thereby progressively occluding the flexible tube.
Claims12
A flow restrictor, comprising:
- a linear actuator with an end effecter;
- a first lever and a second lever pivotably connected to said end effecter;
- and
- a first tube support near the first lever and a second tube support near the second lever, a first tube held by the first tube support and a second tube held by the second tube support,
- the first lever and the second lever being confined by a barrier wall such that by moving the end effecter, the first lever pushes against the first tube and the second lever draws away from the second tube.
A flow restrictor, comprising:
- a pinching mechanism with a pinching lever having a pinching end;
- a tube holder shaped and positioned to support a tube in place to be engaged by said pinching end;
- and
- a motor and drive mechanism configured to move said pinching end with variable mechanical advantage with displacement of said motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.