Volumetric pump tube reshaper and method

A method of compressing and reshaping a flexible tube to repeatedly displace a desired volume of fluid from an interior passage disposed within the flexible tube, comprising the steps of:

• a. forcing a longitudinally extending surface of a single plunger, which is mounted to move bidirectionally along a reciprocation axis, against a segment of the tube to compress the segment of the tube, the longitudinally extending surface being substantially parallel to the segment of the tube being compressed;
• b. retracting the plunger away from the tube to remove the compressive force on the tube along the reciprocation axis;
• and
• c. reshaping the flexible tube by forcing at least one reshaper jaw against at least one side of the tube in a direction substantially perpendicular to the reciprocation axis along substantially the same segment of the tube to which the compressive force was applied, such that the interior passage of the tube expands.

An apparatus for repeatedly compressing and shaping a flexible tube having an interior passage, comprising:

• a. a frame for holding a portion of the flexible tube;
• b. a single plunger coupled to the frame so as to be disposed opposite at least one side of a segment of the flexible tube;
• c. plunger drive means coupled to the plunger for repeatedly moving the plunger into and out of compression against a segment of the flexible tube;
• d. at least one jaw member disposed along substantially the same segment of the flexible tube as the plunger, the at least one jaw member being positioned to apply a compressive force to at least one side of the flexible tube in a direction generally transverse to the direction of plunger movement;
• and
• e. jaw member drive means coupled to the at least one jaw member for repeatedly moving the at least one jaw member into and out of compression against at least one side of the same segment of the flexible tube, the at least one jaw member expanding the interior passage when in a position of compression with the tube.

A single-plunger fluid pump for repeatably compressing and shaping a flexible tube having an interior passage, comprising:

• a. a frame for holding a portion of the flexible tube;
• b. a single plunger coupled to the frame so as to be disposed opposite at least one side of a segment of the flexible tube, said plunger having a longitudinal surface;
• c. plunger drive means coupled to the plunger for repeatably moving the longitudinal surface of the plunger into and out of compression against a segment of the flexible tube;
• d. at least one jaw member disposed along substantially the same segment of the flexible tube as the longitudinal surface of the plunger, said at least one jaw member being positioned to apply a compressive force to at least one side of the flexible tube in a direction generally transverse to the direction of plunger movement;
• and
• e. jaw member drive means coupled to said at least one jaw member for repeatedly moving said at least one jaw member into and out of compression against at least one side of the same segment of the flexible tube, said at least one jaw member expanding the interior passage when in a position to compress the tube.