Implantable drug delivery device with peristaltic pump having retracting roller

An implantable drug infusion device comprising, in combination:

• a bulkhead having a race, the race having a center;
• a pump tube having an inlet and an outlet and being positioned within the race;
• a roller assembly configured to compress the tube against the race at one or more points along the path, the roller assembly including at least two retracting rollers and a hub, the hub having a center;
• a drive assembly to drive the roller assembly relative to the tube along the path to move the liquid through the tube,
• each retracting roller operably and pivotally connected to the hub by a corresponding retracting roller arm and a corresponding biasing member to permit angular retraction of each retracting roller in relation to the pump tube during installation of the pump tube between each retracting roller and the race, wherein the retracting rollers and the hub form a triangle, each corresponding retracting roller arm and corresponding biasing member forming an angle, each retracting roller located at one end of its corresponding retracting roller arm, the center of the hub substantially coinciding with the center of the race, the load of the rollers on the tube being substantially uniform after installation of the pump tube between the retracting rollers and the race.

An implantable drug infusion device comprising, in combination:

• a bulkhead having a race, a first chamber, and a second chamber, the race having a center;
• a pump tube having an inlet and an outlet and being positioned within the race;
• a motor assembly positioned within the first chamber;
• and
• a pumphead assembly positioned within the second chamber, the motor assembly driving the pumphead assembly, the pumphead assembly comprising
• a roller assembly having a hub, the hub having a center, and at least two retracting rollers, each retracting roller operably and pivotally connected to the hub by a corresponding retracting roller arm and a corresponding biasing member to permit angular retraction of each retracting roller during installation of a pump tube between each retracting roller and the race;
• and
• a drive assembly to drive the roller assembly relative to the tube along the path so each retracting roller compresses the tube to move a liquid through the tube after installation of the pump tube between the retracting rollers and the race,
• wherein the retracting rollers and the hub form a triangle, each corresponding retracting roller arm and corresponding biasing member forming an angle, the center of the hub substantially coinciding with the center of the race, the load of the rollers on the tube being substantially uniform after installation of the pump tube between the retracting rollers and the race.

An implantable drug infusion device comprising, in combination:

• a bulkhead having a race, a first chamber, and a second chamber;
• a pump tube having an inlet and an outlet and being positioned within the race, the race configured to support the tube along a path, the race having a center;
• a motor assembly positioned within the first chamber;
• and
• a pumphead assembly positioned within the second chamber, the motor assembly driving the pumphead assembly, the pumphead assembly comprising
• a roller assembly having a hub, the hub having a center, and at least two retracting roller housings operably connected by a biasing member to each other to permit retraction of a roller corresponding to each roller housing during installation of a pump tube between the roller and the race wherein the rollers and the hub form a triangle;
• and
• a drive assembly to drive the roller assembly relative to the tube along the path so the roller compresses the tube to move a liquid through the tube,
• wherein the retracting rollers and the hub form a triangle, the center of the hub substantially coinciding with the center of the race, the load of the rollers on the tube being substantially uniform after installation of the pump tube between the retracting rollers and the race.

An implantable drug infusion device comprising, in combination:

• a pump tube for holding a liquid to be pumped;
• a race configured to support the tube along a path;
• a roller assembly configured to compress the tube against the race at one or more points along the path, the roller assembly including at least one retracting roller and hub;
• a drive assembly to drive the roller assembly relative to the tube along the path to move the liquid through the tube,
• the retracting roller operably connected to the hub or at least one adjacent roller to permit retraction of the roller during installation of the pump tube between the roller and the race,
• wherein the roller assembly comprises at least one retracting roller arm pivotally connected to the hub, each retracting roller arm having a roller secured thereto and operably connected to the hub, further comprising at least one hook on the hub and a pivot pin on the retracting roller arm, wherein the pivot pin of the retracting roller arm is captured by a hook.

An implantable drug infusion device comprising, in combination:

• a pump tube for holding a liquid to be pumped;
• a race configured to support the tube along a path;
• a roller assembly configured to compress the tube against the race at one or more points along the path, the roller assembly including at least one retracting roller and hub;
• a drive assembly to drive the roller assembly relative to the tube along the path to move the liquid through the tube,
• the retracting roller operably connected to at least one adjacent roller to permit retraction of the retracting roller during installation of the pump tube between the roller and the race,
• wherein the drive assembly comprises a shaft and a drive gear, the drive gear configured to be rotatably driven by a motor, the shaft driven by the drive gear and rotatably driving the roller assembly.

An implantable drug infusion device comprising, in combination:

• a bulkhead having a race, the race having a center;
• a pump tube having an inlet and an outlet and being positioned within the race;
• a roller assembly configured to compress the tube against the race at one or more points along the path, the roller assembly including at least two retracting rollers and hub, the hub having a center;
• a drive assembly to drive the roller assembly relative to the tube along the path to move the liquid through the tube,
• each retracting roller operably and pivotally connected to the hub by a retracting roller arm and a corresponding biasing member to permit angular retraction of each retracting roller in relation to the pump tube during installation of the pump tube between each roller and the race,
• and further comprising a support plate to secure the roller assembly and drive assembly to the bulkhead,
• wherein the retracting rollers and the hub form a triangle, each corresponding retracting roller arm and corresponding biasing member forming an angle, each retracting roller located at one end of its corresponding retracting roller arm, the center of the hub substantially coinciding with the center of the race, the load of the rollers on the tube being substantially uniform after installation of the pump tube between the retracting rollers and the race.

An implantable drug infusion device comprising, in combination:

• a bulkhead having a race, a first chamber, and a second chamber;
• a pump tube having an inlet and an outlet and being positioned within the race, the race having a center;
• a motor assembly positioned within the first chamber;
• and
• a pumphead assembly positioned within the second chamber, the motor assembly driving the pumphead assembly, the pumphead assembly comprising
• a roller assembly having a hub, the hub having a center, and at least two retracting roller, each retracting roller operably and pivotally connected to the hub by a corresponding retracting roller arm and a corresponding biasing member to permit angular retraction of each retracting roller during installation of a pump tube between each retracting roller and the race;
• and
• a drive assembly to drive the roller assembly relative to the tube along the path so each retracting roller compresses the tube to move a liquid through the tube after installation of the pump tube between the retracting rollers and the race
• wherein the retracting rollers and the hub form a triangle, each corresponding retracting roller arm and corresponding biasing member forming an angle, the center of the hub substantially coinciding with the center of the race, the load of the rollers on the tube being substantially uniform after installation of the pump tube between the retracting rollers and the race, and
• wherein the pumphead assembly further comprises a support plate secured to the bulkhead.