Infusion pump

Abstract

The present invention aims to provide a smaller infusion pump compared to conventional models. [Solution] The infusion pump according to the invention comprises a main body 10 and a fixing part 30 for fixing the main body 10 to a support member. The main body 10 has a mounting part 21 formed on a first side surface 11 facing the support member, to which the fixing part 30 is attached. The mounting part 21 protrudes from the first side surface 11 and is integrally formed with the first side surface 11.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an infusion pump that sends an infusion agent through an infusion line.

Background Art

[0002] In the medical field, as described in Patent Document 1, an infusion pump is used to send an infusion agent such as a blood component or a chemical solution into a patient's body through an infusion line. Since the dosage of the infusion agent is small, a pump with high injection accuracy, for example, a peristaltic, that is, a peristaltic finger type infusion pump is used. The infusion pump and an infusion bag that supplies the infusion agent to the infusion pump are attached to a pole type stand.

[0003] The infusion bag is attached above the infusion pump and connected to the infusion pump by an infusion tube. Since the infusion pump requires operations such as setting the infusion volume, it is fixed at a certain height position by a clamp device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, because the infusion pump and infusion bag are mounted at a predetermined height, the center of gravity of the pole-type stand tends to be high. In addition, the greater the horizontal protrusion of the infusion pump fixed to the pole, the greater the distance from the pole's central axis to the pump's center of gravity, resulting in a greater moment that causes the pole to tip over. Infusion pumps may be installed side by side in pairs or more, and the amount of moment acting on a single pole increases accordingly. Furthermore, in situations where there is limited space for installing pole-type stands, smaller infusion pumps are easier to install and less likely to interfere with the user's movements. For these reasons, smaller infusion pumps are preferable.

[0006] This invention was made to solve the above problems and aims to provide a smaller infusion pump than conventional ones. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The infusion pump according to the present invention comprises a main body and a fixing part for fixing the main body to a support member. The main body has a mounting part formed on a first side surface facing the support member, to which the fixing part is attached. The mounting part protrudes from the first side surface and is integrally formed with the first side surface.

[0008] In the infusion pump according to the present invention, the mounting portion for attaching the fixing portion that secures the main body to the support member is integrally formed with the first side surface. Therefore, compared to the case where the fixing portion is formed separately, unnecessary volume can be reduced, the horizontal overhang dimension can be reduced, and a smaller infusion pump can be made.

[0009] Furthermore, it is preferable that the infusion pump according to the present invention has an operating member in the fixed part, and that the first side surface has a first recess formed therein that corresponds to the outer shape of the operating member.

[0010] In the infusion pump according to the present invention, a first recess is formed on the first side surface that corresponds to the external shape of the operating member. Therefore, while making it a compact infusion pump, a gap space is secured by the first recess, and the operating member can be operated without the hand interfering with the first side surface.

[0011] Furthermore, it is preferable that the body of the infusion pump according to the present invention has an opening / closing section that is held open and closed by an external hinge, and a tube retaining section that is held open and closed by an internal hinge inside the opening / closing section and presses the infusion tube when closed.

[0012] The infusion pump according to the present invention has a tube retaining part inside the opening / closing section that presses against the infusion tube when the section is closed. Therefore, there is no need to provide a tube clamp to prevent free flow of the infusion solution from the infusion tube when the opening / closing section is open, and as a result, the infusion pump can be made smaller than conventional pumps.

[0013] Furthermore, the infusion pump according to the present invention preferably has a fluid delivery device for delivering an infusion solution and a first housing section for housing the fluid delivery device, and the tube holding section has a holding member, and the first housing section and the holding member are preferably made of metal.

[0014] Since the fluid delivery device and the pressing member of the infusion pump according to the present invention are made of metal, the member to which the pressing force is applied can be made thin, making the infusion pump smaller than conventional models.

[0015] Furthermore, the infusion pump according to the present invention comprises a rotary drive device having a motor and a plurality of gears that transmit the rotation of the motor's rotating shaft, and a second housing that houses all the gears of the rotary drive device, wherein the second housing is made of metal and is integrally formed with the first housing.

[0016] In the infusion pump according to the present invention, the second housing, which houses all the gears of the rotary drive device, is made of metal and is integrally formed with the first housing. Therefore, the second housing, to which the driving force is applied, can be made thin, and the components constituting the second housing can be integrally formed with the first housing, making it possible to create a smaller infusion pump compared to conventional designs.

[0017] Furthermore, in the infusion pump according to the present invention, it is preferable that the packing provided at the top of the opening and closing section has protrusions formed that extend around the entire circumference of the inner surface of the packing groove at the upper and lower ends of the packing groove into which the infusion tube is fitted.

[0018] The packing in the infusion pump according to the present invention is incorporated into the upper part of the opening / closing section and housed within the space inside the opening / closing section, thereby realizing a packing-integrated structure in a small infusion pump. In addition, the upper and lower ends of the inner surface of the packing groove have protrusions that extend around the entire circumference of the inner surface of the packing groove. Therefore, the protrusions bend according to the outer diameter of the infusion tube into which it is fitted, and in both thick and thin infusion tubes, the packing can make contact with the outer diameter of the infusion tube without any gaps, sealing the infusion solution that flows along the outer surface of the infusion tube.

[0019] Furthermore, it is preferable that a second recess is formed on the upper part of the opening and closing section of the infusion pump according to the present invention, at least a portion of the upper surface of the packing is exposed in the second recess, and the exposed upper surface of the packing and the surface forming the second recess around the packing are connected without any steps.

[0020] In the infusion pump according to the present invention, the upper surface of the exposed packing is incorporated into the upper part of the opening and closing section, and the surface forming the second recess around the packing is connected without any step. Therefore, the infusion solution sealed by the packing is connected to the upper surface of the exposed packing and the surface around the packing. It can smoothly flow along the curved surface formed by the surface where the second concave portion is formed, and the possibility of flowing into the main body can be reduced. Therefore, a structure in which a packing is incorporated in the opening / closing portion can be realized with a small infusion pump, and the reliability of the infusion pump can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] [Figure 1] It is a front view of an infusion pump according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a plan view of the infusion pump of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a left side view of the infusion pump of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a right side view of the infusion pump of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] It is a rear view of the infusion pump of FIG. 1. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view of the infusion pump of FIG. 1 with a part removed and shown in cross section. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view of the infusion pump of FIG. 1. [Figure 8] It is an enlarged perspective view of the upper part of the infusion pump of FIG. 1. [Figure 9] It is an enlarged perspective view of the inside of the opening / closing portion of the infusion pump of FIG. 1. [Figure 10] It is a perspective view of the drive mechanism of the infusion pump of FIG. 1. [Figure 11] It is a perspective view of the first housing portion and the second housing portion of the infusion pump of FIG. 1. [Figure 12] It is a top view of the rotary drive device of the infusion pump of FIG. 1. [Figure 13] It is a side view of the rotary drive device of the infusion pump of FIG. 1.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] <Embodiment> Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, an infusion pump 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 1 to 5 are a front view, a top view, a left side view, a right side view, and a rear view of the infusion pump 100, respectively.

[0023] The infusion pump 100 is a pump that delivers intravenous fluids into the patient's body through an infusion line. First, let's describe the external structure of the infusion pump 100.

[0024] [External structure of infusion pump 100] The infusion pump 100 comprises a main body 10 and a fixing part 30 for fixing the main body 10 to a support member, which is a pole P. The main body 10 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with the vertical direction as its longitudinal direction, and its outer surface is made of resin, with all corners of the outer surface being rounded. The infusion pump 100 has a first side surface 11, a second side surface 12, a third side surface 13, a fourth side surface 14, a top surface 15, and a bottom surface 16. The main body 10 has an opening / closing part 40 including the second side surface 12. In Figure 2, the opening / closing part 40 in the open state is shown by a dashed line.

[0025] A fixing portion 30 is provided on the first side surface 11, that is, the surface facing the pole P of the infusion pump 100. The first side surface 11 has a mounting portion 21 for attaching the fixing portion 30. The mounting portion 21 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped portion that protrudes vertically from the first side surface 11 and has a mounting portion end face 22 which is a protruding end face. The mounting portion 21 is integrally formed with the first side surface 11. As shown in Figure 3, a first recess 23 is provided on the first side surface 11 between the mounting portion 21 and the end of the first side surface 11 on the fourth side surface 14 side. The first recess 23 is formed by recessing a part of the first side surface 11 into a curved shape with an arc-shaped cross-section and extends horizontally. The first recess 23 is formed continuously without any steps between the first side surface 11 and the fourth side surface 14.

[0026] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the effect of the mounting portion 21 formed on the first side surface 11 will be explained. Conventionally, the fixing portion 30, i.e., the clamp device, was designed on the premise that it would be removed from the body of the infusion pump. Therefore, the clamp device was constructed as a completely separate part from the body and was designed to be attached and detached by hand without the use of tools. As a result, the clamp device had to have sufficient strength and rigidity on its own. Consequently, there were limitations to making the infusion pump, including the clamp device, smaller. In the infusion pump 100 of the present invention, the fixing portion 30 is not to be removed, and a mounting portion 21 corresponding to the attachment of the fixing portion 30 is integrally formed on the first side surface 11 that fixes the fixing portion 30. As a result, the infusion pump 100 minimizes the size of the combined parts by eliminating unnecessary parts when designing each part individually. The fixing portion 30 is fixed to the mounting portion 21 using fasteners with tools when assembling the body 10.

[0027] The fixing portion 30 has a clamping member 31 that contacts the pole P, which is a support member, and an operating member 36 that clamps the pole P together with the clamping member 31. The clamping member 31 has a clamping member base 32 fixed to the mounting portion 21, a clamping piece 33 provided at one horizontal end of the clamping member base 32, and an operating member holding portion 34 provided at the other horizontal end of the clamping member base 32. The clamping piece 33 and the operating member holding portion 34 are integrally formed with the clamping member base 32.

[0028] The clamping member base 32 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped member having a bottom surface that contacts the mounting end surface 22 of the protruding mounting portion 21. The clamping member bottom surface 35 of the clamping member base 32 is rectangular in shape and the same size as the mounting end surface 22. Therefore, when the clamping member base 32 is attached to the mounting portion 21, the four outer surfaces of the clamping member base 32 and the four outer surfaces of the mounting portion 21 that are in contact with each other are connected without any steps, forming a continuous plane.

[0029] The clamping piece 33 is formed at one horizontal end of the clamping member base 32, extending perpendicularly from the clamping member base 32 to the first side surface 11. The clamping piece 33 is formed at the upper and lower ends of the horizontal end of the clamping member base 32. The vertical dimension from the surface of the clamping member base 32 is formed to be approximately equal to the diameter of the support member pole P. As shown in Figure 2, in a top view, the surface of the clamping piece 33 facing the pole P is formed with a recessed shape in the middle of the clamping piece 33 in the longitudinal direction, so as to make it easier to grasp the pole P which has a circular cross-section.

[0030] The operating member holding portion 34 is formed at the other horizontal end of the clamping member base portion 32, extending perpendicularly to the clamping member base portion 32. The vertical dimension of the operating member holding portion 34 is approximately equal to, or slightly shorter than, the diameter of the support member pole P. The operating member holding portion 34 is provided with a screw hole corresponding to the operating member 36. The position of the screw hole is approximately in the center in the vertical direction of the operating member holding portion 34, and in the horizontal direction of the operating member holding portion 34, the operating member holding portion 34 is located where the approximately central axis of the pole P to be fixed coincides with the operating member holding portion 34 in a side view.

[0031] The operating member 36 has a grip portion 37, a cylindrical member connected to one side of the grip portion 37 with its central axis coaxial with the grip portion 37, and a threaded portion 38 attached to the end face of one side of the cylindrical member with its central axis coaxial with the cylindrical member. The grip portion 37 is formed in a substantially disc shape, and the outer circumference of the grip portion 37, which is formed with a predetermined radius R1, has a plurality of indentations, for example three, at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The operating member 36 rotates the grip portion 37 and screws the threaded portion 38 into the threaded hole of the operating member holding portion 34. In this state, the operating member 36 is rotated and the tip of the threaded portion 38 protrudes. The tip of the threaded portion 38 and the clamping piece 33 clamp the pole P, and the main body 10 is fixed to the pole P, which is the support member.

[0032] Referring to Figure 3, the effect of the first recess 23 formed on the first side surface 11 will be explained. As described above, as a result of miniaturization efforts, the distance between the infusion pump 100 and the pole P is narrower than that of conventional infusion pumps. Therefore, the first recess 23 is formed on the first side surface 11 so that when rotating the operating member 36, the hand holding the grip portion 37 does not interfere with the first side surface 11. The curved surface of the first recess 23, which has an arc-shaped cross-section, is formed to coincide with the outer circumferential surface of a virtual cylinder T formed with radius R2, centered on the rotation axis X of the grip portion 37.

[0033] In other words, the central axis X of the virtual cylindrical surface S, which coincides with the outer circumferential surface 39 of the grip portion 37, and the virtual cylindrical surface T, which coincides with the curved surface of the first recess 23, are aligned. Therefore, a constant gap is maintained between the outer circumferential surface 39 of the grip portion 37, which is formed with radius R1, and the first recess 23 on the first side surface 11. Thus, the necessary gap is always secured regardless of the angular position at which the outer circumferential surface of the grip portion 37 is gripped. Conventionally, the gap between the infusion pump and the pole P was about 30 mm, whereas in the case of the infusion pump 100 of the present invention, it is, for example, about 17 mm. The distance of the infusion pump 100 from the pole P when fixed can be reduced by 10 mm or more, and at least that amount can be used to reduce the amount of protrusion of the infusion pump 100 from the pole P. The infusion pump 100 of the present invention achieves both a reduction in the amount of protrusion from the pole P and good operability of the fixing portion 30 when the infusion pump 100 is attached.

[0034] The third side 13 is one side facing the front and has operation buttons 18 and a display unit 19. The operation buttons 18 include a main power switch, a flow rate setting switch, a fluid delivery start switch, a fluid delivery stop switch, and switches for increasing or decreasing setting values ​​such as the flow rate. The display unit 19 displays the set flow rate, etc., when the main power switch is on. When using the infusion pump 100, the user operates the operation buttons 18 while checking the display unit 19 to make various settings such as the fluid delivery volume and control the fluid delivery status. The operation buttons 18 and the display unit 19 are all concentrated on the third side 13, and the infusion pump 100 is configured so that the user can perform all the necessary operations and checks when delivering fluid to a patient from only one side.

[0035] The right end of the infusion pump 100 is provided with an open / close section 40 that covers the entire right end from the top to the bottom and can be opened and closed. When closed, the open / close section 40 covers the fifth side surface 50. The open / close section 40 is formed with a substantially constant plate thickness, and its inner surface is formed in a concave shape. The open / close section 40 includes a second side surface 12 on its outer surface, and when the open / close section 40 is closed, the connection points with the first side surface 11, third side surface 13, top surface 15, and bottom surface 16 that the open / close section 40 contacts form a continuous surface without any steps.

[0036] [Inside the opening / closing section 40, and the fifth side surface 50] The interior of the opening / closing section 40 and the structure of the fifth side surface 50 will be explained with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the entire surface on the third side surface 13 in a cross-section, with the opening / closing section 40 and the tube retaining section 60 in an open state. Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the opening / closing section 40 in an open state and the tube retaining section 60 in a closed state.

[0037] The opening / closing section 40 includes an outer hinge section 41, a locking section 42, a packing retaining section 43, and a packing 46 housed in the packing retaining section 43.

[0038] The outer hinge portion 41 is provided at two locations, upper and lower, on the inner end of the opening / closing portion 40 on the first side surface 11 side. The outer hinge portion 41 is formed extending from an end fixed to the inner surface of the opening / closing portion 40 toward the corner formed by the fifth side surface 50 and the first side surface 11, and has a flat portion at its tip on which an engaging portion is provided. The engaging portion has a U-shaped groove which is U-shaped when viewed from above. At the corner formed by the fifth side surface 50 and the first side surface 11, there are two shaft portions with a circular cross-section whose outer diameter is slightly larger than the width of the U-shaped groove, provided at two locations, upper and lower. The U-shaped groove of the outer hinge portion 41 is fitted into the shaft portion. The opening / closing portion 40 can be opened and closed by the outer hinge 41 with the shaft portion as the center of rotation. The opening direction of the opening portion of the U-shaped channel is such that, when the opening / closing section 40 is opened 90° from the closed state, it faces between the third side surface 13 and the fifth side surface 50 when viewed from above, and is formed to be at an angular position within the range of 20° to 40° from the third side surface 13 towards the fifth side surface 50.

[0039] With the above structure, the opening / closing section 40 can be removed by pulling the shaft out of the U-shaped groove when the opening / closing section 40 is opened by 90° or more from the closed state, that is, when the opening / closing section 40 is opened beyond the angle position where the second side surface 12 is approximately parallel to the third side surface 13. When the opening / closing section 40 is in the aforementioned angle state, the outer hinge section 41 can be pulled out from the shaft by pulling the opening / closing section 40 away from the fifth side surface 50. The opening / closing section 40 can be removed for cleaning.

[0040] The opening / closing section 40 has a locking section 42 at the center of the vertical direction of the end of the opening / closing section 40 on the third side surface 13 side. When the opening / closing section 40 is closed, the locking section 42 engages with one or more projections 52 provided on the fifth side surface 50 to hold the opening / closing section 40 in place and prevent it from opening. When the locking section 42 is pressed, the engagement with the fifth side surface 50 is released, allowing the opening / closing section 40 to open.

[0041] The main body 10 has a tube holding portion 60 on the fifth side surface 50. The tube holding portion 60 is a member that contacts one side of the infusion tube Q and holds the infusion tube Q. The tube holding portion 60 has an inner hinge portion 61 that holds the tube holding portion 60 so that it can be opened and closed, a pressing member 62 that contacts and presses against the infusion tube Q, a pressing portion body 63 that covers the entire outside of the pressing member 62, and a locking portion 64 that holds the tube holding portion 60 closed on the fifth side surface 50.

[0042] The inner hinge portion 61 is provided at the upper and lower ends of the first side surface 11 side end face of the tube retaining portion 60, respectively. The inner hinge portion 61 has two plate-shaped portions and a pivot portion that holds the two together so that they can rotate relative to each other. One of the two inner hinge portions 61 is fixed to the retaining member 62, and the other plate-shaped portion is fixed directly to the first housing portion 71, which will be described later, or via another member. The tube retaining portion 60 can be opened and closed by the inner hinge portion 61, with the inner hinge portion 61 as the center of rotation. The lock portion 64 is a substantially plate-shaped member having a recess or protrusion that fits into the mating member it connects to. The lock portion 64 is supported on the end face of the retaining portion body 63 on the third side surface 13 side.

[0043] The retaining member 62 and the inner hinge portion 61 are made of metal, such as SUS304 stainless steel sheet metal. This ensures high rigidity in both parts, as they receive the reaction force against the pressing pressure on the infusion tube Q when the tube retaining portion 60 is closed. For comparison, the tensile strength of PBT resin is approximately 96 MPa to 131 MPa, while the tensile strength of SUS304 stainless steel is approximately 520 MPa or higher. While this varies depending on the shape, when formed from resin, it is generally considered necessary to use a wall thickness 3 to 5 times greater to maintain the desired strength and rigidity. Therefore, when both are made from metal, the retaining member 62 and the inner hinge portion 61 can be made thinner while maintaining the desired strength and rigidity compared to when they are made from resin. In other words, forming the retaining member 62 and the inner hinge portion 61 from metal contributes to the miniaturization of the infusion pump 100.

[0044] A roughly rectangular opening 51 is provided in the center of the fifth side surface 50. This allows the fluid delivery device 80, which will be described later and is housed inside the main body 10, to press the infusion tube Q through the opening 51. Two projections 52, to which the locking part 42 is connected, are provided spaced apart in the center of the end of the fifth side surface 50 on the third side surface 13. In addition, a projection 53 is provided in the vertical center of the third side surface 13 of the first housing section 71, which will be described later, to which the locking part 64 of the tube holding part 60 is connected. When the tube holding part 60 is closed and the locking part 64 is connected, the holding member 62 is in contact with the side of the infusion tube Q that is pressed by the fluid delivery device 80 that is opposite to the fluid delivery device 80, and the fluid delivery device 80 and the holding member 62 hold the infusion tube Q by sandwiching it.

[0045] Conventionally, infusion pumps have been equipped with a tube clamp on the main body to prevent the infusion solution from flowing even when the opening / closing part is open. However, the infusion pump 100 according to the present invention is equipped with a tube retaining part 60 that opens and closes independently of the opening / closing part 40. As a result, even when the opening / closing part 40 is open, the tube retaining part 60 can be closed, and the tube retaining part 60 can prevent the infusion solution from free-flowing. Therefore, the infusion pump 100 does not need to be equipped with a tube clamp, and this structure contributes to the miniaturization of the infusion pump 100.

[0046] Near the upper and lower ends of the fifth side surface 50, grooves with a width approximately the same as the outer diameter of the infusion tube Q are formed, and tube holding parts 54 and 57 are provided, respectively, to hold the fitted infusion tube Q. Directly below the tube holding part 54, a bubble sensor 55 is provided, which has a structure that holds the infusion tube Q by clamping it. The bubble sensor 55 detects bubbles contained in the infusion solution flowing through the infusion tube Q. Furthermore, a downstream blockage sensor 56 is provided directly above the tube holding part 57 near the lower end. The downstream blockage sensor 56 detects blockages in the flow path downstream of the infusion pump 100, as well as crushing or clogging of the tube.

[0047] The tube holder 54, the bubble sensor 55, the downstream occlusion sensor 56, and the tube holder 57 are all located in the horizontal center of the fifth side surface 50 and are positioned to overlap almost vertically. Therefore, the infusion tube Q can be attached linearly to the fifth side surface 50. The downstream occlusion sensor 56 is positioned so as to overlap with the infusion tube Q in a side view when the infusion tube Q is attached in its normal position.

[0048] Referring to Figures 8 and 9, a drip-proof structure that prevents leaked intravenous fluid from entering the infusion pump 100 via the outer surface of the infusion tube Q will be described. When changing the connection part when replacing the infusion bag, the intravenous fluid may leak and flow along the outer surface of the infusion tube Q to the infusion pump 100. If the leaked intravenous fluid enters the infusion pump 100, the fluid may solidify inside the infusion pump 100, potentially causing the infusion pump 100 to malfunction. To prevent this, the infusion pump 100 is equipped with a drip-proof structure on the upper part of the main body 10. The drip-proof structure includes a tube holding part 54 provided near the upper end of the fifth side surface 50, and a packing 46 provided near the upper inner end of the opening / closing part 40.

[0049] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the infusion pump 100 with the infusion tube Q attached and the opening / closing section 40 closed. Figure 9 is a perspective view of the upper end of the opening / closing section 40 from the inside.

[0050] At the upper end of the opening / closing section 40, a second recess 44 is provided, which is part of the outer surface of the opening / closing section 40 and is formed as a single curved surface. Directly below the second recess 44, a packing retaining section 43 for fixing the packing 46 is provided. The packing retaining section 43 is open on the side that contacts the fifth side surface 50, and the internal space in which the packing 46 is housed extends horizontally from the opening. The second recess 44 has a notch 45 formed in it, and the internal space of the packing retaining section 43 directly below the second recess 44 is open upward by the notch 45.

[0051] The packing 46 will be described with reference to Figure 9. The packing 46 is a substantially plate-shaped member formed to a predetermined thickness. The packing 46 has an upper surface 47, which has a peripheral edge 47b formed on the periphery of the upper surface 47 excluding the fifth side surface 50 side, and a curved surface 47a which is the majority of the upper surface 47 surrounded by the peripheral edge 47b and the end surface 49 on the fifth side surface 50 side. The upper surface of the peripheral edge 47b is formed as a horizontal surface. The curved surface 47a is formed as a curved surface with a recess in the center. The packing 46 is made of rubber or a flexible synthetic resin.

[0052] The packing 46 is inserted horizontally into the packing retaining portion 43 and housed therein. When the packing 46 is inserted into the packing retaining portion 43, the upper surface of the peripheral edge 47b of the packing 46 contacts and is held by the lower surface of the peripheral edge of the notch 45 of the second recess 44, and is inserted while sliding to the correct position. In a top view, the shape of the notch 45 fits with the shape of the curved surface 47a, and the curved surface 47a of the upper surface 47 of the packing 46, which has been inserted into the packing retaining portion 43 and housed in the correct position, is exposed at the notch 45 of the second recess 44. When the packing 46 is inserted to the correct position, the exposed curved surface 47a of the packing 46 and the surface forming the second recess 44 around the packing 46 are connected without any steps and constitute a continuous, identical curved surface.

[0053] The end face 49 of the packing 46 on the fifth side surface 50 side is formed to protrude slightly from the end face of the packing groove 48 on the fifth side surface 50 side, and when the opening / closing part 40 is closed, the end face 49 is in contact with the fifth side surface 50.

[0054] The packing 46 has a packing groove 48 formed in the center of the packing 46 in the horizontal direction, into which the infusion tube Q is fitted. The packing groove 48 is formed by cutting out a U-shape from the end face 49 on the fifth side surface 50 side of the packing 46. The packing groove 48 is formed to penetrate from the upper surface 47 to the lower surface. At the upper and lower ends of the packing groove 48, the packing groove 48 has protrusions 48a and 48b that protrude around the entire circumference of the inner surface of the packing groove 48. The upper surface of the protrusion 48a and the lower surface of the protrusion 48b are connected to the upper surface 47 and the lower surface of the packing, respectively, without any steps, and form the same surface.

[0055] The packing groove 48 has protrusions 48a and 48b, so that even when infusion tubes Q of different diameters are fitted, the protrusions 48a and 48b will bend according to the diameter of the fitted infusion tube Q, and each will securely hold the infusion tube Q without any gaps. The distance between the opposing parts of the U-shaped protrusions 48a and 48b is formed to be slightly smaller than that of an infusion tube Q with an outer diameter of 3.6 mm. In addition, the distance between the opposing inner surfaces of the packing groove 48 other than the protrusions 48a and 48b is formed to be slightly smaller than that of an infusion tube Q with an outer diameter of 4.5 mm. Therefore, the packing groove 48 can contact the infusion tube Q without any gaps, whether it is a thin or thick infusion tube Q. Therefore, the packing 46 can stop the flow of leaked infusion fluid along the outer surface of the infusion tube Q and securely seal it.

[0056] Next, the state of the tube holding portion 54 and the packing 46 when the opening / closing portion 40 is closed will be described. The horizontal dimension of the tube holding portion 54 facing the second recess 44 is slightly smaller than the horizontal dimension of the second recess 44 of the opening / closing portion 40. Therefore, as shown in Figure 8, when the opening / closing portion 40 is closed, the tube holding portion 54 is formed to fit precisely into the recess space formed by the second recess 44 and the upper surface 47 of the packing 46. In addition, the lower surface of the tube holding portion 54 is positioned in a vertical positional relationship with the second recess 44 so as to be in contact with it.

[0057] Furthermore, the end face 49 of the packing 46 on the fifth side surface 50 is formed to protrude by a predetermined amount from the packing groove 48. Therefore, when the opening / closing section 40 is closed, the packing 46 comes into contact with the fifth side surface 50, is pressed and contracts, and seals tightly. Consequently, the intravenous fluid flowing down the infusion tube Q is reliably sealed by the above structure provided on the opening / closing section 40 and the fifth side surface 50 without entering the interior of the main body 10. The intravenous fluid sealed by the packing 46 can flow smoothly over the curved surface formed by the seamless connection of the curved surface section 47a and the second recess 44, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 8.

[0058] [Internal structure of the main unit 10] The internal structure of the main body 10 will be explained with reference to Figures 10 to 13. Figure 10 is a perspective view of the drive mechanism 70 that operates the infusion pump 100. Figure 11 is a perspective view of the housing, which is part of the drive mechanism 70 in Figure 10. Figure 12 is a top view of the rotary drive device of the drive mechanism 70 in Figure 10. Figure 13 is a side view of the rotary drive device in Figure 12.

[0059] The infusion pump 100 is equipped with a drive mechanism 70. The drive mechanism 70 includes a fluid delivery device 80 for delivering the infusion solution inside the infusion tube Q, a first housing section 71 housing the fluid delivery device 80, a rotary drive device 90, and a second housing section 72 housing the rotary drive device 90. The infusion pump 100 is a known peristaltic pump.

[0060] The fluid delivery device 80 has a plurality of pressure contact fingers 81 that press against the infusion tube Q, and a camshaft 82 that presses the pressure contact fingers 81 from the inside of the main body 10. One end of each pressure contact finger 81 is rotatably held, and the other end is positioned in contact with the inner side surface of the infusion tube Q attached to the fifth side surface 50.

[0061] The fluid delivery device 80 will be described with reference to Figures 10 and 13. The fluid delivery device 80 is a device that delivers the intravenous fluid from inside the intravenous tube Q. The fluid delivery device 80 has pressure contact fingers 81 and a camshaft 82. The camshaft 82 has a plurality of cams 84 positioned corresponding to each pressure contact finger 81 and is located inside the pressure contact fingers 81. Each cam 84 is mounted on the camshaft with its maximum protruding portion offset by a predetermined angle in the rotational direction of the camshaft 82. When the rotary drive device rotates the camshaft 82, each cam drives the pressure contact finger 81 it contacts. Each pressure contact finger 81 presses against the intravenous tube Q so as to move sequentially from the upstream side to the downstream side of the intravenous tube Q. As a result, the intravenous fluid inside the intravenous tube Q is delivered from the upstream side to the downstream side of the intravenous tube Q.

[0062] The rotary drive unit 90 will be described with reference to Figures 12 and 13. The rotary drive unit 90 is a device that generates driving force and transmits it to the fluid supply device 80. The rotary drive unit 90 has a motor 91 having a rotating shaft 91a, a first gear 92a fixed to the rotating shaft 91a, a second gear 93a and a third gear 93b fixed to a support shaft 93, a fourth gear 94a and a fifth gear 94b supported so as to be rotatable relative to a support shaft 94, and a sixth gear 83 fixed to the upper end of the camshaft 82. The gears are connected in the order described above, and the driving force generated by the motor 91 is transmitted to the first gear 92a, and the fifth gear 94b drives the sixth gear 83.

[0063] The rotary drive unit 90 has six gears, including the first input gear 92a and the sixth output gear 83, and has a three-stage reduction ratio. The motor 91 is a stepping motor that can precisely control the rotation angle and can control the flow rate of the infusion solution with high precision. Furthermore, as described above, the motor 91 is made smaller by improving the output torque through a high reduction ratio configuration using six gears.

[0064] The infusion pump 100 has multiple gears 92a, 93a, 93b, 94a, 94b, and 83 positioned outside the motor 91 and above the fluid delivery device 80, which is the upper part of the infusion pump 100. By concentrating the gears that transmit the driving force above the fluid delivery device 80, rather than distributing them, the space required to house the rotary drive unit 90 is minimized.

[0065] Referring to Figures 11 to 13, the first housing section 71, which houses the liquid delivery device 80, and the second housing section 72, which houses the rotary drive device 90, will be described.

[0066] Figure 11 shows the first housing section 71 and the second housing section 72. The first housing section 71 and the second housing section 72 are integrally formed from metal, for example, aluminum die-cast ADC12. Both are formed with a thinner plate thickness compared to when they are formed from resin. For example, the tensile strength of PBT resin is approximately 96 MPa to approximately 131 MPa, and the tensile strength of aluminum die-cast ADC12 is approximately 310 MPa. Although it varies depending on the shape, when forming with resin, it is generally considered necessary to form it with a thickness 3 to 5 times greater than that of metal in order to maintain the desired strength and rigidity.

[0067] The liquid delivery device 80 is housed inside the main body 10 in a rectangular parallelepiped space whose longitudinal direction is vertical. As shown in Figure 11, the first housing section 71 has three faces that define the rectangular parallelepiped space. The three faces of the first housing section 71 are the first wall section 73, which is the upper surface of the rectangular parallelepiped space, and the second wall section 74 and the third wall section 75, which are vertical surfaces of the rectangular parallelepiped space and are in contact with each other. The first wall section 73, the second wall section 74, and the third wall section 75 are in contact with the same corner at the top of the rectangular parallelepiped space. In addition, at a position on the opposite surface parallel to the second wall section 74 of the rectangular parallelepiped space, a wall section shorter in length than the second wall section 74 is arranged at a distance from the first wall section 73.

[0068] A second housing section 72 is positioned above the first housing section 71. The second housing section 72 is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped-shaped member with an open top and a stepped bottom. The second housing section 72 has two bottom surfaces 77 and 78, which are of different heights. The bottom surface 78 is integrally formed with the first wall section 73 on the lower side of the bottom surface 78. The bottom surface 77 is connected to the bottom surface 78 via a step and is parallel to the bottom surface 78 and higher than the bottom surface 78. As shown in Figure 12, the motor 91 and the support shaft 93 are supported on the bottom surface 77. The support shaft 94 is supported on the bottom surface 78.

[0069] The rotary drive unit 90 is arranged three-dimensionally within a second housing section 72, which includes two base surfaces 77 and 78 of different heights, with each gear having a different height. Furthermore, the motor 91's rotating shaft 91a, support shafts 93 and 94, and camshaft 82 are not arranged in a straight line, but rather, in a top view, they are arranged within a triangle formed by the three points of the rotating shaft 91a, support shafts 94, and camshaft 82. This arrangement minimizes the area occupied by the rotary drive unit 90 in a top view and reduces its height in a side view. Therefore, the rotary drive unit 90, with the above configuration, contributes to the miniaturization of the infusion pump 100.

[0070] The second housing section 72 has a plate-shaped upper plate 76 at its top. The upper plate 76 is made of metal, for example, stainless steel SUS304, and is provided to close the upper opening of the second housing section 72. The upper plate 76 is made thin by using a metal that has a higher tensile strength than resin. Furthermore, by closing the upper opening of the second housing section 72 with the upper plate 76, rigidity is increased, making it difficult for the upper opening of the second housing section 72 to open even when driving force is applied to the rotary drive device 90. In other words, by making both the first housing section 71 and the second housing section 72 out of metal, the desired strength and rigidity are obtained while contributing to the miniaturization of the infusion pump 100.

[0071] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an infusion pump that is smaller than conventional ones. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 10 Main body, 11 First side, 21 Mounting part, 23 First recess, 30 Fixing part, 36 Operating member, 40 Opening / closing part, 41 Outer hinge part, 44 Second recess, 46 Packing, 48 Packing groove, 48a, 48b Protrusions, 60 Tube holding part, 62 Holding member, 71 First housing section, 72 Second housing section, 91 Motor, 91a Rotating shaft, 92a,93a,93b,94a,94b,83 gear.

Claims

1. An infusion pump comprising a main body and a fixing part for fixing the main body to a support member, The main body has a mounting portion formed on a first side surface facing the support member, to which the fixing portion is attached. The mounting portion protrudes from the first side surface and is integrally formed with the first side surface, in an infusion pump.

2. The fixing portion has an operating member for fixing the main body to the support member. The infusion pump according to claim 1, wherein the first side surface has a first recess formed therein that corresponds to the external shape of the operating member.

3. The main body has an outer hinge portion and is held open and closed, and The infusion pump according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a tube retaining portion that is held open and closed on the inside of the opening and closing portion and has an inner hinge portion for pressing the infusion tube when closed.

4. The main body has a fluid delivery device that delivers the infusion solution in the infusion tube attached to the main body, and a first housing section that houses the fluid delivery device. The tube holding portion has a holding member, The first housing portion and the pressing member are made of metal, as described in claim 3. Liquid pump.

5. A rotary drive device having a motor and a plurality of gears that transmit the rotation of the motor's rotating shaft, and It comprises a second housing section that houses all the gears of the aforementioned rotary drive device, The infusion pump according to claim 4, wherein the second housing is made of metal and is integrally formed with the first housing.

6. The opening and closing part has a packing at the top of the opening and closing part. The packing has a packing groove into which the infusion tube is fitted when the opening / closing part is closed, and which has a protrusion. The infusion pump according to claim 3, wherein the projection is formed to protrude over the entire circumference of the inner surface of the packing groove at the upper and lower ends of the packing groove.

7. A second recess is formed in the upper part of the opening and closing section. The packing is such that at least a portion of its upper surface is exposed in the second recess. The infusion pump according to claim 6, wherein the upper surface of the exposed packing and the surface forming the second recess around the packing are connected without any step.

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