Syringe Pump

Abstract

To provide a syringe pump capable of suppressing positional deviation of a barrel.SOLUTION: A syringe pump 100 is applied to a syringe 200 including a barrel 210 formed with an opening at the rear end, which has a barrel flange 213 around the opening, and a plunger rod 220 fitted inside the barrel 210. The syringe pump 100 includes a barrel flange pressing part 130 for holding the barrel flange 213 of the barrel 210 in a thickness direction of the barrel flange 213, and a barrel clamp 122 for holding the barrel 210 by coming into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the barrel 210. The barrel clamp 122 includes a contact face 124 that comes into contact with the barrel flange 213.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to syringe pumps. [Background technology]

[0002] Syringe pumps are used to administer a precise amount of medicinal liquid from a syringe. International Publication No. 2009 / 113341 (Patent Document 1) describes a syringe pump equipped with a clamp for fixing a syringe filled with medicinal liquid. The clamp fixes the syringe body in an immobile state. The syringe pump is equipped with a lamp that indicates an abnormality in the clamp fixation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2009 / 113341 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a blockage occurs in the fluid delivery system, including the syringe, the internal pressure of the syringe increases. If the increased internal pressure of the syringe causes the barrel to shift out of position, a force may act on the barrel from the plunger rod in a direction oblique to the axial direction of the barrel. This force may further increase the displacement of the barrel.

[0005] The present disclosure proposes a syringe pump that can suppress displacement of the barrel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the present disclosure, a syringe pump is proposed for use with a syringe including a barrel having an opening at its rear end and a flange around the opening, and a plunger rod fitted inside the barrel. The syringe pump includes a clamping portion that clamps the flange of the barrel in the thickness direction of the flange, and a clamping portion that abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the barrel to hold the barrel. The clamping portion has an abutment surface that abuts against the flange.

[0007] In the above-described syringe pump, the clamping portion has a pressing surface that contacts the flange and a flange holder that is movable relative to the pressing surface in the thickness direction, and the flange is clamped between the pressing surface and the flange holder, and the abutment surface and the pressing surface may be located on the same plane.

[0008] In the syringe pump described above, an opening may be located between the contact surface that contacts the flange and the clamping portion that clamps the flange.

[0009] In the syringe pump described above, the clamp portion may have a main body portion and a rib-like protrusion protruding from the main body portion, and a contact surface may be provided at the tip of the protrusion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the syringe pump according to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress displacement of the barrel. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a syringe attached to the syringe pump of the embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a syringe pump according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] 3 is a view of the syringe pump of FIG. 2 as seen from the X direction. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a view of the syringe pump in FIG. 2 as seen from the Y direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. The names and functions of the components are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of syringe 200 attached to syringe pump 100 of the embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, syringe 200 includes barrel 210 and plunger rod 220. Barrel 210 is formed of a transparent or translucent resin material such as polypropylene. A lubricant such as silicone oil may be applied to the inner circumferential surface of barrel 210.

[0014] The barrel 210 has a cylindrical storage portion 211. The storage portion 211 stores a liquid agent therein. A liquid agent inlet / outlet 212 is provided at the tip of the barrel 210. An opening is formed at the rear end of the barrel 210. A barrel flange 213 is provided around the opening at the rear end of the barrel 210. The barrel flange 213 is formed to protrude radially outward from the rear end of the barrel 210.

[0015] Plunger rod 220 is fitted inside barrel 210. A gasket portion (not shown) that contacts the inner peripheral surface of barrel 210 is provided at the tip of plunger rod 220. A flange 221 is provided at the rear end of plunger rod 220. Plunger rod 220 has a connecting portion 222 that connects the gasket portion and flange 221.

[0016] 1 to 4 are mutually orthogonal directions. The Z direction is the axial direction of the cylindrical housing portion 211, and is the direction of relative movement of the plunger rod 220 with respect to the barrel 210.

[0017] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of syringe pump 100 according to an embodiment. Fig. 3 is a view of syringe pump 100 in Fig. 2 as seen from the X direction. Fig. 4 is a view of syringe pump 100 in Fig. 2 as seen from the Y direction. Figs. 2 to 4 show syringe pump 100 as seen from different directions.

[0018] 2 to 4, syringe pump 100 is a pump that is applied to syringe 200. Syringe pump 100 moves plunger rod 220 into storage section 211, causing the liquid agent in storage section 211 to flow out through liquid agent inlet / outlet 212. Syringe pump 100 mainly includes main body 110, barrel holding section 120, barrel flange pressing section 130, slide shaft 140, pushing section 150, grip section 160, and operating member 170.

[0019] A drive unit and a control unit that controls the drive unit are provided in the main body 110. The drive unit includes a motor that drives the slide shaft 140 and a reducer connected to the motor.

[0020] The barrel holding part 120 holds the barrel 210 of the syringe 200 attached to the syringe pump 100. The barrel holding part 120 has a support 121 and a barrel clamp 122. The barrel clamp 122 is configured to be movable in the extension direction of the support 121 (Y direction) and to be rotatable about the Y axis. The support 121 and the barrel clamp 122 may be formed integrally. The barrel clamp 122 may be formed to be movable relative to the support 121.

[0021] When attaching syringe 200 to syringe pump 100, barrel clamp 122 is pulled upward from the position shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and moved away from main body 110 along the extension direction of support column 121, and then rotated 90° around the Y-axis at that position. In this state, syringe 200 is placed on syringe pump 100. Thereafter, barrel clamp 122 is returned to its original position shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, whereby barrel clamp 122 abuts against the outer peripheral surface of barrel 210 of syringe 200. In this manner, barrel 210 of syringe 200 is held by barrel holder 120.

[0022] The barrel flange pressing portion 130 abuts against the barrel flange 213 of the syringe 200 attached to the syringe pump 100. The barrel flange pressing portion 130 has a pressing surface 134 and a flange holder 132. The flange holder 132 is provided so as to be movable relative to the pressing surface 134 in the Z direction, which is the thickness direction of the barrel flange 213. The barrel flange pressing portion 130 may further have a biasing member that biases the flange holder 132 toward the pressing surface 134.

[0023] When syringe 200 is attached to syringe pump 100, barrel flange 213 provided at the rear end of barrel 210 is clamped between flange holder 132 and pressing surface 134. Barrel flange pressing portion 130 corresponds to the clamping portion in the embodiment, which clamps barrel flange 213 in the thickness direction of barrel flange 213.

[0024] The barrel flange 213 has a front surface 213A facing forward. The front surface 213A is the surface of the flat plate-shaped barrel flange 213 that faces the accommodation portion 211. When the barrel flange 213 is sandwiched between the flange holder 132 and the pressing surface 134, the lower part of the front surface 213A faces the pressing surface 134, and the lower part of the front surface 213A and the pressing surface 134 are in surface contact.

[0025] Barrel clamp 122 has a main body portion that is supported by support posts 121 and abuts against barrel 210. Barrel clamp 122 further has protrusions 123. Protrusions 123 have a rib-like shape that protrudes from the main body portion of barrel clamp 122. When syringe 200 is attached to syringe pump 100 and the main body portion of barrel clamp 122 abuts against the outer circumferential surface of barrel 210, abutment surface 124 at the tip of protrusions 123 abuts against the upper part of front surface 213A of barrel flange 213.

[0026] The protrusion 123 has a curved shape. The protrusion 123 may have a shape that extends along the edge of the opening at the rear end of the barrel 210. Typically, the protrusion 123 may have an arc shape. The protrusion 123 may have a shape that extends along the edge of the barrel flange 213. The protrusion 123 and the abutment surface 124 are not limited to the example shown in the drawings and may have any shape.

[0027] The abutment surface 124 and the pressing surface 134 are located on the same plane extending in the X and Y directions. The abutment surface 124 and the pressing surface 134 are located on the same plane perpendicular to the thickness direction of the barrel flange 213. The abutment surface 124 and the pressing surface 134 are located on the same plane perpendicular to the moving direction of the plunger rod 220.

[0028] The opening at the rear end of the barrel 210 is located between an abutment surface 124 that abuts against the front surface 213A of the barrel flange 213 and a barrel flange presser 130 that holds the barrel flange 213. The abutment surface 124 abuts against the barrel flange 213 above the opening of the barrel 210. The presser surface 134 contacts the barrel flange 213 below the opening of the barrel 210.

[0029] One end of the slide shaft 140 is connected to the drive unit of the main body 110, and the other end is connected to the pushing unit 150. The slide shaft 140 is configured to be slidable in the axial direction (Z direction) of the slide shaft 140. The pushing unit 150 is connected to the main body 110 by the slide shaft 140.

[0030] Grip portion 160 has a pressing surface 161 and a movable claw portion 162 that is movable in the Z direction relative to pressing surface 161. When syringe 200 is attached to syringe pump 100, grip portion 160 clamps and fixes flange 221 of plunger rod 220 of syringe 200 in the thickness direction (Z direction) of flange 221.

[0031] When the drive unit of the main body 110 is driven, the pushing unit 150 and the gripping unit 160 slide together with the slide shaft 140 in the axial direction of the slide shaft 140 (Z direction). The axial direction of the slide shaft 140 is aligned with the axial direction of the plunger rod 220. The pushing surface 161 is one surface of the pushing unit 150 on the side facing forward. When the pushing unit 150 and the gripping unit 160 move toward the main body 110 in the Z direction, the pushing surface 161 presses against the flange 221.

[0032] The movable claw portion 162 is connected to the operating member 170 via the pushing portion 150. The operating member 170 is configured to be rotatable relative to the pushing portion 150, with the Z axis as the center of rotation. When the operating member 170 is disposed at the position shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the movable claw portion 162 is located close to the pressing surface 161 in the Z direction.

[0033] When operating member 170 is rotated counterclockwise around the Z axis from the position shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, movable claw 162 slides along the Z direction and moves away from pressing surface 161. In this state, syringe 200 is placed on syringe pump 100. At this time, flange 221 is positioned between pressing surface 161 and movable claw 162. Thereafter, by returning operating member 170 to its original position shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, movable claw 162 moves in the Z direction and approaches pressing surface 161, and flange 221 is sandwiched between pressing surface 161 and movable claw 162.

[0034] In the syringe pump 100 described above, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the barrel clamp 122 has an abutment surface 124 that abuts against the barrel flange 213. In addition to the conventional configuration in which the barrel flange 213 is clamped by the barrel flange holder 130, the barrel clamp 122 that holds the barrel 210 is also provided with a structure for supporting the barrel flange 213, resulting in a configuration in which the barrel flange 213 is supported at multiple locations. This improves the holding force of the barrel 210 when the plunger rod 220 moves into the barrel 210. Even if a blockage occurs in the liquid delivery system and the internal pressure of the syringe 200 increases, displacement of the barrel 210 can be suppressed, thereby avoiding the problem of the barrel 210 floating up from the syringe pump 100.

[0035] 3 and 4, the abutment surface 124 and the pressing surface 134 of the barrel flange pressing portion 130 are located on the same plane. The load acting on the barrel 210 by the plunger rod 220 when the plunger rod 220 moves into the barrel 210 is borne by both the abutment surface 124 and the pressing surface 134, which reliably improves the holding force of the barrel 210 and suppresses displacement of the barrel 210.

[0036] 2 to 4, the opening at the rear end of the barrel 210 is located between the abutment surface 124 that abuts against the barrel flange 213 and the barrel flange presser 130 that holds the barrel flange 213. By configuring the barrel flange 213 to be supported from both sides of the opening, the holding force of the barrel 210 can be reliably improved, and displacement of the barrel 210 can be suppressed.

[0037] 2 to 4, a contact surface 124 is provided at the tip of rib-shaped protrusion 123 that protrudes from the main body of barrel clamp 122. This reliably realizes barrel clamp 122 that combines the function of contacting the outer peripheral surface of barrel 210 to hold barrel 210, and the function of contacting barrel flange 213 to support barrel flange 213.

[0038] Although the embodiments have been described above, the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should not be considered to be limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 100 syringe pump, 110 main body, 120 barrel holding portion, 121 support, 122 barrel clamp, 123 convex portion, 124 abutment surface, 130 barrel flange pressing portion, 132 flange holder, 134 pressing surface, 140 slide shaft, 150 pushing portion, 160 gripping portion, 161 pressing surface, 162 movable claw portion, 170 operating member, 200 syringe, 210 barrel, 211 storage portion, 212 liquid inlet / outlet, 213 barrel flange, 213A front surface, 220 plunger rod, 221 flange, 222 connecting portion.

Claims

1. A syringe pump that is applicable to a syringe including: a barrel having an opening at a rear end and a flange around the opening; and a plunger rod that is fitted inside the barrel, a clamping unit including a pressing surface that contacts the flange of the barrel and a flange holder that is provided so as to be movable relative to the pressing surface in a thickness direction of the flange, and clamping the flange in the thickness direction between the pressing surface and the flange holder; the flange has a forward surface facing the tip of the barrel; a clamp portion having a main body portion that abuts against an outer peripheral surface of the barrel to hold the barrel, and a convex portion that protrudes from the main body portion, the convex portion having an abutment surface at a tip end that abuts against the front surface of the flange.

2. The syringe pump according to claim 1 , wherein the contact surface and the pressing surface are located on the same plane.

3. 3. The syringe pump according to claim 1, wherein the opening is located between the contact surface that contacts the flange and the clamping portion that clamps the flange.

4. The syringe pump according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion has a rib-like shape.

Images