Peristaltic pump with automatic tube detection

Abstract

A solution is proposed for controlling a peristaltic pump. A corresponding method comprises operating the peristaltic pump by driving one or more occlusion elements with an operation intensity for causing a tube arranged in a housing to deliver a pressurized fluid. Before operating the peristaltic pump at the operation intensity, the peristaltic pump is verified by driving the occlusion elements with a verification intensity lower than the operation intensity; a presence or absence of the tube in the housing is determined according to a verification movement of the occlusion elements in response thereto. A computer program and a computer program product for implementing the method are proposed. Moreover, a corresponding peristaltic pump and an injection system comprising this peristaltic pump are proposed. A medical method using this injection system is also proposed.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to the field of pumps; particularly, the present disclosure relates to peristaltic pumps.

[0004] Background

[0005] The background of the present disclosure is introduced hereinafter with the discussion of techniques relating to its context. However, even when this discussion refers to documents, acts, artifacts and the like, it does not suggest or represent that the discussed techniques are part of the prior art or are common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure.

[0006] Peristaltic pumps are commonly used to deliver fluids in a controlled way. A typical example is in (automated) injection systems for medical applications. In this case, a peristaltic pump injects a corresponding fluid (for example, a saline solution) into a patient’s vasculature under predetermined injection conditions, for example, at a predetermined flow rate and volume. Therefore, the fluid may be injected in a reliable, safe and efficient manner, which would be substantially impossible manually.

[0007] The peristaltic pump is a particular type of positive displacement pump (adding energy to a fluid by applying force thereto with a mechanical device), which is based on a peristalsis process (similar to the one used in many biological systems, such as the intestine). Particularly, the fluid to be delivered is supplied by a (flexible) tube. The tube is fitted into a housing of the peristaltic pump. One or more occlusion elements (for example, rollers mounted on a rotor) are driven in succession along at least part of the tube in the housing. Each roller acting on the tube squeezes it against the housing thereby causing its occlusion; as a result, the advancement of the roller along the tube propels the fluid in the same direction. At the same time, the tube opens again after the roller has passed, so that further fluid is sucked into the tube. The peristaltic pump is simple and effective; particularly, it avoids backflow (without necessarily providing any dedicated valve) and delivers a fixed amount of fluid for each roller. In the peristaltic pump, the fluid only contacts an interior of the tube; therefore, only the interior of the tube has to be compatible with the fluid (and particularly sterilized in medical applications).

[0008] During a setup procedure, an operator (for example, a nurse in medical applications) is required to perform a series of operations, for example, following corresponding instructions provided thereto on a control panel. Particularly, the operator opens the housing (e.g., slides a drawer or gains access to a dedicated compartment positioned at the injector head), installs the tube into the housing and then closes the housing. Once these operations have been performed, the operator goes back to the control panel and enters a corresponding command (for example, by pressing a button). In response thereto, the setup procedure continues (for example, requesting the operator to enter parameters characterizing the delivery of the fluid); once the setup procedure has been completed, the peristaltic pump is operated to deliver the fluid as required.

[0009] However, the need of manually confirming by the operator that the insertion of the tube has occurred is quite uncomfortable. Most of all, if the operator confirms the insertion of the tube by mistake (without actually having performed it), tire peristaltic pump will run but without performing any injection to the patient.

[0010] US-4,884,013 discloses a peristaltic pump with a system for automatically detecting whether the tube is correctly inserted. For this purpose, the peristaltic pump is operated normally for a certain period. Peak periods of an AC component of a corresponding DC motor current are monitored to detect the presence and proper mounting of the tube. However, the resulting delivery of the fluid (when the tube is present) may cause malfunctioning, since in this phase the setup of the peristaltic pump might be not completed yet (for example, it may be not properly connected to the patient in medical applications).

[0011] GB-2,338,752 discloses a volumetric pump with a different system for automatically detecting the presence of the tube. Particularly, when the lube is present, it causes a sensor arm (biased towards a valve anvil by a return spring) to pivot, thereby interrupting a light beam of an optical switch (which is instead clear when the tube is not present). Likewise, CN-105771037 discloses a syringe pump with one or two detecting devices for detecting a presence of an extension tube within a liquid stopping mechanism. Each detecting device is implemented by a photoelectric sensor, a photoelectric switch, a micro switch, a tact switch or a proximity switch. However, the above-mentioned structures are relatively complex, and they might be compromised by fluid or debris.

[0012] Document US 4,884,013 discloses an enteral nutrition pump system which operates in a cyclical manner with a period between cycles being selected in accordance with the desired fluid delivery rate. Each pump cycle may correspond to a single rotation of the rotor or a fractional rotation of the rotor. Rotor rotation may alternatively be sensed by utilization of magnetic sensors or by monitoring of the AC component of current supplied to a DC motor driving the rotor.

[0013] Document CN 105771037 discloses an injection pump having a propulsion mechanism, a stopping mechanism and a control module arranged in an upper part of a pump body. The stopping mechanism is arranged with a fixing base, a clamping component, a drive motor and a pipeline detection device. An upper part of the fixing base is formed with a containing groove that is matched with an extending lube. The clamping component is formed with a moving cavity. The driving motor is arranged on the fixing base. The control module is connected with the pipeline detecting device. The propulsion mechanism produces a control signal of the drive motor. Summary

[0014] The present invention is set out in the appended claims.

[0015] A simplified summary of the present disclosure is herein presented in order to provide a basic understanding thereof; however, the sole purpose of this summary is to introduce some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to its following more detailed description, and it is to be interpreted neither as an identification of its key elements, nor as a delineation of its scope.

[0016] In general terms, the present disclosure aims at verifying the correct setup and functioning of a peristaltic pump by driving its occlusion elements at a reduced intensity, i.e. at a reduced power or at a reduced torque. Particularly, an aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for controlling a peristaltic pump. According to the present disclosure, the peristaltic pump is subject to a verification step by driving its one or more occlusion elements with a verification intensity that is lower than an operation intensity (i.e., a typical operation intensity) which is used during (standard) operation the peristaltic pump for delivering a pressurized fluid; a presence or absence of a tube in a housing of the peristaltic pump is thus determined according to a verification movement of the occlusion elements in response to the applied verification intensity. In detail, the method further comprises operating the peristaltic pump by driving one or more of its occlusion elements with an operation intensity for causing the tube installed in the housing of the peristaltic pump to deliver the pressurized fluid flowing into said tube, this operating step of the method according to the present disclosure being operated in response to the presence of the tube inside the housing of the peristaltic pump.

[0017] A further aspect provides a computer program for implementing the method. A further aspect provides a corresponding computer program product.

[0018] A further aspect provides a peristaltic pump for implementing the method.

[0019] A further aspect provides an injection system comprising the peristaltic pump. A further aspect provides a medical method using the injection system.

[0020] More specifically, one or more aspects of the present disclosure are set forth in the independent claims and ad vantageous features thereof are set forth in the dependent claims, with the wording of all the claims that is incorporated herein verbatim by reference (with any advantageous feature provided with reference to each specific aspect that applies mutatis mutandis to every' other aspect).

[0021] Brief description of the drawings

[0022] The solution of the present disclosure, as well as further features and the respective advantages, will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description thereof, provided purely by way of a non-restrictive indication, with its explanations applying by analogy to every aspect thereof (irrespectively of the context in which they occur); the description is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings (wherein, for the sake of simplicity, corresponding elements are denoted with equal or similar references and their explanation is not repeated, and the name of each entity is generally used to denote both its type and its attributes, like value, content and representation). In this respect, it is expressly intended that the drawings are not necessary drawn to scale (with some details that may be exaggerated and / or simplified) and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely used to illustrate the structures and procedures described herein conceptually. In addition, orientations and related position references (such as front, rear, upper, lower, lateral and so on) are to be understood in relation to a condition of use of the corresponding entities. Particularly:

[0023] FIG. l shows a pictorial representation of an injection system wherein the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be used;

[0024] FIG.2 shows a pictorial representation with partially cut away parts of a peristaltic pump that may be used to implement the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG.3 shows a schematic block diagram of a control unit that may be used to control the peristaltic pump according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG.4 shows the main software components that may be used to implement the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and

[0027] FIG.5A-FIG.5B show an activity diagram describing the flow of activities relating to an implementation of the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Detailed description

[0029] With reference in particular to FIG. 1 , a pictorial representation is shown of an injection system wherein the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is used.

[0030] The injection system 100 is used in medical applications for injecting in an automatic way one or more pressurized medical fluids into corresponding patients' vasculature (not shown in the figure). For example, the injection system 100 is used to perform angiographic procedures involving injection of a contrast agent (to enhance a contrast of specific body features within a patient) and of a saline solution (comprising a physiological or isotonic solution). The injection system 100 comprises the following components.

[0031] An injection head 105 houses the components controlling a delivery of the contrast agent and of the saline solution. The injection head 105 may be mounted on a pedestal cart 110 (provided with wheels to facilitate moving the injection system 100 and with a foot brake to secure the injection system 100 in position). A support 115 (for example, a hanger at a top of a pillar projecting upwards the injection head 105) is used to support a container 120 of the contrast agent (for example, a bottle). Another support 125 (for example, a hanger projecting laterally from the injection head 105) is used to support a container 130 of the saline solution (for example, a pouch). A syringe chamber 135 is used to house a syringe 140 for the contrast agent. The syringe chamber 135 has a motor (not shown) for sliding a plunger (not shown) back and forth inside a barrel of the syringe 140. A (flexible) tube 150 connects an inlet port of the barrel of the syringe 140 to the container 120 for filling the syringe barrel with a suitable volume of contrast agent present in the container 120 (said filling step being performed by pulling the plunger of the syringe 140 in a proximal direction, i.e. from right to left in the injection system layout shown in FIG.1 , thereby generating a vacuum degree which allows suction of the contrast agent into the syringe barrel). Another (flexible) tube 155 is connected to an outlet port of the syringe 140 for delivering the pressurized contrast agent (said delivering step being performed by pushing the plunger of the syringe 140 in a distal direction, i.e. from left to right in the injection system layout shown in FIG.l). A peristaltic pump 160 (described in detailed in the following) delivers the saline solution (in the following, reference will be made to this application, with the same considerations that may apply to any other fluid being delivered). For this purpose, the peristaltic pump 160 acts on a (flexible) tube 165 that is connected to the pouch 130 for supplying the saline solution. A T-connector 170 connects the flexible tube 155 (delivering the contrast agent) and the flexible tube 165 (delivering the saline solution) to a (flexible) tube 175 for injecting the fluids into the patient (for example, connected to a catheter, not shown in the figure, which is previously introduced mto the patient’s vasculature, i.e. a patient’s blood vessel like a vein or an artery). A control unit 180 controls the whole injection system 100, including also tire peristaltic pump 160.

[0032] The bottle 120. the pouch 130, the syringe 140, the tube 150, the tube 155, the tube 165, the T-connector 170 and the tube 175 are all disposable elements (for single or multiple use); therefore, they are represented in the figure in broken line to distinguish them from the actual components of the injection system 100.

[0033] With reference now to FIG.2, a pictorial representation with partially cut away parts is shown of a peristaltic pump 160 that may be used to implement the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] The peristaltic pump 160 comprises the following components. A housing 205 is used to house the tube 165 (in broken line). For example, the housing 205 comprises a drawer (often indicated as a “door” by the technicians) having a front wall that is slightly rounded outwards and two side walls that are provided with coaxial seats for the tube 165. The housing 205 may be opened to insert / remove tire tube 165 (as shown in the figure) and it may be closed to operate the peristaltic pump 160 (as shown in FIG.1 ). For example, the drawer is mounted on a rail 210 for extracting it from the injection head 105 and for retracting it into the injection head 105, respectively. A control element 215 is used to open and close the housing 205. For example, the control element 215 is a handle that actuates a linkage causing the drawer to slide along the rail 210. A sensor 220 (for example, of mechanical type) detects a condition (closed or opened) of the housing 205.

[0035] One or more occlusion elements are used to occlude the tube 165. Particularly, the peristaltic pump 160 is of rotary type, wherein the occlusion elements are arranged at a periphery of a rotor 225 (being rotatable around a rotation axis, extending vertically in the example at issue), and they are rollers 230a, 230b, 230c and 230d being rotatable around corresponding rotation axes parallel to the rotation axis of the rotor 225 (in the following, reference will be made to this implementation of tire peristaltic pump 160, with the same considerations that apply to any other implementation thereof). A driving system, for example, a motor 235 (such as, a stepper) drives the occlusion elements in succession along (at least) a portion of the tube 165 arranged in the housing 205 (when it is closed). Particularly, in this case the motor 235 drives the rotor 225 to rotate so as to cause the rollers 230a-230d to reach in succession the tube 165 and to roll along it. A gauge 240 measures a movement of the occlusion elements. Particularly, in this case the gauge 240 measures a rotation of the rotor 225 carrying the rollers 230a-230d. For example, the gauge 240 is a (rotary) encoder that increments a counter as the rotor 225 rotates.

[0036] During setup of the injection system 100, the housing 205 is manually opened by the operator (in this case, by acting on the handle 215 so as to cause tire corresponding linkage to slide the drawer along the rail 210, thereby extracting the drawer from the injection head 105). The tube 165 is inserted by the operator into the housing 205 (in this case, by press-fitting it into the dedicated seats possessed by the drawer). The housing 205 is then closed (in this case, by acting on the handle 215 so as to cause the corresponding linkage to slide the drawer along the rail 210, thereby retracting the drawer into the injection head 105). In operation (i.e., during the standard operating of the peristaltic pump for delivering a pressurized fluid), the motor 235 drives the occlusion elements with an operation intensity so that each occlusion element reaching the tube 160 squeezes it against the housing 205, thereby delivering the saline solution (typically, with at least one occlusion element acting on the tube 165 at any moment so as to prevent any back How automatically). Particularly, in this illustrated case, the operation intensity is an operation torque that is applied to the rotor 225. As the rotor 225 rotates, each roller 230a-230d reaches the tube 165 and then squeezes it against interior surface of the rounded front wall 250 of the drawer. The amount of squeeze increases up to a maximum when the roller 230a-230d reaches its minimum distance from the housing 205, maintains it for a certain extent, and then decreases until the roller 230a-230d leaves the tube 165. As a consequence, the roller 230a-230d occludes the tube 165 (totally or partially). As the roller 230a-230d advances along the tube 165, it propels the saline solution in the same direction; at the same time, after the roller 230a-230d has passed, the tube 165 opens elastically, so that further saline solution is sucked into the tube 165 from the pouch 130 shown in FIG.2 (specifically, a given volume of saline solution is delivered into a successive tube portion through the squeezing action of an occlusion roller acting on a preceding tube portion). For this purpose, the tube 165 is made of an elastomeric material (such as silicone rubber), so as to maintain its shape after a relatively high number of cycles of squeezing. Typically, two (or more) rollers 230a-230d act on the tube 165 at any moment, thereby trapping a corresponding amount of saline solution between them. In the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the motor

[0037] 235 initially drives - through the rotor 225 - the occlusion elements with a verification intensity (a verification torque in this case) for a certain period of time (i.e., a verification period), said verification intensity being lower than the operation intensity. This verification step of the method of the present disclosure is typically performed at an initial stage of the procedure, i.e. temporally before the standard operation of the peristaltic pump is carried out. In other words, this verification step (at the verification intensity) is performed in advance of the operating step (at lire operation intensity).

[0038] Indeed, the occlusion elements (the rotor 225 in this specific case shown in FIG.2) move in a different way in case the tube 165 is present or is not present within the housing 205. Particularly, if the tube 165 is not present, then the rotor 225 rotates freely; conversely, if the tube 165 is present, it hinders (up to prevent completely) the rotation of the rotor 225. Therefore, according to the present disclosure, the gauge 240 measures a (verification) movement of the occlusion elements during the verification period (a verification rotation of the rotor 225 in this case). The presence or the absence of the tube 165 is then verified (i.e., controlled) by the injection system 100 by determining the occurrence and / or the amount of the verification movement (for example, when it is lower or higher, respectively, than a verification threshold).

[0039] The above-mentioned solution allows automatically detecting whether the tube 165 is present or absent (i.e., it has been successfully installed) in the housing 205 of the peristaltic pump 160. This avoids the need of manually confirming by an operator (such as a nurse) that the insertion of the tube 165 has been performed, and especially it prevents confirming the insertion of the tube by mistake (without actually having performed it) and then operating the peristaltic pump 160 without performing any injection to the patient.

[0040] The desired result is achieved in a relatively simple w'ay, by exploiting the driving of the occlusion elements (the rotor 225 in this case) that is already available for the (normal) operation of the peristaltic pump 160. This has a beneficial impact on reliability of the peristaltic pump 160.

[0041] Preferably, tire verification intensity is lower than a minimum intensity being required for causing the tube 165 to deliver the saline solution (i.e., being required to rotate the rotor 125 when the tube 165 is present).

[0042] As a consequence, during the verification of the peristaltic pump 160, no saline solution is delivered (even when the tube 165 is present). The verification of the peristaltic pump 160 is then very safe, since any malfunctioning of the peristaltic pump 160 is prevented that might be caused by the delivery of the saline solution in this phase; for example, this avoids delivering any saline solution when a setup of the peristaltic pump 160 is not completed yet (and it may be not properly connected to the patient), when the peristaltic pump 160 is opened during its operation and so on.

[0043] According to the present disclosure, the term “intensity” is meant to indicate a torque (i.e., how much force is applied), a power (i.e., how much force is applied in a given time), or a force. More specifically, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a “reduced intensity” is meant to indicate a reduced torque and / or a reduced power which can be obtained, for instance, by reducing the voltage supplied to the stepper motor of the peristaltic pump.

[0044] With reference now to FIG.3, a schematic block diagram is shown of a control unit that may be used to control the peristaltic pump according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] The control unit 180 comprises several units that are connected among them through a bus structure 305. Particularly, a microprocessor (pP) 310 provides a logic capability of the control unit 180. A volatile memory (RAM) 315 is used as a working memory by the microprocessor 310. The control unit 180 is provided with a nonvolatile memory 320 (for example, a flash E2PROM) for storing programs and data. Moreover, the control unit 180 comprises a number of controllers for corresponding peripherals 325; particularly, as far as relevant to the present disclosure, the peripherals 330 comprise the motor of the peristaltic pump, a control panel (for example, a touchscreen) for displaying information and entering commands, a drive for reading / writing removable storage units (such as of USB type ) and so on.

[0046] With reference now to FIG.4, the main software components are shown that may be used to implement the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Particularly, all the software components (programs and data) are denoted as a whole with the reference 400. The software components 400 are typically stored in the non-volatile memory' and loaded (at least partially) into the working memory of the control unit when the programs are running. The software components 400 are initially installed and possibly updated over time into the non-volatile memory, for example, from removable storage units. In this respect, each program may be a module, segment or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function.

[0047] Particularly, an injection manager 405 manages the whole injection system. As far as relevant to the present disclosure, the injection manager 405 controls a control panel drive 410 for driving the control panel of tire injection system. Moreover, the inj ection manager 405 controls a pump manager 415. The pump manager 415 manages the peristaltic pump. For this purpose, the pump manager 415 controls a sensor drive 420 for driving the sensor of the housing and a motor drive 425 for driving the motor and its encoder of the peristaltic pump. Moreover, the pump manager 415 reads a configuration repository 430; as far as relevant to the present disclosure, the configuration repository 430 defines the following configuration information of the peristaltic pump.

[0048] The configuration repository 430 indicates one or more values of the operation torque to be used to operate the peristaltic pump for delivering the saline solution (at a corresponding operation speed). Particularly, the configuration repository 430 stores a single value of the operation torque for a fixed type of tube; alternatively, the configuration repository 430 stores multiple values of the operation torque for different types of tube (increasing with a rigidity of the types of tube). Each (value of the) operation torque is pre-defined to provide the desired occlusion of the corresponding type of tube (such as 5-30% of twice a thickness of its wall). Particularly, the operation torque may be defined in terms of voltage to be supplied to the motor (for example, 600-1,000 mV).

[0049] The configuration repository 430 indicates the verification torque to be used to verify the presence / absence of the tube in (the housing of) the peristaltic pump. Preferably, the verification torque is lower than a minimum torque being required for causing the tube (of any type) to deliver the saline solution flowing thereinto. For example, the verification torque is set to 80-90% of the minimum torque of the single type of tube or of the type of tube corresponding to the lowest operation torque (z.e., the least rigid one). Indicative values of the verification torque are 10-30%, such as 15- 25%, like 20% of the single operation torque or of the lowest operation torque (for example, 80-150 mV).

[0050] In case of different types of tube, the configuration repository 430 also indicates one or more values of a determination torque (or more generally determination intensity) to be used to determine the type of tube that is present in the peristaltic pump. Each (value of the) determination torque is predefined so as to be (strictly) higher than the verification torque and (strictly) lower than the operation torque of the corresponding type of tube. Preferably, the determination torque is (strictly) higher than the minimum torque being required for causing the corresponding type of tube to deliver the saline solution. Moreover, apart from the type of tube corresponding to the highest operation torque (z.e., the most rigid one), the verification torque is (strictly) lower than the minimum torque of the type of tube corresponding to the immediately higher operation torque (z.e., the immediately more rigid one); for example, the determination torque is set to 90-110% of the mean between the minimum torque of the corresponding type of tube and the minimum torque of the immediately more rigid type of tube. The determination torque of the most rigid type of tube is instead only higher than the corresponding minimum torque; for example, the determination torque of the most rigid type of tube is higher than the corresponding minimum torque by 5-15%. Indicati ve values of the determination torque are 10-30%, such as 15-25%, like 20% of the corresponding operation torque (for example, 120- 200 mV).

[0051] The configuration repository 430 indicates a verification threshold of the verification rotation for discriminating between the presence and the absence of the tube in the peristaltic pump. Particularly, the verification threshold depends on the number of rollers of the peristaltic pump. In fact, in case of few rollers, it may happen that at the beginning of the verification period a lower number of them are in contact with the tube being present in the peristaltic pump; as a consequence, the tube opposes a lower resistance to the rotation of the rotor, thereby increasing the verification rotation (and then requiring a higher verification threshold to discriminate this case from the case in which the tube is absent). For example, the verification threshold is pre-defined to 1-10%, preferably 2-8%, and still more preferably 4-6%, such as 5% of a refence rotation corresponding to the operation speed and the verification period (i.e., their product); this value of the verification threshold may be applied to the case of four or more rollers, whereas it may be increased in case of three or two rollers (such as by 10-30% and 30-50%, respectively). Particularly, if the rotation of the rotor is measured in terms of counts of its encoder, the verification threshold is defined accordingly (for example, 30 counts for a reference rotation of 600 counts).

[0052] In case of different types of tube, the configuration repository 430 also indicates a determination threshold for determining a (current) type of tube that is present in the peristaltic pump (as described in the following). For example, the determination threshold is lower than the verification threshold, such as equal to 50- 80% thereof.

[0053] With reference now to FIG.5A-FIG.5B, an activity diagram is shown describing the flow of activities relating to an implementation of the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0054] Particularly, the diagram represents an exemplary process that may be used to control the peristaltic pump with a method 500. In this respect, each block may correspond to one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function on the control unit of the injection system.

[0055] The method begins at the black start circle 502 and then passes to block 504 as soon as the injection system is turned on by the operator (for example, by pressing a corresponding button of its control panel) for performing a medical procedure (an angiographic procedure in the example at issue). In response thereto, the injection manager starts a setup procedure of the injection system. For example, this involves installing the bottle of contrast agent and the pouch of saline solution, connecting the corresponding tubes to the injection system, inserting the syringe into the syringe chamber, filling the contrast agent into the syringe, connecting the corresponding tube to a catheter inserted into a patient’s vasculature, entering or selecting from a drop down menu information about the contrast agent and the saline solution (e.g., volume, manufacturer, contrast agent concentration, needle gauge), entering or selecting from a drop down menu an injection profile comprising one or more injection protocol phases, each one defined by volume, pressure and flow rate of the contrast agent and / or the saline solution to be injected, and so on. As far as relevant to the present disclosure, the pump manager at block 506 prompts the operator to insert the corresponding tube into the peristaltic pump, for example by displaying a message on the control panel (via its drive). The pump manager at block 508 verifies whether the housing of the peristaltic pump has been opened, as detected by the corresponding sensor (for example, with the pump manager that monitors the sensor via its drive). If not, the process remains at block 508 in an idle loop. Therefore, the peristaltic pump would be waiting for the housing to open and close. The user interface would also be waiting, with instructions (both written and in video form) to the user indicating that the tube should have to be loaded into the peristaltic pump.

[0056] In a completely independent way, the process passes from block 510 to block 512 as soon as the operator opens the housing during operation of the peristaltic pump (described in the following), as detected by the corresponding sensor as above; this may happen in case of a malfunctioning of the peristaltic pump being detected by either the operator, or by the injection manager thus providing a corresponding alarm (for example, of acoustic type). In correspondence thereto, the pump manager stops operating the peristaltic pump ( / .<?., it stops the motor drive via its drive); particularly, when the initiative is taken by the operator, the pump manager stops operating the peristaltic pump in response to the opening of the housing (as shown in the figure); conversely, when the initiative is taken by the injection manager, the pump manager stops operating the peristaltic pump before the opening of the housing (not shown in the figure).

[0057] A waiting condition is then entered at block 514 from block 508 (once the housing has been opened) or directly from block 512. At this point, the pump manager verifies whether the housing has been closed, as detected by the corresponding sensor (for example, with the pump manager that monitors the sensor via its drive). If not, the process remains at block 514 in an idle loop.

[0058] As soon as the housing has been closed, the process passes to block 516 for verifying the peristaltic pump. At this point, the flow of activity branches according to a current condition of the peristaltic pump. Particularly, if the housing has been closed during the setup procedure of the peristaltic pump, the pump manager at block 518 sets the verification torque to its value being retrieved from the configuration repository. Instead, if the housing has been closed during operation of the peristaltic pump, the pump manager at block 520 sets the verification torque according to the (current) type of tube that is present in the peristaltic pump (determined during the preceding setup procedure as described in the following). Particularly, if the current type of tube is the least rigid one, the pump manager again sets the verification torque to its value being retrieved from the configuration repository; conversely, the pump manager sets the verification torque to the determination torque of the type of tube immediately less rigid than the current type of tube. The flow of activity merges again at block 522 from block 518 or from block 520, wherein the prunp manager chives the motor (via its drive) with the verification torque at the operation speed. The operation speed has a value that is normally used to deliver the saline solution during operation of the peristaltic pump, either fixed or depending on its selected flow rate (for example, 100- 500 rpm). The pump manager maintains this condition for the verification period (for example, 50-300 ms). Once the verification period has expired, the prunp manager at block 524 commands the motor (via its drive) to stop. The pump manager maintains this condition for a settlement period (for example, equal to the verification period), so as to allow the rotor to reach a stable condition. Once tire settlement period has expired, the pump manager at block 526 determines (via the motor drive) the verification rotation of the rotor (occurred at the end of the settlement period in response to the rotor that has been driven with the verification torque in the verification period). For example, the pump manager determines the position of the rotor at the beginning of the verification period and at the end of the settlement period (as defined by corresponding counts provided by the encoder of the motor via its drive), and then it calculates the verification rotation as their difference.

[0059] The flow of activity branches at block 528 according to a comparison of the verification rotation with the verification threshold (retrieved from the configuration repository). If the verification rotation is (possibly strictly ) higher than the verification threshold, this means that the rotor has rotated freely because no resistance has been opposed by any tube. Therefore, the pump manager detects that the tube is absent. In this case, the process returns to block 506 again to prompt the operator to insert the tube into the peristaltic pump (for example, after outputting a corresponding alarm, such as of acoustic type). Conversely, if the verification rotation is (possibly strictly ) lower than the verification threshold, this means that the rotation of the rotor has been substantially hindered (up to be completely prevented) by the presence of the tube (of any type). Therefore, the pump manager detects that the tube is present. In response to the presence of the tube properly installed within the housing of the peristaltic pump (i.e., as a consequence of a positive determination at the determining block 528), the method according to the present disclosure allows the process to move forward towards the operating step 538 for delivering the pressurized fluid. In more detail, the flow of activity continues to block 530 wherein it branches according to the current condition of the peristaltic pump, i.e. if the injection system is performing its initial setup procedure or if the injection system is requested to restart the injection process after interruption thereof. Particularly, if the peristaltic pump has been verified during its setup procedure, then the blocks 532-562 are executed, whereas, if the peristaltic pump has been already verified during its operation, then the block 564 is executed; in both cases, the process then passes to the block 566.

[0060] With reference now to block 532 (verification during setup procedure), the pump manager continues the setup procedure up to completing it. The flow of activity then branches at block 534 according to a configuration of the peristaltic pump. If the peristaltic pump is configured to determine tire presence / absence of the tube only (single operation torque), the pump manager at block 536 sets the operation torque to its value retrieved from the configuration repository. The injection manager at block 538 then starts operating the injection system according to the injection profile retrieved from the configuration repository (for example, in response to a start command entered by the operator in the control panel). As far as relevant to the present disclosure, when necessary the injection manager commands the pump manager to operate the peristaltic pump for delivering the saline solution as required; for this purpose, the pump manager drives the motor (via its drive) with the operation torque at the operation speed. At the beginning, the pump manager also verifies whether the tube has been inserted correctly in the peristaltic pump. In fact, the peristaltic pump checks that everything is correct with the alignment each time the peristaltic pump motor is requested to move. When the motor is requested to move, the peristaltic pump pays attention to the rotational speed of the motor. If the rotational speed is stopped or very slow in comparison to the expected speed, the peristaltic pump will declare the tubing is not aligned correctly.

[0061] For this purpose, once a pre-defined operation period (for example, equal to the verification period) has expired, the pump manager at block 540 determines (via the motor drive) an operation rotation of the rotor (occurred in response to the rotor that has been driven with the operation torque in the operation period). For example, as above the pump manager determines the position of the rotor at the beginning and at the end of the operation period (as defined by corresponding counts provided by the encoder of the motor via its drive), and then it calculates the operation rotation as their difference. The flow of activity branches at block 542 according to a comparison of the operation rotation with an expected rotation of the rotor in the operation period corresponding to the operation speed (z.e., their product); for example, if the rotor is driven at the operation speed of 300 rpm for the operation period of 150 ms, its expected rotation is equal to 75% of a full revolution (such as 600 counts for a full revolution of 800 counts). If the operation rotation significantly differs from the expected rotation (for example, the operation rotation is possibly strictly lower than a pre-defined percentage of the expected rotation, such as 90-95%), it means that the rotor does not rotate properly because the tube is not arranged correctly in the peristaltic pump. In this case, the injection manager enters an error condition at block 544. Particularly, the injection manager stops operation of the injection system (particularly, commanding the pump manager to stop operation of the peristaltic pump, which pump manager in turn stops the motor via its drive) and it outputs an alarm (for example, of acoustic type together with an explicative message displayed on the control panel via its drive). The process then returns to block 506 to prompt the operator to insert the tube (correctly) into the peristaltic pump housing. Conversely, if the operation rotation is substantially equal to the expected rotation (i.e., possibly strictly higher than its percentage of above in the example at issue), it means that the rotor rotates properly because the tube is arranged correctly in the peristaltic pump. In this case, the injection manager continues operation of the injection system by descending into block 566.

[0062] With reference again to block 534, if the peristaltic pump is configured to determine the current type of tube as well (multiple operation torques), the process continues to block 546. As described above, this point has been reached when the verification rotation is lower than the verification threshold (in response to the rotor being driven with the verification torque in the verification period) since the presence of the tube has substantially hindered the rotation of the rotor; since the verification torque is lower than the minimum torque required to rotate tire least rigid type of tube (and then all the types of tube), any type of tube may be present. A loop is then performed for verifying the presence of the different types of tube in increasing order of rigidity. For this purpose, the pump manager at first sets the determination torque to its lowest value for the least rigid type of tube (retrieved from the configuration repository). In a similar way as above, the pump manager at block 548 drives the motor (via its drive) with the determination torque at the operation speed for a determination period (for example, equal to the verification period). Once the determination period has expired, the pump manager at block 550 commands the motor (via its drive) to stop. Once a (further) settlement period has expired (for example, the same as above), the pump manager at block 552 determines (via the motor drive) a determination rotation of the rotor (occurred at the end of the settlement period in response to tire rotor that has been driven with the determination torque in the determination period). For example, as above the pump manager determines the position of the rotor at the beginning of the determination period and at the end of the settlement period (as defined by corresponding counts provided by the encoder of the motor via its drive), and then it calculates the determination rotation as their difference. The flow of activity branches at block 554 according to a comparison of the determination rotation with the determination threshold (retrieved from the configuration repository). If the determination rotation is (possibly strictly) lower than the determination threshold, this means that the presence of the tube has again substantially hindered the rota tion of the rotor; therefore, since the determination torque is higher than the minimum torque required to rotate the corresponding type of tube (and then all the less rigid types of tube), the presence of any type of tube from the least rigid one to the current one may be excluded. In this case, the pump manager at block 556 verifies whether the highest verification torque has been reached (for the most rigid type of tube). If not, since the determination torque is lower than the minimum torque required to rotate the immediately more rigid type of tube (and then all the more rigid types of tube), any type of tube from the immediately more rigid one to the most rigid one may be present; in this case, the pump manager at block 558 sets the determination torque to its immediately higher value (for the immediately more rigid type of tube). The process then returns to block 548 to repeat the same operations with this (higher) determination torque. Conversely, if the highest verification torque has been reached, this means that none of the types of tube is present; therefore, the injection manager enters an error condition at block 560. Particularly, the injection manager outputs an alarm (for example, of acoustic type together with an explicative message displayed on the control panel via its drive). The process then returns to block 506 to prompt the operator to insert a (correct) type of tube into the peristaltic pump. Referring back to block 554, if the verification rotation is (possibly strictly) higher than the verification threshold, this means that the presence of the tube has not substantially hindered the rotation of the rotor. Therefore, since the determination torque is higher than the minimum torque required to rotate the corresponding type of tube, the pump manger determines that this type of tube is present (being the presence of any possible less rigid type of tube already exc luded before and being the presence of any possible more rigid type of tube excluded since the determination torque is lower than the minimum torque required to rotate the possible immediately more rigid type of tube and then all the possible more rigid types of tube). Therefore, the pump manager at block 562 sets the operation torque to the value of the current type of tube so determined. The process then continues to block 538 for operating the peristaltic pump as indicated above.

[0063] With reference instead to block 564 (verification during operation), the pump manager resumes operation of the peristaltic pump. Particularly, the pump manager drives the motor (via its drive) with the same operation torque that had been set previously. The injection manager then continues the operation of the injection system by descending into block 566.

[0064] With reference now to block 566, the injection manager verifies whether the medical procedure has been completed. If not, the process remains at block 566 in an idle loop. Conversely, once the medical procedure has been completed, the process ends at the concentric w'hite / black stop circles 568.

[0065] Modifications

[0066] In order to satisfy local and specific requirements, a person skilled in the art may apply many logical and / or physical modifications and alterations to the present disclosure, provided that it remains within the scope of the claims. More specifically, although this disclosure has been described with a certain degree of particularity with reference to one or more embodiments thereof, it should be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details as well as other embodiments are possible. Particularly, different embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced even without the specific details (such as the numerical values) set forth in the preceding description to provide a more thorough understanding thereof; conversely, well-known features may have been omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the description with unnecessary particulars. Moreover, it is expressly intended that the features described in each complete sentence may be implemented independently of the features described in the other sentences (except for those strictly necessary functionally). In any case, specific features described in connection with any embodiment of the present disclosure may be incorporated in any other embodiment as a matter of general design choice. Moreover, items presented in a same group and different embodiments, examples or alternatives are not to be construed as de facto equivalent to each other (but they are separate and autonomous entities). In any case, each numerical value should be read as modified according to applicable tolerances; particularly, unless otherwise indicated, the terms “substantially”, “about”, “approximately” and the like should be understood as within 10%, preferably 5% and still more preferably 1%. Moreover, each range of numerical values should be intended as expressly specifying any possible number along the continuum within the range (comprising its end points). Ordinal or other qualifiers are merely used as labels to distinguish elements with the same name but do not by themselves connote any priority, precedence or order. The terms include, comprise, have, contain, involve and the like should be intended with an open, non-exhaustive meaning (z.e., not limited to the recited items), the terms based on, dependent on, in agreement with, according to, function of and the like should be intended as a non-exclusive relationship (i.e., with possible further variables involved), the term a / an should be intended as one or more items (unless expressly indicated otherwise), and the term means for (or any meansplus-function formulation) should be intended as any structure adapted or configured for carrying out the relevant function.

[0067] In an embodiment, the method comprises operating (by the control unit) the peristaltic pump for delivering a fluid. The peristaltic pump may be operated for delivering any fluid (for example, any replacement fluid, body fluid, drug, contrast agent, saline solution, medicinal composition, nutrient and so on) in any way (for example, continuously, intermittently, automatically, upon request and so on).

[0068] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of operating the peristaltic pump comprises controlling (by the control unit) a driving system of the peristaltic pump to drive in succession one or more occlusion elements of the peristaltic pump along at least a portion of a tube for supplying the fluid, said tube being received in a housing of the peristaltic pump. In an embodiment, the occlusion elements are driven with an operation intensity for causing the tube to deliver the fluid flowing thereinto. For example, the occlusion elements may be driven via a rotor on which they are mounted, or directly (for instance by using motorized occlusion elements). Moreover, the occlusion elements may be driven with any operation intensity of any type (such as a torque, a power, a force), and defined directly by its value or indirectly by a parameter of the driving system, such as its power supply.

[0069] In an embodiment, the method comprises verifying the peristaltic pump. In particular, the peristaltic pump may be verified for detecting the presence / absence of the tube, for determining the correct / incorrect arrangement of the tube within its seat in the peristaltic pump housing, or for determining the type of tube being used, either alone or in any combination thereof). The term “type of tube’" would include, for instance, the tube size (i.e., inside diameter, outside diameter), tube shape (e.g., circular or oval transverse cross-section), tube material. In an embodiment, said step of verifying the peristaltic pump comprises controlling (by the control unit) the driving system to drive the occlusion elements with a verification intensity lower than the operation intensity. Indeed, the occlusion elements may be driven with a verification intensity lower than the minimum intensity required for causing the tube to deliver the fluid. In an embodiment, said step of verifying the peristaltic pump comprises receiving (by the control unit) an indication of a verification movement of the occlusion elements, in response to the occlusion elements being driven with the verification intensity, from a gauge of the peristaltic pump. As per the present disclosure, the verification movement may be indicated by counts of an encoder, an angle, or a space.

[0070] In an embodiment, said step of verifying the peristaltic pump comprises determining (by the control unit) a presence or an absence of the tube in the housing according to the verification movement. The presence / absence of the tube may be determined according to a comparison of the verification movement with a verification threshold, such as fixed or set to a percentage of a reference movement corresponding to the absence of the tube, by detecting the absence of the tube as soon as the verification movement reaches the verification threshold, or by detecting the presence of the tube when a verification movement does not occur within a maximum period of time.

[0071] Further embodiments provide additional advantageous features, which may be omitted at all in a basic implementation. In this respect, it is expressly intended that the features of each of the following embodiments may be combined with the above features either alone or in combination with the features of any number of the other following embodiments.

[0072] In an embodiment, said step of verifying the peristaltic pump comprises controlling (by the control unit) the driving system to stop driving the occlusion elements for a settlement period following the verification period. As per the present disclosure, the settlement period may be lov / er than, equal to or higher than the verification period.

[0073] In an embodiment, the method comprises triggering (by the control unit) said step of verifying the peristaltic pump in response to an indication of a closure of the housing being received from a dedicated sensor of the peristaltic pump. The indication of the closure of the housing may be received by polling the sensor or in response to a notification from the sensor.

[0074] In an embodiment, the method comprises determining (by the control unit) a current one of the types of the tube being present in the housing according to the determination movements. The current type of the tube may be determined by driving the occlusion elements with increasing determination intensities until the presence of the current type of the tube is detected, or by driving the occlusion elements with all the possible determination intensities and then determining the current type of the tube according to the corresponding determination movements.

[0075] In an embodiment, the method comprises controlling (by the control unit) the driving system to drive the occlusion elements with the determination intensities in increasing order for a determination period of time until the corresponding determination movement exceeds a determination threshold. Different actions may be performed when the determination movement never exceeds the determination threshold. For example, entering an error condition when a determination intensity is provided for the most rigid type of the tube, or exiting the loop when no determination intensity is provided for the most rigid type of the tube.

[0076] A further embodiment of the present disclosure provides a computer program configured for causing a control unit to perforin the above method when the computer program is executed on the control unit. A further embodiment provides a corresponding computer program product comprising one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media having program instructions collectively stored on the readable storage media, the program instructions readable by a control unit to cause the control unit to perform the same method. The (computer) program may be implemented as a stand-alone module, or a plug-in for a pre-existing application, such as a pump manager.

[0077] Generally, similar considerations apply if the program is structured in a different way or it has different / additional modules or functions, provided that it remains within the scope of the claims. Likewise, the memory structures may be of other types, or they may be replaced with equivalent entities (not necessarily consisting of physical storage media). The program may take any form suitable to be used by the control unit, thereby configuring it to perform the desired operations; particularly, the program may be in the form of external or resident software, firmware, or microcode (either in object code or in source code), for example, to be compiled or interpreted. Moreover, it is possible to provide the program on any computer readable storage medium. The storage medium is any tangible medium (different from transitory signals per se) that may retain and store instructions for use by the control unit. For example, the storage medium may be of electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor type; examples of such storage medium are fixed disks (where the program may be pre-loaded), removable disks, memory keys (for example, USB), and the like. The program may be downloaded to the control unit from the storage medium or via a network (for example, the Internet, a wide area network and / or a local area network comprising transmission cables, optical fibers, wireless connections, network devices); one or more network adapters in the control unit receive the program from the network and forward it for storage into one or more storage devices of the control unit. In any case, the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure lends itself to be implemented even with a hardware structure (for example, by electronic circuits integrated on one or more chips of semiconductor material), or with a combination of software and hardware, suitably programmed or otherwise configured.

[0078] A further embodiment of the present disclosure provides a peristaltic pump. The peristaltic pump may be applied to any technological field, for example, a peristaltic pump envisaged in an injection system, an infusion system, a dialysis machine, an open-heart bypass pump, a water purification plant, a chemical plant.

[0079] In an embodiment, the peristaltic pump comprises one or more occlusion elements for occluding the tube. The occlusion elements may be in any number and of any type, for example, rollers, fingers, wipers, shoes, eccentric protrusions of a rotor, carried by a rotor in any way, such as with their rotation axes integral with the rotor to provide a fixed occlusion or mounted on corresponding springs to provide a variable occlusion, independent of each other.

[0080] In an embodiment, the peristaltic pump comprises a gauge for measuring a movement of the occlusion elements. For example, the gauge may be an encoder, a magnetic / optic detector, Halls sensor, home signal.

[0081] In an embodiment, the peristaltic pump comprises a control unit for performing the above-mentioned operations. For example, the control unit may be a microprocessor or a microcontroller of a system comprising the peristaltic pump or dedicated thereto.

[0082] A further embodiment of the present disclosure provides a medical method which may be a diagnostic method, a therapeutic method, or a surgical method.

[0083] In an embodiment, the medical method comprises injecting one or more fluids into a patient with the injection system of above. The fluids may be in any number and of any type (contrast agents, saline, drugs, nutrients, and any combination thereof), and they may be injected intravenously, subcutaneous, arterially, or epidurally.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method ( 500) of controlling a peristaltic pump ( 160) for delivering a pressurized fluid, the peristaltic pump (160) comprising a driving system (235) to act one or more occlusion elements (230a-230d) of the peristaltic pump ( 160) on a tube (165) for delivering the pressurized fluid, said tube being received in a housing (205) of the peristaltic pump (160) and, during operation of the peristaltic pump (160) for delivering the pressurized fluid, said occlusion elements (230a-230d) being driven with an operation intensity, wherein the method (500) comprises, under the control of a control unit (180): • verifying (516-528), by the control unit (180), the peristaltic pump (160), said verifying (516-528) the peristaltic pump (160) comprising: i. controlling (516-522), by the control unit (180), the driving system (235) to drive the occlusion elements (230a-230d) with a verification intensity lower than the operation intensity; ii. receiving (524-526), by the control unit (180), an indication from a gauge (240) of the peristaltic pump (180) of a verification movement of the occlusion elements (230a-230d) in response to the occlusion elements (230a-230d) being driven with the verification intensity, and iii. determining (528), by the control unit (180), a presence or an absence of the tube (165) in the housing (205) according to the verification movement, and• operating (538), by the control unit ( 180), the peristaltic pump (160) for delivering the pressurized fluid in response to the presence of the tube as determined al said determining (528), said operating (538) the peristaltic pump comprising: controlling (538), by the control unit (180), the driving system (235) of the peristaltic pump (160) to drive said occlusion elements (230a-230d) at the operation intensity for causing the tube (165) to deliver the pressurized fluid.

2. The method ( 500) according to claim 1, wherein the verification intensity islower than a minimum intensity required for causing the tube ( 165) to deliver the fluid.

3. The method (500) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the verification intensity is equal to 10-30% of the operation intensity.

4. The method (500) according to any claim from 1 to 3, wherein said verifying(516-528) the peristaltic pump (160) comprises:- controlling (516-522), by the control unit (180), the driving system (235) to drive the occlusion elements (230a-230d) with the verification intensity" for a verification period, and - receiving (524-526), by the control unit ( 180), the indication from the gauge(240) of the verification movement in response to the occlusion elements (230a-230d) being driven with the verification intensity during the verification period.

5. The method (500) according to claim 4, wherein said verifying (516-528) the peristaltic pump ( 160) comprises: controlling (524), by the control unit (180), the driving system (235) to stop driving the occlusion elements (230a-230d) for a settlement period following the verification period, and receiving (526), by the control unit (180), the indication from the gauge (240) of the verification movement of the occlusion elements (230a-230d) at an end of the settlement period.

6. The method (500) according to any claim from 1 to 5, wherein said operating (538) the peristaltic pump (160) comprises: controlling (538), by the control unit (180), the driving system (235) to drive a rotor (225) of the peristaltic pump ( 160) carrying the occlusion elements (230a- 230d) with an operation torque for causing the tube (165) to deliver the fluid, and wherein said verifying (516-528) the peristaltic pump (160) comprises: controlling (516-522), by the control unit (180), the driving system (235) to drive the rotor (225) with a verification torque lower than the operationtorque, receiving (524-526), by the control unit (180), an indication from the gauge (240) of a verification rotation of the rotor (225) in response to the rotor (225) being driven with the verification torque, and determining (528), by the control unit (180), the presence or the absence of the tube (165) in the housing (205) according to the verification rotation.

7. The method (500) according to claim 6 when depending directly or indirectly on claim 4, wherein said operating (538) the peristaltic pump (160) comprises: controlling (538), by the control unit ( 180), the driving system (235) to drive the rotor (225) with the operation torque at an operation speed for causing the lube (165) to deliver the fluid, and wherein said verifying (516-528) the peristaltic pump (160) comprises:- controlling (516-522), by the control unit (180), the driving system (235) to drive the rotor (225) with the verification torque at the operation speed for the verification period; receiving (524-526), by the control unit (180), the indication from tire gauge (240) of the verification rotation, in response to the rotor (225) being driven with the verification torque at the operation speed for the verification period, and determining (528), by the control unit ( 180), the presence or the absence of the tube (165) according to a comparison of the verification rotation with a verification threshold,8. The method (500) according to claim 7, wherein the verification threshold is equal to 2-10% of a reference rotation corresponding to the operation speed and the verification period.

9. The method (500) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the verification threshold depends on a number of the occlusion elements (230a-230d).

10. The method (500) according to any claim from 1 to 9, wherein the method (500) comprises: triggering (514), by the control unit (180), said verifying (516-528) theperistaltic pump (160) in response to an indication of a closure of the housing (205) being received from a sensor (220) of the peristaltic pump (160).1 1 . The method (500) according to claim 10, wherein the method (500) comprises:- triggering (514), by the control unit ( 180), said verifying (516-528 ) the peristaltic pump ( 160) in response to the indication of the closure of the housing (205) being received from the sensor (220) during a setup procedure of the peristaltic pump (160), and continuing (532), by the control unit (180), the setup procedure in response to the presence of the tube (165).

12. The method (500) according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein the method (500) comprises: receiving (510), by the control unit (180), an indication from the sensor (220) of an opening of the housing (205) during said operating (538) the peristaltic pump (160); stopping (512), by the control unit (180), said operating (538) the peristaltic pump (160) in correspondence to the opening of the housing (205); triggering (514), by the control unit (180), said verifying (516-528) the peristaltic pump (160) in response to the indication of the closure of the housing (205) being received from the sensor (220 ) after the opening of the housing (205), and resuming (564), by the control unit (180), said operating (538) the peristaltic pump (160) in response to the presence of the tube (165).

13. The method (500) according to any claim from 1 to 12, wherein the method (500) comprises: controlling (538), by the control unit (180), the driving system (235) to drive the occlusion elements (230a-230d) with the operation intensity for an operation period in response to the presence of the tube ( 165); receiving (540), by the control unit (180), an indication of an operation movement of the occlusion elements (230a-230d) in response to theocclusion elements (230a-230d) being driven with the operation intensity in the operation period, from the gauge (240);- determining (542), by the control unit (180), a correct or an incorrect arrangement of the tube ( 165) in the housing (205) according to the operation movement, and entering (544), by the control unit (180), an error condition in response to the incorrect arrangement of the tube (165) in the housing (205).

14. The method (500) according to any claim from 1 to 13, wherein the method (500) comprises: - controlling (546-548,558), by the control unit (180), the driving system(235) to drive the occlusion elements (230a-230d) with one or more determination intensities corresponding to different types of the tube (165 ), the determination intensities being higher than the verification intensity and being lower than corresponding values of the operation intensity; - receiving (550-552), by the control unit (180), an indication of corresponding determination movements of the occlusion elements (230a- 230d) in response to the occlusion elements (230a-230d) being driven with the determination intensities, from the gauge (240); determining (554-556), by the control unit (180), a current one of the types of the tube ( 165 ) being present in the housing (205) according to the determination movements, and setting (562), by the control unit (180), the operation intensity according to the current type of the tube (165).

15. The method (500) according to claim 14, wherein each of the determination intensities is higher than a minimum intensity required for causing the corresponding type of the tube (165) to deliver the fluid, and wherein each determination intensity different from a highest one of the determination intensities is lower than a minimum intensity required for causing the type of the tube (165) corresponding to the immediately higher one of the determination intensities to deliver the fluid, the method (500) comprising:controlling (546-548,558), by the control unit (180), the chiving system (235) to drive the occlusion elements (230a-230d) with the determination intensities in increasing order for a determination period until the corresponding determination movement exceeds a determination threshold, and determining (554-556), by the control unit (180), the current type of the tube (165) corresponding to the determination intensity having the corresponding determination movement exceeding the determination threshold.

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