Angular Aligned Fingers Infusion Pump Continuous Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Peristaltic pumps often experience a no-flow region during operation, leading to potential flow irregularities and safety issues for patients due to rapid rotation through this region, which can result in unintended flow or no flow, causing disturbances and unsafe fluid delivery.
Innovation Solution
The design of a camshaft-controlled infusion pump with two sets of angularly arranged fingers that manage fluid flow through two tube sections, ensuring continuous flow output by transitioning fluid flow between tube sections during camshaft rotation, eliminating the no-flow region and maintaining consistent fluid delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single set of fingers is used in a peristaltic pump, then the pump structure is simple, but a no-flow region occurs during operation causing flow irregularities
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is divided into two tube sections with separate finger sets, where each finger set independently controls one tube section. This segmentation eliminates the no-flow region by ensuring that while one finger set is in its no-flow phase, the other is in its flow phase, providing continuous fluid delivery throughout the camshaft rotation cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-plane finger arrangement to a multi-dimensional configuration with two sets of fingers operating in different angular positions around the camshaft. This dimensional change allows overlapping flow cycles, where the second finger set picks up flow delivery as the first set enters its no-flow region, eliminating gaps in fluid delivery.
2Productivity
If the camshaft rotates rapidly through the no-flow region, then the pump can maintain higher average flow rates, but flow irregularities and disturbances occur
Solution Approach 1:
The dual finger set configuration ensures continuous useful action by overlapping the flow delivery phases. As one finger set enters its no-flow region, the other finger set is transitioning into or maintaining its flow phase, creating a continuous chain of fluid delivery that eliminates interruptions and stabilizes flow throughout the entire camshaft rotation cycle.
3Reliability
If two sets of angularly arranged fingers are used, then continuous flow is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Both finger sets are driven by the same camshaft mechanism and perform identical compression functions on their respective tube sections. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve continuous flow through a unified mechanical design rather than requiring independent drive mechanisms, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite the additional finger set.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides continuous fluid flow without the need for rapid cycling through the no-flow region, enhancing patient safety by maintaining consistent and reliable fluid delivery, reducing the risk of flow irregularities and disturbances.
Implementation Method 1
peristaltic pump pinches a tube along its length in a controlled manner to provide flow to a patient. Peristaltic type pumps often employ fingers or rollers to pinch and squeeze the tubing to move the fluid through the tube.
Data Source
AI summary
An infusion pump, driven by a camshaft with one or two cams, controls two sets of angularly aligned fingers phased within a sleeve, compressing two parallel flexible tube-sections, drawing fluid from a fluid source, yielding a combined continuous flow of fluid output from the two tube-sections as a function of the camshaft rotation.