Peristaltic Pump Conductive Occlusion Bed for Electrostatic Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Peristaltic pumps in medical technology generate electrostatic charges due to triboelectric effects between rollers and tubes, which interfere with high-impedance measurement devices like ECGs, and existing solutions either fail to address the root cause or require additional costly equipment.
Innovation Solution
The occlusion bed of the peristaltic pump is made with an electrically conductive surface to reduce or prevent electrostatic charging, and the rolling elements also have conductive surfaces to maintain equal potential, preventing charge generation and transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tube is made of plastic material to ensure biocompatibility, then biocompatibility is improved, but electrostatic charging increases due to triboelectric effects
Solution Approach 1:
A conductive coating is applied as an intermediary layer between the plastic tube and the occlusion bed/rollers. This coating acts as a mediator that allows charge dissipation while maintaining the biocompatibility of the plastic tube material. The conductive layer provides a pathway for electrostatic charges to be equalized without compromising the tube's biological compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The tube is constructed as a composite structure combining plastic material (for biocompatibility) with a conductive coating layer (for charge dissipation). This composite approach allows the tube to simultaneously achieve both biocompatibility and electrostatic charge management capabilities by integrating materials with complementary properties.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If grounding cables or grounding connectors are attached to the tube to prevent charging, then electrostatic interference is reduced, but device complexity and additional equipment are required
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive coating on the tube enables the tube itself to serve as the grounding mechanism. The tube becomes self-sufficient for charge dissipation without requiring external grounding cables or connectors. The conductive layer integrated into the tube structure allows it to automatically equalize charges with the occlusion bed and rollers during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The grounding function is merged with the tube structure itself through the conductive coating. Instead of adding separate grounding components, the charge dissipation capability is combined into the tube's own structure, integrating multiple functions (fluid conveyance, charge dissipation, biocompatibility) into a single component.
3Ease of manufacture
If the occlusion bed and rollers are made of non-conductive material to simplify manufacturing, then manufacturing ease is improved, but electrostatic charges accumulate and cause interference
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive property is applied locally only to the contact surfaces of the occlusion bed and rollers that interact with the tube, rather than making the entire component conductive. This localized approach allows the bulk material to remain non-conductive and easy to manufacture, while only the specific contact areas provide charge dissipation pathways.
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 effectively reduces electrostatic interference without additional visible devices or setup steps, ensuring uninterrupted operation of medical devices and maintaining the pump's design integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The charges arise due to the fact that the tube is initially pressed by the pressing force of the rollers against both the occlusion bed, as the corresponding contact surface of the stator, and the rollers. As the rollers move on, each roller lifts off of its section of the tube, with the result that the electrostatic charges described above can be formed on the tube, the occlusion bed and the rollers.
Implementation Method 2
at least a part of the occlusion bed has an electrically conductive surface for reducing and/or preventing electrostatic charging of the tube
Implementation Method 3
the rolling elements also have conductive surfaces to maintain equal potential, preventing charge generation and transmission
Data Source
AI summary
A peristaltic pump for use in medical technology with a stator and a rotor. The stator 40 has an occlusion bed 12 which forms the contact area with a tube accommodated within, and the rotor is provided with rolling elements suitable for occluding a tube accommodated between the occlusion bed and the rolling elements. At least a part of the occlusion bed has an electrically conductive surface for reducing and/or preventing electrostatic charging of the tube. The stator may be injection molded from an electrically non-conductive plastic and the electrically conductive surface may be formed by a molded-in metallic insert or a molded-in metallic foil insert.