Piston Pump Rotating Valve Plate Sensor Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current piston pumps for medical fluid infusion face challenges in compact construction, easy handling, reliable occlusion detection, and integration of sensors, particularly in home care settings, due to complex mechanical designs and high space requirements, which affect delivery accuracy and risk of fluid leakage.
Innovation Solution
A piston pump design featuring a common pump flange with rotating valve plate and integrated occlusion and ultrasound sensors, allowing for compact construction, improved mechanical design, and simplified handling, with sensors embedded within the pump flange or ports to enhance occlusion detection and prevent fluid leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rotating valve plate design is used in piston pumps, then the pumping function is achieved, but the mechanical design becomes complex and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components (valve plate, inlet/outlet connections, sensor integration) into a single integrated pump head assembly. The valve plate is merged with the pump flange structure, eliminating separate mounting requirements and reducing overall mechanical complexity while maintaining the pumping function.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump flange structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the mounting base for cylinders, incorporates the rotating valve plate for fluid direction, provides mounting points for sensors (occlusion and ultrasound), and serves as the connection interface for inlet and outlet ports. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are integrated into the pump body, then occlusion detection accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The occlusion sensor and ultrasound sensor are integrated directly into the pump flange structure, merging the sensing function with the mechanical housing. This eliminates the need for separate sensor mounting assemblies and reduces overall device complexity while improving measurement accuracy through direct integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump flange acts as an intermediary structure that houses the sensors and provides direct access to the fluid pathway for accurate occlusion detection. The flange serves as both a structural component and a sensor platform, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Reliability
If inlet and outlet connections are attached to the reciprocating valve plate, then the pumping function is achieved, but much space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet and outlet connections are merged with the pump flange structure rather than being attached to the reciprocating valve plate. This stationary connection approach eliminates the space required for moving connections and reduces the overall volume of the pump assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of attaching connections to the moving valve plate (dynamic connection), the patent inverts the approach by attaching connections to the stationary pump flange (static connection). This inversion eliminates the space requirements associated with dynamic connections while maintaining the pumping function.
4Reliability
If tube deformation is used for occlusion detection, then occlusion can be detected, but creep process causes continuous force change hindering reliable detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the occlusion detection function from the tube deformation method and implements it as a dedicated sensor integrated into the pump flange. This separates the detection mechanism from the fluid delivery system, eliminating the creep-related force changes while maintaining reliable occlusion detection capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A piston pump is described for pumping a fluid, comprising at least two cylinders each having a piston which is movable inside the associated cylinder along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder by means of a drive, wherein cylinders are attached to a common pump flange. In each cylinder a chamber is formed having a volume that changes when the associated piston is moved in the cylinder. The pump flange extends along the direction of motion of the pistons, and at least one inlet port and one outlet port are attached to the pump flange, whose longitudinal axes run along the pump flange. A central valve plate is attached to the side of the pump flange facing away from the cylinders that bear on the pump flange and continuously rotates transversely to the pump flange during pumping operation of the piston pump. Respective passages are introduced to the pump flange in the region of each inlet and outlet port, and cylinder openings are introduced to the pump flange in the region of each cylinder. The valve plate has at least two cavities on the flange side, of which a first cavity coincides, upon rotation of the valve plate to a first angular position, with a cylinder opening of a first cylinder and a passage of the outlet port, while the second cavity coincides in this first angular position with the passage of the inlet port and a cylinder opening in the second cylinder. The first cavity then coincides, upon rotation of the valve plate to a second angular position, with the passage in the outlet port and a cylinder opening in the second cylinder, while the second cavity coincides in this second angular position with the passage in the inlet port and a cylinder opening in the first cylinder.