Disposable pump and filter assembly

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a disposable combination pump/filter assembly to simultaneously dispense and filter aseptic solutions. The disposable pump and filter assembly includes a piston assembly incorporating a piston rod and a piston head, a pump head assembly with inlet and outlet ports, a vacuum chamber, a rolling diaphragm seal, a filter element, intake and discharge valve mechanisms, flexible intake/discharge tubing, and a clamping assembly that holds the head, diaphragm, and vacuum chamber together. The assembly minimizes the total number of individual parts that make up the pump and filter assembly, as well as the cost to manufacture.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A combination pump/filter assembly to pump and filter fluids, comprising: 
 a pump housing defining a central chamber;    a diaphragm seated in said central chamber;    a piston assembly operative within said central chamber for engaging said diaphragm;    a pump head assembly mounted on said pump housing over said central chamber; said pump head assembly having an inlet port and an outlet port;    an inlet valve for controlling flow through said inlet port;    an outlet valve for controlling flow through said outlet port; and    a filter element separating said inlet and outlet ports of said pump head assembly for filtering fluids passing there between.    
     
     
         2 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a clamping assembly that holds said pump head assembly and said pump housing together.  
     
     
         3 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said pump housing further comprises a top end formed with an annular recess.  
     
     
         4 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said pump head assembly mounted on said pump housing produces a vacuum force that is exerted on said rolling diaphragm and piston assembly thereby maintaining operative engagement there between.  
     
     
         5 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said piston assembly further comprises a piston rod and piston head seated on one end of said piston rod, the other end of the piston rod being operatively coupled to a prime mover.  
     
     
         6 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 5  wherein said prime mover is a motor drive assembly.  
     
     
         7 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said pump head assembly further comprises a concave bottom.  
     
     
         8 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 7  wherein said pump head assembly is formed from molded plastic.  
     
     
         9 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising an inlet tube attached to said inlet valve, and an outlet tube attached to said outlet port.  
     
     
         10 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein said inlet and outlet valves comprise pinch clamps for applying pressure to the respective inlet and outlet tubes to selectively impede the flow of liquid there through.  
     
     
         11 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said rolling diaphragm seal further comprises a top rim formed as a seal ring; said seal ring providing an air- and liquid-tight seal when clamped between said annular recess of said pump housing and said concave bottom edge of said pump head assembly.  
     
     
         12 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 11  wherein said rolling diaphragm seal further comprises an elastomeric inner surface adhered to a fabric backing.  
     
     
         13 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said elastomeric inner surface is silicone.  
     
     
         14 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said filter element is operative only during a discharge cycle of said combination pump/filter assembly.  
     
     
         15 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said filter element is configured for use with aseptic liquids.  
     
     
         16 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 15  wherein said filter element further comprises a 0.22μ filter.  
     
     
         17 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said clamping assembly further comprises a quick-release clamping assembly.  
     
     
         18 . A disposable combination pump/filter assembly to simultaneously fill and filter aseptic solutions, comprising: 
 a pump housing defining a central vacuum chamber;    a piston assembly incorporating a piston rod and a piston head operative within said central vacuum chamber at one end;    a pump head assembly mounted on said pump housing over said central vacuum chamber, said pump head assembly having inlet and outlet ports;    a first length of flexible tubing removably attached to said inlet port;    a second length of flexible tubing removably attached to said outlet port;    an inlet valve mechanism operatively engaged with said first length of flexible tubing;    an outlet valve mechanism operatively engaged with said second length of flexible tubing;    a rolling diaphragm seal separating said pump head assembly from said central vacuum chamber;    a filter element separating said inlet and outlet ports of said pump head assembly; and    a clamping assembly that holds said pump head assembly, said rolling diaphragm seal, and said pump housing together.    
     
     
         18 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said pump housing is formed with a cylindrical inner recess.  
     
     
         19 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 17  wherein said rolling diaphragm seal further comprises a top rim formed as a seal ring.  
     
     
         20 . The disposable combination pump/filter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said filter element is an aseptic filter that is operative only during a discharge cycle of said combination pump/filter assembly.