Flow optical analysis for peristaltic and other rotary pumps

Abstract

A peristaltic pump design with single or dual feed tubes each engaged by a peristaltic rotor with rollers bearing against the feed tubes to compress and release them, the feed tube(s) being coupled to a junction with a single outlet fitting, and an integral optical system exposed inside the junction and coupled to a closed loop controller drive system for real-time monitoring of the precision dispensing requirements of the pump. The junction defines an optical path length and has a detector module and one or more source modules, at least the detector being connected to a closed loop controller drive system to form a “junction integrated optical analysis system”. The light source emits light that is transmitted into the junction across the optical path length, and any optical change in the analysis region is observed and used as feedback to control the pump drive system. Optical detection can be based on absorbance, fluorescence, scattered light or any combination.

1 . A fluid dispensing system comprising: 
 a peristaltic pump;    at least one feed tube in mechanical engagement with said peristaltic pump;    a junction attached distally to said feed tube and having walls defining a fluid chamber leading to an outlet tube;    an optical viewing system optically coupled to the chamber of said junction for providing an indication of a fluid property within said chamber;    a processor connected to said optical viewing system; and    a pump drive controller connected between said processor and said pump for controlling displacement of said pump actuator in accordance with feedback from said optical viewing system.    
   
   
       2 . The fluid dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said junction walls comprise light-transmissive optical glass.  
   
   
       3 . The fluid dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said junction walls comprise light-transmissive polymeric material in a molded form.  
   
   
       4 . The fluid dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said optical viewing system is optically coupled to the chamber of said junction by at least one optical fiber.  
   
   
       5 . The fluid dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said optical viewing system comprises a light source and detector optically coupled to the chamber of said junction.  
   
   
       6 . The fluid dispensing system according to  claim 5 , wherein said detector is optically coupled to the chamber of said junction by a lens.  
   
   
       7 . The fluid dispensing system according to  claim 6 , wherein said lens comprises a graded index lens.  
   
   
       8 . The fluid dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the walls of said junction are substantially coated with a light blocking coating.  
   
   
       9 . The fluid dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said optical viewing system facilitates monitoring of mixed fluids, particulates and detection of air.  
   
   
       10 . The fluid dispensing system in according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical viewing system provides an indication of a fluid property within said chamber by measuring any one from among a group comprising light absorbance, light scattering or fluorescence.  
   
   
       11 . A fluid dispensing system comprising: 
 a peristaltic pump;    a pair of feed tubes each in mechanical engagement with said peristaltic pump;    a junction attached distally to said pair of feed tubes and having walls defining a fluid chamber leading to an outlet tube;    an optical viewing system optically coupled to the chamber of said junction for providing an indication of a fluid property within said chamber;    a processor connected to said optical viewing system; and    a pump drive controller connected between said processor and said pump for controlling displacement of said pump actuator in accordance with feedback from said optical viewing system.    
   
   
       12 . The fluid dispensing system according to  claim 11 , wherein said junction walls comprise light-transmissive optical glass.  
   
   
       13 . The fluid dispensing system according to  claim 11 , wherein said junction walls comprise light-transmissive polymeric material in a molded form.  
   
   
       14 . The fluid dispensing system according to  claim 11 , wherein said optical viewing system is optically coupled to the chamber of said junction by at least one optical fiber.  
   
   
       15 . The fluid dispensing system according to  claim 11 , wherein said optical viewing system comprises a pair of light source on opposing sides of said junction to define a path length, and a detector optically coupled to the chamber of said junction orthogonal to said path length.  
   
   
       16 . The fluid dispensing system according to  claim 15 , wherein said detector is optically coupled to the chamber of said junction by a lens.  
   
   
       17 . The fluid dispensing system according to  claim 16 , wherein said lens comprises a graded index lens.  
   
   
       18 . The fluid dispensing system according to  claim 11 , wherein the walls of said junction are substantially coated with a light blocking coating.  
   
   
       19 . The fluid dispensing system according to  claim 11 , wherein said optical viewing system facilitates monitoring of mixed fluids, particulates and detection of air.  
   
   
       20 . The fluid dispensing system in according to  claim 11 , wherein the optical viewing system provides an indication of a fluid property within said chamber by measuring any one from among a group comprising light scattering or fluorescence.