Magnetically balanced finger-type peristaltic pump

Abstract

A peristaltic pump which includes: (a) a plurality of effecters, actuated in a periodic manner upon by obstructive forces of a flexible infusion tube so as flow of infusion fluid is provided along said infusion tube, the magnitude of the obstructive forces are dependent upon the displacement of the moving effecters; and (b) a plurality of balancing magnets providing balancing forces upon one or all the moving effecters, the balancing forces at each point along the path of motion of the moving effecters being of approximately equal magnitude to that of the obstructive forces at the point, such that the parasitic output due to work performed against the obstructive forces is approximately zero and yield is maximized.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A peristaltic pump including a housing to receive a fluid flow channel including a flexible fluid conduit, said peristaltic pump comprising:
 at least one effecter including a ferrite member and positioned to intermittently compress the flexible fluid conduit;   at least one electromechanical actuator to apply a mechanical force on said effecter in a direction of the flexible fluid conduit; and   a balancing member to magnetically interact with said ferrite member in said at least one effecter so that a balancing force proportional to the mechanical force on said effecter is produced to substantially counter a reactive force exerted by said flexible fluid conduit on said at least one effector.   
     
     
         21 . The peristaltic pump according to  claim 20 , wherein said at least one effecter is a pressing finger. 
     
     
         22 . The peristaltic pump according to  claim 20 , wherein said ferrite member includes a magnetic material and said balancing member includes a metallic material. 
     
     
         23 . The peristaltic pump according to  claim 20 , wherein said ferrite member includes a metallic material and said balancing member includes a magnetic material. 
     
     
         24 . The peristaltic pump according to  claim 20 , wherein said ferrite member includes a magnetic material and said balancing member includes a magnetic material. 
     
     
         25 . The peristaltic pump according to  claim 20 , wherein said at least one effecter periodically moves towards and compresses said flexible fluid conduit, and said magnetically interacting includes producing a balancing force to substantially counter said reactive force produced by the flexible fluid conduit in response to compression by said at least one effector. 
     
     
         26 . The peristaltic pump according to  claim 25 , wherein said balancing force substantially counters said reactive force while the at least one effecter moves forward or backward. 
     
     
         27 . The peristaltic pump according to  claim 20 , wherein said balancing member produces a permanent magnetic field. 
     
     
         28 . The peristaltic pump according to  claim 20 , wherein said balancing member is attracted to a magnetic field. 
     
     
         29 . A method for pumping fluid through a fluid flow channel having a flexible segment comprising:
 applying a mechanical force to intermittently compress the flexible segment, said mechanical force applied by at least one effecter having a ferrite member, wherein compression of the flexible segment produces a reactive force;   producing a balancing force by magnetically interacting with the ferrite member, said balancing force proportional to the mechanical force to substantially counter said reactive force of the flexible segment.   
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein said at least one effecter periodically moves towards the flexible segment, and said magnetically interacting includes producing a balancing force to substantially counter said reactive force of the flexible segment while the at least one effecter moves. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein said balancing force substantially counters said reactive force while the at least one effecter moves in forth or backward movement.