Cassette for a flow control apparatus

Abstract

A pump set for use with a pumping apparatus includes tubing for carrying a liquid. A valve mechanism is mounted to the tubing between an inlet section and a pump engagement section. The valve mechanism includes a first port connected to the inlet section of the tubing, a second port connected to the pump engagement section of the tubing, and a valve disposed between the first and second ports. The valve includes a stem rotatably mounted within a stem holder. The stem includes a flow passage extending through the stem and having an open V shape whereby a narrow open end of the flow passage communicates with the first port and a wide open end of the flow passage communicates with the second port to place the inlet section of the tubing in communication with the pump engagement section of the tubing.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A pump set for use with a pumping apparatus, the pump set comprising:
 tubing for carrying a liquid, the tubing comprising an inlet section for connection to a liquid source and a pump engagement section configured for engagement by the pumping apparatus to pump the liquid through the tubing; and   a valve mechanism attached to the tubing between the inlet section and the pump engagement section, the valve mechanism comprising a first port connected to the inlet section of the tubing, a second port connected to the pump engagement section of the tubing, and a valve disposed between the first and second ports, the valve including a rotatable stem to selectively communicate the first port with the second port, the stem including a flow passage extending through the stem from an inlet end of the flow passage to an outlet end of the flow passage whereby the inlet end of the flow passage communicates with the first port and the outlet end of the flow passage communicates with the second port to place the inlet section of the tubing in communication with the pump engagement section of the tubing, the flow passage increasing in cross-sectional area from the inlet end toward the outlet end, wherein the cross-sectional area of the flow passage changes at different rates through the flow passage from the inlet end to the outlet end.   
     
     
         23 . The pump set as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein a maximum rate of increase in the cross-sectional area of the flow passage occurs generally intermediate the inlet end and outlet end of the flow passage. 
     
     
         24 . The pump set as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the tubing comprises a first tubing for connection to a first liquid source and a second tubing for connection to a second liquid source, the first port being connected to the first tubing, the valve mechanism comprising a third port connected to a third tubing, the stem being rotatably mounted to selectively communicate the outlet end of the flow passage with the first and third ports, the outlet end of the flow passage remaining in communication with the second port when the inlet end is rotated between the first and third ports. 
     
     
         25 . The pump set as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein longitudinal axes of the first port, second port, third port and flow passage are generally coplanar. 
     
     
         26 . The pump set as set forth in  claim 22 , further comprising a cassette configured for releasable attachment to the pumping apparatus, the tubing and the valve mechanism being releasably mounted to the cassette. 
     
     
         27 . The pump set as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the first port has a non-uniformly circular-shaped opening for communicating liquid to the flow passage in the valve stem. 
     
     
         28 . The pump set as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the valve includes a stem holder for mounting the stem, the stem holder defining stops positioned to be engaged by a flange of the stem to limit rotation of the stem in the stem holder. 
     
     
         29 . The pump set as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein the stem holder has a recessed portion configured to receive a catch when attached to the pumping apparatus. 
     
     
         30 . The pump set as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein the flange projects radially outward from the stem. 
     
     
         31 . The pump set as set forth in  claim 30 , wherein the flange has a generally fan shape that extends radially around the stem. 
     
     
         32 . The pump set as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the liquid source is one of a nutrient liquid bag or a flushing fluid bag. 
     
     
         33 . A pumping apparatus comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 a pumping unit for pumping liquid; and 
 a cassette recess configured to receive a cassette; 
   a pump set comprising:
 tubing for carrying a liquid, the tubing comprising an inlet section for connection to a liquid source and a pump engagement section configured for engagement by the pumping apparatus to pump the liquid through the tubing; and 
 a valve mechanism attached to the tubing between the inlet section and the pump engagement section, the valve mechanism comprising a first port connected to the inlet section of the tubing, a second port connected to the pump engagement section of the tubing, and a valve disposed between the first and second ports, the valve including a rotatable stem to selectively communicate the first port with the second port, the stem including a flow passage extending through the stem from an inlet end of the flow passage to an outlet end of the flow passage whereby the inlet end of the flow passage communicates with the first port and the outlet end of the flow passage communicates with the second port to place the inlet section of the tubing in communication with the pump engagement section of the tubing, the flow passage increasing in cross-sectional area from the inlet end toward the outlet end, wherein the cross-sectional area of the flow passage changes at different rates through the flow passage from the inlet end to the outlet end; and 
   a cassette configured to releasably receive the pump set, the cassette comprising:
 a body configured for releasable attachment to the housing to mount the cassette to the pumping apparatus; and 
 a fitting releasably mountable to the body, the fitting including the valve mechanism comprising the first port, the second port, and the valve disposed between the first and second ports, the valve including the stem rotatably mounted to selectively communicate the first port with the second port, the stem including a flange to secure the fitting to the pumping apparatus when the stem is rotated to communicate the first port with the second port. 
   
     
     
         34 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein a maximum rate of increase in the cross-sectional area of the flow passage occurs generally intermediate the inlet end and outlet end of the flow passage. 
     
     
         35 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein the tubing comprises a first tubing for connection to a first liquid source and a second tubing for connection to a second liquid source, the first port being connected to the first tubing, the valve mechanism comprising a third port connected to a third tubing, the stem being rotatably mounted to selectively communicate the outlet end of the flow passage with the first and third ports, the outlet end of the flow passage remaining in communication with the second port when the inlet end is rotated between the first and third ports. 
     
     
         36 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein longitudinal axes of the first port, second port, third port and flow passage are generally coplanar. 
     
     
         37 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 33 , further comprising a cassette configured for releasable attachment to the pumping apparatus, the tubing and the valve mechanism being releasably mounted to the cassette. 
     
     
         38 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein the first port has a non-uniformly circular-shaped opening for communicating liquid to the flow passage in the valve stem. 
     
     
         39 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein the valve includes a stem holder for mounting the stem, the stem holder defining stops positioned to be engaged by a flange of the stem to limit rotation of the stem in the stem holder. 
     
     
         40 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 39 , wherein the stem holder has a recessed portion configured to receive a catch when attached to the pumping apparatus. 
     
     
         41 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 39 , wherein the flange projects radially outward from the stem. 
     
     
         42 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 41 , wherein the flange has a generally fan shape that extends radially around the stem. 
     
     
         43 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein the liquid source is one of a nutrient liquid bag or a flushing fluid bag. 
     
     
         44 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein the housing further comprises a display screen configured to display information regarding status and operation of the pump. 
     
     
         45 . A pumping apparatus comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 a pumping unit for pumping liquid; and 
 a cassette recess configured to receive a cassette; 
   a fitting assembly, comprising:
 a first port, 
 a second port, and 
 a valve disposed between the first and second ports, the valve including a stem rotatably mounted to selectively communicate the first port with the second port, the stem including a flow passage extending through the stem from an inlet end of the flow passage to an outlet end of the flow passage whereby the inlet end of the flow passage communicates with the first port and the outlet end of the flow passage communicates with the second port to place an inlet section of tubing in communication with a pump engagement section of the tubing, the flow passage increasing in cross-sectional area from the inlet end toward the outlet end, wherein the cross-sectional area of the flow passage changes at different rates through the flow passage from the inlet end to the outlet end; and 
   a cassette comprising:
 a body configured for releasable attachment to the pumping apparatus to mount the cassette to the pumping apparatus; and 
 a fitting releasably mountable to the body, the fitting including a valve mechanism comprising the first port, the second port, and the valve disposed between the first and second ports, the valve including the stem rotatably mounted to selectively communicate the first port with the second port, the stem including a flange to secure the fitting to the pumping apparatus when the stem is rotated to communicate the first port with the second port. 
   
     
     
         46 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 45 , wherein a maximum rate of increase in the cross-sectional area of the flow passage occurs generally intermediate the inlet end and outlet end of the flow passage. 
     
     
         47 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 45 , wherein the tubing comprises a first tubing for connection to a first liquid source and a second tubing for connection to a second liquid source, the first port being connected to the first tubing, the valve mechanism comprising a third port connected to a third tubing, the stem being rotatably mounted to selectively communicate the outlet end of the flow passage with the first and third ports, the outlet end of the flow passage remaining in communication with the second port when the inlet end is rotated between the first and third ports. 
     
     
         48 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 47 , wherein longitudinal axes of the first port, second port, third port and flow passage are generally coplanar. 
     
     
         49 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 45 , further comprising a cassette configured for releasable attachment to the pumping apparatus, the tubing and the valve mechanism being releasably mounted to the cassette. 
     
     
         50 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 45 , wherein the first port has a non-uniformly circular-shaped opening for communicating liquid to the flow passage in the valve stem. 
     
     
         51 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 45 , wherein the valve includes a stem holder for mounting the stem, the stem holder defining stops positioned to be engaged by a flange of the stem to limit rotation of the stem in the stem holder. 
     
     
         52 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 51 , wherein the stem holder has a recessed portion configured to receive a catch when attached to the pumping apparatus. 
     
     
         53 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 51 , wherein the flange projects radially outward from the stem. 
     
     
         54 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 53 , wherein the flange has a generally fan shape that extends radially around the stem. 
     
     
         55 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 45 , wherein the liquid source is one of a nutrient liquid bag or a flushing fluid bag. 
     
     
         56 . The pumping apparatus as set forth in  claim 45 , wherein the housing further comprises a display screen configured to display information regarding status and operation of the pump.