Infusion device and peristaltic pump thereof

Abstract

An infusion device includes a fluid path module and a drive module. The fluid path module includes a first housing and a peristaltic pump disposed within the first housing and including a flexible tube and a roller module. The roller module includes a holder structure movable laterally, a roller mechanism and an actuating rod. The roller mechanism is rotatably mounted on the holder structure. The actuating rod drives the roller module to rotate. The drive module includes a second housing, a spinning head and a power source. The spinning head and the power source are disposed within the second housing. The power source rotates the spinning head. When the actuating rod is at an initial position, the flexible tube is uncompressed. When the second housing is assembled with the first housing, the spinning head becomes engaged with the actuating rod and the roller mechanism compresses the flexible tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An infusion device comprising: 
 a fluid path module comprising: 
 a first housing; and 
 a peristaltic pump disposed within the first housing and comprising: 
 a flexible tube; and 
 a roller module rotatable relative to the flexible tube, the roller module comprising: 
 a holder structure having at least one holder movable in a lateral direction relative to the flexible tube; 
 a roller mechanism comprising at least one roller rotatably mounted on the at least one holder; and 
 an actuating rod driving the roller module to rotate; and 
 a drive module comprising: 
 a second housing; 
 a spinning head disposed within the second housing at a position corresponding to the actuating rod; and 
 a power source disposed within the second housing and connected to the spinning head, for driving the spinning head to rotate; 
 
 wherein when the actuating rod is at an initial position, the flexible tube is uncompressed by any rollers; 
 wherein when the second housing is assembled with the first housing, the spinning head becomes detachably engaged with the actuating rod and the flexible tube is compressed by the at least one roller for fluid transfer in the flexible tube. 
 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating rod is movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the flexible tube, causing the actuating rod to move the at least one holder in the lateral direction by exerting a longitudinal force for making the at least one roller compress the flexible tube, and the spinning head exerts a rotational force to rotate the roller module. 
     
     
         3 . The infusion device of  claim 2 , wherein the protruding structure protrudes from the at least one holder and has an inclined surface formed thereon; when the actuating rod moves in the longitudinal direction, the actuating rod slides against the inclined surface of the at least one holder for making the at least one roller compress the flexible tube by the lateral movement of the at least one holder. 
     
     
         4 . The infusion device of  claim 2 , wherein the protruding structure protrudes from the actuating rod and has an inclined surface formed thereon; when the actuating rod moves in the longitudinal direction, the inclined surface of the actuating rod slides against the at least one holder for making the at least one roller compress the flexible tube by the lateral movement of the at least one holder. 
     
     
         5 . The infusion device of  claim 2 , wherein the protruding structure comprises a first protruding portion protruding from the actuating rod and a second protruding portion protruding from the at least one holder, the first protruding portion has a first inclined surface formed thereon, and the second protruding portion has a second inclined surface formed thereon corresponding to the first inclined surface; when the actuating rod moves in the longitudinal direction, the first inclined surface slides along the second inclined surface for making the at least one roller compress the flexible tube by the lateral movement of the at least one holder. 
     
     
         6 . The infusion device of  claim 2 , wherein the actuating rod has a first patterned interface at an end of the actuating rod, the spinning head has a second patterned interface corresponding to the actuating rod, and the first pattern interface is detachably engaged with the second patterned interface to make the actuating rod receive both the longitudinal force for moving the at least one holder in the lateral direction and the rotational force for rotating the roller module. 
     
     
         7 . The infusion device of  claim 6 , wherein the first patterned interface is one of a non-keyed torque transmitting coupling concave structure and a non-keyed torque transmitting coupling convex structure, the second patterned interface is another of the non-keyed torque transmitting coupling concave structure and the non-keyed torque transmitting coupling convex structure, and the non-keyed torque transmitting coupling convex structure is received within the non-keyed torque transmitting coupling concave structure to achieve engagement of the first patterned interface and the second patterned interface. 
     
     
         8 . The infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing has at least one through hole to allow a tool to physically access a fluid container connected to the fluid path module. 
     
     
         9 . The infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the second housing is detachably assembled with the first housing to make the spinning head engaged with the actuating rod, causing at least one roller to move laterally for compressing the flexible tube.  
     
     
         10 . The infusion device of  claim 9 , wherein the first housing is rotatably connected to the second housing; when the second housing rotates to be assembled with the first housing, the spinning head engaged with the actuating rod.  
     
     
         11 . The infusion device of  claim 9 , wherein the second housing has a bottom lid with a socket formed thereon, the bottom lid openably covers the drive module, and the socket accepts the fluid path module as a cassette; when the bottom lid is closed, the cassette is contained within the drive module; when the bottom lid is opened, the cassette is removable from the socket. 
     
     
         12 . The infusion device of  claim 9 , wherein the second housing has a socket and a bottom lid openably covering the socket, and the socket accepts the fluid path module as a cassette; when the bottom lid is closed, the cassette is contained within the drive module; when the bottom lid is opened, the cassette is removable from the socket. 
     
     
         13 . The infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing has an inlet and an outlet, the inlet is communicated with one end of the flexible tube for receiving a fluid, and the outlet is communicated with another end of the flexible tube for outputting the fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing comprises a top case and a bottom case, and the roller module and the flexible tube are held together by the top case and the bottom case; the top case or the bottom case integrally forms an adapter structure for receiving a fluid container and forms a connector structure for connecting to an output component. 
     
     
         15 . A peristaltic pump comprising: 
 a flexible tube; and   a roller module rotatable relative to the flexible tube, the roller module comprising: 
 a holder structure movable relative to the flexible tube, the holder structure comprising a first holder and a second holder; 
 a roller mechanism rotatably mounted on the holder structure, the roller mechanism comprising at least one first roller rotatably mounted on the first holder and at least one second roller rotatably mounted on the second holder; and 
 an actuating rod movable relative to the flexible tube in a longitudinal direction, a protruding structure protruding laterally from at least one of the first holder and the actuating rod; 
   wherein before the actuating rod is moved longitudinally toward the flexible tube, the at least one first roller is facing the flexible tube, and the at least one second roller is not facing the flexible tube;    after the actuating rod is moved longitudinally toward the flexible tube by a longitudinal force, the protruding structure drives the first holder to move laterally, for making the at least one first roller compress the flexible tube;   upon rotating the roller module by a rotational force from the actuating rod, the at least one first roller and the at least one second roller compress the flexible tube for fluid transfer in the flexible tube.   
     
     
         16 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 15 , wherein the protruding structure protrudes laterally from the first holder and has an inclined surface formed thereon; when the actuating rod moves in the longitudinal direction, the actuating rod slides against the protruding structure along the inclined surface for making the first roller compress the flexible tube by the lateral movement of the first holder. 
     
     
         17 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 15 , wherein the protruding structure protrudes laterally from the actuating rod and has an inclined surface formed thereon; when the actuating rod moves in the longitudinal direction, the inclined surface of the actuating rod slides against the first holder for making the first roller compress the flexible tube by the lateral movement of the at least one first holder. 
     
     
         18 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 15 , wherein the protruding structure comprises a first protruding portion protruding from the actuating rod and a second protruding portion protruding from the first holder, the first protruding portion has a first inclined surface formed thereon, and the second protruding portion has a second inclined surface formed thereon corresponding to the first inclined surface; when the actuating rod moves in the longitudinal direction toward the flexible tube, the first inclined surface slides along the second inclined surface for making the at least one first roller compress the flexible tube by the lateral movement of the first holder. 
     
     
         19 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 15 , wherein the actuating rod has a patterned interface at an end of the actuating rod that receives both the longitudinal force for moving the first holder laterally, and the rotational force for rotating the roller module. 
     
     
         20 . The peristaltic pump of  claim 19 , wherein the patterned interface is a non-keyed torque transmitting coupling concave or convex structure.