Patent ID: 6149394
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: F04B

Abstract:
An occlusion detector for a peristaltic pump comprising a peristaltic pump having a circular rotor journalled for rotation, an electric motor operatively connected to power said rotor in rotation so as to cause a directional flow of a medicant, a switch housing having walls bounding a semi-circular compartment and in said directional flow a first encountered inlet opening into said compartment and a second encountered outlet opening out of said compartment, a first hollow length of tube of a specified wall thickness of an extent effective to obviate damage thereto during pumping service of said peristaltic pump having an inlet opening in communication with a source of said medicant and after a helical turn about said rotor having an outlet opening located adjacent to said switch housing inlet opening, a second hollow length of tube of said similar specified wall thickness having an inlet opening in communication with said switch housing outlet opening and an outlet opening in communication with a site of use of said medicant, a switch means projected into said switch housing compartment operatively effective to be urged in descending movement in response to a pressure build-up as caused by an occlusion in said second tube length, and a third hollow length of tube connected to extend through said switch housing compartment in contact with said switch means and characterized by a reduced wall thickness of half the thickness of said specified wall thickness of said first and second tube lengths and having a first end in communication with said first tube outlet opening and a second end in communication with said second tube inlet, whereby there is minimal resistance of said third tube wall thickness to said occlusion-detecting descending movement of said switch means.