Pumping arrangements

Abstract: A pumping arrangement consists of a pumping device 3 comprising a squeezing device 5 for deforming a length of pliant p.v.c. tubing 1 first in one direction locally to reduce its volume and in another tending to restore its original cross-section and, on either side of device 5, inlet and outlet valves 6,7 which operate by occluding tubing 1. Device 5 and valves 6,7 are controlled by a microprocessor control unit 8 such that inlet valve 6 is open and outlet valve 7 shut whilst squeezing device 5 is relaxed and thereafter outlet valve 7 is open and inlet valve 6 shut whilst squeezing device 5 is operated to form the tubing, this sequence repeating. Beyond output valve 7 is a pressure responsive device 9 providing input to control unit 8 whereby upon a rise in pressure in the delivery portion of tubing 1 due to a restriction squeezing device 5 is disabled and valves 6 and 7 are opened together to allow excess fluid to pass back towards the fluid source 2.

Description: This invention relates to pumping apparatus and in particular to pumping apparatus for use in medical applications such as the intravenous supply of fluids to a patient. In such applications as last-mentioned it is common for deformable tubing such as p.v.c. tubing, to be used to deliver the required fluid to the point of application. Where the supply rate and pressure is required to be carefully controlled, as is generally the case in medical applications as aforesaid, a serious problem can arise if the delivery tubing is restricted in any way (for example, by a patient rolling over onto it). Means can be provided to detect the resultant increase in pressure in the delivery tubing and disable the pumping action. However, if the restriction is removed (in the example given by the patient rolling over again, off the tubing, or more likely by a nurse responding to an alarm also initiated by the means for detecting the increase in pressure), an undesirable, surge of fluid to the point of application can result due to pressure retained in the delivery tubing. EP-A-0361793 discloses a pumping apparatus which can detect the increase in fluid pressure in tubing that arises as a result of flow restriction, and use such detection in order to activate an alarm which alerts the operator to the presence of fluid flow restriction in the tubing. EP-A-0361793 does not disclose any means in the apparatus which is operable to prevent an undesirable fluid surge in the tubing when the operator removes the cause of the fluid flow restriction. The precharacterising part of Claim 1 is based on EP-A-0361793 and the distinguishing features of the present invention are set out in the characterising part of Claim 1. According to the present invention there is provided a pumping apparatus for receiving tubing, the apparatus comprising pressurizing means for subjecting fluid in the tubing to pressure, first and second controllable valve means respectively on the input side and output side of the pressurizing means for restricting fluid flow, detecting means for detecting fluid pressure in the tubing and positioned on the output side of said second valve means, and control means responsive to said detecting means and operable to control both said valve means, characterised in that the control means comprises means operable to cause both of the valve means to open when increases in fluid pressure exceeding a given threshold are detected in the tubing, whereby fluid under excess pressure in said tubing is released back towards the first valve means. Preferably means are also provided for disabling said fluid pressure subjecting means in response to increases in pressure detected by said fluid pressure responsive means. Preferably said controllable valve means each comprises means operable to squeeze said tubing to produce occlusion. The invention is illustrated in and further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a pumping arrangement in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a view in elevation of a fluid pressure responsive device; Figure 3 shows a cross-section along the line x-x in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram of a liquid flow monitoring arrangement with a pressure responsive device; Figure 5 illustrates in highly shematic fashion the cycle of operation of the controllable valves and pressurizing means; and Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the nature and operation of the pressurizing means. Referring to Figure 1, a length of standard pliant p.v.c. tubing 1 of approximately 4.1mm outside diameter and 0.5mm wall thickness is connected at one end to a source of fluid 2. From that end, tubing 1 passes through a pumping device 3 to a point of application 4. The point of application in this case is a patient and a fluid is a fluid required to be supplied intravenously. The means at the point of application for achieving this is not represented, but may be taken to be conventional. Between the source of fluid 2 and pumping device 3 the tubing 1 may be regarded as supply tubing, whilst between pumping device 3 and the point of application 4 the tubing 1 may be regarded as delivery tubing, although in this example the length of tubing is continuous. Pumping device 3 comprises a pressurizing means 5 (referred to hereafter as squeezing device 5) through which tubing 1 passes. Squeezing device 5 is arranged to deform tubing 1, first in one direction locally to reduce its volume and thereafter in another direction tending to restore the original cross-sectional shape of the tubing 1. On the supply or input side of squeezing device 5 is a controllable input valve 6 which is operable to block the passage of fluid between the squeezing device 5 and the fluid source 2 by squeezing tubing 1 to produce occlusion. On the delivery or output side of squeezing device 5 is a controllable output valve 7 which is operable to block the passage of fluid between the squeezing device 5 and the point of application 4. Controllable valves 6 and 7 described herein correspond to inlet and outlet valves described in detail in EP-A-0426273. Squeezing device 5 and inlet and outlet valves 6 and 7 shown in the accompanying drawing are controlled by a microprocessor control unit 8 to produce the pumping action as follows. Briefly, as shown in Figure 5, with squeezing device 5 relaxed, output valve 7 closed and inlet valve open, fluid passes into the region of the tubing encompassed by squeezing means 5. With squeezing means 5 activated locally to reduce the volume of tubing 1, inlet valve 6 closed and outlet valve 7 open, fluid is passed towards the point of application 4. The process then repeats. Normally, it will be noted, inlet valve 6 is shut when outlet valve 7 is open and vice versa . Referring to Figure 6 this illustrates at (b), by way of a perspective sketch, the two principal components of the squeezing means 5. The view shown in (a) is in the direction of the arrow "A" in (b) and shows the two principal-component members 26 and 27 of the deforming means united. Member 26 has a series of transverse ridges 28 which are shaped to provide a valley through which the aforementioned tubing 1, again show in dotted outlet, may pass. As best illustrated in Figure 7, which demonstrates the action of the squeezing means 5, each ridge 28 has a recess which is semi-circular to one side 29 and of progressively decreasing depth towards the other side 30 of the recess until the full height of the ridge is reached. Viewed in the direction of the passage of the tubing 1 through the valley formed by the recessed in the ridges 28 all of the ridges of the member 26 appear superimposed one upon the other, with all of the semi-circular portions of the recesses to the same side. The member 27 is generally similar to the member 26 (as reflected by the use of like reference numbers for like parts) except that it is relatively inverted with, as best seen from Figure 6 (a), the ridges 28 of one interdigitated with the ridges 28 of the other. Whilst in Figure 6 (a), for ease of illustration, a gap is shown between the two members 26 and 27, in practice the ridges 28 of each member 26 or 27 bear on the surfaces 31 between the ridges 28 of the other member 27 or 26. The member 26 is arranged to be stationary during operation whilst member 27 is arranged to move in the manner of a shuttle, to and fro as represented by the double headed arrow 32 in Figure 6. The effect of one cycle of movement of the member 27 relative to the member 26 is best seen from Figure 7. In (a) of Figure 7 the position of member 27 relative to member 26 is such that the semi-circular portions of the recesses in the ridges 28 of the two members 26,27 form a passage which is of substantially circular cross-section through the squeezing device in which the tubing 1 passes with no or no significant distortion. As member 27 moves in the direction of the arrow 38 (Figure 7 (b)), the tubing 1 is squeezed to produce a cross-section which is oval in shape and of reduced area. As the limit of movement of the member 27 in the direction of the arrow 38 is reached, the member 27 is moved in a reverse direction to the start position shown in Figure 7 (a). This cycle repeats continuously whilst the pumping device 3 is energised. The microprocessor control unit 8 controls the reciprocal movement of the members 26,27. Beyond outlet valve 7 is a pressure responsive device 9 which is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the device 9 illustrated comprises a hard bed member 11 across the surface of which may be positioned a length of pliant tubing 1. Hinged to the bed member 11 by hinge 13 is a main body member 14 which has a circular cylindrical passage 15 extending orthogonally away from the surface of the bed member 11 across which said tubing 1 is positioned. The passage 15 exits from main body member 14 towards tubing 1 through a tubular projection 16 which, when the main body member 14 is closed up towards the bed member 11, flattens the tubing 1 against the surface of the bed member 11 over a short length 17 thereof. The extent to which tubular projection 16 projects towards bed member 11 is such that when the main body member 14 is fully closed up to the bed member 11 (and held by means of a suitable catch, not represented) the tubing 1 is flattened against the bed member 11 without occlusion occurring and without unduly impeding the flow of liquid through the tubing 1. Inserted within the passage 15 is a linear voltage displacement transducer 18 of known form. As known per se transducer 18 has a spring-loaded plunger 19 and produces an output digital voltage signal which is indicative of the extent to which plunger 19 extends beyond the body of the transducer 18. The output voltage signal of transducer 18 will thus vary with the displacement of a surface against which plunger 19 is pressed in the direction of action of said plunger. Transducer 18 is entered into and fixed within the passage 15 to an extent such that plunger 19 is spring-biased against the flattened surface of the tubing 1 when the main body member 14 is closed up and secured to the bed member 11, as previously described. In operation, any variation in the pressure of fluid passing through the tubing 1 will tend to cause expansions and contractions. It is believed that flattening the tubing as above described magnifies the resultant displacement of the relatively flat portion of the wall of the tubing with which the plunger 19 is in contact, thus enabling the transducer 18 to respond to such variations with a higher degree of sensitivity than would otherwise be the case. Referring to Figure 4, only transducer 18 and plunger 19 of the device of Figures 2 and 3 are represented. The analogue output voltage of transducer 18 is arranged to be sampled at the rate of once per second by a sampling circuit 20. The output of sampling circuit 20 is connected to the input of an analogue-to-digital converter 21. The output of analogue-to-digital converter 21 is connected to a unidirectional "count down" only shift register 22, where it is stored, and in parallel to one input of a comparator circuit 23. A second input for comparator circuit 23 is derived from the output of shift register 22 so that comparator circuit 23 compares the digital signal output of analogue-to-digital converter 21 derived from one sample taken by sampling circuit 20 with that derived from the sample taken one second before. The output of comparator circuit 23 is connected via a positive threshold circuit to a suitable visual and/or aural alarm 25. For further understanding of the operation of the arrangement illustrated in Figure 4, reference is made to EP-A-0471492. As plunger 19 is pressed into the flattened portion 17 of the wall of the tubing 1, the wall will first yield markedly over a very short period of time and then, with main body 14 of the monitoring device fully closed up to bed member 11, will continue to yield further, but decreasingly so until a substantially stable state is reached. Sampling is carried out at regular intervals from the time that pressure is first applied to said area and continuing beyond the point in time at which the aforementioned substantially stable state is reached. In other embodiments the functions of components 20 to 24 are provided by a suitably programmed microprocessor. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, pressure responsive device 9 is connected to microprocessor control unit 8. When the signal from pressure responsive device 9 exceeds a given threshold indicating that the pressure in the delivery portion of tubing 1 had risen beyond a predetermined value indicative of a restriction 10 caused, for example, by the patient rolling over onto the tubing 1, control unit 8 acts to cause squeezing device 5 to be disabled and both input and output valves to be opened together so as to enable excess fluid in the delivery portion of tubing 1 to pass back towards the fluid source 2 and thus relieve the excess pressure caused by the restriction. At the same time an alarm is caused to be activated to call the attention of a nurse to the restriction. It will be appreciated that the arrangement may be such that normal operation of the pumping device 3 recommences as pressure in the delivery portion of tubing 1 reduces. In that case, however, "hunting" may occur since a reduction in pressure will occur not only because of a removal of the causative restriction, but also by the very opening of valves 6 and 7 upon device 9 detecting an increase in pressure. If "hunting" as described is undesirable, renewed pumping may be subject to a reset control, operable by the nurse upon removing the cause of the restriction.

Claims: A pumping apparatus for receiving tubing (1), the apparatus comprising pressurizing means (5) for subjecting fluid in the tubing (1) to pressure, first and second controllable valve means (6,7) respectively on the input side and output side of the pressurizing means (5) for restricting fluid flow, detecting means (9) for detecting fluid pressure in the tubing (1) and positioned on the output side of said second valve means (7), and control means (8) responsive to said detecting means (9) and operable to control both said valve means (6,7), characterised in that the control means (8) comprises means operable to cause both of the valve means (6,7) to open when increases in fluid pressure exceeding a given threshold are detected in the tubing (1), whereby fluid under excess pressure in said tubing (1) is released back towards the first valve means (6). The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the control means (8) is operable to disable said pressurizing means (5) in response to increases in fluid pressure in the tubing detected by said detecting means (9). The apparatus of Claim 1 or 2, wherein each valve means (6,7) is operable to squeeze said tubing (1) to produce occlusion thereof. Apparatus as in any one of Claims 1 to 3 in combination with tubing (1) connected between a fluid source (2) and a point (4) of application of the fluid. Pumping apparatus as in any preceding claim, wherein the pressurizing means (5) includes first and second members (26,27) defining a chamber receiving the tubing (1), the members (26,27) being relatively reciprocable to cause alternate deformation and reformation of the tubing (1) in a pumping action wherein the volume of the tubing (1) is reduced when it is deformed, the apparatus including means for urging the tubing (1) to its reformed state in which the normal cross-sectional shape of the tubing (1) is restored, wherein in a first relative position of the members (26,27), the chamber is substantially cylindrical, whereby the members (26,27) urge the tubing (1) to its reformed state, and the members (26,27) being relatively movable in a direction radial of the chamber and tubing (1) to a second relative position, in which the chamber is elongate to cause deformation of the tubing (1). A pumping apparatus as in Claim 5 wherein said control means (8) is operable to control the reciprocal movement of said members (26,27) and the operation of said valve means such that when said tubing is being deformed by said members (26,27), the valve means (6) on the upstream side restricts fluid flow through said tubing (1), whilst the valve means (7) on the downstream side permits increased liquid flow and when said tubing is being urged to its reformed state, the valve means (7) on the downstream side restricts fluid flow through the tubing (1) whilst the valve means (6) on the upstream side permits increased liquid flow. A pumping apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the detecting means (9) comprises first means (11,16) for causing the tubing (1) to assume an elongate cross-section over a length thereof to define a relatively flattened region of a wall of the tubing (1) within said length, second means (18,19) for applying pressure to a part of the relatively flattened region, the second means being responsive to movement of said part to provide indications of variations in the pressure of said fluid, and means (20-25) for compensating for movement of said part occurring after said pressure is applied thereto and due to other than variations in the pressure of said fluid. A pumping apparatus as in Claim 7 wherein said compensating means (20-25) comprises means (23) for comparing an indication derived at a given point in time with an indication derived at a previous point in time and means (24) responsive to the existence therebetween of a difference above a threshold level, for signalling that a change in the pressure of said fluid has occurred. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 or 8 and wherein said first means (11,16) for causing said tubing (1) to assume an elongate cross-section over a length thereof comprises a bed member (11) having a non-resilient substantially flat surface across which said tubing (1) may be positioned and a body member (14,16) for flattening said tubing (1) non-occlusively over a length thereof against said surface of said bed member and the second means (18,19) comprises a pressure applying member (18) carried by the body member (14,16) for applying pressure to a point in said relatively flattened region. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 and wherein said pressure-applying member (18) comprises a linear voltage displacement transducer having a spring-loaded plunger (19) and producing, in operation, an output voltage signal which is indicative of the extent to which said plunger extends beyond the body of said transducer, said plunger (19) being arranged to be pressed into the relatively flattened region of the wall of said tubing at said point. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 and wherein said transducer (18) is housed in the body member (14,16) which is arranged to be movable towards and away from said bed member (11) whereby said tubing (1) may be engaged or released by said plunger (19). An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 and wherein said body member (14,16) includes a tubular projection extending beyond a cylindrical passage (15) within said body member, said passage opening in a surface of said body member facing said bed member (11) and said tubular projection (16) serving to flatten said tubing as aforesaid as said body member (14,16) is moved towards said bed member (11). An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 or 12 and wherein said body member (14,16) and said bed member (11) are hinged together and means are provided for securing the one to the other when the body member is closed up to said bed member in operation. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 10 to 13 and wherein the output of said linear voltage displacement transducer (18) is arranged to be sampled by a sampling circuit (20), the output of which is connected via an analogue-to-digital converter (21), to the input of a unidirectional shift register (22) and in parallel to one input of a comparison circuit (23), a second input of which is derived from the output of said shift register (22), whereby the digitalised output of said sampling circuit is compared with the immediately preceding output of said sampling circuit outputted from said shift register, the output of said comparison circuit (23) being connected via a threshold circuit (24) to operate a suitable alarm (25). An apparatus as claimed in Claim 14 and wherein the constituents connected to take output from said linear voltage displacement transducer (18) and operate said alarm (25) are replaced by a microprocessor programmed to perform the component functions. A method of operating a device as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the indications are produced by sampling at regular intervals from the time that pressure is first applied to said part and continuing beyond the point in time at which the stable state of the tubing is reached. A method as claimed in Claim 16 wherein an indication produced by sampling is compared with an immediately preceding indication produced by sampling. A method as claimed in Claim 16 or 17 wherein the rate of sampling is approximately once per second.

Inventors: DANBY HAL, DANBY, HAL
Applicants: BAXTER INT, BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A61M5
IPC codes: A61M5