Patent ID: 8403874

Claim:
A syringe pump comprising a base, a first interchangeable gripping element, a second interchangeable gripping element, a pusher, a sensor and a control unit, the pusher being effective to move a mobile part of a syringe held in the syringe pump, the sensor being configured to emit a force signal corresponding to a pushing force exerted by the pusher, the control unit being configured to receive the force signal and to guide the pusher in accordance with the force signal received, the base having a linear sliding guide, the first gripping element being engaged with the base via sliding engagement with the linear sliding guide, the first gripping element comprising a first housing defining a first diameter and a first longitudinal axis, the first longitudinal axis being in a first predetermined position relative to the pusher, the first gripping element, via the first housing, being effective to hold an axial tract of a fixed part of a first syringe in a first operating position, the first syringe in the first operating position having a longitudinal axis which substantially coincides with the first longitudinal axis, the second gripping element, when the first gripping element is removed from the base, being engageable with the base via sliding engagement with the linear sliding guide, the second gripping element comprising a second housing defining a second diameter and a second longitudinal axis, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter, the second gripping element, via the second housing, being effective to hold an axial tract of a fixed part of a second syringe in a second operating position wherein the second syringe in the second operating position has a longitudinal axis which substantially coincides with the second longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis, when the second gripping element is engaged with the base, being in a second predetermined position relative to the pusher, the second predetermined position being the same as the first predetermined position, the linear sliding guide extending substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis.