Pump chamber having at least one spacer for inhibiting the pumping of a gas

Abstract

Pump chambers are disclosed that include at least one spacer element therein to prevent any gas in the pump chamber from being pumped from the pump chamber during pumping. In some embodiments, the pump chambers are included in removable pumping cartridges that are constructed and configured for coupling with reusable pump drives. Some embodiments of pump chambers including spacer elements therein comprise a substantially rigid component forming a wall of the pump chamber with a flexible or movable membrane disposed on the wall to form the chamber. Spacer elements in such pump chambers are, in some embodiments, attached to a wall of the substantially rigid component so as to prevent the movable/flexible membrane from contacting the wall during pumping.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pumping device, comprising: 
 a pumping cartridge; and    a pump chamber disposed therein; the pump chamber comprising    a wall of said pump chamber,    a movable surface comprising at least a portion of the wall,    at least one spacer positioned within said pump chamber to inhibit gas from being pumped through the pump chamber, and wherein    the pumping cartridge is constructed and configured to be coupled to and removable from a reusable component including a pump drive system for operating the pump chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The pump chamber of  claim 1 , wherein said movable surface comprises a flexible membrane.  
     
     
         3 . The pump chamber of  claim 2 , wherein said flexible membrane comprises an elastic membrane.  
     
     
         4 . The pump chamber of  claim 2 , wherein the removable pumping cartridge is disposable and designed for a single use.  
     
     
         5 . The pump chamber of  claim 4 , further comprising a substantially rigid first component having a depression therein, wherein the flexible membrane is disposed over at least a portion of said first component such that upon coupling of the pumping cartridge with the reusable component, the flexible membrane and said first component form an essentially fluid-tight seal enclosing the pump chamber.  
     
     
         6 . The pump chamber of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one spacer comprises an elongate protuberance having an end and a base, the base being attached within the pump chamber to the first component such that the elongate protuberance extends towards the flexible membrane.  
     
     
         7 . The pump chamber of  claim 6 , wherein the pump chamber includes a dead space to contain a gas during operation of the pump chamber, the dead space defined as a volume within the pump chamber when the flexible membrane is displaced within the pump chamber to a maximum extent allowed by the at least one spacer.  
     
     
         8 . The pump chamber of  claim 6 , wherein said first component includes a plurality of said spacers attached thereto, said spacers being essentially uniformly spaced apart on said first component.  
     
     
         9 . The pump chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the pump chamber has an inlet line and an outlet line and wherein said inlet line is located at or near a top portion of the pump chamber and said outlet line is located at or near a bottom portion of the pump chamber during operation of the pump chamber.  
     
     
         10 . The pump chamber of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one spacer assists air to rise in the pump chamber.  
     
     
         11 . The pump chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the pump chamber comprises a volumetric container and wherein the at least one spacer is positioned within the container to inhibit contact between internal surfaces of the container.  
     
     
         12 . A pump chamber, comprising: 
 a wall of said pump chamber;    a flexible membrane disposed over at least a portion of the wall;    at least one spacer positioned within said pump chamber to assist air to rise in the pump chamber.    
     
     
         13 . A pump chamber, comprising: 
 a wall of said pump chamber;    a movable surface comprising at least a portion of the wall;    at least one spacer positioned within said pump chamber to inhibit gas from being pumped through the pump chamber;    an inlet line; and    an outlet line, the inlet line being connected to the pump chamber at or near a top portion of the pump chamber and the outlet line being connected to the pump chamber at or near a bottom portion of the pump chamber during operation of the pump chamber.