Method and system for providing adjustable compression force on a tube in a peristaltic pump

Abstract

A cassette for use in a peristaltic pump is provided. The cassette includes a cassette frame, a cam, a cam position selector switch, and a biasing member. The cassette frame mounts to the peristaltic pump. The biasing member mounts to the cam and to the cassette frame and operably couples with the cam position selector switch. Moving the cam position selector switch in a first direction releases the cam position selector switch from the cassette frame. Moving the cam position selector switch in a second direction after releasing the cam position selector switch from the cassette frame adjusts a position of the cam relative to the cassette frame. The second direction is approximately perpendicular to the first direction.

1 . A cassette for use in a peristaltic pump, the cassette comprising: 
 a cassette frame configured to mount to a peristaltic pump and to receive a tube;    a cam;    a cam position selector switch; and    a biasing member mounted to the cam and to the cassette frame and operably coupled with the cam position selector switch so that movement of the cam position selector switch adjusts a position of the cam relative to the cassette frame.    
   
   
       2 . The cassette of  claim 1 , wherein the cam position selector switch comprises: 
 a first edge, the first edge including a plurality of ridges;    a second edge, the second edge generally opposite the first edge, the second edge inclined relative to the first edge; and    a knob extending from the first edge.    
   
   
       3 . The cassette of  claim 2 , wherein the cassette frame comprises an exterior surface and a peripheral wall, wherein the peripheral wall includes a peripheral edge in the exterior surface, the peripheral wall defining a slot within which the knob is configured to move.  
   
   
       4 . The cassette of  claim 3 , wherein the cassette frame includes an interior surface, the interior surface extending from the peripheral wall and including a second plurality of ridges, wherein the plurality of ridges are configured to abut the second plurality of ridges.  
   
   
       5 . The cassette of  claim 4 , wherein the cassette frame includes a push button mounted for movement in a first direction, wherein the second edge contacts the push button to cause the movement in the first direction.  
   
   
       6 . The cassette of  claim 5 , wherein the biasing member mounts to the push button.  
   
   
       7 . The cassette of  claim 6 , wherein the biasing member is a blade spring mounted to the push button near a center of the blade spring.  
   
   
       8 . The cassette of  claim 7 , wherein the blade spring includes a first tip and a second tip opposite the first tip, and further wherein the cam mounts to the blade spring near the first tip and near the second tip.  
   
   
       9 . A peristaltic pump, the peristaltic pump comprising: 
 a pump frame;    a plurality of rollers configured to mount to the pump frame;    an actuator operably coupled to move the plurality of rollers;    a cassette, the cassette comprising 
 a cassette frame configured to mount to the pump frame and to receive a tube;  
 a cam positioned to compress the received tube against the plurality of rollers;  
 a cam position selector switch; and  
 a biasing member mounted to the cam and to the cassette frame and operably coupled with the cam position selector switch so that movement of the cam position selector switch adjusts a position of the cam relative to the cassette frame.  
   
   
   
       10 . The cassette of  claim 9 , wherein the cam position selector switch comprises: 
 a first edge, the first edge including a plurality of ridges;    a second edge, the second edge generally opposite the first edge, the second edge inclined relative to the first edge; and    a knob extending from the first edge.    
   
   
       11 . The cassette of  claim 10 , wherein the cassette frame comprises an exterior surface and a peripheral wall wherein the peripheral wall includes a peripheral edge in the exterior surface, the peripheral wall defining a slot within which the knob is configured to move.  
   
   
       12 . The cassette of  claim 11 , wherein the cassette frame includes an interior surface, the interior surface extending from the peripheral wall and including a second plurality of ridges, wherein the plurality of ridges are configured to abut the second plurality of ridges.  
   
   
       13 . The cassette of  claim 12 , wherein the cassette frame includes a push button mounted for movement in a first direction, wherein the second edge contacts the push button to cause the movement in the first direction.  
   
   
       14 . The cassette of  claim 13 , wherein the biasing member mounts to the push button.  
   
   
       15 . The cassette of  claim 14 , wherein the biasing member is a blade spring mounted to the push button near a center of the blade spring.  
   
   
       16 . The cassette of  claim 15 , wherein the blade spring includes a first tip and a second tip opposite the first tip, and further wherein the cam mounts to the blade spring near the first tip and near the second tip.  
   
   
       17 . The cassette of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of ridges are at least one of scalloped and serrated.  
   
   
       18 . A method of adjusting a position of a cam in a peristaltic pump, the method comprising: 
 mounting a cassette to a peristaltic pump, the cassette comprising 
 a cassette frame;  
 a cam;  
 a cam position selector switch; and  
 a biasing member mounted to the cam and to the cassette frame and operably coupled with the cam position selector switch;  
   moving the cam position selector switch in a first direction to release the cam position selector switch from the cassette frame; and    moving the cam position selector switch in a second direction after releasing the cam position selector switch from the cassette frame to adjust a position of the cam relative to the cassette frame, wherein the second direction is approximately perpendicular to the first direction.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein movement of the cam position selector switch in the second direction causes movement of the cam in the first direction.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the cam position selector switch comprises: 
 a first edge, the first edge including a plurality of ridges;    a second edge, the second edge generally opposite the first edge, the second edge inclined relative to the first edge; and    a knob extending from the first edge.