Method and device for insertion of tubing into irrigation and infusion fluid pumps

Abstract

Connectors are attached to a pump housing. The pump squeezes tubing of a particular outer diameter creating a peristaltic contraction of the tubing to push the fluid in the tubing in a particular direction. The connectors hold the tubing in slots having walls that are narrower than the outer diameter of the tubing. To aid in pushing the tubing into the slots, a door is attached to the connectors that pushes the tubing into the slots while closing thereby covering the slots, which helps assure that the tubing is properly attached to the connector. Alternatively, the connector may be permanently attached to the tubing, but may be detached from the pump housing, so that as long as the connectors are connected properly, the tubing is connected properly.

1 . A device, comprising:
 a pump that squeezes tubing of a particular outer diameter creating a peristaltic contraction of the tubing to push the fluid in the tubing in a particular direction;   a sensor for sensing properties of the fluid;   a connector having a slot leading to or leading away from the sensor forming a channel that holds the tubing in place; the slot having walls having a portion in which the walls are a distance apart from one another that is less than the particular outer diameter of the tubing; and   a cover for the slot holding the tubing in the slot.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , the connector being detachable from the pump. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , the walls of the slot having another portion that passes by the sensor in which the walls of the slot are a distance apart that is at least as large as the particular outer diameter. 
     
     
         4 . A system comprising:
 a pump that squeezes tubing of a particular outer diameter, creating a peristaltic contraction of the tubing to push the fluid in the tubing in a particular direction;   a sensor for sensing properties of the fluid; and   a connector having slot leading to or leading away from the sensor forming a channel that holds the tubing in place; the connector being permanently attached to the tubing; the connector detaches from a housing of the pump, so that when the tubing is changed, a new tubing permanently attached to a new connector is attached to the pump housing.   
     
     
         5 . A method comprising:
 placing tubing into a slot that is in a connector, the slot having walls having a portion in which that walls are distance apart from one another that is less than an outer diameter of the tubing, the connector being attached to a pump; and   closing a covering that covers the slot, the covering pushing the tubing into the slot and holds the tubing in the slot;   while the pump is in operation, the pump squeezes the tubing therein creating a peristaltic contraction of the tubing to push the fluid in the tubing in a particular direction.