Tube pump

Abstract

The invention relates to a tube pump including an at least partly flexible tube and a pump element inserted in the tube, where the pump element comprises no more than one non-return valve member and a flow blocking member positioned a distance apart on a rod element. The non-return valve member is oriented on the rod element so as to allow for a fluid flow in the tube through the valve member along the rod element in the direction towards the flow blocking member. The flow blocking member is in a closed configuration placed to block the tube by engaging with the tube walls, and is in an open configuration configured to deform by a deformation of the tube such as to allow for fluid passage. The flow blocking member further is configured to attain its closed configuration when not opened by the tube deformation. The tube comprises an at least partly flexible tube portion between the valve member and the flow blocking member, such that a repeated deformation of the flexible tube portion acts to alternately close and open the valve member and the flow blocking device thereby generating a fluid flow through the tube. The invention further relates to an infusion pump comprising such tube pump as mentioned above.

1 . A tube pump comprising an at least partly flexible tube and a pump element inserted in said tube, the pump element comprising a rod element, no more than one non-return valve member, and a flow blocking member, wherein the non-return valve member and the flow blocking member are positioned a distance apart on said rod element, and the non-return valve member is oriented on the rod element so as to allow for a fluid flow in the tube through the valve member along the rod element in the direction towards the flow blocking member, wherein the flow blocking member in a closed configuration is placed to block the tube by engaging with the tube walls in a fluid tight fashion, and the flow blocking member in an open configuration is configured to deform by a deformation of the tube such as to allow for passage of a fluid between the flow blocking member and the tube walls, and wherein the flow blocking member is configured to attain its closed configuration when not opened by said tube deformation, wherein the tube comprises an at least partly flexible tube portion between said valve member and said flow blocking member, such that a repeated deformation of said flexible tube portion acts to alternately close and open the valve member and the flow blocking device thereby generating a fluid flow through the tube. 
     
     
         2 . The tube pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow blocking member comprises a foam member. 
     
     
         3 . The tube pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow blocking member comprises a flexible member of a larger outer circumference than the interior circumference of the tube. 
     
     
         4 . The tube pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump element extends into the tube from one end of the tube, and where the pump element further comprises at least one sealing part engaging with the tube wall in a fluid tight fashion in one end of the tube. 
     
     
         5 . The tube pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump element extends through the entire length of the tube and comprises sealing parts engaging with the tube wall in a fluid tight fashion in both ends of the tube. 
     
     
         6 . The tube pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump element further comprises a filter placed on said rod element. 
     
     
         7 . The tube pump according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one actuator comprising a movable contact plate arranged for deforming said flexible tube portion by compressing the tube when actuated. 
     
     
         8 . The tube pump according to  claim 7 , wherein the movable contact plate is arranged to successively deformed the tube surrounding the flow blocking member and the tube portion between the valve member and the the flow blocking member. 
     
     
         9 . The tube pump according to  claim 1 , comprising at least two pump elements placed serially. 
     
     
         10 . The tube pump according to  claim 1 , where the non-return valve member comprises a flexible funnel shaped membrane and a perforated disk fitted onto the rod element, the disk being sized to engage with the interior of the tube in a fluid tight fashion and the membrane is sized to cover the disk perforations if pressed against the disk. 
     
     
         11 . The tube pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube pump further comprises a pipe connection part configured for connecting the tube pump to a further tube. 
     
     
         12 . The tube pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said non-return valve member comprises a valve belonging to the group of ball valves, duckbill valves, diaphragm valves, wafer valves, check valves, swing check valves, disc check valves, split disc check valves, tilting disk check valves, cross slit valves, umbrella valves, and lift-check valves. 
     
     
         13 . The tube pump according to  claim 1 , where the rod element is made of a bendable material. 
     
     
         14 . The tube pump according to  claim 1 , where the rod element is made of PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), a rubber, or a metal alloy. 
     
     
         15 . An infusion pump comprising a tube pump according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The tube pump according to  claim 13 , where the connecting rod is made of a thermoplast.