Fluidic systems utilize a source of positive or negative pressure to move liquids, which may generally be obtained pneumatically or through the use of liquid pumps. Different pumps may be utilized to fulfill different design requirements. One such pump, a rotary peristaltic pump, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,607, entitled “Uniform Flow Displacement Pump,” issued Dec. 19, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. This rotary peristaltic pump rotates one or more rollers to pinch a flexible tubing at pinch points, and advance the pinch points along the tubing length in the direction of the intended flow. The flexible tubing follows a circular path, enabling convenient pinching action via rotary movement of an arm connecting a pinching roller to a centrally located gear motor. Continuous motor movement in the same direction provides unidirectional flow. Unfortunately, the size and shape of the rotary peristaltic pump does not allow for compact arrangement for small spaces. Accordingly, there is a need for improvements in the art related to pumps, more specifically peristaltic pumps, having a more streamlined form factor with at least equivalent performance.
To sufficiently compress flexible tubing, a high compression force is applied. In some systems, the use of multiple peristaltic pumps undesirably increases the overall dimensions of the system. Accordingly, there is a need for improvements in the art related to peristaltic pumps having a more streamlined form factor with at least equivalent performance to allow for a more efficient spatial arrangement of instrument components leading to a significant reduction in overall system size.
A biological analyzer system includes a biological analyzer, a fluid routing system, and a first linear peristaltic pump. The biological analyzer is configured to analyze a biological sample. The fluid routing system is configured to direct the biological sample into the biological analyzer. The first linear peristaltic pump is configured to move the biological sample in the fluid routing system. The first linear peristaltic pump includes a first hollow flexible tubing , a first actuation assembly, and a first tubing compression member. The first hollow flexible tubing extends along a first longitudinal axis. The first hollow flexible tubing is in fluid communication with the fluid routing system. The first tubing compression member is configured to move relative to the first hollow flexible tubing along a predetermined path in response to an input from the first actuation assembly to advance fluid within the first hollow flexible tubing along the first longitudinal axis.
A biological analyzer system includes a biological analyzer, a fluid routing system, and a linear peristaltic pump. The biological analyzer configured to analyze a biological sample. The fluid routing system is configured to direct the biological sample into the biological analyzer. The linear peristaltic pump is configured to move the biological sample in the fluid routing system through the biological analyzer. The linear peristaltic pump includes a base, a cam operatively coupled with the base, an actuation assembly, a hollow flexible tubing at least partially supported by the base, and a tubing compression assembly. The tubing compression assembly includes first and second ends. The first end is configured to move relative to the actuation assembly in response to an input from the actuation assembly. The second end is disposed opposite the first end and is configured to move along the cam in response to movement of the first end.
A linear peristaltic pump includes a base, a cam, an actuation assembly, hollow flexible tubing, and a tubing compression assembly. The cam is operatively coupled with the base. The hollow flexible tubing is at least partially supported by the base. The hollow flexible tubing includes a lumen configured to move fluid therethrough. The hollow flexible tubing extends along a longitudinal axis. The tubing compression assembly includes a first end, a second end, and a tubing compression member. The first end is configured to move relative to the actuation assembly in response to an input from the actuation assembly. The second end is configured to move along the cam in response to movement of the first end. The tubing compression member is configured to move relative to the hollow flexible tubing along a predetermined path to advance fluid linearly within the hollow flexible tubing along the longitudinal axis in response to movement of the second end.
The identification of various types of particles in a blood sample, or a urine sample is an exemplary application for which the subject matter is particularly well suited, though other types of body fluid samples may be used. For example, aspects of the disclosed technology may be used in analysis of a non-blood body fluid sample comprising blood cells (e.g., white blood cells and/or red blood cells), such as serum, bone marrow, lavage fluid, effusions, exudates, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, and amniotic fluid. It is also possible that the sample can be a solid tissue sample, e.g., a biopsy sample that has been treated to produce a cell suspension. The sample may also be a suspension obtained from treating a fecal sample. A sample may also be a laboratory or production line sample comprising particles, such as a cell culture sample. The term sample may be used to refer to a sample obtained from a patient or laboratory or any fraction, portion or aliquot thereof. The sample can be diluted, divided into portions, or stained in some processes.
In some aspects, samples are presented, imaged and analyzed in an automated manner. In the case of blood samples, the sample may be substantially diluted with a suitable diluent or saline solution, which reduces the extent to which the view of some cells might be hidden by other cells in an undiluted or less-diluted sample. The cells can be treated with agents that enhance the contrast of some cell aspects, for example using permeabilizing agents to render cell membranes permeable, and histological stains to adhere in and to reveal features, such as granules and the nucleus. In some cases, it may be desirable to stain an aliquot of the sample for counting and characterizing particles which include reticulocytes, nucleated red blood cells, and platelets, and for white blood cell differential, characterization and analysis. In other cases, samples containing red blood cells may be diluted before introduction to the flow cell and/or imaging in the flow cell or otherwise. In the case of urine samples, the number of agents or reagents used may be more limited—for instance, a staining agent may not be necessary since the different cellular materials in urine are more easily discernable than in blood.
The particulars of sample preparation apparatus and methods for sample dilution, permeabilizing and histological staining, generally may be accomplished using precision pumps and valves operated by one or more programmable controllers. Examples can be found in patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 7,319,907. Likewise, techniques for distinguishing among certain cell categories and/or subcategories by their attributes such as relative size and color can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,978 in connection with white blood cells. The disclosures of these patents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Turning now to the drawings,
The sample fluid is injected through a flattened opening at a distal end (28) of a sample feed tube (29), and into the interior of the flow cell (22) at a point where the PIOAL flow has been substantially established resulting in a stable and symmetric laminar flow of the PIOAL above and below (or on opposing sides of) the ribbon-shaped sample stream. The sample and PIOAL streams may be supplied by precision metering pumps that move the PIOAL with the injected sample fluid along a flowpath that narrows substantially. The PIOAL envelopes and compresses the sample fluid in the zone (21) where the flowpath narrows. Hence, the decrease in flowpath thickness at zone (21) can contribute to a geometric focusing of the sample stream (32). The sample fluid ribbon (32) is enveloped and carried along with the PIOAL downstream of the narrowing zone (21), passing in front of, or otherwise through the viewing zone (23) of, the high optical resolution imaging device (24) where images are collected, for example, using a CCD (48). In this way, flow imaging is performed where images from the flowing sample stream and the cellular material contained therein are collected. Processor (18) can receive, as input, pixel data from CCD (48). The sample fluid ribbon flows together with the PIOAL to a discharge (33).
As shown here, the narrowing zone (21) can have a proximal flowpath portion (21a) having a proximal thickness (PT) and a distal flowpath portion (21b) having a distal thickness (DT), such that distal thickness (DT) is less than proximal thickness (PT). The sample fluid can therefore be injected through the distal end (28) of sample tube (29) at a location that is distal to the proximal portion (21a) and proximal to the distal portion (21b). Hence, the sample fluid can enter the PIOAL envelope as the PIOAL stream is compressed by the zone (21). Wherein the sample fluid injection tube has a distal exit port through which sample fluid is injected into flowing sheath fluid, the distal exit port bounded by the decrease in flowpath size of the flow cell.
The digital high optical resolution imaging device (24) with objective lens (46) is directed along an optical axis that intersects the ribbon-shaped sample stream (32). The relative distance between the objective lens (46) and the flow cell (22) is variable by operation of a motor drive (54), for resolving and collecting a focused digitized image on a photosensor array. The imaging device (24) is focused on an autofocus pattern (44) fixed relative to a flowcell (22), wherein the autofocus pattern (44) is located at a displacement distance (52) from a ribbon-shaped sample stream (32). The flowcell (22) is configured to direct a flow (32) of the sample enveloped with the PIOAL through a viewing zone (23) in the flowcell, namely behind viewing port (57). Light from a light source (42) may illuminate sample particles flowing within the flow stream (32). Additional information regarding the construction and operation of an exemplary flow cell such as shown in
The present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, compositions, and methods for moving fluid. Various exemplary linear peristaltic pumps (110, 210, 310) will be described in greater detail with reference to
The base (112) extends along a longitudinal direction. As shown, the base (112) includes
opposing first and second legs (126, 128) that support a platform (130) and a wall (132). While wall (132) is shown as being vertical, other orientations of wall are also envisioned. The platform (130) includes an engagement feature (134) to engage and retain the hollow flexible tubing (116). The base (112) may be integrally formed together as a unitary piece or include a plurality of individual components that are coupled together. As shown, the base (112) includes apertures (136) configured to receive fasteners (not shown). A cover (138), shown in
The hollow flexible tubing (116) extends along a longitudinal axis (LA) between a tubing inlet (140) and a tubing outlet (142), which are shown schematically in
The cam (114) is operatively coupled with the wall (132) of the base (112). In some versions, the cam (114) may be integrally formed together as a unitary piece together with the base (112). The cam (114) includes opposing first and second contact surfaces. As shown, the first contact surface includes a lower surface (148) of the cam (114) and the second contact surface includes an upper surface (150) of the cam (114). The cam (114) includes first and second terminal ends (152, 154). The first terminal end (152) is positioned upstream and closer to the tubing inlet (140) than the second terminal end (154) which is disposed closer to the tubing outlet (142). Except for the first and second terminal ends (152, 154), the cam (114) extends linearly along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (LA) of the hollow flexible tubing (116). At least one of the first and second terminal ends (152, 154) may include an arcuate portion that extends in a direction away from the hollow flexible tubing (116). As shown, the first terminal end (152) includes a first arcuate portion (156) and the second terminal end (154) includes a second arcuate portion (158) (shown in phantom). The first and second arcuate portions (156, 158) function as ramps to allow unidirectional flow operation moving from a left-to-right direction or unidirectional flow operation moving from a right-to-left direction. As shown in
As shown in
The connecting arm (174) couples the follower (176) and the tubing compression member (170) with the carriage (172). The connecting arm (174) is pivotably coupled with the carriage (172). The connection between a roller (180) and the carriage (172) is facilitated by the connecting arm (174) with pivot points (P) at ends of the connecting arm (174). For example, as shown in a comparison between
The tubing compression member (170) is configured to move relative to the hollow flexible tubing (116) and the rail (122) along the predetermined path to advance the incompressible liquid contained within the hollow flexible tubing (116) from the tubing inlet (140) to the tubing outlet (142) in response to movement of the second end (168). The carriage (172), disposed at the first end (166) of the tubing compression assembly (118), includes threading (184) that is configured to engage the threading (162) of the rail (122) as the first end (166) moves relative to the rail (122). The tubing compression member (170) includes the roller (180) configured to move relative to the hollow flexible tubing (116). While
The operation of the linear peristaltic pump (110) is shown and described with reference to
In operation, the output of the motor (124) rotates the drive screw (160) causing the carriage (172) to translate along the drive screw (160). The translation of the carriage (172) moves the tubing compression member (170) along the cam (114) to compress the hollow flexible tubing (116). This compression of the hollow flexible tubing (116) moves the fluid contained within the hollow flexible tubing (116). For example, when the rail (122) includes a drive screw (160), the first end (166) of the tubing compression member (170) moves along the drive screw (160) in response to the input.
As shown in
As shown in
In
As shown in a comparison between
Unlike the linear peristaltic pump (110) described above, the linear peristaltic pump (210) includes a second cam (288) disposed on the cover (238) that has a similar profile to cam (114) described above. In this version, the tubing compression assembly (218) includes a second follower (292) that interacts with the second cam (288) of the cover (238) between the drive and return strokes. The second cam (288) provides additional structural support to reduce moment forces that are otherwise created with the interaction of the cam (214) and the tubing compression assembly (218).
The linear peristaltic pump (310) that includes a motor (394) positioned in a different orientation than motor (124) described above. Particularly, the motor (394) is oriented with its axis perpendicular to the motion of the carriage (372). This configuration may incorporate a rack-and-pinion assembly or a belt (396) (shown schematically) instead of the rail (122) (e.g., drive screw (160)) described above with reference to the linear peristaltic pump (110).
Medical devices may utilize one or more linear peristaltic pumps (110, 210, 310). For example, the iQ200 Series Urine Microscopy Analyzer, commercially available from Beckman Coulter Inc. of Brea, California includes three peristaltic pumps. Examples of medical devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,825,926, entitled “Flow Cell for Urinalysis Diagnostic System and Method of Making Same,” issued November 30, 2004; U.S. Pat. No. 6,947,586, entitled “Multi-Neural Net Imaging Apparatus and Method,” issued Sep. 20, 2005; U.S. Pat. No. 7,236,623, entitled “Analyte Recognition for Urinalysis Diagnostic System,” issued Jun. 26, 2007; U.S. Pat. No. 8,391,608, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Analyzing Body Fluids,” issued Mar. 5, 2013; U.S. Pat. No. 7,324,694, entitled “Fluid Sample Analysis Using Class Weights,” issued Jan. 29, 2008; U.S. Pat. No. 7,702,172, entitled “Particle Extraction for Automatic Flow Microscope,” issued Apr. 20, 2010. The disclosure of each of the above-cited U.S. patents is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. For example, first and second linear peristaltic pumps (110, 210, 310) may be included to obtain a desired flow, and a third linear peristaltic pump (110, 210, 310) may be included for cleaning. The linear peristaltic pumps (110, 210, 310) facilitate stable flow for precise hydrodynamic focusing and the flow-through nature for waste evacuation. Use of multiple peristaltic pumps further enhances the benefits associated with the linear peristaltic pumps (110, 210, 310).
With continued reference to
The biological analyzer (528) is configured to analyze the biological sample (512). While the biological analyzer is shown as a flow cell, a variety of other suitable biological analyzers are also envisioned. The pump (516) transfers (e.g., pushes) the biological sample (512) and sample fluid from the sample fluid source (518) to a first inlet (530) of the biological analyzer (528). Similarly, the pump (526) transfers (e.g., pushes) the sheath fluid from the sheath fluid source (522) into a second inlet (532) of the biological analyzer (528). In this manner, the biological analyzer system (510) may be considered a push-push system as the pumps (516, 526) each push the respective fluid into and through the biological analyzer (528). Within at least an analysis region (538) of the biological analyzer (528), the sheath fluid generally surrounds the sample fluid and the biological sample (512) as the biological sample (512) is being analyzed. As shown, an imaging device (534) may be used to capture image(s) (536) of the biological sample (512) within the analysis region (538). The sample fluid, the biological sample (512), and the sheath fluid exit the biological analyzer (528) at an outlet (540), and travel through tubing (544) into a collection apparatus (542). While not shown, the biological analyzer system (510) may include one or more valves (e.g., three-way valves), debubbling equipment, filters, and/or other equipment.
Unlike
The sample fluid, the biological sample (512), and the sheath fluid exit the biological analyzer (528) at an outlet (540a), and travel through tubing (544a) into a collection apparatus (542). Similar to biological analyzer system (510), the biological analyzer system (510a) may include one or more valves (e.g., three-way valves), debubbling equipment, filters, and/or other equipment. Biological analyzer systems (510, 510a) may include additional aspects as shown and described in U.S. Prov. Pat. App. No. 63/294,648 entitled “Biological Sample Driving System and Method,” filed on Dec. 29, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, in its entirety.
All patents, patent publications, patent applications, journal articles, books, technical references, and the like discussed in the instant disclosure are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
Different arrangements of the components depicted in the drawings or described above, as well as components and steps not shown or described are possible. Similarly, some features and sub-combinations are useful and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Embodiments of the invention have been described for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, and alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this patent. In certain cases, method steps or operations may be performed or executed in differing order, or operations may be added, deleted or modified. It can be appreciated that, in certain aspects of the invention, a single component may be replaced by multiple components, and multiple components may be replaced by a single component, to provide an element or structure or to perform a given function or functions. Except where such substitution would not be operative to practice certain embodiments of the invention, such substitution is considered within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or depicted in the drawings, and various embodiments and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims below.
This application claims the filing benefit of U.S. Pat. App. No. 63/395,913, entitled Unidirectional Linear Peristaltic Pump,” filed Aug. 8, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63395913 | Aug 2022 | US |