JP7537100B2 - Syringe Pump - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a syringe pump.

International Publication No. WO 2009/113341 (Patent Document 1) is a prior art document that discloses the configuration of a syringe pump. The syringe pump described in Patent Document 1 includes an upper cover, a slider assembly, and a slider feed mechanism. The upper cover is formed with a stand on which the syringe body is placed. The slider assembly holds the plunger of the syringe. The slider feed mechanism is connected to the slider assembly via a pipe shaft and drives the slider assembly. The pipe shaft is inserted into an opening provided in the upper cover.

International Publication No. 2009/113341

In the syringe pump described in Patent Document 1, the pipe shaft cannot be inserted or removed from the opening in the upper cover unless the pipe shaft and the slider assembly are separated. Therefore, the syringe pump cannot be easily assembled or disassembled.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a syringe pump that can be easily assembled and disassembled.

The syringe pump according to the present invention is applied to a syringe including a barrel and a plunger rod fitted inside the barrel. The syringe pump includes a cover and a drive unit. The cover has an opening. The drive unit has a drive section that holds the plunger rod movably toward the barrel, and an engagement section that engages with the opening. The drive unit is removably attached to the cover. A barrel receiving section on which the barrel is placed is formed in the engagement section. The opening has a shape that allows the drive section to be inserted therethrough. The cover and drive unit are combined such that the drive section is inserted through the opening and the opening and the engagement section engage, whereby the opening is blocked by the engagement section.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the drive unit further includes a barrel holder that holds the barrel placed on the barrel receiver.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the barrel has a flange at the rear end. The drive unit further has a plate-shaped portion provided at the rear end of the barrel receiving portion located on the driving unit side with a gap therebetween, perpendicular to the movement direction of the driving unit. The flange of the barrel placed on the barrel receiving portion is inserted into the gap between the rear end of the barrel receiving portion and the plate-shaped portion.

According to the present invention, the syringe pump can be easily assembled and disassembled.

1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a syringe pump according to an embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a perspective view of the syringe pump of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction of arrow II. 1 is a perspective view of a first cover included in a syringe pump according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front side. FIG. 4 is a side view of the first cover of FIG. 3 as viewed in the direction of arrow IV. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a drive unit included in a syringe pump according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an engagement portion in a drive unit provided in a syringe pump according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a barrel holding portion and a plate-shaped portion attached to the engagement portion. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of an engagement portion in a drive unit included in a syringe pump according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of a plate-shaped portion in a drive unit included in a syringe pump according to an embodiment of the present invention;

A syringe pump according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the embodiment, the same or corresponding parts in the drawings will be given the same reference numerals, and the description will not be repeated.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a syringe pump according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the syringe pump of Figure 1 as seen from the direction of arrow II. As shown in Figure 1, a syringe pump 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention is a syringe pump that is applied to a syringe 10. The syringe 10 includes a barrel 20 and a plunger rod 30.

The barrel 20 has a generally cylindrical outer shape. A liquid inlet is provided at the tip of the barrel 20. The barrel 20 has a first flange 21 at the rear end. The barrel 20 is made of a transparent or translucent resin such as polypropylene. A lubricating oil such as silicone oil may be applied to the inner peripheral surface of the barrel 20. The inside of the barrel 20 is filled with the medicinal liquid.

The plunger rod 30 is fitted inside the barrel 20 and has a second flange 31 at its rear end. A gasket portion (not shown) that slides against the inner circumferential surface of the barrel 20 is provided at the tip side of the plunger rod 30. The gasket portion is made of an elastic material such as vulcanized rubber or thermoplastic elastomer. The portions of the plunger rod 30 other than the gasket portion are made of a resin such as polypropylene.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a syringe pump 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a cover 110 and a drive unit 120. The drive unit 120 is removably attached to the cover 110. The cover 110 includes a first cover 110a and a second cover 110b that are removably combined with each other.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first cover provided in a syringe pump according to one embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front side. Figure 4 is a side view of the first cover in Figure 3, as viewed from the direction of arrow IV. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a drive unit provided in a syringe pump according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first cover 110a has a display window at the top of the front surface. The first cover 110a has an opening 113 at the bottom of the front surface.

When the first cover 110a is viewed from the front, the first surface 111 is located to the left of the opening 113, and the second surface 112 is located to the right of the opening 113. The second surface 112 is located behind the first surface 111. In other words, the opening 113 is formed across the width and depth directions of the first cover 110a.

The opening 113 has a shape that allows the drive unit 121, which will be described later, to be inserted therethrough. In this embodiment, when the first cover 110a is viewed from the front, the opening 113 has a substantially rectangular shape. As shown in FIG. 4, when the first cover 110a is viewed from the side, the opening 113 has a substantially trapezoidal shape.

As shown in FIG. 5, the drive unit 120 has a drive section 121 and an engagement section 127. The drive section 121 holds the plunger rod 30 so that it can move toward the barrel 20. When the drive section 121 moves the plunger rod 30 toward the barrel 20, the medicinal liquid in the barrel 20 is injected into the tube through the injection port.

Specifically, the drive unit 121 has a pressing surface 122 that presses the second flange 31, and a movable claw portion 123 that holds the second flange 31 by clamping it against the pressing surface 122. The movable claw portion 123 is biased in a direction approaching the pressing surface 122 by a biasing mechanism such as a spring.

The drive unit 121 further has a clutch lever 124 for manually adjusting the position of the drive unit 121 itself and the position of the movable claw 123 in the extension direction of the plunger rod 30 when attaching or detaching the plunger rod 30. Specifically, by rotating the clutch lever 124 in one direction, the drive unit 121 enters a locked state in which manual movement is restricted, and the movable claw 123 is maintained in a state in which it is biased toward the pressing surface 122. By rotating the clutch lever 124 in the other direction, the drive unit 121 enters an unlocked state, and the movable claw 123 is moved away from the pressing surface 122 against the biasing force.

The configuration of the drive unit 121 is not limited to the above, and the drive unit 121 may have a pressing surface 122 that presses the second flange 31, and a fixed claw portion that houses the second flange 31 between the pressing surface 122. The drive unit 121 further has a drive shaft 125. The drive shaft 125 moves in the axial direction of the drive shaft 125. A portion of the outer periphery of the drive shaft 125 is covered with a bellows-shaped cover.

As shown in FIG. 5, the drive unit 120 further includes a main body 126. The main body 126 incorporates a motor (not shown) and a power transmission mechanism that transmits the output of the motor to the drive shaft 125. In this embodiment, the power transmission mechanism includes a ball screw, but the configuration of the power transmission mechanism is not limited to including a ball screw.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the engagement portion 127 engages with the opening 113 of the cover 110. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the engagement portion in the drive unit of the syringe pump according to one embodiment of the present invention, as well as the barrel holding portion and the plate-shaped portion attached to the engagement portion. Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of the engagement portion in the drive unit of the syringe pump according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, a barrel receiving portion 128 is formed in the engagement portion 127. As shown in Figure 1, the barrel 20 is placed on the barrel receiving portion 128. The barrel receiving portion 128 has a concave portion that contacts the lower portion of the outer circumferential surface of the barrel 20.

1 and 2, when the opening 113 and the engaging portion 127 are engaged, one end of the engaging portion 127 in the width direction of the first cover 110a is continuous with the first surface portion 111 of the first cover 110a, and the other end of the engaging portion 127 in the width direction of the first cover 110a is continuous with the second surface portion 112 of the first cover 110a. As shown in FIG. 7, the rear end 130 located on the drive unit 121 side of the barrel receiving portion 128 is bent approximately perpendicular to the width direction of the first cover 110a. The engaging portion 127 is provided with a pair of support holes 131 that rotatably support a plate-shaped portion 132 described later. Each of the pair of support holes 131 extends in the depth direction of the first cover 110a at a distance from each other.

The engagement portion 127 is made of resin or the like and is formed by integral molding. A sealant may be provided at the contact portion of the engagement portion 127 with the opening 113.

As shown in FIG. 6, the drive unit 120 further has a barrel holding portion 129 and a plate-shaped portion 132 attached to the engagement portion 127. The barrel holding portion 129 holds the barrel 20 placed on the barrel receiving portion 128. Specifically, the barrel holding portion 129 is biased toward the barrel receiving portion 128 by a biasing mechanism such as a spring (not shown) provided at the connection point with the engagement portion 127, and clamps the barrel 20 between the barrel holding portion 129 and the barrel receiving portion 128.

As shown in FIG. 2, the plate-like portion 132 is provided at a rear end 130 located on the driving unit 121 side of the barrel receiving portion 128 with a gap S so as to be perpendicular to the movement direction of the driving unit 121.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the structure of a plate-shaped portion in a drive unit provided in a syringe pump according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 8, plate-shaped portion 132 has an arch-shaped outer shape having beam portion 132b and a pair of pillar portions 132p that support beam portion 132b. A recess 132c is provided on the first surface of beam portion 132b to prevent interference with plunger rod 30. A recess 132d is provided on the second surface opposite to the first surface of beam portion 132b to prevent interference with drive shaft 125.

A hole 132h is provided on the side of the base of one of the pair of pillars 132p, into which a connecting shaft (not shown) that serves as the center of rotation is inserted. The plate-shaped portion 132 is rotatably connected to the engagement portion 127 by the connecting shaft. A leaf spring portion 132s is provided at the base of each of the pair of pillars 132p. As shown in FIG. 7, the leaf spring portion 132s is inserted into the support hole 131. The plate-shaped portion 132 is made of resin or the like, and is formed as a single unit.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first flange 21 of the barrel 20 placed on the barrel receiving portion 128 as shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into the gap S between the rear end 130 of the barrel receiving portion 128 and the plate-shaped portion 132. This causes the plate-shaped portion 132 to rotate in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6, compressing the leaf spring portion 132s. As a result, the repulsive force of the leaf spring portion 132s causes the plate-shaped portion 132 to urge the first flange 21 toward the rear end 130 of the barrel receiving portion 128. As a result, the first flange 21 can be accommodated in the gap S in accordance with the first flanges 21 having different thicknesses.

When assembling the syringe pump 100 according to this embodiment, the first cover 110a and the drive unit 120 are combined so that the drive unit 121 passes through the opening 113 from inside the first cover 110a as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3 and the opening 113 engages with the engagement unit 127, thereby blocking the opening 113 with the engagement unit 127 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Furthermore, by combining the first cover 110a and the second cover 110b, the drive unit 120 can be attached to the cover 110, and the syringe pump 100 can be assembled.

When disassembling the syringe pump 100 according to this embodiment, first, the second cover 110b is removed from the first cover 110a. Then, the drive unit 120 is removed from the first cover 110a by disengaging the opening 113 from the engagement portion 127 and removing the drive unit 120 from the first cover 110a so that the drive portion 121 passes through the opening 113 from the outside of the first cover 110a. This allows the drive unit 120 to be detached from the cover 110, and the syringe pump 100 to be disassembled.

In the syringe pump 100 according to this embodiment, the first cover 110a has an opening 113. The drive unit 120 has a drive section 121 that holds the plunger rod 30 movably toward the barrel 20, and an engagement section 127 that engages with the opening 113. The drive unit 120 is detachably attached to the cover 110. The engagement section 127 is formed with a barrel receiving section 128 on which the barrel 20 is placed. The opening 113 has a shape that allows the drive section 121 to be inserted. The cover 110 and the drive unit 120 are combined such that the drive section 121 is inserted through the opening 113 and the opening 113 and the engagement section 127 are engaged with each other, whereby the opening 113 is blocked by the engagement section 127.

This allows the drive unit 120 to be attached to and detached from the cover 110 without disassembling the drive unit 120, making it easy to assemble and disassemble the syringe pump 100. Specifically, the drive unit 121 can be inserted through the opening 113 without disassembling the drive unit 121 so that only the drive shaft 125 remains, making it unnecessary to disassemble the drive unit 120, and allowing the syringe pump 100 to be easily assembled and disassembled.

In the syringe pump 100 according to this embodiment, the drive unit 120 further includes a barrel holding portion 129 that holds the barrel 20 placed on the barrel receiving portion 128, so that the movable members can be concentrated in the drive unit 120, simplifying the configuration of the cover 110.

In the syringe pump 100 according to this embodiment, the drive unit 120 further has a plate-like portion 132 provided at a rear end 130 located on the drive unit 121 side of the barrel receiver 128 with a gap S therebetween, so as to be perpendicular to the movement direction of the drive unit 121. The first flange 21 of the barrel 20 placed on the barrel receiver 128 is inserted into the gap S between the rear end 130 of the barrel receiver 128 and the plate-like portion 132. This allows the fixing members of the barrel 20 to be concentrated in the drive unit 120, simplifying the configuration of the cover 110.

In the syringe pump 100 according to this embodiment, the plate-shaped portion 132 has a plate spring portion 132s, and the first flange 21 of the barrel 20 placed on the barrel receiving portion 128 is inserted into the gap S between the rear end 130 of the barrel receiving portion 128 and the plate-shaped portion 132. This allows the first flange 21 to be accommodated in the gap S in accordance with first flanges 21 having different thicknesses.

The above disclosed embodiments are illustrative in all respects and are not intended to be a basis for restrictive interpretation. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted solely by the above-described embodiments. Furthermore, all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims are included. In the above description of the embodiments, configurations that can be combined may be combined with each other.

10 Syringe, 20 Barrel, 21 First flange, 30 Plunger rod, 31 Second flange, 100 Syringe pump, 110 Cover, 110a First cover, 110b Second cover, 111 First surface, 112 Second surface, 113 Opening, 120 Drive unit, 121 Drive unit, 122 Pressing surface, 123 Movable claw, 124 Clutch lever, 125 Drive shaft, 126 Main body, 127 Engagement portion, 128 Barrel receiving portion, 129 Barrel holding portion, 130 Rear end, 131 Support hole, 132 Plate portion, 132b Beam portion, 132c, 132d Recess, 132h Hole portion, 132p Pillar portion, 132s Leaf spring portion, S Gap.

Claims (3)

A syringe pump for use with a syringe including a barrel and a plunger rod fitted inside the barrel, comprising:
A cover including a first cover and a second cover that are detachably combined with each other, the first cover having an opening;
a drive unit having a drive portion that movably holds the plunger rod toward the barrel and an engagement portion that engages with the opening, the drive unit being detachably attached to the first cover;
The engagement portion is formed with a barrel receiving portion on which the barrel is placed,
The opening has a shape through which the drive unit can be inserted,
the first cover and the drive unit are combined such that the drive portion passes through the opening and the opening and the engagement portion engage with each other, thereby blocking the opening with the engagement portion. The syringe pump according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit further includes a barrel holder that holds the barrel placed on the barrel receiver. The barrel has a flange at a rear end,
The drive unit further includes a plate-shaped portion provided at a rear end of the barrel receiving portion on the drive unit side with a gap therebetween so as to be perpendicular to the moving direction of the drive unit,
3. The syringe pump according to claim 1, wherein the flange of the barrel placed on the barrel receiving portion is inserted into the gap between the rear end of the barrel receiving portion and the plate-shaped portion.

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