Fluid pump

Claim 1

A fluid pump device for use in conjunction with a pumping chamber which is composed of an elastomeric material, which has a pair of spaced-apart unidirectional valves through which fluid can be pumped with cyclic compression and expansion of the chamber and which extends toward its full volumetric capacity following removal of a compressive force, the fluid pump device comprising: (a) spaced-apart clamp elements between which the pumping chamber (is in use and) is removably located, one end of said pumping chamber being connectable to a source of fluid to be pumped and the other end of said pumping chamber being connected to a hypodermic-type needle by way of a fluid feed line (so that said needle establishes a firm connection for administering said fluid), (b) means for biasing the clamp elements in a direction one toward the other, whereby the clamp elements function to compress and reduce the contained volume of the pumping chamber, (c) electrically actuated means which when energized effect relative movement of the clamp elements in a direction one away from the other, whereby the pumping chamber is permitted to expand in a direction toward its full volumetric capacity, and when de-energized permits movement of the clamp elements toward one another under the influence of said biasing means, (d) means for energizing the electrically actuated means at a predetermined rate whereby cyclic changes in the volumetric capacity of the pumping chamber occur with periodic energization and de-energization of the electrically actuated means, and (e) timing means for timing the period of relative movement of the clamp elements toward one another following the de-energization of the electrically actuated means and for providing a fault condition indicating signal if the timed period is less than a predetermined first time interval, this being indicative of an excessively low back pressure in the pumping chamber, or is greater than a predetermined second time interval which is indicative of an excessively high back pressure in the pumping chamber.