U.S. patent application number 15/805181 was filed with the patent office on 2018-03-29 for test controller for a rotary pump.
The applicant listed for this patent is CircuLite, Inc.. Invention is credited to Kirk A. Lehmann, Oliver Marseille, Christian W. Vohburger.
Application Number | 20180087500 15/805181 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44369768 |
Filed Date | 2018-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180087500 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lehmann; Kirk A. ; et
al. |
March 29, 2018 |
TEST CONTROLLER FOR A ROTARY PUMP
Abstract
A test controller and method to operate a rotary motor of a pump
are provided. The test controller includes a test speed circuit
electrically coupled to, but detachable from, the pump and being
configured to apply at least one signal to the pump motor to cause
the pump motor to rotate at a predetermined test speed and/or for a
predetermined test time. An actuator selectively activates the test
speed circuit to operate the pump motor at the predetermined test
speed and/or for the predetermined test time. The method includes
electrically coupling the test controller to the pump and, in
response to selective activation of the actuator, selectively
activating the test speed circuit to apply at least one signal to
the pump motor to operate the pump motor at a predetermined test
speed and/or for a predetermined test time. The method further
includes detaching the test controller from the pump.
Inventors: |
Lehmann; Kirk A.; (Aachen,
DE) ; Marseille; Oliver; (Aachen, DE) ;
Vohburger; Christian W.; (Geltendorf, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CircuLite, Inc. |
Teaneck |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
44369768 |
Appl. No.: |
15/805181 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13017205 |
Jan 31, 2011 |
9841013 |
|
|
15805181 |
|
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|
61304930 |
Feb 16, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 1/1086 20130101;
F04D 15/0088 20130101; A61M 1/101 20130101; A61M 1/122 20140204;
F04B 51/00 20130101; F04B 2203/0209 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F04B 51/00 20060101
F04B051/00; F04D 15/00 20060101 F04D015/00 |
Claims
1. A test controller for operating a rotary pump motor of a pump
configured for implantation into a patient and that operates in the
implanted state without the test controller, the rotary pump motor
having a normal operating speed, comprising: a test speed circuit
electrically coupled to, but detachable from, the pump and being
configured to apply at least one signal to the pump motor to cause
the pump motor to rotate at a predetermined test speed that is
lower than the normal operating speed of the pump motor; and an
actuator configured to selectively activate the test speed circuit
to operate the pump motor to rotate at the predetermined test speed
in response to selective activation of the actuator.
2. The test controller of claim 1, wherein the normal operating
speed is from about 20,000 rotations-per-minute to about 28,000
rotations-per- minute, and the predetermined test speed is from
about 780 rotations-per-minute to about 1180
rotations-per-minute.
3. The test controller of claim 1, further comprising: a timing
circuit electrically coupled to the test speed circuit and the
actuator, the timing circuit operating with the test speed circuit
and the actuator to discontinue the at least one signal to the pump
motor after a predetermined period of time in response to
continuous activation of the actuator.
4. The test controller of claim 3, wherein the predetermined period
of time is from about four to about six seconds.
5. The test controller of claim 1, wherein the test speed circuit
is configured to produce the at least one signal during selective
activation of the actuator.
6. The test controller of claim 1, wherein the test speed circuit
is electrically coupled to, but detachable from, a power supply for
the pump to transform a power signal from the power supply into the
at least one signal.
7. The test controller of claim 1, wherein the pump includes an
impeller.
8. A test controller for operating a rotary pump motor of a pump
configured for implantation into a patient and that operates in the
implanted state without the test controller, the rotary pump motor
having a predetermined operating speed, comprising: a test speed
circuit electrically coupled to, but detachable from, the pump and
being configured to apply at least one signal to the pump motor to
cause the pump motor to rotate for a predetermined test time; and
an actuator configured to selectively activate the test speed
circuit to operate the pump motor to rotate for the predetermined
test time in response to selective activation of the actuator.
9. The test controller of claim 8, wherein the predetermined test
time is from about four to about six seconds.
10. The test controller of claim 8, wherein the speed circuit is
further configured to apply the at least one signal to the pump
motor to operate the pump motor to rotate at a predetermined test
speed.
11. The test controller of claim 10, wherein the predetermined test
speed is from about 780 rotations-per-minute to about 1180
rotations-per-minute.
12. The test controller of claim 8, further comprising: a timing
circuit electrically coupled to the test speed circuit and the
actuator, the timing circuit operating with the test speed circuit
and the actuator to discontinue the at least one signal to the pump
motor after a predetermined period of time in response to
continuous activation of the actuator.
13. The test controller of claim 12, wherein the predetermined time
is from about four seconds to about six seconds.
14. The test controller of claim 8, wherein the test speed circuit
is configured to apply the at least one signal during selective
activation of the actuator.
15. The test controller of claim 8, wherein the pump includes an
impeller.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/017,205, filed Jan. 31, 2011 (pending)
which claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application
Ser. No. 61/304,930, filed on Feb. 16, 2010 (expired), the
disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein, in their
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates generally to testing the operation of
a rotary pump. More specifically, the present invention relates to
devices and methods for testing the operation of implantable pumps
prior to implantation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Rotary pump devices are often used to assist the blood flow
of patients. Typically, these devices are implanted in body of a
patient and are supplied power by a separate power supply.
Generally, one end of the device is attached to the heart of a
patient (through a flexible cannula) while another end is attached
to a vein or artery of the patient (also through a flexible
cannula). When the pump receives power, it assists in the
circulation of blood through the patient by transferring blood from
one portion of the patient's body to another.
[0004] Prior to implantation of the devices, it is often desirable
to visually confirm the operation of the device, despite the high
levels of quality control that is implemented by device
manufacturers to ensure device reliability. As such, users may
attempt to connect the devices to their power supply. Thus, the
devices are run at their predetermined operating speed "dry" (e.g.,
without any fluid moving through the device) which can result in
accelerated wear of the device due to increased friction. To
counteract this problem, some users may insert the device into a
sterile fluid bath, but these sterile fluid baths can result in an
increased risk of infection to a patient.
[0005] Furthermore, the devices often use sensorless speed control
methodologies to maintain their speed independent of their load. In
particular, reverse electromotive force methodologies (e.g.,
"back-EMF" methodologies) are often used to maintain the
commutation of a brushless motor in the device at a predetermined
operating speed. However, to test the devices, the user may not
provide enough power for the devices to properly utilize back-EMF
methodologies. For example, at a reduced voltage to reduce the
speed at which the devices operate, there is often not enough
back-EMF generated by the pump motor to maintain speed control,
which may result in a pump motor stoppage (resulting in a false
device failure diagnosis) or pump motor overspeed (resulting in
possible device damage).
[0006] There is thus a need for an improved method of testing
rotary pump devices for visual verification of their operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Embodiments of the present invention include a test
controller for operating a rotary pump motor of a pump, the rotary
pump motor having a predetermined operating speed. The test
controller includes a test speed circuit electrically coupled to,
but detachable from, the pump and being configured to apply at
least one signal to the pump motor to cause the pump motor to
rotate at a predetermined test speed that is lower than the
predetermined operating speed of the pump motor. The test
controller further includes an actuator configured to selectively
activate the test speed circuit to operate the pump motor to rotate
at the predetermined test speed.
[0008] Alternative embodiments of the present invention include a
test controller for operating a rotary pump motor of a pump having
a predetermined operating speed. The test controller includes a
test speed circuit electrically coupled to, but detachable from,
the pump and being configured to apply at least one signal to the
pump motor to cause the pump motor to rotate for a predetermined
test time. The test controller further includes an actuator
configured to selectively activate the test speed circuit to
operate the pump motor for the predetermined test time.
[0009] One alternative embodiment of the present invention includes
a method for testing the operation of a rotary pump motor of a pump
with a test controller, the test controller including a test speed
circuit and an actuator. The method includes electrically coupling
the test controller to the pump and, in response to selective
activation of the actuator, selectively activating the test speed
circuit to apply at least one signal to the pump motor to cause the
pump motor to rotate at a predetermined test speed that is lower
than a predetermined operating speed of the pump motor. The method
further includes detaching the test controller from the pump.
[0010] Another alternative embodiment of the present invention
includes a method for testing the operation of a rotary pump motor
of a pump with a test controller, the test controller including a
test time circuit and an actuator. The method includes electrically
coupling the test controller to the pump and, in response to
selective activation of the actuator, selectively activating the
test time circuit to apply at least one signal to the pump motor to
cause the pump motor to rotate for a predetermined test time that
is less than a normal operating time for the pump motor. The method
further includes detaching the test controller from the pump.
[0011] These and other advantages will be apparent in light of the
following figures and detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and, together with a general description of the
invention given above and the detailed description of the
embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the
invention.
[0013] FIG. 1 is an exemplary illustration of a circulatory assist
system that includes a rotary pump device, power supply, and test
controller consistent with embodiments of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment of
the internal components of the test controller of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment of a
power circuit of the test controller of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment of a
power indicator circuit of the test controller of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment of
an activation circuit of the test controller of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment of a
voltage regulation circuit of the test controller of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment of a
switching circuit of the test controller of FIG. 1; and
[0020] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment of a
conditioning circuit of the test controller of FIG. 1.
[0021] It should be understood that the appended drawings are not
necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified
representation of various features illustrative of the basic
principles of embodiments of the invention. The specific design
features of embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein,
including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations,
locations, connections to circuitry, and shapes of various
illustrated components, as well as specific sequences of operations
(e.g., including concurrent and/or sequential operations), will be
determined in part by the particular intended application and use
environment. Certain features of the illustrated embodiments may
have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate
visualization and clear understanding.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Turning to the drawings, wherein like notations denote like
parts, FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an implantable rotary
pump device 10 (hereinafter, "pump" 10) having a rotary pump motor
12 (hereinafter, "pump motor" 12) and impeller 14. The implantable
pump 10 includes an input port 16 to which a flexible input cannula
body 18 may be connected to input fluid to the pump 10, as well as
an output port 20 to which a flexible output cannula body 22 may be
connected to output fluid from the pump 10. A cable 24 extends from
the pump 10 to supply power to the pump from either a pump power
supply 26 or a pump test controller 28. As illustrated in FIG. 1,
the pump 10 receives power through the cable 24 from the pump test
controller 28, which in turn receives power from the power supply
26 through a cable 30. When implanted into a patient's body and
receiving power directly from the power supply 26, the pump motor
12 is configured to operate from about 20,000 rotations per minute
to about 28,000 rotations per minute. As such, and in some
embodiments, the pump 10 is a Synergy.RTM. Pocket Micro-Pump
commercially available from CircuLite, Inc., of Saddle Brook,
N.J.
[0023] The pump test controller 28 (hereinafter, "controller" 28)
is configured to selectively activate the pump 10 and rotate the
pump motor 12 at a low speed and/or for limited time intervals such
that a user can visually confirm operation of the pump 10 prior to
implantation. Thus, the controller 28 includes an actuator 32 to
actuate the operation of the pump 10 as well as a controller power
indicator 34 to indicate when the controller 28 receives power and
a pump power indicator 36 to indicate when the controller 28 is
providing power to the pump 10.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment of
internal components of the controller 28. The controller 28
includes a power circuit 38 that conditions power from the power
supply 26 and converts at least a portion of the power to a direct
current power signal to operate the circuitry of the controller 28.
FIG. 3 is an illustration of one embodiment of the power circuit 38
that includes an inductor 40 that filters artifacts in power
signals from the power supply 26 and that is coupled to a capacitor
42 and fuse 44. The capacitor 42 is coupled to ground and
configured to allow alternating current signals from the power
supply 26 to proceed to ground, while the fuse 44 is configured to
prevent damage to the controller 28 in response to over-voltage or
over-current power signals from the power supply 26. At the output
of fuse 44, the power circuit 38 provides direct current power
(illustrated as, and hereinafter, "DC+") for the controller 28 and
is tied to a diode 46 as well as capacitors 48 and 50, capacitors
48 and 50 being configured in parallel and coupled to ground. Diode
46 is a voltage regulation diode, while capacitors 48 and 50 are
configured to allow alternating current signals from the fuse 44 to
proceed to ground. In specific embodiments, the inductor 40 has a
resistance value of about 33 .OMEGA. at 100 MHz (about 0.008
.OMEGA. at zero Hz) and a current limit of about 4 A, the capacitor
42 has a value of about 100 nF, the capacitors 48 and 50 have a
value of about 1 .mu.F, the fuse 44 is a resettable fuse having a
trip value of about 1.3 A, and the diode 44 has a value of about 22
V and power limit of about 3 W. In further specific embodiments,
the inductor 40 is a wide-band SMD ferrite bead, such as a WE-CBF
0805 4A OR008 chip-inductor commercially available from Wurth
Elektronik of Waldenburg, Germany.
[0025] Returning to FIG. 2, the power circuit 38 is configured to
provide power to a power indicator circuit 52 that, in turn, is
configured to activate the controller power indicator 34 when the
controller 28 receives power from the power supply 26. FIG. 4 is an
illustration of one embodiment of the power indicator circuit 52.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the power indicator circuit 52 receives
the DC+ signal from the power circuit 38 and couples that signal to
a capacitor 54 and a voltage regulator 56. The voltage regulator
56, in turn, regulates the DC+ signal and provide an output of 5 V
(illustrated as, and hereinafter, "+5 V"). The output of the
voltage regulator 56 is further coupled to another capacitor 57 and
the controller power indicator 34. In specific embodiments, the
voltage regulator 56 is an LM7B05 positive voltage regulator
commercially available from Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation of
South Portland, Me., and each of the capacitors 54 and 57 have a
value of about 100 nF. As such, when power is provided to the
controller 28 from the power supply 26, the power indicator circuit
52 is configured to activate the controller power indicator 34.
[0026] Returning to FIG. 2, the power indicator circuit 52 is
further coupled to an activation circuit 58 that activates the pump
power indicator 36 in response to actuation of the actuator 32.
FIG. 5 is an illustration of one embodiment of the activation
circuit 58. Specifically, the activation circuit 58 is configured
with a monostable multivibrator 60 that receives a +5 V signal from
the power indicator circuit 52 on a positive edge trigger input of
the multivibrator 60 (e.g., pin 2) and an inverted ground signal on
a negative edge trigger input of the multivibrator 60 (e.g., pin
1). Additionally, a +5 V signal is coupled to a capacitor 62 and a
resistor 64. One output from resistor 64 is coupled to a capacitor
66, while another output from the resistor 64 is coupled directly
to an external resistor input of the multivibrator 60 (e.g., pin
15). The output of capacitor 66 is coupled to an external capacitor
input of the multivibrator 60 (e.g., pin 14). The multivibrator 60
is further coupled to the actuator 32 through a first n-channel
EMFET 68 (illustrated as, and hereinafter, "N-EMFET1" 68). In
particular, the output of the actuator 32 is coupled to the drain
of N-EMFET1 68, while the source is coupled to ground. The gate of
N-EMFET1 68 is coupled to a capacitor 70, a resistor 72, and a
resistor 74, all of which are in parallel. The gate of the N-EMFET1
68 is further coupled to an inverted reset low input of the
multivibrator 60 (e.g., pin 3) and the drain of a p-channel EMFET
76 (illustrated as, and hereinafter, "P-EMFET" 76). In turn, the
source of P-EMFET 76 is coupled to a +5 V signal and the gate is
coupled to a resistor 78 and capacitor 80. The resistor 78 is
coupled between the source of P-EMFET 76 and the gate of P-EMFET
76, while the capacitor 80 is coupled to ground.
[0027] Thus, the multivibrator 60 is configured to detect actuation
of the actuator 32 and provide a power signal to the pump power
indicator 36, as well as selectively activate the pump motor 12 for
a period of time from about four to about six seconds. As such, an
active high output of the multivibrator 60 (e.g., pin 13) is
coupled to the gate of a second n-channel EMFET 82 (illustrated as,
and hereinafter, "N-EMFET2" 82). The source of N-EMFET2 82 is
coupled to ground, while the drain of N-EMFET2 82 is configured to
be coupled to a voltage regulation circuit 84. An inverted active
low output of the multivibrator 60 (e.g., pin 4) is configured to
provide power to the pump power indicator 36 when the pump motor 12
is supplied power through a resistor 86.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 5, in specific embodiments, the monostable
multivibrator 60 is a 74AHC123 dual retriggerable monostable
multivibrator with reset as manufactured by NXP Semiconductor of
the Netherlands. Also in specific embodiments N-EMFET1 68 and
N-EMFET2 82 are each BSS123 n-channel EMFETs commercially available
from Fairchild Semiconductor, while P-EMFET 76 is a BSS84 p-channel
EMFET also commercially available from Fairchild Semiconductor. In
further specific embodiments, the resistor 64 has a value of about
121 k.OMEGA., the resistors 72 and 74 each have a value of about 21
k.OMEGA., the resistor 78 has a value of about 10 k.OMEGA., the
resistor 86 has a value of about 1 k.OMEGA., the capacitor 62 has a
value of about 100 nF, the capacitors 66 and 70 each have a value
of about 22 .mu.F, and the capacitor 80 has a value of about 10
nF
[0029] Referring back to FIG. 2, the power circuit 38 is coupled to
the voltage regulation circuit 84, which is in turn coupled to the
activation circuit 58 and the actuator 32. FIG. 6 is an
illustration of one embodiment of the voltage regulation circuit
84. Specifically, the voltage regulation circuit 84 is configured
with a pair of p-channel MOSFETS 88 and 90 (illustrated as, and
hereinafter, "P-MOSFET1" 88 and "P-MOSFET2" 90). The DC+ from the
power circuit 38 is coupled to a resistor 92 and a diode 94 in
parallel. The DC+ is further coupled, through three parallel leads,
to the source of P-MOSFET1 88. Additionally, the output from the
actuator 32 is coupled, through a resistor 96, to the other end of
the resistor 92, the input of diode 94, and the gate of P-MOSFET1
88. In turn, the drain of P-MOSFET1 88 is coupled to resistor 98
and diode 100 in parallel. The drain of P-MOSFET1 88 is further
coupled, through three parallel leads, to the source of P-MOSFET2
90. Additionally, the signal from the activation circuit 58 is
coupled, through resistor 102, to the other end of the resistor 98,
the input of diode 100, and the gate of P-MOSFET2 90. The drain of
P-MOSFET2 90 is then coupled to a capacitor 104, then output to a
switching circuit 106. In specific embodiments, each resistor 92
and 98 has a value of about 22k.OMEGA., each resistor 96 and 102
has a value of about 3 k.OMEGA., each diode 94 and 100 is a BZX284
series diode such as those commercially available from NXP, and
each P-MOSFET 88 and 90 is an Si7415DN series p-channel 60-V MOSFET
commercially available from Vishay Americas of Shelton, CT.
[0030] Returning to FIG. 2, the switching circuit 106 is configured
to transform a signal received from the voltage regulation circuit
84 into a signal appropriate for a controller motor 108. FIG. 7 is
an illustration of one embodiment of the switching circuit 106 that
includes a switching regulator 110 configured as a boost, or
step-up regulator. Focusing on the inputs to the switching
regulator, a voltage input of the switching regulator 110 (e.g.,
pin 8) is coupled to the voltage regulation circuit 84.
Additionally, a corrective input of the switching regulator 110
(e.g., pin 1) is coupled to a resistor 112 configured as a feedback
resistor from a collector output of the switching regulator 110
(e.g., pin 6) in parallel with a resistor 114. An oscillator input
of the switching regulator 110 (e.g., pin 3) is connected to a
capacitor 116 in parallel with a series combination of a capacitor
118 and a resistor 120. The capacitor 116 and series combination of
capacitor 118 and resistor 120 are further in parallel with a
capacitor 122 connected to ground. Furthermore, the opposite ends
of the capacitor 116 and series combination of capacitor 118 and
120 are coupled to the parallel resistors 112 and 114. A ground
input of the switching regulator 110 (e.g., pin 4) is connected to
a ground.
[0031] Focusing on the outputs of the switching regulator 110, the
collector output of the switching regulator 110 (e.g., pin 6) is
coupled to an inductor 124 and a diode 126. The output of the
inductor 124 is in turn coupled to the DC_DC_IN input. With regard
to the emitter and current limit of the switching regulator 118
(e.g., pins 5 and 7, respectively), these are tied together as well
as to a resister 127, which in turn is tied to ground.
[0032] The output of 126 is coupled to a capacitor 128 in parallel
with a capacitor 130, both of which are tied to ground. The output
of diode 126 is also coupled to the output of a diode 132 (whose
input is tied to ground) as well as the resistor 112 that is
coupled to the corrective input of the switching regulator 110
(e.g., pin 1). In addition, the output of diode 132 is coupled to
two resistors 134 and 136 configured in series. The output of the
resistors 134 and 136 is coupled to an inductor 138 and a capacitor
tied 140 tied to ground. The output of the inductor 138 is in turn
tied to another capacitor 142 as well as to the controller motor
108. In specific embodiments, the switching regulator 110 is an
LM3578A series switching regulator commercially available from
National Semiconductor of Santa Clara, Calif., the resistors 112
and 120 each have a value of about 200 k.OMEGA., the resistor 114
has a value of about, the resistor 127 has a value of about 0
.OMEGA., the resistors 134 and 136 each have a value of about 1200,
the capacitor 116 has a value of about 22 pF, the capacitor 118 has
a value of about 33 nF, the capacitor 122 has a value of about 1
nF, the capacitor 128 has a value of about 10 .mu.F, the capacitor
130 has a value of about 10 nF, the capacitor 140 has a value of
about 100 nF, the capacitor 142 has a value of about 470 pF, the
inductor 124 has a value of about 330 .mu.H, the inductor 138 has a
resistance value of about 33 .OMEGA. at 100 MHz (about 0.0080 at
zero Hz) and a current limit of about 4 A, the diode 126 is a
BZX284 series diode, and the diode 132 has a value of about 22 V
and power limit of about 3 W. In further specific embodiments, the
inductor 138 is a WE-CBF 0805 4A OR008 chip-inductor similarly to
inductor 40 of FIG. 3.
[0033] Referring back to FIG. 2, an output 144 from the switching
circuit 106 is coupled to the controller motor 108. The controller
motor 108, in turn, is coupled to a first gearbox 146 which is
mechanically coupled to a second gearbox 148 in turn coupled to a
generator 150. The generator 150 is configured to provide three
output lines 152, 154, and 156 to the pump motor 12 to provide
respective "U," "V," and "W" phases for the pump motor 12. In
specific embodiments, the controller motor 108 is an F 2140 series
40 mm graphite brushless DC motor commercially available from Maxon
Precision Motors, Inc., of Fall River, Mass. In further specific
embodiments, each of the gearboxes 146 and 148 are planetary
gearheads series 16 A, 16 mm, also commercially available from
Maxon, while the generator 150 is an EC 16 series 16 mm brushless
EC motor, also commercially available from Maxon.
[0034] In the controller 28, each of the phases for the pump motor
12 on the output lines 152, 154, and 156 is conditioned by a
respective conditioning circuit 158a-c. FIG. 8 is an illustration
of one embodiment of a conditioning circuit 158 that is used to
condition a signal to the pump motor 12. Specifically, the input to
the conditioning circuit 158 is a phase from the generator 150,
which is coupled to a capacitor 160. The capacitor 160, in turn, is
coupled to one resistor 162 coupled to the DC_DC_IN signal and one
resistor 164 coupled to ground. The conditioning circuit 158
includes an operational amplifier 166, the positive input of which
is coupled to the output of capacitor 160, the resistor 162 coupled
to the DC_DC_IN signal, and the resistor 162 coupled to ground. The
negative input of the amplifier 166 is coupled to the output of a
series combination of a resistor 168 and a capacitor 170. The
negative input of the amplifier 166 is further coupled to a
capacitor 172 in parallel with a resistor 174. The output of the
amplifier 166 is coupled to the input of a first diode 176, whose
output is coupled to the input of a second diode 178. The output of
the second diode 178 is, in turn, coupled to a resistor 180 tied to
ground. Returning to the output of the amplifier 166, the output is
also tied to a resistor 182 which is configured in parallel to a
resistor 184 coupled to the output of the second diode 178. In
turn, the resistors 182 and 184 are connected in parallel to the
base of a first PNP transistor 186. The emitter of the first PNP
transistor 186 is coupled to a resistor 188, which in turn is
coupled to the parallel combination of the capacitor 172 and
resistor 174 coupled to the negative input of the amplifier 166.
The collector of the first PNP transistor 186, however, is tied to
the base of a second PNP transistor 190. The emitter of the second
PNP transistor 190 is coupled to a resistor 192, the resistor 192
being further coupled to the parallel combination of the capacitor
172 and resistor 174 coupled to the negative input of the amplifier
166.
[0035] The output of the amplifier 166 is also coupled to a
resistor 194 that is coupled to the base of a first NPN transistor
196. The collector of the first NPN transistor 196 is coupled to a
resistor 198. The resistor 198 is in turn coupled to the DC_DC_IN
signal and the collector of a second NPN transistor 200. Returning
to the first NPN transistor 196, the emitter of the first NPN
transistor 196 is coupled to the base of the second NPN transistor
200. The emitter of the second NPN transistor 200 is coupled,
through a resistor 202, to the parallel combination of capacitor
172 and resistor 174 coupled to the negative input of the amplifier
166.
[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the parallel combination of
capacitor 172 and resistor 174 coupled to the negative input of the
amplifier 166 is further coupled to two resistors 204 and 206 in
series. The output of the resistors 204 and 206, in turn, is
coupled to a capacitor 208 tied to ground and an inductor 210. The
inductor 210 is coupled, in parallel, to capacitor 212 tied to
ground and the output of a diode 214 (the input being tied to
ground). The inductor 210 is further tied to the U, V, or W phase
of the pump motor 12.
[0037] In specific embodiments, the amplifier 166 is an AD824
series single supply, low power, FET-input op-amp commercially
available from Analog Devices of Norwood, Mass. In further specific
embodiments, the resistors 162, 164, and 174 each have a value of
about 100 k.OMEGA., the resistors 168, 188, and 198 each have a
value of about 21 k.OMEGA., the resistor 180 has a value of about 4
k.OMEGA., the resistors 182, 184, and 194 each have a value of
about 1000, the resistors 192 and 202 each have a value of about
0.OMEGA., and the resistors 204 and 206 are each 4R7-5W series
axial wirewound resistors. In specific embodiments, the capacitor
160 has a value of about 10 .mu.F, the capacitor 170 has a value of
about 4 .mu.F, the capacitor 172 has a value of about 1 nF, the
capacitor 208 has a value of about 47 .mu.F, and the capacitor 212
has a value of about 100 nF. In specific embodiments, the ferrite
bead 210 is a WE-CBF 0805 4A OR008 chip-inductor similarly to
inductor 40 of FIG. 3 and inductor 138 of FIG. 7, while the diodes
176 and 178 are each BAV99 series diodes commercially available
from Fairchild Semiconductor and the diode 214 is a D402 series
Zener diode.
[0038] When in use, an operator coupled the controller 28 to the
pump 10 as well as to the power supply 26. When the controller 28
is supplied power, the controller power indicator 52 will be
activated. When the user actuates the actuator 32, the controller
transforms a power signal from the power supply 26 into a plurality
of signals for the pump motor 12. Specifically, the controller 28
is configured to operate the pump motor 12 from a speed of about
780 RPM to about 1,180 RPM, whereas during normal operation the
pump motor 12 is configured to operate at a speed from about 20,000
RPM to a speed of about 28,000 RPM. Moreover, the controller 28 is
configured to provide enough power to the pump motor 12 such that
the pump motor 12 can utilize back-EMF control methodologies
without causing the pump motor 12 to stop or suffer from overspeed.
Thus, the user can visually verify the operation of the pump 10
without utilizing a sterile bath.
[0039] The controller 28 is configured to transform power from the
power supply 26 for the pump 10 for a period of time from about
four to about six seconds. Specifically, the controller 28 is
configured to provide power to the pump 10 when the actuator 32 is
continuously actuated, but for no more than that period of time.
Alternatively, the controller 28 can be configured to provide power
to the pump 10 for that period of time in response to a momentary
actuation of the actuator 32. When the controller 28 provides power
to the pump 10, the pump power indicator 34 is activated. After the
user has completed their inspection, the user can detach the
controller 28 from the pump 10 and the power supply 26.
[0040] While embodiments of the present invention has been
illustrated by a description of the various embodiments and the
examples, and while these embodiments have been described in
considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to
restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to
such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily
appear to those skilled in the art. Thus, embodiments of the
present invention in broader aspects are therefore not limited to
the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and
illustrative example shown and described. Accordingly, departures
may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or
scope of applicants' general inventive concept.
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