Peristaltic infusion pump with locking mechanism

1. A medical apparatus, comprising:

an infusion pump, comprising:

a pump body;

a peristaltic mechanism, which protrudes from the pump body and is configured to exert a force on a flexible infusion tube so as to propel a fluid through the tube;

a hinge receptacle which is fixed to the pump body and defines a hinge axis; and

a catch receptacle fixed to the pump body; and

a mechanical interface unit, which is configured to hold a portion of the tube, and which comprises:

a hinge insert, which is configured to engage the hinge receptacle;

a catch insert, which is configured to lock onto the catch receptacle upon rotation of the mechanical interface unit about the hinge axis while the hinge insert engages the hinge receptacle, so as to bring the tube into engagement with the peristaltic mechanism;

a rim surrounding the peristaltic mechanism; and

a door, which closes over the rim so as to enclose the peristaltic mechanism and to prevent unintentional detachment of the mechanical interface unit from the pump body.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the peristaltic mechanism comprises multiple fingers, which are driven to compress and release the tube in a predetermined cyclic pattern.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the peristaltic mechanism has a linear configuration, and wherein the mechanical interface has an elongated shape corresponding to the linear configuration of the peristaltic mechanism.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the hinge receptacle comprises an axle, and the hinge insert comprises a saddle, which fits over the axle.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the axle and saddle are split so as to define a channel for receiving the portion of the tube.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the catch insert comprises a tooth, and the catch receptacle comprises an elastic catch.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical interface unit comprises collars, which are fixed to opposing ends of the portion of the tube and lodge against the rim.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the rim has openings shaped to receive the tube so that the tube extends through the openings when the door is closed.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the collars are configured to lodge inside the rim and have respective diameters that are larger than the openings so as to prevent axial motion of the tube after the door has been closed.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical interface unit comprises an anti-free-flow mechanism, which is configured to prevent flow of the fluid through the portion of the tube until the tube has been brought into the engagement with the peristaltic mechanism.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the anti-free-flow mechanism can be latched opened into a latched open position prior to the engagement of the tube with the peristaltic mechanism, and wherein the infusion pump comprises a key, which is fixed to the pump body and is configured to release the anti-free-flow mechanism from the latched open position so as to prevent the flow of the fluid through the portion of the tube when mechanical interface unit is disengaged from the pump.

12. A medical device, comprising:

an interface unit body, which is configured to hold a portion of a flexible infusion tube;

a hinge insert, which is fixed to the interface unit body and is configured to engage a hinge receptacle, which defines a hinge axis, on an infusion pump;

a catch insert, which is fixed to the interface unit body and is configured to lock onto a catch receptacle on the infusion pump upon rotation of the mechanical interface unit about the hinge axis while the hinge insert engages the hinge receptacle, so as to bring the tube into engagement with a peristaltic mechanism of the infusion pump in order to enable the peristaltic mechanism to propel a fluid through the tube;

a rim surrounding the peristaltic mechanism; and

a security door, which closes over the rim so as to enclose the peristaltic mechanism and to prevent unintentional detachment of the interface unit body from the peristaltic mechanism.

13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the peristaltic mechanism has a linear configuration, and wherein the interface unit body has an elongated shape corresponding to the linear configuration of the peristaltic mechanism.

14. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the hinge receptacle comprises an axle, and the hinge insert comprises a saddle, which fits over the axle.

15. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the axle and saddle are split so as to define a channel for receiving the portion of the tube.

16. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the catch insert comprises a tooth, and the catch receptacle comprises an elastic catch.

17. The device according to claim 12 , and comprising collars, which are fixed to opposing ends of the portion of the tube and are configured to lodge against a rim surrounding the peristaltic mechanism on the infusion pump.

18. The device according to claim 17 , wherein the collars comprise connectors, which connect the portion of the flexible infusion tube in the housing to upstream and downstream tube segments.

19. The device according to claim 12 , and comprising an anti-free-flow mechanism, which is configured to prevent flow of the fluid through the portion of the tube until the tube has been brought into the engagement with the peristaltic mechanism wherein the anti-free-flow mechanism can be latched open into a latched open position prior to the engagement of the tube with the peristaltic mechanism, and wherein the infusion pump comprises a key, which is fixed to the pump body and is configured to release the anti-free-flow mechanism from the latched open position so as to prevent the flow of the fluid through the portion of the tube when mechanical interface unit is disengaged from the pump.

20. A method for infusion, comprising:

providing a mechanical interface unit, which holds a portion of a flexible infusion tube and comprises a hinge insert and a catch insert;

opening a safety door to reveal a peristaltic mechanism;

inserting the hinge insert into a hinge receptacle, which defines a hinge axis, on an infusion pump;

rotating the mechanical interface unit about the hinge axis while the hinge insert engages the hinge receptacle, so as to bring the tube into engagement with a peristaltic mechanism of the infusion pump while the safety door is latched open;

securing the safety door enclosing the peristaltic mechanism to prevent unintentional detachment of the mechanical interface unit from the peristaltic mechanism; and

actuating the infusion pump while the tube is in engagement with the peristaltic mechanism so as to propel a fluid through the tube.