Peristaltic pump and removable cassette therefor

1. A removable cassette for a peristaltic pump, comprising:

a cassette body including a convex slide surface; and

an occluder disposed at least partially in the cassette body and configured to be movable along the convex slide surface between an occluding position and a non-occluding position, the occluder including:

an occluder body having a concave inner side slidably engaging the convex slide surface of the cassette body; and

an anti-ejection member integrally formed on the occluder body, wherein the anti-ejection member is configured to substantially prevent removal of the cassette from the peristaltic pump when the occluder is in the non-occluding position.

2. The removable cassette as defined in claim 1 wherein the anti-ejection member allows removal of the cassette from the peristaltic pump when the occluder is in the occluding position.

3. The removable cassette as defined in claim 2 wherein the cassette body includes an anti-ejection member-receiving slot formed therein.

4. The removable cassette as defined in claim 3 , further comprising:

an opening defined in the cassette body; and

a toggle member extending outwardly from the occluder body and through the opening.

5. The removable cassette as defined in claim 4 wherein the toggle member actuates movement of the occluder between the occluding position and the non-occluding position.

6. The removable cassette as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:

a tube operatively disposed in the cassette body; and

an occlusion slot defined in the occluder body, the occlusion slot being configured to substantially occlude the tube when the occluder is in the occluding position, and the occlusion slot being configured to substantially allow free flow through the tube when the occluder is in the non-occluding position.

7. The removable cassette as defined in claim 6 wherein the occlusion slot is a key hole slot.

8. The removable cassette as defined in claim 6 wherein the anti-ejection member is a tab integrally formed with a side edge of the occluder body and operatively receivable within an anti-ejection member-receiving slot formed in the cassette body.

9. The removable cassette as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a cover disposed over the cassette body and substantially securing the occluder in the cassette body.

10. The removable cassette as defined in claim 1 wherein the removable cassette provides tactile feedback, audible feedback, or combinations thereof when the occluder is moved into the occluding position.

11. A peristaltic pump, comprising:

a pump body;

a cassette removably attached to the pump body, the cassette including a cassette body and an occluder;

the cassette body including a convex slide surface;

the occluder being disposed at least partially in the cassette body and configured to be movable along the convex slide surface between an occluding position and a non-occluding position, the occluder including:

an occluder body having a concave inner side slidably engaging the convex slide surface of the cassette body; and

an anti-ejection member integrally formed on the occluder body, wherein the anti-ejection member is configured to substantially prevent removal of the cassette from the peristaltic pump when the occluder is in the non-occluding position.

12. The peristaltic pump as defined in claim 11 , wherein the pump body comprises a pump body retaining feature configured to releasably attach the cassette to the pump body; and wherein the cassette comprises a cassette retaining feature matingly engageable with the pump body retaining feature.

13. The peristaltic pump as defined in claim 12 wherein when the occluder is in the occluding position, the anti-ejection member unlocks the cassette retaining feature, thereby allowing the cassette to be removed from the peristaltic pump.

14. The peristaltic pump as defined in claim 12 wherein when the occluder is in the non-occluding position, the anti-ejection member substantially locks the cassette retaining feature, thereby preventing the cassette from being removed from the peristaltic pump.

15. The peristaltic pump as defined in claim 11 wherein the cassette provides tactile feedback, audible feedback, or combinations thereof when the occluder is moved into the occluding position.

16. A method of assembling a removable cassette for a peristaltic pump, comprising:

at least partially disposing an occluder in a cassette body, the occluder including an occluder body having an anti-ejection member integrally formed on a side edge thereof, and the cassette body including a flat base defining a plane, wherein the cassette body includes an anti-ejection member-receiving slot formed therein;

positioning the occluder substantially perpendicular to the plane and substantially aligning a portion of the occluder body including the anti-ejection member with the anti-ejection member-receiving slot;

sliding the anti-ejection member through the slot; and

rotating the occluder body so that the side edge is substantially parallel to the plane.

17. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein the portion of the occluder body is substantially complementarily shaped with the anti-ejection member-receiving slot.

18. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein the cassette body further includes an opening formed therein, and wherein the method further comprises receiving a toggle member through the opening, wherein the toggle member extends outwardly from the occluder body.

19. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein the occluder further includes an occlusion slot formed therein, and wherein prior to at least partially disposing the occluder in the cassette body, and the method further comprises disposing a tube in the cassette body and through the occlusion slot.

20. The method as defined in claim 19 , further comprising disposing a cover over the cassette body, thereby substantially securing the occluder therein.