Abstract: A lead screw mounting system for a syringe pump in which a second end of a lead screw is located within a connection tube that connects a drive device engaged with the lead screw to a plunger drive head. A bearing mount having diverging bearing surfaces is formed at the second end of the lead screw and a bearing having a complementary inner shape is mounted to the bearing mount. The bearing is larger than the inner diameter of the connection tube and is in constant contact with the tube. During operation, the bearing tends to move up one or the other of the diverging bearing surfaces of the bearing mount depending on which direction the connection tube is moving over the bearing creating a wedge action. The bearing functions to keep the lead screw concentrically located within the connection tube thereby increasing flow uniformity of the syringe pump.

Abstract: A slide clamp includes a slot formed in a plate though which a fluid tube is mounted. The tube may be moved to a flow section of the slot or to an occluding section of the slot. Interconnecting the flow and occluding sections is a pinch zone in which the slot is narrower than the occluding section. Because of this narrow slot, the pinch zone resists movement of the tube from either the occluding or the flow sections into another section. The pinch zone includes a pair of curved beams that are formed as a result of apertures formed in the plate at locations laterally outward from the slot of the pinch zone. As a tube is forced from the occluding section to the flow section the curved beams flex outwardly permitting the tube to pass. However, if enough force is not applied to the tube, it will not overcome the curved beams and they will stop movement of the tube. After the tube has passed, the curved beams resiliently return to their rest position once again providing a stop.

Abstract: A lead screw mounting system for a syringe pump in which a second end of a lead screw is located within a hollow connection tube that connects a drive device engaged with the lead screw to a plunger drive head. A bearing mount is formed at the second end of the lead screw and a split bearing mounted to the bearing mount. The bearing mount has diverging bearing surfaces in an hour glass shape and the bearing has a complementary inner shape. The bearing is larger than the inner diameter of the connection tube and is in constant contact with the tube. During operation, the bearing tends to move up one or the other of the diverging bearing surfaces of the bearing mount depending on which direction the hollow connection tube is moving over the bearing creating a wedge action. The split bearing functions to keep the lead screw concentrically located within the hollow connection tube thereby increasing flow uniformity of the syringe pump.