Syringe pump and system

Abstract

A syringe pump is provided that includes two drive shafts and a pusher block. The two drive shafts are operable to simultaneously move via one or more motors. The pusher block is operable to detachably couple with a syringe and is operable to translate along a longitudinal axis when the two drive shafts move. When the pusher block translates in a first direction along the longitudinal axis, the pusher block causes the syringe to dispense the material received therein.

Description

SYRINGE PUMP AND SYSTEMCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 668,032, filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on July 5, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to systems and techniques for transferring material via a syringe.BACKGROUND

[0002] Syringe pumps are precision instruments used in medical, manufacturing, and / or research settings to deliver precise and controlled amounts of material. They consist of a syringe holder, a motorized drive mechanism, and a control system that regulates the rate and volume of material delivery. These devices are crucial in applications requiring accurate administration of medications, infusion of fluids, and / or experimental procedures where exact dosing is essential.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description of the principles briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understand that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and are not, therefore, to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the principles herein are described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0004] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an example system;

[0005] FIG. IB is a perspective view of another example of the system of FIG. 1 A;

[0006] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a system in a stand up configuration;

[0007] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 2A in a lay down configuration;

[0008] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a system in a stand up configuration;

[0009] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 3A in a lay down configuration;

[0010] FIG. 3C is a perspective view from a different angle of the system of FIG. 3 A in the stand up configuration;

[0011] FIG. 3D is a perspective view from a different angle of the system of FIG. 3B in the lay down configuration;

[0012] FIG. 4A is a front view of the system in a stand up configuration;

[0013] FIG. 4B is a side view of the system of FIG. 4A;

[0014] FIG. 4C is a rear view of the system of FIG. 4A; and

[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a controller which may be employed as shown inFIGS. 1A-4C.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Various embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be outlined in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or can be learned by practice of the herein disclosed principles. It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.

[0017] FIGS. 1A-4D illustrate a system 10 with a syringe pump 100. The system 10 includes a syringe 12 that is operable to receive and dispense a material. The syringe 12 includes a barrel 14 that is operable to receive the material, for example a rheological material, a fluid, an oil, etc. The barrel 14 can be substantially cylindrical in shape, as illustrated herein. In some examples, the barrel 14 can be substantially rectangular, ovoid, triangular, octagonal, hexagonal, or any other suitable shape without deviating from the scope of the disclosure. The barrel 14 can include a tip 16 through which the material can be dispensed out of the syringe 12. In some examples, the tip 16 can extend from the barrel 14. In some examples, the tip 16 can be detachably coupled with the barrel 14 such that when the tip 16 is removed, the barrel 14 and / or the tip 16 can be cleaned. Bybeing able to clean the barrel 14 and / or the tip 16, the dispensing of the material can be accurate and efficient. The syringe 12 includes a plunger 18 which is operable to be received in the barrel 14. The plunger 18 fits within the barrel 14 such that the plunger 18 forms a seal within the barrel 14 to prevent the material from passing therethrough. Accordingly, as the plunger 18 translates within the barrel 14 (e.g., pushed into the barrel), the material is expelled through the tip 16. The plunger 18 fits snugly within the barrel 14 to ensure precise measurement and dispensing of the material through the tip 16.

[0018] The system 10 also includes a syringe pump 100 that is operable to impart a force onto the plunger 18 of the syringe 12 to cause the material to dispense from the tip 16 of the syringe 12. The syringe pump 100 is a positive-displacement pump used to gradually transfer precise volumes of the material. For example, the syringe pump 100 can impart up to 6 tons of force onto the syringe 12. Meanwhile, the force is controlled to ensure an accurate and precise amount of the material is dispensed while minimizing damage of the material (e.g., separating fluid and solid).

[0019] The syringe pump 100 can include a housing 102 and a plurality of supports 108. The supports 108 can be operable to stabilize the housing 102 and the system 10. For example, the supports 108 can include feet, platforms, etc. In some examples, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4C, the housing 102 can include two sets of supports 1080, 1082 such that the housing 102 can be configured to be positioned in a stand up configuration or a lay down configuration. A first set of supports 1080 can be coupled with the housing 102 on a first surface while a second set of supports 1082 can be coupled with the housing 102 on a second surface. When the housing 102 is supported by the first set of supports 1080, the housing 102 can be positioned in the stand up configuration where the syringe 12 is pointing upwards (e.g., opposite the supports 1080 and the gravity vector). When the housing 102 is supported by the second set of supports 1082, the housing 102 can be positioned in the lay down configuration where the syringe 12 is pointing sideways (e.g., substantially perpendicular or at an angle to the gravity vector). Accordingly, the system 10 can be configured to be positioned in a plurality of configurations depending on the need of the user.

[0020] The syringe pump 100 is operable to detachably receive the syringe 12. In other words, the syringe 12 can be detachably coupled with the syringe pump 100. As the syringe 12 can be removed, the syringe 12 can be easily cleaned and / or changed. Conventional systems have a fixed syringe that is not removable, so the fixed syringe cannot be easily cleaned. To clean conventional systems, solvent(s) must be pumped therethrough and / or the entire system needs to be taken apart,which may not even sufficiently clean the system leading to inaccurate dispensing of the material over time. The presently disclosed system 10 with the detachable syringe 12 allows for easy maintenance and accurate dispensing of the material. Additionally, the syringe 12 is under extreme pressure from the syringe pump 100, so the syringe 12 may break over time. By having a detachable syringe 12, the syringe 12 can be easily replaced without needing to replace the entire system, as with conventional systems with the fixed syringe.

[0021] In at least one example, the housing 102 can be operable to detachably couple with the barrel 14 of the syringe 12. The housing 102 can include a barrel coupling mechanism 120 operable to receive and securely couple with the barrel 14 of the syringe 12. In at least one example, the barrel coupling mechanism 120 can include a bracket 128 that forms a receptacle 122 that is configured to receive the barrel 14 of the syringe 12. The bracket 128 can be secured and / or tightened via one or more fasteners 126, for example screws, ratchet mechanism, clamps, etc. The barrel coupling mechanism 120 can securely hold the barrel 14 of the syringe 12 such that when the syringe 12 receives the large forces from the syringe pump 100, the syringe 12 remains in place, and the barrel 14 does not move while the plunger 18 translates therein. The barrel coupling mechanism 120 can be easily released so that the syringe 12 can be easily removed for cleaning, fixing, maintenance, and / or replacement.

[0022] In at least one example, the syringe pump 100 is operable to detachably couple with the plunger 18 of the syringe 12 while being able to impart the force onto the plunger 18 to cause the plunger 18 to translate within the barrel 14 to accurately dispense the material at a precise rate. In at least one example, as illustrated herein, the syringe pump 100 includes a pusher block 154 that is operable to couple with the syringe 12 (e.g., the plunger 18). In at least one example, the pusher block 154 can couple with the syringe 12 via a clamp mechanism. In some examples, the pusher block 154 can couple with the syringe 12 via a bolt mechanism. The pusher block 154 is operable to couple with the plunger 18 such that when the pusher block 154 translates, the plunger 18 translates to dispense the material from the tip 16 of the syringe 12. The pusher block 154 can be operable to translate along a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the syringe 12. The longitudinal axis of the syringe 12 can pass from the plunger 18 through the barrel 14 and through the tip 16.

[0023] To cause the pusher block 154 - and correspondingly the barrel 18 of the syringe 12 - to translate, the syringe pump 100 includes two drive shafts 150. The two drive shafts 150 areoperable to simultaneously move via one or more motors 170. When the two drive shafts 150 move, the pusher block 154 is operable to translate along the longitudinal axis. Accordingly, when the pusher block 154 translates in a first direction along the longitudinal axis, the pusher block 154 causes the syringe 12 to dispense the material received therein in an accurate amount at a precise rate.

[0024] In at least one example, as illustrated herein the two drive shafts 150 can be substantially parallel to one another. In at least one example, the two drive shafts 150 can each be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. In at least one example, the two drive shafts 150 can each be substantially parallel to the plunger 18 of the syringe 12. In at least one example, the two drive shafts 150 can be substantially parallel to the barrel 18 of the syringe 12.

[0025] In at least one example, as illustrated herein, the two drive shafts 150 can include screw drives operable to rotate via the one or more motors 170. The screw drives 150 can be threaded through the pusher block 154 (e.g., via a threaded portions 152). When the screw drives 150 turn, the pusher block 154 translates by the threaded portions 152 being in threaded contact with the screw drives 150. When the screw drives 150 turn in the first direction, the pusher block 154 can translate towards the barrel 14 of the syringe 12, causing the plunger 18 to push the material out of the tip 16. When the screw drives 150 turn in an opposing second direction, the pusher block 154 can translate away from the barrel 14 of the syringe 12, causing the plunger 18 to create a vacuum such that the syringe 12 can draw material into the barrel 14.

[0026] The motor(s) 170 and / or the movement of the screw drives 150 - and thus the movement of the plunger 18 and the dispensing of the material via the syringe 12 - can be controlled via a controller 500. In at least one example, as illustrated herein, the controller 500 can receive input via one or more input mechanisms 106. The input mechanisms 106 can include buttons, touch screen, dials, etc. FIGS. 1A, 2B, and 3A-4C illustrate the input mechanisms 106 in a first configuration with buttons that are arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. FIGS. IB and 2A illustrate the input mechanisms 106 in a second configuration with buttons that are arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. Different configurations and combinations of input mechanisms 106 can be utilized without deviating from the scope of the disclosure. For example, in at least one example as illustrated in FIGS. 3A-4C, the syringe pump 100 can include a display screen 107 to display parameters of the syringe pump 100, amount of material contained in the barrel 14 of the syringe 12, amount of material being dispensed from the syringe 12, rate ofdispensing of the material from the syringe 12, alerts for maintenance or problems, etc. In some examples, the display screen 107 can include a touch screen. Further details about the controller 500 is provided below.

[0027] In at least one example, as illustrated herein, the two drive shafts 150 can be positioned on opposite sides of the plunger 18 of the syringe 12. This configuration can reduce shifting as pusher block 154 translates, which can lead to increased stability and less friction. With such a configuration, the syringe pump 100 needs 25-30% less power than a conventional syringe pump.

[0028] The housing 102 can be configured to receive the two drive shafts 150 and the pusher block 154 therein. In some examples, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A, IB, 2A, and 2B, the housing 102 can include a cover 104 operable to enclose the two drive shafts 150 and the pusher block 154 within the housing 102. In some examples, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, and 4C, the housing 102 may not include the cover 104. In some examples, the cover 104 can be detachable and removable to provide easy access to the pusher block 154 and / or the two drive shafts 150 for maintenance or removal of the syringe 12.

[0029] In at least one example, as illustrated herein, the housing 102 can form a spill way pass through 1020 which is configured so that the material passes through the housing 102. For example, the spill way pass through can include a spill aperture. Accordingly, any material that may leak from the syringe 12 (e.g., from the junction of the barrel 14 and the plunger 18) can fall through the spill way pass through 1020 and out of the housing 102 onto an external surface (e.g., table, floor, etc.). With the spill way pass through 1020, cleaning and maintenance is much simpler and easier, as the external surface simply needs to be wiped and cleaned instead of trying to clean the internal mechanisms of the syringe pump 100.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary controller 500. Controller 500 is configured to perform processing of data and communicate with the system 10. For example, the controller 500 can be operable to receive data from the inputs 106 indicative of the amount of material to be dispensed and send a control signal to the syringe pump 100 to adjust the dispensing of the material from the syringe 12. In some examples, the controller 500 includes a display screen 107. The display screen 107 can be operable to display information, for example which how much material has been dispensed, the speed of dispensing the material, and / or the amount of material remaining in the syringe 12. Furthermore, the display information can include system settings, density, cycle time, fill settings, solid settings, and / or heat settings.

[0031] In operation, controller 500 communicates with one or more of the components discussed herein and may also be configured to communication with remote devices / sy stems.

[0032] As shown, controller 500 includes hardware and software components such as network interfaces 510, at least one processor 520, sensors 560 and a memory 540 interconnected by a system bus 550. Network interface(s) 510 can include mechanical, electrical, and signaling circuitry for communicating data over communication links, which may include wired or wireless communication links. Network interfaces 510 are configured to transmit and / or receive data using a variety of different communication protocols, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0033] Processor 520 represents a digital signal processor (e.g., a microprocessor, a microcontroller, or a fixed-logic processor, etc.) configured to execute instructions or logic to perform tasks for the system 10. Processor 520 may include a general purpose processor, specialpurpose processor (where software instructions are incorporated into the processor), a state machine, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable gate array (PGA) including a field PGA, an individual component, a distributed group of processors, and the like. Processor 520 typically operates in conjunction with shared or dedicated hardware, including but not limited to, hardware capable of executing software and hardware. For example, processor 520 may include elements or logic adapted to execute software programs and manipulate data structures 545, which may reside in memory 540.

[0034] Sensors 560 typically operate in conjunction with processor 520 to perform measurements, and can include special-purpose processors, detectors, transmitters, receivers, and the like. In this fashion, sensors 560 may include hardware / software for generating, transmitting, receiving, detection, logging, and / or sampling parameters.

[0035] Memory 540 comprises a plurality of storage locations that are addressable by processor 520 for storing software programs and data structures 545 associated with the embodiments described herein. An operating system 542, portions of which may be typically resident in memory 540 and executed by processor 520, functionally organizes the device by, inter alia, invoking operations in support of software processes and / or services 544 executing on controller 500. These software processes and / or services 544 may perform processing of data and communication with controller 500, as described herein. Note that while process / service 544 is shown in centralized memory 540, some examples provide for these processes / services to be operated in a distributed computing network.

[0036] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other processor and memory types, including various computer-readable media, may be used to store and execute program instructions pertaining to the pumping techniques described herein. Also, while the description illustrates various processes, it is expressly contemplated that various processes may be embodied as modules having portions of the process / service 544 encoded thereon. In this fashion, the program modules may be encoded in one or more tangible computer readable storage media for execution, such as with fixed logic or programmable logic (e.g., software / computer instructions executed by a processor, and any processor may be a programmable processor, programmable digital logic such as field programmable gate arrays or an ASIC that comprises fixed digital logic. In general, any process logic may be embodied in processor 520 or computer readable medium encoded with instructions for execution by processor 520 that, when executed by the processor, are operable to cause the processor to perform the functions described herein.

[0037] Additionally, the controller 500 can apply machine learning, such as a neural network or sequential logistic regression and the like, to determine relationships between the syringe pump 100, the syringe 12, and / or the material. For example, a deep neural network may be trained in advance to capture the complex relationship between the syringe pump 100, the movement of the material from the syringe 12 and out of the tip 16 of the syringe 12. This neural net can then be deployed in the precision of material injection. As such, the determination of the amount of material that is being dispensed can be more accurate.

[0038] While examples of the present inventive concept have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such examples are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the disclosure. It should be understood that various alternatives to the examples of the disclosure described herein can be employed in practicing the disclosure. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the disclosure and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A syringe pump comprising: two drive shafts, the two drive shafts being operable to simultaneously move via one or more motors; a pusher block operable to detachably couple with a syringe, the pusher block operable to translate along a longitudinal axis when the two drive shafts move, wherein when the pusher block translates in a first direction along the longitudinal axis, the pusher block causes the syringe to dispense the material received therein.

2. The syringe pump of claim 1, wherein the two drive shafts are substantially parallel to one another.

3. The syringe pump of claim 1, wherein each of the two drive shafts include screw drives operable to rotate via the one or more motors.

4. The syringe pump of claim 1, wherein the pusher block is operable to couple with a plunger of the syringe such that when the pusher block translates, the plunger of the syringe translates to dispense the material from a tip of the syringe.

5. The syringe pump of claim 4, wherein the two drive shafts are positioned on opposite sides of the plunger of the syringe.

6. The syringe pump of claim 1, further comprising a housing configured to receive the two drive shafts and the pusher block therein.

7. The syringe pump of claim 6, wherein the housing is operable to detachably couple with a barrel of the syringe.

8. The syringe pump of claim 6, wherein the housing forms a spill way pass which is configured so that the material passes through the housing.

9. The syringe pump of claim 8, wherein the spill way pass through includes a spill aperture.

10. The syringe pump of claim 6, wherein the housing is configured to be positioned in a stand up configuration or a lay down configuration.

11. A system comprising: a syringe operable to receive and dispense a material; and a syringe pump operable to detachably receive the syringe, the syringe pump comprising: two drive shafts, the two drive shafts being operable to simultaneously move via one or more motors; a pusher block operable to detachably couple with a syringe, the pusher block operable to translate along a longitudinal axis when the two drive shafts move, wherein when the pusher block translates in a first direction along the longitudinal axis, the coupling mechanism causes the syringe to dispense the material.

12. The syringe pump of claim 11, wherein the two drive shafts are substantially parallel to one another.

13. The syringe pump of claim 11, wherein each of the two drive shafts include screw drives operable to rotate via the one or more motors.

14. The syringe pump of claim 11, wherein the pusher block is operable to couple with a plunger of the syringe such that when the pusher block translates, the plunger of the syringe translates to dispense the material from a tip of the syringe.

15. The syringe pump of claim 14, wherein the two drive shafts are positioned on opposite sides of the plunger of the syringe.

16. The syringe pump of claim 1 1 , further comprising a housing configured to receive the two drive shafts and the pusher block therein.

17. The syringe pump of claim 16, wherein the housing is operable to detachably couple with a barrel of the syringe.

18. The syringe pump of claim 16, wherein the housing forms a spill way pass which is configured so that the material passes through the housing.

19. The syringe pump of claim 18, wherein the spill way pass through includes a spill aperture.

20. The syringe pump of claim 16, wherein the housing is configured to be positioned in a stand up configuration or a lay down configuration.

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