705 results about "Micropump" patented technology

A composite wound dressing apparatus promotes healing of a wound via the use of a micropump system housed within or above a wound dressing member. The micropump system includes a miniature pump that applies a subatmospheric pressure to the wound to effectively draw wound fluid or exudate away from the wound bed without the need for a cumbersome external vacuum source. Hence, the wound dressing and micropump system is portable which allows the patient mobility that is unavailable when an external vacuum source is used. The patient does not need to be constrained for any period of time while exudate is being removed from the wound.

Apparatuses and methods for pumping fluid are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus is a miniature pump that includes a shape memory wire that obtains a plastic condition below a transformation temperature and has a memorized shape such that the shape memory wire produces a work stroke by returning to the memorize shape at least at the transformation temperature. A spring biased against the shape memory wire is deflected by the work stroke to deform the shape memory wire from the memorized shape below the transformation temperature. A fluid pump is coupled to the shape memory wire and driven by the biased spring and shape memory wire to produce a fluid flow. The miniature pump can be incorporated into a self-contained infusion device in the form of a compact self-adhesive patch including a fluid reservoir, control electronics and power supply that is place directly at the infusion site of a user.

A micropump in which a fluid is pumped by the interaction of longitudinal acoustic waves and the fluid in the microchannel. The micropump having an acoustical transducer responsive to a high-frequency input and directing a longitudinal acoustic wave into the channel which induces a pressure gradient. The fluid in the channel flowing in the direction of travel of the acoustic wave in the channel.

A composite wound dressing apparatus promotes healing of a wound via the use of a micropump system. The micropump system includes a micropump that applies a subatmospheric pressure to the wound to effectively draw wound fluid or exudate away from the wound bed, or deliver fluids to the wound bed, without the need for a cumbersome external pressure (e.g. vacuum) source. Hence, the wound dressing and micropump system is portable which allows the patient mobility that is unavailable when an external vacuum source is used.

A bistable electrostatic actuator with pneumatic or liquid coupling. The actuator has enclosed metallic electrodes. It can be used for a microvalve or micropump. The actuator has buckled membrane sections in pairs and curved substrate electrodes, locally associated with said membrane sections.

An intraocular lens is provided that having optical parameters that may be adjusted in-situ, and is particularly useful in cataract patients that require an adjustment in the optical power of the lens post-implantation. The lens body carries an array of interior fluid-filled cells in which fluid is controllably moved by micropumps upon application of energy from an external source to move a fluid media into the cells to thereby alter the lens surface shape.

The present invention discloses the integration of programmable microfluidic circuits to achieve practical applications to process biochemical and chemical reactions and to integrate these reactions. In some embodiments workflows for biochemical reactions or chemical workflows are combined. Microvalves such as programmable microfluidic circuit with Y valves and flow through valves are disclosed. In some embodiments microvalves of the present invention are used for mixing fluids, which may be part of an integrated process. These processes include mixing samples and moving reactions to an edge or reservoir for modular microfluidics, use of capture regions, and injection into analytical devices on separate devices. In some embodiments star and nested star designs, or bead capture by change of cross sectional area of a channel in a microvalve are used. Movement of samples between temperature zones are further disclosed using fixed temperature and movement of the samples by micropumps.

A method system for modulating the energy expenditure and / or the expressed brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain of an individual is performed by a system that includes a control device that generates a stimulation pattern from a predetermined set of stimulation parameters, and that converts the stimulation pattern into a stimulation signal. A stimulation signal delivery mechanism, configured for implantation into a selected part of the brain, receives the stimulation signal from the control device and delivers the signal to the selected part of the brain. The stimulation signal may be an electrical signal delivered by a brain-implantable electrode, or a chemical signal in the form of a drug dosage regimen delivered by an implantable micropump under the control of the control device. Modulation of the energy expenditure and / or BDNF is achieved by the stimulation of the hypothalamus, either directly or indirectly, by the stimulation signal.

A micropump includes: a tube unit which includes a tube having elasticity and a circular-arc-shaped part and a tube guide frame for holding the tube; a control unit which has a plurality of fingers extending from the center of the circular-arc shape of the tube in the radial directions, a cam for sequentially pressing the plural fingers from the inlet side to the outlet side of the tube, a drive unit for giving rotation force to the cam, a control circuit unit for controlling operation of the drive unit, a device frame for holding the plural fingers, the cam, the drive unit, and the control circuit unit; a reservoir communicating with an inlet port of the tube; and a power source for supplying power to the control circuit unit, wherein the tube unit is detachably attached to the control unit substantially in the horizontal direction with respect to the rotation surface of the cam and attached to the inside of a space produced by the device frame.

Provided is a flexible and conformal wearable, self-contained medical device. The medical device comprises an integral housing formed by a flexible upper portion and a flexible lower portion joined along their perimeters. The medical device is also provided in a plurality of shapes and configurations for increasing the flexibility and conformability of the housing. The components contained within the housing, such as a drug reservoir, printed circuit board, and power supply are preferably constructed from flexible materials and are formed, connected and positioned according to the configuration of the housing in a manner for enhancing flexibility of the housing. A thermal bubble micropump is provided for controlling flow of a drug from the flexible reservoir, that utilizes a thermal resistor provided locally to a thermal expansion fluid that causes a surrounding membrane to expand and displace a volume of drug to be provided to the user.

A Peristaltic micropump includes a first membrane region with a first piezo-actor for actuating the first membrane region, a second membrane region with a second piezo-actor for actuating a second membrane region, and a third membrane region with a third piezo-actor for actuating the third membrane region. A pump body forms, together with the first membrane region, a first valve whose passage opening is open in the non-actuated state of the first membrane region and whose passage opening may be closed by actuating the first membrane region. The pump body forms, together with the second membrane region, a pumping chamber whose volume may be decreased by actuating the second membrane region. The pump body forms, together with the third membrane region, a second valve whose passage opening is open in the non-actuated state of the third membrane region and whose passage opening may be closed by actuating the third membrane region. The first and the second valve are fluidically connected to the pumping chamber.

Apparatuses and methods for pumping fluid are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus is a miniature pump that includes a shape memory wire that obtains a plastic condition below a transformation temperature and has a memorized shape such that the shape memory wire produces a work stroke by returning to the memorize shape at least at the transformation temperature. A spring biased against the shape memory wire is deflected by the work stroke to deform the shape memory wire from the memorized shape below the transformation temperature. A fluid pump is coupled to the shape memory wire and driven by the biased spring and shape memory wire to produce a fluid flow. The miniature pump can be incorporated into a self-contained infusion device in the form of a compact self-adhesive patch including a fluid reservoir, control electronics and power supply that is place directly at the infusion site of a user.

The invention discloses an integrated chip system for high-throughput sorting and counting detection of biological particles, and an application. The chip system comprises a main microfluidic chip, a micropipe, a sample liquid micropump, an exchange liquid micropump, a first waste liquid collecting device, a second waste liquid collecting device, a third waste liquid collecting device, laser emitters, photoelectric conversion devices, optical fibers and a computer, wherein the main microfluidic chip comprises an asymmetric curved flow path, a first branch channel, a second branch channel, a third branch channel, a main flow path, a branch flow path, aligning marks, etc. The system utilizes the asymmetric curved flow path to realize pre-focusing and sorting for the particles, utilizes a liquid changing flow channel to realize change of a carrier liquid of to-be-tested particles and particle cleaning, and utilizes a viscoelastic effect and an inertial effect of a viscoelastic fluid to realize focus of single equilibrium position of section centers of the particles. The system does not need a sheath liquid, complex pre-cleaning of the particles, and optical alignment, has advantages of high speed, high precision, integration, miniaturization, automation, low cost, simple production process, easy batch production, etc.

Apparatus and methods according to the present invention preferably utilize electroosmotic pumps that are capable of generating high pressure and flow without moving mechanical parts and the associated generation of unacceptable electrical and acoustic noise, as well as the associated reduction in reliability. These electroosmotic pumps are preferably fabricated with materials and structures that improve performance, efficiency, and reduce weight and manufacturing cost relative to presently available micropumps. These electroosmotic pumps also preferably allow for control including venting or recapture of evolved gases and deposited materials, which may provide for long-term closed-loop operation. A gas permeable membrane removes and vents electrolytic gasses generated within the fluid chamber of the electroosmotic pump to ambient. A catalyst can be used to recombine electrolytic gases to form a vapor product that can be vented or condensed into a liquid state. An osmotic membrane provides for re-entry of condensed fluid to the fluid chamber.

A method and apparatus for the treatment of thrombosis, venous insufficiency, and the like, and in particular to an Automated Compulsory Blood Extraction System (ACBES) configured to provide an efficient and safe means for the measured extraction of blood utilizing a device providing, in effect, an artificial leech, but without the infection, control, care, and other limitations associated with the medicinal leech. The preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes recent micro technological advances to provide a micro mechanical device which mimics and improves upon the bloodletting properties of the medicinal leech utilizing a micro mechanical valve, micropump, and micro sensor arraignment cooperating with a tertiary jaw array having teeth situated thereon. The preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates an extraction device which may have a head size of one centimeter or less, and which may be utilized in number about the affected area of the patient to provide controlled, precision, pulsed blood extraction via vacuum induction, supplying a controlled dosage of anticoagulant, histamine anesthetic, or the like. Alternative embodiments of the present invention include an independent, single needle, stationary design configured primarily for emergency use, a multi-needle piston design, a large extraction area array design including concentric needles of adjustable depth, and a deep extraction needle design.

A MEMS-fabricated microvacuum pump assembly is provided. The pump assembly is designed to operate in air and can be easily integrated into MEMS-fabricated microfluidic systems. The pump assembly includes a series of pumping cavities with electrostatically-actuated membranes interconnected by electrostatically-actuated microvalves. A large deflection electrostatic actuator has a curved fixed drive electrode and a flat movable polymer electrode. The curved electrodes are fabricated by buckling the electrode out-of-plane using compressive stress, and the large deflection parallel-plane electrostatic actuators are formed by using the curved electrode. The curved electrode allows the movable electrode to travel over larger distances than is possible using a flat electrode, with lower voltage. The movable electrode is a flat parylene membrane that is placed on top of the curved electrode using a wafer-level transfer and parylene bonding process. Using this approach, large out-of-plane deflection of the parylene membrane is achieved using a voltage smaller than is achievable using flat parallel-plate electrodes.

A microfluidic device for performing a test on the reagent includes a fill port formed on the chip to inject the reagent into at least one of the channels, one or more heating portions for performing a test on the reagent injected into the channel, and a micropump. An inside of the micropump and a vicinity of the channel connecting to an inlet and an outlet of the micropump are filled with a drive solution that is driven by the micropump, a gas is sealed between the reagent and the drive solution in the channel to prevent the reagent from contacting the drive solution directly, and the micropump directly drives the drive solution in the forward and backward directions, so that the reagent is repeatedly moved to the test portions through the gas in an indirect manner or is repeatedly passed through the test portions through the gas.

Apparatus and methods according to the present invention preferably utilize electroosmotic pumps that are capable of generating high pressure and flow without moving mechanical parts and the associated generation of unacceptable electrical and acoustic noise, as well as the associated reduction in reliability. These electroosmotic pumps are preferably fabricated with materials and structures that improve performance, efficiency, and reduce weight and manufacturing cost relative to presently available micropumps. These electroosmotic pumps also preferably allow for recapture of evolved gases and deposited materials, which may provide for long,-term closed-loop operation. Apparatus and methods according to the present invention also allow active regulation of the temperature of the device through electrical control of the flow through the pump and can utilize multiple cooling loops to allow independent regulation of the special and temporal characteristics of the device temperature profiles. Novel microchannel structures are also described.

The invention discloses a high-resolution biosensor. Specifically, a basic unit consisting of a first insulating layer, a nanometer functional layer and a second insulating layer is provided with a nano-pore in the center, thus forming a nanometer functional layer unit. A first electrophoresis electrode or micropump, a first store room, a second store room, a second electrophoresis electrode or micropump, and a micro-nanometer separation channel constitute a micro-nanometer fluid device unit. The nanometer functional layer unit, a source electrode, a drain electrode, a dielectric layer and a gate electrode compose a field effect transistor unit. When a biomolecule passes through the nano-pore in the micro-nanometer fluid device and interacts with the nanometer functional layer, the field effect transistor unit measures the field effect characteristic change resulted from the interaction, thus reaching the purpose of biomolecule detection. The invention provides a solution to the technical difficulty of integrating the nano-pore in the nanometer functional layer, and can control the form change when a biomolecule passes through the nano-pore, thus meeting the resolution requirements for detecting the biomolecule characteristic and structure. In addition, the manufacturing method of the sensor is simple.

The present invention provides a use of an electro-sensitive movable fluid, that is, a micromotor, a linear motor, a micropump and a method of using the micropump, a microactuator, and an apparatus which these devices are applied to, and a method and an apparatus of controlling flow properties of a fluid.

A micropump of a peristaltic type that continuously transfers a fluid through depression of an elastic tube is disclosed. The micropump includes: a tube unit configured to at least include the tube, a tube guide frame that fixedly holds the tube, and a tube individual data storage section that stores therein tube individual data; a control unit that is attachable / detachable to / from the tube unit, and at least includes a control circuit section that drives and controls, via a transmission mechanism section, a motor for driving a depression mechanism section serving to depress the tube, and a tube individual data processing section that reads the tube individual data for data processing thereof; a power supply that makes an electrical supply to the control unit; and a reader / writer unit that detects attachment of the tube unit to the control unit, and reads the tube individual data for writing to the control unit. In the micropump, the tube individual data is used as a basis for driving.

The invention provides a method capable of manufacturing a micropump check valve, inexpensively and without much trouble or time, which does not cause disadvantages even if a material that dissolves an adhesive is contained in the fluid, and which allows bonding with high accuracy. After a valve forming member and a valve receiving member are bonded, a valve receptor is projected towards a valve part and pretension is applied. Thus, the valve forming member and the valve receiving member can be satisfactorily bonded through a solid phase diffusion bonding method and the like using a relatively inexpensive material, such as stainless steel, without using an adhesive, and the pretension is not reduced when in the annealing state.

A micropump fabricated in a planar substrate is provided with a valving chamber which is communicated to a pumping chamber. The valving chamber has an inlet and outlet port. Both the valving chamber and pumping chamber have a liquid, electrically conductive piston disposed therein, which liquid piston is nonmiscible with the pumped working fluid and nonreactive with the substrate in which the chambers are formed. The valving piston is magnetohydrodynamically driven to selectively close either the inlet port or the outlet port. The pumping piston is magnetohydrodynamically driven to pull or push the working fluid through one of the inlet or outlet ports, through the valving chamber, into the pumping chamber, back out of the pumping chamber and through the other one of the inlet or outlet ports after activation of the valving piston. Both direct current and inductive magnetohydrodynamic drives are contemplated. The valving and / or pumping chambers may be shaped or narrowed in their dimensions to impose a mechanical bias on the respective valving and / or pumping pistons to assume a preferred position in their respective chambers when the magnetohydrodynamic drive is turned off.

Apparatus and methods according to the present invention preferably utilize electroosmotic pumps in fluid handling and field sampling applications. The electroosmotic pumps used in these applications are capable of generating high pressure and flow without moving mechanical parts and the associated generation of unacceptable electrical and acoustic noise, as well as the associated reduction in reliability. Having multiple small flow channels in parallel provides both a high flow rate and high pressure in liquid handling. These electroosmotic pumps are fabricated with materials and structures that improve performance, efficiency, and reduce weight and manufacturing cost relative to presently available micropumps. These electroosmotic pumps also allow for recapture of evolved gases and deposited materials, which may provide for long-term closed-loop operation. Apparatus and methods according to the present invention also allow active regulation of the fluid handling and field sampling devices through electrical control of the flow through the pump. Electroosmotic pumping enables precise dispensing of samples to form genetic, proteomic, or small molecule arrays. A fluid sensor which can be optical, capacitive or other type of electrical sensor is integrated with the electroosmotic pump for measuring liquid levels in liquid drawing and dispensing operations.

A micropump includes: a tube unit including a tube which has elasticity, and one portion of which is disposed in an arc shape, a plurality of fingers, which are disposed radiating from a direction of a center of the arc shape of the tube, and a guide frame, which holds the tube and the plurality of fingers; and a control unit including a cam, which sequentially presses the plurality of fingers in a direction in which a liquid flows, a drive force transmission mechanism, which transmits a torque to the cam, and a control circuitry, which carries out a control of a motor which drives the drive force transmission mechanism, wherein the tube unit and the control unit are attached stacked one on the other, and are detachable.

A Peristaltic micropump includes a first membrane region with a first piezo-actor for actuating the first membrane region, a second membrane region with a second piezo-actor for actuating a second membrane region, and a third membrane region with a third piezo-actor for actuating the third membrane region. A pump body forms, together with the first membrane region, a first valve whose passage opening is open in the non-actuated state of the first membrane region and whose passage opening may be closed by actuating the first membrane region. The pump body forms, together with the second membrane region, a pumping chamber whose volume may be decreased by actuating the second membrane region. The pump body forms, together with the third membrane region, a second valve whose passage opening is open in the non-actuated state of the third membrane region and whose passage opening may be closed by actuating the third membrane region. The first and the second valve are fluidically connected to the pumping chamber.