Hinged-Clamp Pneumatic Syringe Pump for High-Pressure Microfluidics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing peristaltic and traditional syringe pumps are inadequate for high-pressure applications in microfluidic chips, requiring additional pressure chambers that limit the volume of fluid that can be processed and are cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A syringe pump assembly with a clamping mechanism that secures the syringe against high pressures using a hinge-based syringe clamp, allowing for direct connection to microfluidic chips without a pressure chamber, enabling pressures up to 100 psi.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If traditional syringe pumps or peristaltic pumps are used to drive microfluidic chips, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but the pressure is limited to relatively low levels (insufficient for high-pressure applications up to 50-100 psi)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the syringe pump mechanism with a pressure chamber into a single integrated device. The pressure chamber is built directly into the pump housing, eliminating the need for separate external pressure sources. This merging allows the system to achieve high pressures (50-100 psi) while maintaining operational simplicity and avoiding the complexity of multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump housing serves multiple functions: it houses the syringe mechanism, contains the pressure chamber, and provides the sealing environment. This multi-functionality allows a single device to deliver both pumping action and pressure generation, resolving the contradiction between achieving high pressure and maintaining device simplicity.
2Stress or pressure
If a pressure chamber is used with peristaltic pumps to achieve high pressure (50-100 psi), then the required pressure is achieved, but the volume of fluid that can be processed is limited by the chamber size
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure chamber volume is made dynamic and adjustable through the syringe mechanism. As the syringe plunger moves, it changes the volume of the pressure chamber, allowing the system to process varying fluid volumes (e.g., 100 ml or 200 ml) without being constrained by a fixed chamber size. This dynamic volume adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining high pressure and processing larger fluid volumes.
3Stress or pressure
If a pressure chamber is used to achieve high pressure, then the pressure requirement is met, but the chamber volume must be doubled to treat doubled fluid volume, increasing device size and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The syringe mechanism provides dynamic volume adjustment, allowing the same pressure chamber to accommodate different fluid volumes (100 ml, 200 ml, or other volumes) by adjusting the syringe plunger position. This eliminates the need to double the chamber volume when treating doubled fluid volumes, resolving the contradiction between maintaining pressure and reducing device size.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables high-pressure fluid processing in microfluidic chips without the volume limitations of traditional systems, allowing for flexible and efficient handling of varying fluid volumes.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing section is connected to the housing with a first hinge and a holding section connected to the sealing section with a second hinge, the syringe clamp moveable between an unclamped condition and a clamped condition
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid processing system includes a syringe having a barrel and a plunger configured for movement within the barrel, a housing, a syringe support arranged on the housing configured to support the syringe, and a syringe clamp connected to the housing and configured to clamp the syringe to the syringe support. The syringe clamp is connected to the housing and includes a sealing section for sealing against the syringe and a holding section for latching the syringe clamp in a clamped condition. The sealing section is configured to apply a clamping force to a top face of the syringe to form a seal. The holding section includes a clamping surface configured to engage a clamp bearing surface of the syringe support to secure the syringe clamp in the clamped condition.