Linear Peristaltic Pump for Sub-100 μL Aseptic Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dosing systems for pharmaceutical fluids at small volumes lack accuracy and consistency, often damaging delicate biotech products and failing to maintain sterile conditions, especially for volumes less than 100 μL.
Innovation Solution
A dosing system utilizing a linear peristaltic pump with a pressure sensor for precise volume control, ensuring accuracy within ±3 μL for volumes less than 100 μL, and incorporating a control unit for automated adjustment to maintain sterility and consistency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional dosing systems (radial peristaltic pumps, rotary piston pumps) are used for small volumes, then the system structure is simple, but the dosing accuracy and consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The peristaltic pump is divided into multiple rollers that sequentially compress the tubing, creating discrete segments of fluid displacement. This segmentation allows for precise control of small volumes while maintaining system simplicity through modular roller design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical dosing mechanisms (rotary pistons, radial peristaltic motion) with a linear peristaltic pump driven by a linear motor. This substitution provides more precise control over tubing compression and fluid displacement, achieving ±3 μL accuracy without proportionally increasing system complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If higher concentrated drug product formulations are used, then the fill volume decreases, but the dosing accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor system monitors the actual dispensed volume and provides feedback to the control unit. The control unit compares the measured volume against the target volume and adjusts the linear motor parameters accordingly, ensuring accurate dosing even at reduced fill volumes of 50-100 μL.
Solution Approach 2:
The linear motor enables dynamic adjustment of the peristaltic pump's compression force and speed during the dosing process. This dynamic control allows the system to maintain precise dosing accuracy across varying concentrations and viscosities by adapting parameters in real-time.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional dosing systems are used, then the device complexity is low, but the product damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The linear peristaltic pump replaces aggressive mechanical dosing systems with a gentler linear compression mechanism. The linear motor provides controlled, progressive tubing compression that minimizes shear forces on delicate biotech products, reducing product damage while keeping the overall system architecture relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the mechanical parameters of fluid handling by using linear rather than rotary motion, and by controlling compression force through electronic feedback. These parameter changes reduce mechanical stress on the product while the modular design prevents proportionate increases in system complexity.
4Manufacturing precision
If manual dosing control is used, then the system complexity is low, but the dosing consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor-control unit feedback loop continuously monitors and adjusts dosing parameters to maintain consistency. The control unit processes sensor data and automatically corrects deviations, ensuring high dosing consistency while the automated nature of the system prevents excessive complexity through integrated control architecture.
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
Achieves high precision and reliability in aseptic filling of pharmaceutical fluids, minimizing product damage and ensuring accurate dosing across varying viscosities, particularly for monoclonal antibodies and other sensitive formulations.
Implementation Method 1
The peristaltic pump (1; 18; 19) comprises a flexible tube (13; 138; 139), a counter pressure element (12; 128; 129), a plurality of actors (11; 118; 119) and a drive (17; 178; 179), wherein the flexible tube (13; 138; 139) is compressible between the actors (11; 118; 119) and the counter pressure element (12; 128; 129) by moving the actors (11; 118; 119)
Implementation Method 2
a sensor for measuring the dispensed volumes
Data Source
AI summary
A dosing system for transferring an aseptic fluid in dosages into a container, comprising a peristaltic pump configured such that the filling accuracy for fill volumes of the aseptic fluid<100 μL is ±3 μL.