Miniature Pump Anti-Free Flow Valve Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Miniature pumps require significant power to overcome frictional forces and often experience leakage and cavitation, which can lead to inefficiencies and safety issues, especially in applications like drug delivery systems where anti-backflow measures are necessary, often requiring bulky additional structures that constrain the size of the system.
Innovation Solution
A miniature pump device with a stationary flexible seal and a power transfer linkage that uses rotational energy to drive a piston, reducing the need for large power sources and minimizing leakage, while an anti-free flow valve with a flexible membrane restricts fluid flow using a preload structure and pressure control to prevent backflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If moving seals are used in miniature pumps to push or impel fluid, then fluid pumping function is achieved, but significant power is required to overcome frictional forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the moving seal component from the pump system entirely. Instead of using rotating or sliding seals to move fluid, the invention employs a diaphragm-based pumping mechanism where fluid is moved by diaphragm flexion and check valves, eliminating the source of frictional losses and seal wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical seal-based pumping mechanism with a diaphragm-based system actuated by magnetic or pneumatic means. This substitution eliminates direct mechanical contact between moving parts and fluid, reducing friction and power requirements while improving reliability.
2Reliability
If anti-back flow valves are added to prevent free flow, then fluid control is improved, but the system becomes bulkier and larger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the check valve function directly into the pump chamber structure. The check valves are positioned at the inlet and outlet ports of the diaphragm chamber, merging the valve function with the pump body rather than being separate components, thereby reducing overall system volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The check valves are nested within the pump chamber structure, with the valve seats and discs integrated into the chamber walls. This nesting approach allows the anti-backflow mechanism to occupy minimal space within the existing pump volume rather than adding external bulk.
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
The solution allows for efficient fluid pumping with reduced power consumption, minimized leakage, and effective anti-backflow prevention, enabling smaller, more compact designs suitable for constrained spaces like sub-dermal drug delivery devices.
Implementation Method 1
A pressure differential can move the flexible membrane between the open and closed positions
Implementation Method 2
A biasing device can be associated with the flexible membrane to maintain the flexible membrane in the closed position
Data Source
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AI summary
A miniature unidirectional valve configured to restrict the free flow of fluid through the valve includes a valve body having an inlet and an outlet. A flexible membrane is movably disposed over the inlet and outlet, and movable between an open position and a closed position. The flexible membrane is movable by a pressure from the inlet to move the membrane to the open position. A control chamber is disposed in the valve body adjacent the fluid flow path, and configured to apply a pressure against the membrane to move the membrane to the closed position to restrict fluid flow through the valve. A preload structure is associated with the flexible membrane, and biases the flexible membrane toward the closed position.