Peristaltic Pump Flexible Membrane Roller Bearing Compression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for isolating living target cells from biological tissue are inefficient, often requiring mechanical destruction of tissue or cumbersome perfusion processes, and existing peristaltic pumps face issues with fluidic resistance and heat generation due to mechanical deformation.
Innovation Solution
A peristaltic pump design featuring a flexible membrane with compressive roller bearings that reduce bladder volume and increase fluidic resistance, combined with a perfusion device using hollow penetration structures to administer release agents into tissue, allowing for efficient cell release without mechanical deformation and heat generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If roller bearings press against tubes to reduce cross-section and increase fluidic resistance, then fluid pressure is provided, but mechanical deformation of flexible membrane occurs and heat is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical peristaltic pump system with a magnetic field-based system. Magnetic actuators generate magnetic fields that directly actuate magnetic particles or magnetic-responsive elements within the flexible membrane, eliminating the need for mechanical roller bearings that cause deformation and heat. This substitution of mechanical actuation with magnetic field actuation resolves the contradiction by providing fluid pressure without the harmful mechanical deformation and heat generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state or properties of the flexible membrane by incorporating magnetic particles or magnetic-responsive elements within it. This modification allows the membrane to respond to magnetic fields rather than mechanical pressure, fundamentally changing how fluid pressure is applied and eliminating the harmful effects of traditional mechanical compression.
2Ease of manufacture
If a disposable device is used for tissue perfusion, then the device must be cheap to produce, but the pump must still be powerful enough to force fluids into solid tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic field-based actuation system eliminates complex mechanical pump components, reducing the bill of materials and simplifying manufacturing. Magnetic actuators and flexible membranes with magnetic particles can be produced using simpler, more cost-effective processes compared to precision mechanical pumps, while still delivering sufficient power to force fluids into solid tissue through magnetic field actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
By incorporating magnetic particles into the flexible membrane, the system gains a new mechanism for force transmission that is both powerful and manufacturable. The magnetic particles enable the membrane to respond to magnetic fields with sufficient force to penetrate solid tissue, while the magnetic components themselves are relatively inexpensive compared to precision mechanical components.
3Productivity
If mechanical destruction is used to isolate single cells from tissue, then cells can be isolated, but the yield of living unharmed cells is rather low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical destruction methods with magnetic field-based perfusion that delivers release agents into the tissue through flexible membranes. This non-mechanical approach allows enzymes or chemical agents to gently dissociate cells from tissue without physical shearing or crushing forces, thereby maintaining high cell viability while achieving effective cell isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces release agents (enzymes or chemical compounds) as intermediaries between the flexible membrane and the tissue. These agents chemically mediate the separation of cells from tissue, replacing direct mechanical force with a gentler chemical process that preserves cell integrity and viability while achieving effective cell isolation.
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 enables effective isolation of living target cells by providing high fluidic pressure and flow rate without mechanical load or heat generation, facilitating the release of cells from biological tissue while maintaining their viability.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one roller bearing (6) is configured to apply a compressive force against the apex of the flexible membrane provided by the bladders (2) and the support (3). The compressive force reduces the volume of the bladder and/or increases the fluidic resistance within the bladder at the position of the roller bearing.
Implementation Method 2
By rotating the roller bearings, a fluid is pressed or pumped from the input orifice of the bladder to its output orifice (the input orifice being located upstream to the output orifice in direction of the rotation of the roller bearings).
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention is directed to a peristaltic pump (10), comprising: a flexible membrane (1) forming a at least one bladder (2) against a support, wherein each bladder is provided with one input orifice (4) which admits a fluid to the bladder (2) and one outlet orifice (5) which releases the fluid from the bladder (2); and at least one roller bearing (6) is configured to rotate about an axis (7) and to apply a compressive force against the at least one bladder (2). Another object of the invention is a perfusion device for biological tissue comprising a support (12) and a clamp (13) to fix the biological tissue within a chamber (10), at least one tapered jet (11) configured to penetrate into the biological tissue and a lid (15) for the chamber characterized in that device further comprises a peristaltic pump which is in fluid communication with the tapered jet (11), wherein the peristaltic pump (10) comprises a flexible membrane (1) forming at least one bladder (2) against a support (3), wherein each bladder is provided with one input orifice (4) which admits a fluid to the bladder (2) and one outlet orifice (5) which releases the fluid from the bladder (2); and at least one roller bearing (6) is configured to rotate about an axis (7) and to apply a compressive force against the flexible membrane.