Planar Peristaltic Pump Assembly for Sterile Micro-Volume Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing peristaltic pumps face challenges with size constraints and manufacturing ease, limiting their usefulness, particularly in applications requiring sterility and small volume liquid handling.
Innovation Solution
A peristaltic pump design featuring a rotatable drive plate, closed-loop channel, flexible membrane, and rollers that traverse the channel to compress and displace fluid, allowing for top-down assembly and easy part integration along a single vertical axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional peristaltic pump designs are used, then pumping function is achieved, but device size and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drive plate is integrated directly with the channel structure, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets, fasteners, and alignment features. The rollers are captively disposed between the channel and drive plate, merging the roller mounting function into the channel structure itself. This integration reduces the number of discrete parts and simplifies assembly while maintaining the pumping function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a conventional three-dimensional assembly with multiple stacked components to a planar two-dimensional design where the drive plate overlays the fluid path in a single plane. This planar configuration allows all components to be assembled along a single vertical axis, reducing the overall device footprint and simplifying manufacturing.
2Reliability
If contact with pumped liquid is avoided for sterility, then sterility is maintained, but pump size increases
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible membrane forms the bottom of the channel and defines the closed fluid path, acting as a barrier that isolates the pumped liquid from the rollers and drive plate. This thin film structure maintains sterility by preventing contact between the liquid and external components while occupying minimal space, unlike traditional designs that require larger containment structures.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple assembly steps are used, then precise alignment is achieved, but manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rollers are captively disposed between the channel and drive plate during manufacturing, pre-positioning them in the correct location and orientation. This preliminary placement eliminates the need for separate alignment steps during final assembly, as the rollers are already correctly positioned when the drive plate is attached to the channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The planar design with the drive plate overlaying the fluid path creates a naturally aligned configuration where all components lie in the same plane. This equipotential arrangement eliminates the need for complex multi-level alignment procedures, as gravity and natural stacking provide automatic alignment along the single vertical assembly axis.
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 design enables compact and efficient fluid displacement with maintained sterility, suitable for small and micro-volume applications, while facilitating easy assembly and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
Peristaltic pumps apply moving pressure along the outside of a conduit, never contacting the liquid being conveyed. Peristalsis is achieved with volumes of liquid being sequentially conveyed. As a result, a pumping action is generated with suction being generated at the inlet, drawing in the liquid to be pumped.
Implementation Method 2
a flexible membrane extending between, and fluidically connecting, the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the flexible membrane defining a closed fluid path between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet along the first portion of the channel
Data Source
AI summary
A peristaltic pump is provided herein including: a rotatable drive plate; a closed-loop channel; a fluid inlet located at a first location along the channel; a fluid outlet located at a second location along the channel, spaced from the first location, wherein a first portion of the channel extends between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and a second portion of the channel, separate from the first portion of the channel, extends between the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet; a flexible membrane extending between, and fluidically connecting, the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the flexible membrane defining a closed fluid path between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet along the first portion of the channel; and, a first roller captively disposed between the channel and the drive plate such that rotation of the drive plate causes the first roller to traverse the channel, the first roller causing downward deflection of the flexible membrane in passing therealong to constrict the closed fluid path in displacing fluid within the closed fluid path from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. Advantageously, the subject invention provides a planar peristaltic pump having a drive plate overlaying the fluid path allowing for top-down assembly with parts assembled along a single vertical axis.