Pneumatic Volumetric Pump for Precise Flow and Occlusion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid pumps lack precision and sensitivity in pressure adjustments, often requiring significant force to overcome stiction and are unable to detect occlusions effectively, leading to potential overcorrection and safety risks in fluid delivery applications.
Innovation Solution
A tightly load-coupled pneumatic driver (TLCP driver) system that uses a microblower to generate differential pressure and flow, allowing for precise control of pressure and flow rate adjustments without mechanical linkages, enabling detection of occlusions at low pressure increases and reducing the size and weight of the pump.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional fluid pumps use mechanical linkages to control fluid flow, then they can provide sufficient pumping force, but they lack precision and sensitivity in pressure adjustments and require significant force to overcome stiction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical linkages with a pneumatic driver system that uses gas pressure to directly actuate the pump chamber. The microblower generates differential pressure that is transmitted through a flexible membrane to control fluid flow, eliminating mechanical friction and stiction while enabling precise pressure adjustments through pneumatic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a pneumatic driver where a microblower generates gas flow and differential pressure. This pneumatic system uses gas pressure changes to control the pumping action, providing sensitive and precise pressure adjustments without the mechanical friction problems of traditional mechanical linkages.
2Reliability
If conventional pumps use mechanical linkages for pumping, then they can deliver fluid, but they are unable to detect occlusions effectively at low pressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing mechanical linkages with a pneumatic driver, the system can detect occlusions through subtle pressure changes in the gas flow. The microblower's ability to generate controlled differential pressure allows for detection of occlusions at much lower pressure increases compared to mechanical systems, improving reliability while reducing the pressure stress required for detection.
3Power
If conventional pumps use mechanical linkages and gear boxes, then they can provide pumping action, but they increase the size and weight of the pump
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical linkages, gear boxes, and other heavy mechanical components by using a pneumatic driver system. The microblower directly generates the necessary differential pressure to drive the pump chamber, significantly reducing the size and weight while maintaining adequate pumping power for the application.
4Ease of operation
If conventional pumps require significant force to overcome stiction, then they can initiate fluid flow, but they cause overcorrection and safety risks in fluid delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic driver system uses gradual pressure changes in the gas phase to initiate and control fluid flow. This eliminates the sudden force requirements of mechanical systems, allowing for smooth, controlled initiation of flow without overcorrection. The flexible membrane translates gentle pneumatic pressure changes into reliable pump actuation, improving safety in fluid delivery applications.
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 TLCP driver system provides highly sensitive and precise fluid flow control, detecting occlusions early and maintaining constant pressure, reducing the risk of pressure-induced boluses and improving the safety and efficiency of fluid delivery.
Implementation Method 1
produces a gas drive pressure that pumps liquid from a liquid reservoir
Implementation Method 2
The gas reservoir is in fluid communication with a gas-side reservoir that is separated from a fluid-side reservoir by a flexible membrane
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A system for precision liquid delivery includes a gas reservoir having a known volume. The system has a tightly load-coupled pneumatic driver (a "TLCP driver") that is configured to receive input power to cause the TLCP driver to move gas into the gas reservoir to produce a gas drive pressure. A valve is configured to couple the gas reservoir with a fluid reservoir having an unknown volume. The valve is further configured to selectively isolate or pneumatically couple pressures in the gas reservoir and the fluid reservoir. A gas-fluid interface couples pressure in the fluid reservoir to pressure in a fluid path. The fluid path is configured so that the fluid drive pressure driving the liquid in the fluid path is substantially the same as the fluid reservoir pressure. The system also has a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure in the gas reservoir and/ or the fluid reservoir.