Reservoir-Based Pneumatic Circuit for Stable Microlitre Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing micro-fluidic pneumatic circuits face challenges in providing accurate and repeatable dispensing pressures and volumes, leading to fluctuations in pressure supplied to each pipette when multiple valves are open, and result in inefficient systems with high complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic circuit design featuring a pump, fluid distribution conduit, reservoirs, actuation ports, and valve arrangements that allow each actuation port to be pre-charged with desired pressure from the fluid distribution conduit, enabling better resistance to pressure fluctuations and allowing a single pump to supply both positive and negative pressures, with valve configurations such as 2/2 and 3/2 valves for controlled fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If multiple valves are opened simultaneously in a direct pneumatic circuit, then fluid distribution speed increases, but pressure fluctuations occur at actuation ports
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-charging reservoirs with required pneumatic pressure before actuation. When multiple valves need to open simultaneously, the reservoirs already contain the necessary pressure, eliminating pressure fluctuations and ensuring reliable actuation while maintaining fast response times.
2Device complexity
If a single pump is used to supply positive and negative pressures, then system complexity and cost are reduced, but pressure control accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pneumatic system into independent reservoirs for positive and negative pressure control. Each reservoir can be independently charged and maintained at specific pressure levels, allowing a single pump to achieve multi-pressure control with accuracy comparable to multiple pumps while reducing system complexity.
3Device complexity
If actuation ports are directly connected to fluid distribution conduit, then system complexity is reduced, but pressure fluctuations affect dispensing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces reservoirs as intermediary elements between the fluid distribution conduit and actuation ports. These reservoirs buffer pressure fluctuations and provide stable pneumatic pressure for precise dispensing, while the overall system remains relatively simple in structure.
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 enhances the accuracy and reliability of fluid dispensing and aspiration by stabilizing pressure at each actuation port, reducing system complexity and cost, while enabling precise control over microlitre-scale fluid handling.
Implementation Method 1
the first and second input valves are controllably moveable between a first configuration, in which the pump applies a positive pressure to the fluid distribution conduit, and a second configuration, in which the pump applies a negative pressure to the fluid distribution conduit
Implementation Method 2
each valve arrangement is controllably moveable between a first configuration, in which the associated reservoir is in fluid communication with the fluid distribution conduit, so as to enable the reservoir to be charged with a pressure from the fluid distribution conduit
Implementation Method 3
each actuation port is fluidly connected to its own individual reservoir, which can be pre-charged with desired pressure from the fluid distribution conduit, rather than being directly connected to the fluid distribution conduit. As such, the pneumatic circuit according to the present disclosure is better able to resist fluctuations in the pressure supplied to each actuation port
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a pneumatic circuit for a pneumatic drive apparatus comprising a pump, a fluid distribution conduit, a plurality of reservoirs and a plurality of actuation ports. A first input valve is provided between an outlet of the pump and the fluid distribution conduit. A second input valve is provided between an inlet of the pump and the fluid distribution conduit. A plurality of flow paths extend from the fluid distribution conduit to each of the plurality of actuation ports. Each flow path is associated with a respective reservoir and a corresponding valve arrangement which is controllably moveable between a first configuration, in which the associated reservoir is in fluid communication with the fluid distribution conduit, so as to enable the reservoir to be charged with a pressure from the fluid distribution conduit, and a second configuration, in which the associated reservoir is in fluid communication with the respective actuation port.