Variable-Size Compartment Pump Device for High Pressure Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Syringes face limitations such as cylindrical geometry, high operational forces, ease of breakage, misalignment issues, limited pressure or suction due to cross-sectional area constraints, and cumbersome operation due to long plunger strokes, which hinder efficient fluid handling and medicament delivery.
Innovation Solution
A pump device with a variable-size compartment system utilizing flexible bladders interconnected via a plenum, where actuation of interleaved racks compresses or expands the compartments to expel or draw fluids through a common port, allowing for efficient fluid handling with reduced stroke length and increased pressure/vacuum capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a syringe uses a cylindrical geometry with a plunger, then it can deliver liquid or gas through an orifice, but it requires high forces to pump and has limited pressure or suction due to cross-sectional area constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The syringe barrel is divided into multiple variable-size compartments instead of a single cylindrical chamber. Each compartment can be independently actuated to change its volume, allowing the system to generate higher pressure or suction forces by reducing the cross-sectional area of individual compartments while maintaining the overall pumping capacity through multiple segments working in parallel or sequence.
2Productivity
If a syringe uses a plunger with long stroke to deliver fluid, then it can expel liquid or gas, but it becomes difficult to operate due to the long plunger stroke required
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid delivery function is segmented across multiple compartments, each with its own actuation mechanism. This allows the total fluid volume to be delivered through multiple smaller-volume displacements rather than one long plunger stroke, reducing the operational travel distance and improving ease of use while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The compartments are designed with variable sizes that can be dynamically adjusted during operation. The ability to change compartment volumes allows the system to adapt to different delivery requirements, enabling efficient fluid expulsion with reduced actuator stroke lengths compared to a fixed-volume single-chamber syringe.
3Stress or pressure
If a syringe uses a fixed cross-sectional area, then it maintains simple cylindrical geometry, but it limits pressure or suction capability
Solution Approach 1:
The syringe employs variable-size compartments that can dynamically change their cross-sectional area through actuation mechanisms. This dynamic geometry allows the system to achieve variable pressure or suction capabilities by adjusting compartment volumes, moving from fixed to variable geometry to enhance performance while accepting increased device complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a syringe uses a single compartment design, then it has simple structure, but it cannot accommodate variable volume requirements efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The single compartment is segmented into multiple variable-size compartments, each capable of independent volume adjustment. This segmentation provides the adaptability to meet varying volume requirements by activating or adjusting individual compartments, while the modular structure manages the complexity through standardized repeating units.
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 device achieves high pressure/vacuum generation over short distances, reduces needle diameter for less patient discomfort, and accommodates misalignments, facilitating precise and efficient medicament delivery with reduced operational forces.
Implementation Method 1
A change in the size of the at least one variable-size compartment either compresses or expands the flexible bladders in unison and thereby, respectively, either expels the interiors through the at least one common port or draws a vacuum into the interiors through the at least one common port
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a pump body that has at least one variable-size compartment. The pump body is configured to be actuated to change the size of the at least one variable-size compartment. Flexible bladders are disposed in the at least one compartment. At least one common port is fluidly connected with interiors of the flexible bladders. The change in the size of the at least one variable-size compartment either compresses or expands the flexible bladders in unison and thereby, respectively, either expels the interiors through the at least one common port or draws a vacuum into the interiors through the at least one common port.