Dual-stage fluidics system with reduced pulsation
AssigneeLife Technologies Corporation
InventorsDaniel N Fox, Nathan M Fox
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a dual-stage fluidics system that has reduced pulsation. This system uses inexpensive peristaltic pumps and two reservoirs that dampen pulsations in pressure. Peristaltic pumps are used as air pressure pumps and sheath fluid pumps that are placed between the two pressurized reservoirs and isolate the two reservoirs. Since the two reservoirs are maintained at a substantially even pressure, pulsations are reduced so that the peristaltic pumps essentially provide air flow and sheath fluid flow as needed.
Claims19
A method of generating a low-pulsatility fluid flow, comprising:
- a. pumping a fluid into a first pressurized reservoir using a first peristaltic fluid pump;
- b. sensing an amount of the fluid in the first pressurized reservoir to create a first fluid quantity signal;
- c. in response to the first fluid quantity signal, maintaining a predetermined amount of the fluid in the first pressurized reservoir by pumping the fluid into the first pressurized reservoir and/or removing the fluid from the first pressurized reservoir using the first peristaltic fluid pump;
- d. pumping the fluid from the first pressurized reservoir to a second pressurized reservoir using a second peristaltic fluid pump;
- e. sensing an amount of the fluid in the second pressurized reservoir to create a second fluid quantity signal;
- f. in response to the second fluid quantity signal, maintaining a predetermined amount of the fluid in the second pressurized reservoir by pumping the fluid into the second pressurized reservoir using the second peristaltic pump and/or removing the fluid from the second pressurized reservoir in response to the second fluid quantity signal;
- g. supplying air to the first pressurized reservoir so as to pressurize the first pressurized reservoir;
- h. communicating air from the first pressurized reservoir to the second pressurized reservoir using a peristaltic air pump to pressurize air in the second pressurized reservoir to a predetermined air pressure;
- and
- i. maintaining the predetermined air pressure in the second reservoir by communicating air into the second pressurized reservoir using the peristaltic air pump.
A system for generating a low-pulsatility fluid flow, comprising:
- a first peristaltic fluid pump;
- a first pressurized reservoir configured to receive a fluid from the first peristaltic fluid pump;
- a first fluid sensor that generates a first fluid quantity signal in response to an amount of the fluid in the first pressurized reservoir and,
- the system being configured to modulate operation of the first peristaltic fluid pump at least partially in response to the first fluid quantity signal so as to maintain a predetermined amount of fluid in the first pressurized reservoir;
- a second peristaltic fluid pump configured to pump the fluid from the first pressurized reservoir;
- a second pressurized reservoir that receives the fluid from the second peristaltic pump;
- a second fluid sensor that generates a second fluid quantity signal in response to an amount of the fluid in the second pressurized reservoir,
- the system being configured to modulate operation of the second peristaltic fluid pump at least partially in response to the second fluid quantity signal so as to maintain a predetermined amount of fluid in the second pressurized reservoir;
- and
- a peristaltic air pump configured to pump air between the first pressurized reservoir and the second pressurized reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.