# US 2013/0156615 A1 · Self contained electroosmotic pump and method of making thereof

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- Number: US 2013/0156615 A1
- Document ID: US20130156615A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/429,471
- Filed: 2012-03-26
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15
- Assignees: General Electric Company
- Inventors: Christopher Michael Puleo; Ralf Lenigk
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156615A1

## CPC

- B01D 61/4271: {comprising multiple electro-osmosis steps}
- A61K 9/0004: {Osmotic delivery systems; Sustained release driven by osmosis, thermal energy or gas}
- F04B 17/00: Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
- F04B 19/006: {Micropumps (F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence)}
- A61M 2005/14204: {with gas-producing electrochemical cell}
- A61M 2005/14513: {with secondary fluid driving or regulating the infusion}
- Y10T 29/49236: Fluid pump or compressor making
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D)
- F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A pump comprises a plurality of electroosmotic membranes comprising one or more positive electroosmotic membranes and one or more negative electroosmotic membranes; and a plurality of electrodes comprising one or more cathodes and one or more anodes. The electrodes are pre-charged, chargeable, rechargeable or combinations thereof and the cathode and anode are operatively coupled to each other. The positive electroosmotic membranes and negative electroosmotic membranes are disposed alternatively and at least one cathode is disposed on one side of one of the membranes and at least one anode is disposed on another side of that membrane, and wherein at least one cathode or anode is disposed between a positive electroosmotic membrane and a negative electroosmotic membrane. The pump is an electroosmotic pump.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pump, comprising:
a plurality of electroosmotic membranes comprising one or more positive electroosmotic membranes and one or more negative electroosmotic membranes; and
a plurality of electrodes comprising one or more cathodes and one or more anodes;
wherein the electrodes are pre-charged, chargeable, rechargeable or combinations thereof and the cathode and anode are operatively coupled to each other,
wherein the positive electroosmotic membranes and negative electroosmotic membranes are disposed alternatively,
wherein at least one cathode is disposed on one side of one of the membranes and at least one anode is disposed on another side of that membrane, and wherein at least one cathode or anode is disposed between a positive electroosmotic membrane and a negative electroosmotic membrane.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, configured to generate a pressure of at least about 0.75 PSI.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the electrodes comprise a material capable of generating a chemical potential up to 3 V across the membranes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the electrodes comprise a material capable of discharging for about 1 hour while running the pump with a flow rate between 0 and 5 μL/min/mm2.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are rechargeable for 1 to 5000 times.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the electrodes comprise charges in a state that is dry, semi-dry or wet state.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the electrodes comprise a oxidation-reduction polymer material, metal oxide, graphene, carbon nanotubes and combinations thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the electrodes comprise a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (Pedot-PSS), Pedot-(molybdenum trioxide), poly(3-(4-fluorophenyl)thiophene) (MPFT), poly(3-(4-fluorophenyl)-thiophene) (PFPT), poly(3-methyl thiophene) (PMeT) or poly(1-cyano-2-(2-(3,4-ethylenedioxylthienyl))-1-(2-thienyl)vinylene (ThCNVEDT), PDTT polymer and combinations thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, further comprising a micro controller circuit to maintain a constant current, voltage, fluid flow, pressure output or combinations thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the membranes are configured to generate an electroosmotic flow of about 0.05 to 5 μL/min/mm2.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the membranes comprise nanopores having a diameter between 10 to 500 nm.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the membranes are configured to operate the pump by applying an electric field of at least 100V/m across each of the membranes.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the membranes have a thickness between 10 am to 10 mm.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, comprising 2 to 100 membranes.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the membranes comprise a tungsten oxide, a vanadium oxide, a silicon dioxide, a silicate, a silicon carbide, a tantalum oxide, a halfnium oxide, a tin oxide, a manganese oxide, a titanium oxide, a silicon nitride, a chromium oxide, an aluminum oxide, a zinc oxide, nickel oxide, a magnesium oxide and combinations thereof.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the positive electroosmotic membrane comprises a silica, a silicate material, polymeric material or a combination thereof.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the positive electroosmotic membrane comprises polyvinyledene fluoride, polycarbonate, polyester, mixed cellulose ester, nylon, polysulphone and combinations thereof.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the negative electroosmotic membrane comprises an alumina material, titania or tantalum pentoxide.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the operative coupling of the electrodes is a trigger mechanism for a transverse fluid flow through the membranes.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The pump of claim 19, wherein the fluid-flow is proportional to a number of the units of electroosmotic pump coupled in parellel.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the membranes are stacked to generate a pumping pressure that is proportional to a number of membranes in the pump.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, comprising a stack of two or more unit electroosmotic pumps, wherein each unit electroosmotic pump comprises one positive electroosmotic membrane and one negative electroosmotic membrane, and at least one cathode and one anode, wherein the two or more unit electroosmotic pumps are operatively coupled in parallel.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the membranes are operatively connected to at least one fluid reservoir.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the pump comprises an activation mechanism comprising a manual or automated closure of a conductive path between all electrodes, or selected ones, within the stack.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1, wherein the electroosmotic membranes are operatively coupled to a mechanical valve, a membrane, a diaphram and combination thereof.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

The pump of claim 1 is further operatively coupled to a separate reservoir, chamber, or channel via a flexible membrane for pumping a fluid from the reservoir, chamber, or channel by actuation of the membrane.

### Claim 27

A pump, comprising:
a plurality of electroosmotic membranes comprising one or more positive electroosmotic membranes and one or more negative electroosmotic membranes, wherein each of the positive electroosmotic membranes and negative electroosmotic membranes are disposed alternatively;
a plurality of electrodes comprising one or more cathodes and one or more anodes, wherein the electrodes are pre-charged, chargeable, rechargeable or combinations thereof and the cathode and anode are operatively coupled to each other,
wherein at least one cathode is disposed on one side of one of the membranes and at least one anode is disposed on another side of that membrane,
wherein at least one of the cathodes or anodes is disposed between a positive electroosmotic membrane and negative electroosmotic membrane, and
wherein the electrodes are operatively coupled to generate and store a voltage of up to 3 V volts to generate a pressure of at least about 0.75 PSI.

### Claim 28

A method of making a pump, comprising:
disposing a plurality of membranes comprising one or more positive electroosmotic membranes and one or more negative electroosmotic membranes alternatively to form a membrane stack;
disposing a plurality of electrodes comprising cathodes and anodes, wherein the electrodes are pre-charged, chargeable, rechargable or combination thereof and wherein at least one of the cathodes is disposed on one side of one of the positive electroosmotic membrane or negative electroosmotic membranes and at least one of the anodes is disposed on another side of that membrane, and at least one of the cathodes or anodes is disposed between a positive electroosmotic membrane and negative electroosmotic membrane, and
operatively coupling the electrodes to complete a circuit adapted to activate the electrodes.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the chemical potential across two adjacent electrodes generates a voltage of up to 3 volts.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the electroosmotic pump is further configured to generate a pressure of at least about 0.75 PSI.