Multi-chamber pump apparatus, systems, and methods
AssigneeSiemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
InventorsTomasz Moskal, Robert Autrey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed are apparatus adapted to dispense and/or aspirate liquids, such as in a clinical analyzer. In one aspect, a multi-chamber pump apparatus is disclosed that has a pump body containing first and second chambers, a piston having a first piston portion of a first pump area A1 received in the first chamber, and a second piston portion of a second pumping area A2 received in the second chamber, and an actuator coupled to the piston. The first and second chambers can be selectively accessed to improve metering accuracy at dissimilar flow volumes from the chambers. Methods and systems including the multi-chamber pump apparatus are provided, as are other aspects.
Claims21
A multi-chamber pump apparatus, comprising:
- a pump body containing a first chamber and a second chamber, each adapted to contain a liquid;
- a piston having
- a first piston portion of a first pump area A1 received in the first chamber, and
- a second piston portion of a second pumping area A2 received in the second chamber;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the piston.
A liquid delivery system, comprising:
- at least one liquid source;
- a multi-chamber pump apparatus fluidly coupled to the at least one liquid source, the multi-chamber pump apparatus having a pump body with a first chamber and a second chamber, a piston having a first piston portion of a first pump area A1 received in the first chamber, and a second piston portion of a second pumping area A2 received in the second chamber;
- a dispensing and/or aspirating device fluidly coupled to a first chamber outlet of the first chamber, and a second chamber outlet of the second chamber;
- a first flow-controllable passage fluidly coupled to the first chamber;
- and
- a second flow-controllable passage fluidly coupled to the second chamber.
A liquid delivery method, comprising:
- providing at least one liquid source containing a liquid;
- providing a multi-chamber pump apparatus fluidly coupled to the at least one liquid source, the multi-chamber pump apparatus having a pump body with a first chamber and a second chamber, a piston having a first piston portion of a first pump area A1 received in the first chamber, and a second piston portion of a second pumping area A2 received in the second chamber;
- providing a dispensing and/or aspirating device fluidly coupled to a first chamber outlet of the first chamber, and a second chamber outlet of the second chamber;
- and
- translating the piston to pump liquid to the dispensing and/or aspirating device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.