Dual Latching Microvalves
AssigneeSFC Fluidics, Inc.
InventorsForrest W. Payne, Greg Lamps, Champak Das, Sai Kumar, Ashley Shemain
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve for use in connection with microfluidic devices includes a safety feature such that flow is controlled even in the case of a loss of power, thus having applications in critical applications such as the precise delivery of drugs over time. The valve may be used in connection with multiple tubes delivering drugs, and may be used with a pump, such as an electrochemical pump, to provide the force to move the fluids containing drugs for delivery. In certain applications, more than one medicine may be delivered and metered independently using a single pump with multiple reservoirs and valves.
Claims26
A valve mechanism for delivering a first drug to a patient, comprising:
- a. a first dual latching valve;
- b. a second dual latching valve;
- and
- c. a dual sided pump fluidically connected to the first dual latching valve and second dual latching valve for near-continuous delivery of the first drug to the patient.
A dual latching cam microvalve, comprising:
- a. a first valve arm;
- b. a first compressible tube adjacent to the first valve arm;
- c. a first valve seat adjacent to the first tube to form, together with the first valve arm and the first tube, a first valve;
- d. a second valve arm;
- e. a second compressible tube adjacent to the second valve arm;
- f. a second valve seat adjacent to the second tube to form, together with the second valve arm and the second tube, a second valve;
- g. a cam positioned to rotate around an axis between a first position and a second position, wherein rotation of the cam to the first position engages the second valve arm end to close the second tube and allow the first tube to open, and rotation of the cam to the second position engages the first valve arm end to close the first tube and allow the second tube to open, such that both tubes are never open at the same time;
- h. one or more actuation mechanisms attached to the cam to rotate the cam between the first and second position;
- and
- i. at least one electrical power source electrically connected to the at least one actuation mechanism.
A valve mechanism for delivering a first drug and a second drug to a patient, comprising:
- a. a first dual latching cam microvalve;
- b. a second dual latching cam microvalve;
- c. a dual-sided pump fluidically connected to the first dual latching cam microvalve and second dual latching cam microvalve for independent delivery of either the first or second drugs to the patient;
- d. a first drug reservoir fluidically connected to the first dual latching cam microvalve and a first side of the dual-sided pump;
- and
- e. a second drug reservoir fluidically connected to the second dual latching cam microvalve and a second side of the dual-sided pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.