# US 2024/0197984 A1 · Method and System for Shape-Memory Alloy Wire Control

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- Number: US 2024/0197984 A1
- Document ID: US20240197984A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/430,832
- Filed: 2024-02-02
- Published: 2024-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2006-02-09
- Assignees: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
- Applicants: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
- Inventors: Colin H. Murphy; Dean Kamen; John M. Kerwin; Larry B. Gray
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240197984A1

## CPC

- A61M 5/14224: {Diaphragm type}
- A61M 5/14248: {of the skin patch type}
- A61M 5/14586: {pressurised by means of a flexible diaphragm}
- A61M 5/16809: {by repeated filling and emptying of an intermediate volume}
- A61M 5/16886: {for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters}
- A61M 5/172: electrical or electronic
- F04B 13/00: Pumps specially modified to deliver fixed or variable measured quantities
- F04B 49/065: {and making use of computers}
- F04B 53/16: Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections
- G01F 3/20: having flexible movable walls, e.g. diaphragms, bellows
- G01F 13/00: Apparatus for measuring by volume and delivering fluids or fluent solid materials, not provided for in the preceding groups
- G01F 13/006: {measuring volume in function of time}
- G01F 15/003: {using electromagnetic, electric or electronic means (G01F15/002, G01F15/02 take precedence)}
- G01F 15/005: {Valves (valves in general F16K)}
- G01F 15/006: {characterised by the use of a particular material, e.g. anti-corrosive material (G01F15/14 takes precedence)}
- G01F 15/022: {using electrical means}
- G01F 22/00: Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for
- G01F 23/0015: {with a whistle or other sonorous signal}
- G01F 25/0092: {for metering by volume}
- G05D 7/0641: {using a plurality of throttling means (G05D7/067 takes precedence)}
- G05D 7/0676: {by action on flow sources (G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence)}
- A61M 2005/14268: {with a reusable and a disposable component}
- A61M 2205/0266: Shape memory materials
- A61M 2205/0294: Piezoelectric materials
- A61M 2205/18: with alarm
- A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow
- A61M 2205/3375: Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
- A61M 2205/3546: Range
- A61M 2205/3576: with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
- A61M 2205/8237: Charging means
- A61M 2206/22: eliminating pulsatile flows, e.g. by the provision of a dampening chamber
- A61M 2209/045: for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
- G01F 15/061: for remote indication
- G01F 15/066: {involving magnetic transmission devices}
- G01F 15/068: {with electrical means (G01F15/063 takes precedence)}
- G05D 7/0635: {by action on throttling means (G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence)}
- 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)}
- 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)
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES

## Abstract

A method for controlling a device using a shape-memory alloy wire is disclosed. The method includes determining an ontime for the shape-memory alloy wire based on a target volume to be pumped by a pump plunger, determining the temperature of the shape-memory alloy wire and adjusting the ontime based on the temperature of the shape-memory alloy wire.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A shape-memory alloy wire pumping system comprising:
at least one shape-memory alloy wire;
a pump plunger connected to the at least one shape-memory alloy wire wherein the shape-memory alloy wire, when actuated, actuates the pump plunger;
a valve member connected to the at least one shape-memory alloy wire wherein the shape-memory alloy wire, when actuated, actuates the valve member;
a controller for controlling an ontime of the at least one shape-memory alloy wire; and
a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the shape-memory alloy wire wherein the controller determines the ontime based on the temperature of the shape-memory alloy wire.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The shape-memory alloy wire pumping system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is a thermistor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The shape-memory alloy wire pumping system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is located adjacent to the shape-memory alloy wire.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The shape-memory alloy wire pumping system of claim 1, wherein the controller determines the ontime based on the temperature of the shape-memory alloy wire before actuation of one of the pump plunger and the valve member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The shape-memory alloy wire pumping system of claim 1, further comprising:
a reservoir upstream from the valve member, wherein the valve member controls the flow of fluid from a reservoir to an exit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The shape-memory alloy wire pumping system of claim 5, further comprising;
a volume measurement assembly downstream from the valve member, the volume measurement assembly comprising a volume sensor chamber wherein the fluid from the reservoir enters the volume sensor chamber and wherein the volume measurement assembly determines the volume of fluid in the volume sensor chamber.