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US 7,481,337 B2Granted
Apparatus for fluid storage and delivery at a substantially constant pressure
AssigneeGeorgia Tech Research Corporation
InventorsRajesh Luharuka, Chi-Fu Wu, Peter Hesketh
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Abstract
Microfluidic pumps, methods of fabrication thereof, and methods of use thereof, as well as method of pumping a fluid, are disclosed.
Claims18
A microfluidic pump, comprising:
- a fluid reservoir system that includes a fluid chamber for holding a volume of a fluid;
- an outlet structure having an outlet port, wherein the fluid reservoir system is fluidically coupled to the outlet port;
- a constant force system coupled to the fluid reservoir, wherein the constant force system is adapted to apply a force to the fluid chamber, wherein the force causes the volume of the fluid to flow out of the fluid chamber and through the outlet port at a substantially constant pressure;
- wherein the constant force system includes a constant torque system rotationally coupled to the fluid reservoir system, wherein the constant torque system applies a torque on the fluid chamber to cause the volume of the fluid to flow out of the fluid chamber and through the outlet port at a substantially constant pressure;
- and
- wherein the constant torque system further comprises:
- an output drum connected to the fluid reservoir system;
- and
- a constant torque device that applies a torque on the output drum, causing the volume of the fluid to flow out of the fluid chamber and through the outlet port at a substantially constant pressure.
6 more elements
A microfluidic pump comprising:
- a fluid reservoir system including a curved fluid chamber and a curved delivery structure rotationally coupled to the torque system;
- an outlet structure having an outlet port, the outlet port in fluidic communication with the fluid reservoir system;
- and
- a constant torque system rotationally coupled to the torque system, wherein the torque system includes:
- an output drum, the output drum rotationally coupled to the fluid reservoir system such that the rotation of the output drum actuates the delivery structure,
- a take-up drum, and
- a constant torque spring, the constant torque spring fastened to the output drum and take-up drum such that the constant torque spring applies a torque in substantially opposite directions about the respective axes of rotation of the output drum and the take-up drum and fastened such that the constant torque spring winds around the output drum and the take-up drum.
4 more elements
A method of pumping fluid, comprising:
- providing a fluid reservoir system fluidically coupled to an outlet structure having an outlet port, wherein the fluid reservoir system includes a fluid chamber having a volume of fluid and a piston coupled to the fluid chamber;
- providing a constant torque system rotationally coupled to the fluid reservoir system;
- applying a constant torque on the volume of fluid using the constant torque system, wherein the constant torque applied to a constant contact area of the piston causes the volume of the fluid to flow through the outlet port at a substantially constant pressure;
- wherein the constant torque system further comprises:
- an output drum connected to the fluid reservoir system;
- and
- a constant torque device that applies a torque on the output drum,
- causing the volume of the fluid to flow out of the fluid chamber and through the outlet port at a substantially constant pressure.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.