# US 7,607,554 B2 · Peristaltic precision metering device, system and method of use thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,554 B2 - Document ID: US7607554B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/631,103 - Filed: 2003-07-31 - Published: 2005-02-03 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2003-07-31 - Assignees: Precision Valve & Automation, Inc. - Inventors: Anthony J. Hynes; Randall E. Allen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607554B2 ## CPC - G01N 35/1095: {for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers (for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00)} - F04B 43/1223: {the actuating elements, e.g. rollers, moving in a straight line during squeezing} - G01F 11/125: {of the peristaltic pump type (peristaltic pumps per se F04B43/12)} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - 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 ## Abstract The invention relates generally to a peristaltic precision metering device, system and method of using the same. Disclosed is a metering device which includes a metering element that can engage with a compressible material line, wherein the metering device can place a selectable peristaltic effect upon the material in the line. Also disclosed is a metering system comprised of a metering device similar to above and a control system attached to the metering element and a robotic positioning system also attached to the metering device. Finally disclosed is a method of precision material dispensing comprised of providing a metering element and base, positioning a compressible material line between the metering element and base, moving one of the base, metering element, material line, or combination thereof, thereby causing a peristaltic effect upon material in the line, and dispensing a precise unit of material from the device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A metering device comprising: a material reservoir containing coating material; a metering element capable of translational and rotational movement, operationally attached to a moveably secure carriage block for engaging a compressible material line, thereby causing a selectable peristaltic effect upon the coating material in said compressible material line, wherein said material reservoir directly communicates with the compressible material line; and a material dispensing end, moveably secured to said metering element, for movement with said metering element during dispensing; a control system operatively attached to said metering element, where said control system allows for control of the selectable peristaltic effect and said metering element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The metering device of claim 1, further comprising a base, said base adapted so that the compressible material line is positioned between said base and said metering element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The metering device of claim 2, wherein said base comprises a depression for engagement with said compressible material line. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The metering device of claim 1, wherein said metering element is rotatable. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The metering device of claim 1, wherein said metering element is slidable. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The metering device of claim 1, wherein said metering element has an arcuate portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The metering device of claim 6, wherein said metering element is a cylinder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The metering device of claim 7, wherein said metering element is a cylinder of a plurality of diameters. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The metering device of claim 1, further comprising the compressible material line. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The metering device of claim 1, wherein said material dispensing end is a dispensing needle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The metering device of claim 1, wherein said peristaltic effect causes a dispensing of a unit of material from said metering device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The metering device of claim 11, wherein the quantity of said unit of dispensed material is within 2% of a desired quantity of material to be dispensed. ### Claim 13 A precision metering system comprising: a material delivery unit including: a material reservoir, a material dispensing end, a compressible material line connecting said material reservoir and said material dispensing end, and a valve positioned between the compressible material line and the material dispensing end, a base in operative communication with the material delivery unit; a metering element, engaging most of the length of said compressible material line between said metering element and said base, thereby creating a peristaltic effect upon a material in said compressible material line, said peristaltic effect thereby causing a precision dispensing of a unit of material from said material dispensing end, wherein said unit of material is selectable; and wherein the material dispensing end is moveably secured into the material delivery unit for movement with the metering element during operation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The precision metering system of claim 13, further comprising a control system operatively attached to said metering element, wherein said control system allows for control of said metering element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The precision metering system of claim 13, wherein said metering element is a cylinder. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The precision metering system of claim 13, wherein said metering element is rotatable. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The precision metering system of claim 13, wherein said metering element is slidable. ### Claim 18 A metering device comprising: a metering element that is translationally slidable and rotatable and meters to within +/−2% of a desired quantity of a material to be dispensed; a rotatable threaded shaft that translationally moves said metering element; a frame, wherein said metering element is movably attached to said frame; and a material holding system attached to said frame and configured to hold a reservoir, wherein said reservoir holds a quantity of material, having a compressible line extending from said reservoir, wherein a length of said compressible line is positionable beneath said metering element, and upon said sliding or rotation of said metering element causes a peristaltic effect upon a material located within said compressible material line further causing a precision dispensing of a unit of the material from said device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The metering device of claim 18, further comprising: a clamp base, wherein said clamp base is positioned above said base. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The metering device of claim 18, wherein said metering element is selectable. ### Claim 21 A method of precision dispensing of material comprising: providing a device which includes a base, a rotatable threaded shaft and a metering element; providing a reservoir, wherein said reservoir holds a quantity of material, having a compressible material line extending from said reservoir; inserting the reservoir into the device; positioning said compressible material line between said metering element and said base; moving one of said base, metering element, compressible material line, or a combination thereof, to cause a peristaltic effect upon a material within said compressible material line; rotating said rotatable threaded shaft causing controlled translation motion of said metering element of a precise unit; and dispensing said precise unit of said material from said device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein said metering element is a rotatable cylinder. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein said precise unit of material dispensed is within 2% of a quantity desired to be dispensed. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The metering device of claim 18 further comprising: a pinch roller of said metering element; and a carriage block attached to said pinch roller wherein the length of the compressible line is positioned beneath said pinch roller of said metering element and wherein said rotatable shaft is a ball screw shaft that operationally engages and translationally moves said carriage block of said metering element.