Device and method for coating surfaces
Inventors
Wang, Xi • Junger, Michael Carl • KANDASAMY, Sasikaran • Harris, Neil • Flaim, Christopher
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11254126-B2
Publication Date
2022-02-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to devices and methods for coating surfaces including surfaces of medical devices, in particular the coating of microprojections on microprojection arrays. The present invention also relates to print head devices and their manufacture and to methods of using the print head devices for manufacturing articles such as microprojection arrays as well as to coating the surfaces of microprojection arrays. The present invention also relates to high throughput printing devices that utilize the print heads of the present invention.
Core Innovation
The invention is directed to a device for coating a substrate using a piezoelectric-actuated pumping and dispensing architecture. The device includes a pumping chamber wherein a fluid is contained, the pumping chamber having venting holes, and a restrictor plate that controls flow of the fluid. A nozzle plate is attached to the pumping chamber and comprises a plurality of nozzles for dispensing the fluid, with the nozzle plate having venting holes in fluid communication with the venting holes in the pumping chamber.
The nozzle-plate venting holes are described as straight and smaller in diameter than the nozzles, and the device also includes a membrane plate. A piezoelectric actuator is provided so that the actuator pushes against the membrane plate such that the fluid is dispensed through the nozzles.
The disclosed device concept is positioned for high-throughput coating/dispensing in an aseptic environment for medical microprojection arrays. In the described system context, the nozzle array is aligned to microprojections and fluid is dispensed as picoliter drops onto aligned microprojections in a controlled manner.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides one independent claim (clm-00001). It covers a piezoelectric-driven coating/dispensing device with coordinated venting and flow control, including a vented pumping chamber, a restrictor plate, and a nozzle plate having multiple nozzles with venting holes that communicate with the pumping-chamber venting holes.
Vented pumping chamber, restrictor plate, and nozzle plate with communicated straight venting holes
A device for coating a substrate comprising a pumping chamber having venting holes, a restrictor plate that controls flow of the fluid, and a nozzle plate attached to the pumping chamber with a plurality of nozzles for dispensing the fluid, wherein venting holes in the nozzle plate are in fluid communication with the venting holes in the pumping chamber and the venting holes in the nozzle plate are straight and smaller in diameter than the nozzles.
Membrane plate pushed by a piezoelectric actuator to dispense through nozzles
A device for coating a substrate further comprising a membrane plate and a piezoelectric actuator wherein the actuator pushes against the membrane plate such that the fluid is dispensed through the nozzles.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on a piezoelectric membrane-driven dispensing device with a restrictor plate and coordinated venting between a pumping chamber and a nozzle plate via straight, smaller-diameter venting holes communicating with the pumping-chamber venting holes.
Stated Advantages
High-throughput coating/dispensing in an aseptic environment for medical microprojection arrays.
Controlled dispensing of fluid onto aligned microprojections.
Documented Applications
Coating/dispensing on medical microprojection arrays.
Dispensing fluid onto microprojections.
Coating microprojection patches or mats by repeatedly jetting in an aligned arrangement.
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