Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11980743-B2
Publication Date
2024-05-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus for use in injectate delivery includes an actuator including a linkage, a force generating mechanism mechanically coupled to the linkage, and a controller coupled to the force generating mechanism. The force generating mechanism includes a passive force generator and an active force generator. In operation and on the basis of a control signal, the controller is configured to control the force generating mechanism to provide an input force to the linkage that is a combination of the first force provided by the passive force generator and a second force provided by the active force generator.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an apparatus for use in injectate delivery that includes an actuator having a linkage, a force generating mechanism mechanically coupled to the linkage, and a controller coupled to the force generating mechanism. The force generating mechanism includes a passive force generator and an active force generator so that the controller drives the linkage during injectate delivery by producing a net force on the linkage.
The passive force generator comprises a spring storing mechanical energy and configured to release the mechanical energy upon actuation as a first force on the linkage. The active force generator comprises an actively controlled force generating device including at least one electromagnetic motor configured to apply a second force to the linkage in response to a control signal from the controller, where the first force supplements the second force to produce a net force that is a sum of the first and second forces during driving of the linkage.
The controller is configured to operate in a reset mode and an injection mode. In the reset mode, the controller controls the electromagnetic motor to apply a resetting force to the linkage to compress the spring to store mechanical energy, and in the injection mode, the controller controls the electromagnetic motor to maintain a net force upon the linkage by varying the second force while the spring applies the first force, so that the net force drives a velocity of the linkage toward a target velocity.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim clm-00001 defines the apparatus architecture and dual-mode controller operation, with 6 inventive features centered on combining a passive spring force with an actively controlled electromagnetic motor force to achieve net force control that drives a target velocity during injection while using a reset mode to compress the spring.
Actuator with linkage and coupled controller
An actuator including a linkage, a force generating mechanism mechanically coupled to the linkage, and a controller coupled to the force generating mechanism.
Passive spring releases a first force on the linkage
A passive force generator comprising a spring storing mechanical energy and configured to release the mechanical energy upon actuation as a first force on the linkage.
Actively controlled electromagnetic motor applies a second force
An active force generator comprising an actively controlled force generating device, where the actively controlled force generating device comprises at least one electromagnetic motor configured to apply a second force to the linkage in response to a control signal from the controller.
Net force is a sum of first spring force and second motor force
The first force released by the passive force generator supplements the second force from the actively controlled force generating device, resulting in a net force on the linkage that is a sum of the first force and the second force when driving the linkage during injectate delivery.
Reset mode compresses the spring using motor resetting force
The controller is configured, in a reset mode, to control the at least one electromagnetic motor to apply a resetting force to the linkage to compress the spring such that mechanical energy is stored in the spring.
Injection mode varies motor second force to drive linkage velocity to target velocity
In an injection mode, the controller is configured to control the at least one electromagnetic motor to maintain a net force upon the linkage by varying the second force from the at least one electromagnetic motor during application of the first force by the spring such that the net force drives a velocity of the linkage toward a target velocity.
Across the independent claim, the core claim coverage centers on combining a spring-based passive force generator with an actively controlled electromagnetic motor force generator so their forces add to form a net force, and on controlling the electromagnetic motor in a reset mode to compress the spring and in an injection mode to vary the motor force to drive linkage velocity toward a target velocity.
Stated Advantages
Smaller motors.
Reduced power.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
Interested in licensing this patent?