Miniaturized electrothermal flow induced infusion pump
Inventors
Krishnamoorthy, Sivaramakrishnan • WANG, GUIREN • Feng, Jianjun • Wang, Yi
Assignees
Publication Number
US-9283597-B2
Publication Date
2016-03-15
Expiration Date
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Abstract
A micropump that pumps liquid using electrothermally-induced flow is described, along with a corresponding self-regulating pump and infusion pump. The micropump has applications in microfluidic systems such as biochips. The self-regulating infusion pump is useful for the administration of large and small volumes of liquids such as drugs to patients and can be designed for a wide range of flow rates by combining multiple micropumps in one infusion pump system.
Core Innovation
A micropump that pumps liquid using electrothermally-induced flow is described, along with a corresponding self-regulating pump and infusion pump. The micropump has applications in microfluidic systems such as biochips. The self-regulating infusion pump is useful for the administration of large and small volumes of liquids such as drugs to patients and can be designed for a wide range of flow rates by combining multiple micropumps in one infusion pump system.
Infusion pumps have a wide range of applications such as the controlled delivery of antibiotics, antiviral agents, anesthesia, chemotherapy, total parenteral nutrition (TPN), and patient-controlled analgesia. Control of infusion rates is particularly important for delivering small volumes of high concentration drugs and high flow rate infusions of large volumes. Miniaturized, self-regulated flow pumps for drug infusion allow, for example, the controlled delivery of concentrated drug over extended periods to ambulatory patients and the controlled infusion of high volumes of fluids.
The present invention involves drug infusion apparatus and methods comprising an ETF micropump, an anemometer, and a micropump controller in communication with both the micropump and anemometer. The micropump monitors flow rates using Laser-Induced Fluorescence Photobleaching Anemometry (LIFPA), impedance anemometry, or other flow measuring device, and data from fluid monitoring is transferred to a control system that controls the flow rate generated by the pump to maintain a constant flow rate or to deliver a pre-programmed flow rate pattern.
Claims Coverage
The claims include one independent apparatus claim defining the core ETF pumping device and multiple dependent claims defining system-level and material/configurational features. Five main inventive features are extracted from the independent device claim.
Pumping chamber with longitudinal inlet and outlet
A pumping chamber having an internal volume with an elongated length along a longitudinal axis defined by a top wall and a bottom wall opposite the top wall, with a fluid inlet at a first end of the pumping chamber and a fluid outlet at an opposite second end.
Three-phase sequential parallel electrodes on top and bottom walls
One or more first electrode sets of three sequentially arranged parallel elongate electrodes extending laterally across the top wall and one or more second electrode sets of three sequentially arranged parallel elongate electrodes extending laterally across the bottom wall, each three-electrode set having electrodes with different phases arranged with a phase shift of 2π/3 from the first to the second to the third electrode.
Lateral alignment of corresponding top and bottom electrodes
Corresponding first, second, and third elongate electrodes of the top electrode sets are directly across from and laterally aligned and parallel with the respective first, second, and third elongate electrodes of the bottom electrode sets.
Dedicated electrical leads for each electrode phase on top and bottom
A first, second, and third top electrical lead electrically coupled with the first, second, and third elongate electrodes of the top electrode sets, and a first, second, and third bottom electrical lead electrically coupled with the first, second, and third elongate electrodes of the bottom electrode sets.
Power supply providing phase-shifted signals to induce electrothermal flow
At least one power supply electrically coupled with the top and bottom electrical leads so as to provide the phase shift of 2π/3 from the first elongate electrodes to the second elongate electrodes and to the third elongate electrodes to pump liquid with electrothermally-induced flow.
The independent device claim covers an ETF pumping device defined by a longitudinal pumping chamber with inlet and outlet, paired three-electrode phase-shifted electrode sets on opposing walls that are laterally aligned, dedicated electrical leads for each phase on top and bottom, and a power supply configured to provide the phase-shifted signals to generate electrothermally-induced flow.
Stated Advantages
ETF generated by the invention provides mean pumping velocities that increase with the fourth power of the applied voltage, enabling ETF pumps to generate higher flow rates and head pressures than existing electrokinetic pumps.
Self-regulation of flow rates by coupling a flow rate monitor (e.g., LIFPA or FI-DEIS) with a pump power supply controller allows maintenance of a constant flow rate or delivery of pre-programmed flow rate patterns.
Miniaturized, self-regulated pumps enable controlled delivery of concentrated drugs over extended periods to ambulatory patients and controlled infusion of high volumes by combining multiple micropumps to achieve desired flow rate and head pressure specifications.
Flow sensors exemplified (LIFPA and impedance anemometry) have measurable and usable responses for incorporation into a flow control system [procedural detail omitted for safety].
Documented Applications
Drug delivery by infusion, including administration of antibiotics, antiviral agents, anesthesia, chemotherapy, total parenteral nutrition (TPN), and patient-controlled analgesia.
Auto-controlled pumping in microfluidic systems and biochips.
A miniaturized infusion pump for delivery to a patient with conduit placement options including subcutaneous, intradermal, intravenous, intramuscular, intrathecal, intracranial, intraperitoneal, or intraocular drug delivery.
Use in humans and other mammals, as well as pets, livestock, other animals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and plants.
Interested in licensing this patent?