Ultrasonically actuated needle pump system
First Claim
1. An ultrasonically actuated pump comprising:
- (a) an outer needle having a distal end and a hollow bore;
(b) an inner needle having a hollow bore mounted within the bore of the outer needle and having a distal end positioned adjacent to the distal end of the outer needle and a proximal end; and
(c) an ultrasonic actuator, coupled to the inner needle to selectively apply ultrasonic vibrations thereto without vibrating the outer needle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonically driven pump, which may be used for sampling body fluids or atomizing liquids, has a stationary outer needle and an inner needle mounted within the bore of the outer needle. The distal end of the inner needle is positioned adjacent to the distal end of the outer needle. The inner needle is ultrasonically vibrated by an ultrasonic actuator without vibrating the outer needle, with resulting draw of liquid through the distal end of the outer needle into the bore of the inner needle for discharge through the proximal end of the inner needle. The outer needle can be formed to have a penetrating tip suited for penetrating the skin of a subject to allow sampling of body fluids including interstitial fluids. The pump can also be used for atomizing liquid, by drawing liquid from a supply that is pumped from the distal end to an open proximal end of the inner needle where the liquid is discharged by atomization into the atmosphere.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An ultrasonically actuated pump comprising:
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(a) an outer needle having a distal end and a hollow bore;
(b) an inner needle having a hollow bore mounted within the bore of the outer needle and having a distal end positioned adjacent to the distal end of the outer needle and a proximal end; and
(c) an ultrasonic actuator, coupled to the inner needle to selectively apply ultrasonic vibrations thereto without vibrating the outer needle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An ultrasonically actuated pump comprising:
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(a) a plurality of parallel outer needles mounted together to a mounting plate, each outer needle having a hollow bore and a distal end at a position spaced away from the mounting plate;
(b) a plurality of inner needles, each inner needle mounted within the bore of an outer needle and free to vibrate with respect to the outer needle, each inner needle having a hollow bore, a proximal end, and a distal end positioned adjacent to the distal end of the outer needle in which it is mounted;
(c) an ultrasonic actuator coupled to the inner needles to selectively vibrate the inner needles at ultrasonic frequencies without vibrating the outer needles. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of drawing a sample of body fluid comprising:
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(a) puncturing the skin of a subject with a penetrating tip located at a distal end of an outer needle having a hollow bore;
(b) ultrasonically vibrating an inner needle within the bore of the outer needle without substantially vibrating the outer needle, the inner needle having a hollow bore and a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end positioned adjacent to the penetrating tip of the outer tubular needle, so as to draw fluid into the inner needle from its distal end to its proximal end by the ultrasonic vibration of the inner needle.
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22. A method of atomizing a liquid comprising:
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(a) inserting the distal end of an outer needle with a hollow bore into a supply of liquid to be atomized;
(b) ultrasonically vibrating an inner needle mounted within the bore of the outer needle, the inner needle having a hollow bore and a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the inner needle located adjacent to the distal end of the outer needle, to draw liquid by the vibration of the inner needle from the distal end of the inner needle to the proximal end of the inner needle where it is discharged by atomization into the atmosphere.
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Specification