In-line actuator for electromagnetic operation

• US 20050275494A1
• Filed: 05/24/2005
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Gharib, Morteza, Barbic, Mladen, Rinderknecht, Derek
• Granted Patent: US 8,197,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 335/220
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0244 Micromachined materials, e.g. made from silicon wafers, microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] or comprising nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/006 Micropumps F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/043 Micropumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/12 having peristaltic action
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/16 with polarised armatures moving in alternate directions by reversal or energisation of a single coil system
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 41/031 of the permanent magnet type
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/14 Structural association with mechanical loads, e.g. with hand-held machine tools or fans with fan or impeller for cooling the machine H02K9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 99/20 Motors

Abstract

An electromagnetic actuator for a microfluidic pump of the type that causes periodic pinching and releasing against the walls of a fluidic channel, e.g., a tube. At least one permanent magnet is placed against the walls of the fluidic channel, and located in an area with magnetic fields, produced by coils that are radially symmetric to the channel. The permanent magnet is cause to press and release against the wall of the fluid channel to cause a fluid flow through the channel.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic actuator, comprising:

a wall defining a fluidic channel;

at least one coil, which is cylindrically symmetric to the fluidic channel; and

an effected part, located in contact with said wall, and located in an area within a magnetic field of said coils to be moved by said magnetic field in an area of said fluidic channel.

2. An actuator as in claim 1, wherein said coil includes a first coil part on the first side of the effected part, and a second coil part on a second side of the effected part, both said first and second coil parts being cylindrically symmetric to the fluidic channel.

3. An actuator as in claim 2, further comprising an electrical connection between said first and second coil parts.

4. An actuator as in claim 1, further comprising a connection to a source of power that drives said at least one coil.

5. An actuator as in claim 4, wherein said source of power drives said at least one coil with an alternating current, and further comprises a device which adjusts at least one parameter of said alternating current.

6. An actuator as in claim 5, wherein said at least one parameter is a frequency of said alternating current.

7. An actuator as in claim 1, wherein said effected part is a permanent magnet is located embedded within said wall.

8. An actuator as in claim 1, wherein at least part of said coil is located embedded within said wall.

9. And actuator as in claim 1, wherein at least part of said coil is located embedded within said wall.

10. An actuator as in claim 1, wherein said fluidic channel is a channel with a first fluidic characteristic, further comprising a second channel with a second fluidic characteristic, coupled to said first fluidic channel, forming a pumping mechanism.

11. An actuator as in claim 1, wherein said effected part is a permanent magnet that is cylindrically symmetric to the fluidic channel.

12. A method, comprising:

forming an magnetic field along an axis defined by a fluidic channel with lines of force that extend along said the axis; and

using said magnetic field to move a magnetic field effected part that is in contact with said fluidic channel.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein said forming a magnetic field comprises using the first and second coil parts that extend along said axis, where the effected part is between said first and second coil parts.

14. A method as in claim 12, wherein said forming the magnetic field comprises embedding magnetic field coils into walls of the fluidic channel.

15. A method as in claim 12, wherein said using said magnetic field comprising embedding at least one permanent magnet into walls that define the fluidic channel.

16. A method as in claim 14, wherein said using the magnetic field comprises embedding at least one permanent magnet into walls that define the fluidic channel.

17. A method as in claim 13, wherein said forming a magnetic field comprises using coil parts that are cylindrically symmetrical to the fluidic channel.

18. A method as in claim 13, further comprising electrically connecting said first and second coil parts.

19. A method as in claim 13, further comprising driving the first and second coil parts in phase with one another.

20. A method as in claim 12, further comprising using the movement of the permanent magnet to pump a fluid.

21. A pumping system, comprising:

a first fluidic channel having first properties;

a second fluidic channel, coupled to the first fluidic channel, and having second properties different than the first properties; and

an actuator, on said first fluidic channel, having coil parts which are radially symmetric to the first fluidic channel, and having a magnetic effected part formed within an area of a magnetic field of said coil parts, said magnetic effected part operating to compress the first fluidic channel to thereby cause fluid in the first fluidic channel to be pumped relative to the second fluidic channel.

22. A pumping system as in claim 21, wherein said coil parts are embedded within a wall of the first fluidic channel.

23. A pumping system as in claim 21, wherein said magnetic effected part is embedded within a wall of the first fluidic channel.

24. A pumping system as in claim 23, wherein said magnetic effected part is a permanent magnet.