Handheld sprayer with removable cartridge and method of using same

• US 20080083845A1
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Efield Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Inventors: Graham, Brian, Trees, Gregory, Zambanini, Joseph E., Harpham, R. Reade, Lind, James J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,673,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/696
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/1691 Apparatus to be carried on or by a person or with a container fixed to the discharge device
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0838 supply being effected by follower in container, e.g. membrane or floating piston, or by deformation of container

Abstract

A cartridge for a handheld electrohydrodynamic (EHD) spraying device and a spraying device incorporating the cartridge. The cartridge is disposable, and can contain therapeutic products. The device includes a wetted lead screw with a compliant seal, where the placement of the seal relative to the screw inhibits leakage during both cartridge use and storage. A frame disposed within the cartridge acts as a load-transferring mechanism for the weight of the cartridge to a handle of the spraying device.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing cartridge for use with an electrohydrodynamic spray device, said cartridge comprising:

a body defining a substantially closed fluid chamber therein, said fluid chamber comprising a proximal end and a distal end substantially opposite said proximal end;

a lead screw disposed within said fluid chamber and extending substantially between said proximal and distal ends;

a piston defining a bore therein such that said piston is threadably cooperative with said lead screw such that upon rotation of said lead screw, said piston advances from one end to the other end to force at least a portion of a fluid disposed in said fluid chamber out a discharge aperture;

a seal disposed in said bore and threadably cooperative with said lead screw to inhibit fluid leakage between said lead screw and said seal; and

an outlet in fluid communication with said fluid chamber.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said seal comprises a material that is softer than the material of either said lead screw or said piston.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a frame configured to provide axial and radial support to said lead screw.

4. The cartridge of claim 3, wherein said frame is connected to said fluid chamber such that same frame inhibits movement of said lead screw toward said proximal end of said cartridge.

5. The cartridge of claim 4, wherein said frame comprises a hub-and-spoke construction.

6. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a closure device configured to selectively keep a liquid disposed within said cartridge from exiting through said distal end.

7. The cartridge of claim 6, wherein said closure device comprises a septum disposed at said distal end.

8. The cartridge of claim 6, further comprising a cap disposed at said distal end.

9. The cartridge of claim 8, wherein said cap comprises a stop-cock valve to allow selective closure of said cartridge.

10. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein said closure device further comprises a needle with a fluid conduit disposed therein and in fluid communication with said outlet such that upon engagement of said needle with said septum, said needle forms said aperture in said distal end of said cartridge.

11. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said seal is shaped to match the threads in said lead screw.

12. The cartridge of claim 11, wherein said matched seal shape comprises a plurality of unified screw threads.

13. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said outlet comprises a manifold comprising a plurality of nozzles disposed therein, at least one of manifold and said plurality of nozzles configured to be electrically conductive such that when placed in electrical communication with a supply of electricity and said fluid is dispensed through said plurality of nozzles, said fluid becomes comminuted.

14. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein a distal end of said lead screw is cantilevered.

15. An electrohydrodynamic spray device comprising:

a fluid dispensing cartridge comprising;

a body defining a substantially closed fluid chamber therein, said fluid chamber configured to contain a fluid therein, said fluid chamber comprising a proximal end and a distal end substantially opposite said proximal end;

a lead screw disposed within said fluid chamber;

a piston threadably cooperative with said lead screw such that upon rotation of said lead screw, said piston advances toward said distal end to force at least a portion of said fluid out of said cartridge; and

a seal disposed in said bore and threadably cooperative with said lead screw such that upon said advancing of said piston, said seal inhibits fluid leakage along said lead screw;

a handle comprising a rotational power source and a high voltage electrical source therein, said handle configured to attachably receive said cartridge;

a spray manifold in fluid communication with said cartridge; and

a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with said spray manifold, at least one of said manifold and said plurality of nozzles in electrical communication with said high voltage electrical source such that upon application of a voltage to said at least one of said manifold and said plurality of nozzles, at least a portion of said fluid being discharged from said plurality of nozzles is comminuted.

16. The spray device of claim 15, wherein said handle comprises a grip at least a portion thereof made from a material selected from the group consisting of metal, electrically conductive plastic, electrically conductive polymer, electrically conductive rubber, and combinations thereof.

17. The spray device of claim 16, wherein said at least a portion of said grip comprises a trigger.

18. The spray device of claim 15, wherein a longitudinal dimension of said handle and a longitudinal dimension of said cartridge are substantially aligned along a common longitudinal axis.

19. The spray device of claim 15, wherein a longitudinal dimension of said handle and a longitudinal dimension of said cartridge are angularly disposed relative to one another.

20. The spray device of claim 19, wherein an angle formed between said longitudinal dimensions is up to thirty degrees.

21. The spray device of claim 15, wherein said cartridge is rotatably positionable about its longitudinal axis.

22. The spray device of claim 21, wherein said cartridge is rotatably positionable up to ninety degrees from a neutral position.

23. The spray device of claim 21, wherein said cartridge is rotatably positionable up to forty five degrees from a neutral position.

24. The spray device of claim 21, wherein said cartridge is rotatably positionable up to fifteen degrees from a neutral position.

25. The spray device of claim 15, further comprising a frame configured to provide axial and radial support to said lead screw.

26. The spray device of claim 25, wherein said frame is resiliently connected to said fluid chamber such that same frame inhibits movement of said lead screw along at least one direction of a longitudinal dimension of said cartridge.

27. The spray device of claim 26, wherein said frame comprises a hub-and-spoke construction.

28. The spray device of claim 27, wherein an interface defined between said cartridge and said handle comprises a load-bearing surface disposed on said handle that cooperates with a complementary surface on said frame such that at least a portion of an operational force associated with operation of said piston and said lead screw is carried by said load-bearing surface.

29. The spray device of claim 15, wherein a driver situated in said handle and a proximal end of said lead screw comprise a complementary fit therebetween such that an engagement between them is self-adjusting.

30. The spray device of claim 29, wherein a driver comprises a female fitting with a plurality of teeth disposed about a substantial inner periphery thereof, and wherein said proximal end of said lead screw comprises a complementary male projection extending therefrom.

31. A method of spraying a fluid, said method comprising:

disposing a fluid within a cartridge, said cartridge comprising;

a body defining a fluid chamber comprising a proximal end and a distal end substantially opposite said proximal end;

a lead screw disposed within said fluid chamber;

a piston threadably cooperative with said lead screw; and

a seal disposed on said piston and threadably cooperative with said lead screw such that upon said advancing of said piston, said seal inhibits fluid leakage through the region defined by the threadable cooperation between said lead screw and said seal;

connecting said cartridge to a spray device such that a power source therein is engaged with said lead screw; and

rotationally moving said lead screw to advance said piston, thereby dispensing at least a portion of said fluid.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said spray device comprises:

a spray manifold in fluid communication with said discharge aperture;

a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with said spray manifold; and

an electric power source configured to operate said rotational power source; and

a voltage source in electrical communication with at least one of said spray manifold and said plurality of nozzles such that upon said dispensing of said fluid, said voltage source imparts a charge to said fluid flowing through said plurality of nozzles comminute at least a portion of said dispensed fluid.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said rotationally moving said lead screw to dispense said fluid comprises actuating a control on said spray device such that said control energizes said rotational power source with said electric power source.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising rotatably adjusting alignment of said cartridge relative to said spray device.

35. A spray device comprising:

a handle defining a grip thereon, said handle comprising;

an electric power supply;

a motor coupled to said electric power supply and responsive thereto;

a control member configured to electrically connect said electric power supply and said motor; and

a driver rotationally coupled to said motor; and

a fluid dispensing cartridge supported by said handle through a cantilevered connection therebetween, said cartridge comprising;

a body defining a fluid chamber therein;

a plunger disposed in said fluid chamber and responsive to said driver such that rotation thereof forces movement of said plunger to effect dispensing of a fluid disposed in said fluid chamber, said plunger connected to said handle at an interface defined by said driver; and

a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with said fluid chamber such that upon movement of said plunger therein, at least a portion of said fluid is discharged from said fluid chamber through said plurality of nozzles in a spray pattern substantially defined by said plurality of nozzles.

36. The spray device of claim 35, further comprising:

a voltage multiplier circuit coupled to said electric power supply; and

a connection to establish electrical communication between said voltage multiplier circuit and said plurality of nozzles such that upon operation of said spray device, a charge field is set up that is sufficient to comminute said fluid being dispensed from said plurality of nozzles.

37. The spray device of claim 36, wherein said cartridge comprises a frame configured to facilitate said cantilevered connection between said cartridge and said handle.

38. The spray device of claim 37, wherein said frame defines a mounting surface thereon that complementarily engages a surface on said handle such that substantially all of the weight associated with said cartridge is carried through a connection formed by said engagement of said surfaces.

39. The spray device of claim 35, wherein said driver comprises a female fitting with a plurality of teeth disposed about a substantial inner periphery thereof, and wherein said plunger comprises a complementary male projection extending therefrom.

40. The spray device of claim 35, wherein said cartridge defines a substantially longitudinal axis and said spray pattern is in a direction substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis of said cartridge.