Miniature pump device and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A miniature pump device, comprising:
- a) a fluid reservoir;
b) a motor, configured to electrically couple to a power source, and disposed adjacent the fluid reservoir;
c) a piston, disposed in the fluid reservoir, and configured to draw and expel fluid from the fluid reservoir;
d) a power transfer linkage, coupled between the piston and the motor, partially disposed in the fluid reservoir, and configured to transfer power from the motor to the piston; and
e) a flexible seal, coupled between the fluid reservoir and the power transfer linkage, configured to seal a portion of the power transfer linkage in the fluid reservoir and restrict fluid from escaping from fluid reservoir as the power transfer linkage moves during use.
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Abstract
A miniature pump device, with a fluid reservoir that can contain an intravenous drug, hydraulic fluid, or the like. The miniature pump has a motor disposed adjacent the fluid reservoir, and a piston disposed within the fluid reservoir. A power transfer linkage transfers power from the motor to the piston in the fluid reservoir, and a stationary flexible seal is coupled between the fluid reservoir and the power transfer linkage to seal a portion of the power transfer linkage within the fluid reservoir.
20 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A miniature pump device, comprising:
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a) a fluid reservoir; b) a motor, configured to electrically couple to a power source, and disposed adjacent the fluid reservoir; c) a piston, disposed in the fluid reservoir, and configured to draw and expel fluid from the fluid reservoir; d) a power transfer linkage, coupled between the piston and the motor, partially disposed in the fluid reservoir, and configured to transfer power from the motor to the piston; and e) a flexible seal, coupled between the fluid reservoir and the power transfer linkage, configured to seal a portion of the power transfer linkage in the fluid reservoir and restrict fluid from escaping from fluid reservoir as the power transfer linkage moves during use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A miniature pump device, comprising:
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a) a fluid reservoir; b) a motor, disposed adjacent the fluid reservoir and electrically couplable to the power source; c) a power transfer linkage, coupled to the motor and partially disposed in the fluid reservoir, configured to translate rotary power from the motor to linear power; d) a flexible seal, coupled between the fluid reservoir and the power transfer linkage, configured to seal a portion of the power transfer linkage in the fluid reservoir and restrict fluid from escaping from fluid reservoir as the power transfer linkage moves during use; and e) a piston, disposed in the fluid reservoir and operably coupled to the power transfer linkage to receive linear power from the power transfer linkage, the piston further comprising; i) a hollow cylinder, having a fluid chamber forming a fluid flow path between an inlet that is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and an outlet; ii) a rod, slidably disposed in the hollow cylinder between an open position and a closed position, the rod being sized and shaped to have a near interference fit with the hollow cylinder, and configured to turbulently draw fluid from the fluid reservoir into the fluid chamber of the cylinder through the inlet when the rod is in the open position, the turbulence of the fluid entering the chamber displacing any gaseous bubbles within the chamber, and to expel contents of the fluid chamber through the outlet by sliding the rod to the closed position; and iii) the rod and hollow cylinder together forming a piston, configured to expel gas bubbles from the fluid chamber of the hollow cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A miniature pump device, comprising:
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a) a fluid reservoir; b) a motor, electrically couplable to a power source, and disposed adjacent the fluid reservoir; c) a piston, disposed in the fluid reservoir, and configured to draw and expel fluid from the fluid reservoir; d) means for transferring power to provide power from the motor to the piston to draw and expel fluid from the fluid reservoir; and e) means for flexibly sealing a portion of the means for transferring power in the fluid reservoir to restrict fluid from escaping from the fluid reservoir as the means for transferring power moves during use. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for expelling gas bubbles from a miniature pump device, comprising:
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a) providing a miniature pump having a piston disposed in a fluid reservoir, the piston including a hollow cylinder and a rod slidably disposed in the hollow cylinder, the rod being sized and shaped to have a near interference fit with the hollow cylinder; b) sliding the rod in the hollow cylinder past an inlet to an open position to turbulently draw fluid from the fluid reservoir through the inlet and into a chamber within the hollow cylinder, the turbulence of the fluid entering the chamber displacing any gaseous bubbles within the chamber; and c) sliding the rod in the hollow cylinder to a closed position with the rod closing the inlet and pushing the contents of the chamber through an outlet of the hollow cylinder.
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Specification