FLUID JET DEVICE

• US 20090043320A1
• Filed: 08/01/2008
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: SETO, Takeshi, TAKAYAMA, Kazuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,308,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3203 Fluid jet cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32037 for removing obstructions from inner organs or blood vessels, e.g. for atherectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00402 Piezo electric actuators

Abstract

A fluid jet device being provided with a fluid jet aperture section and producing a jet of fluid from the fluid jet aperture section includes: a pulsation generation section including a fluid chamber whose capacity can be changed, an inlet fluid path linked through the fluid chamber with a volume smaller than that of the fluid chamber, and an outlet fluid path linked through the fluid chamber and the fluid jet aperture section with an inertance set smaller than that of the inlet fluid path; and a pressure generation section that supplies the fluid to the inlet fluid path.

Claims

1. A fluid jet device being provided with a fluid jet aperture section, and producing a jet of fluid from the fluid jet aperture section, the device comprising:

a pulsation generation section including a fluid chamber whose capacity can be changed, an inlet fluid path linked through the fluid chamber with a volume smaller than that of the fluid chamber, and an outlet fluid path linked through the fluid chamber and the fluid jet aperture section with an inertance set smaller than that of the inlet fluid path; and

a pressure generation section that supplies the fluid to the inlet fluid path.

2. The fluid jet device according to claim 1, wherein

the outlet fluid path has a length equal to or smaller than an outer diameter of a cross-sectional surface of the pulsation generation section being orthogonal to the outlet fluid path.

3. The fluid jet device according to claim 1, wherein

the pulsation generation section includes a capacity change unit that changes the capacity of the fluid chamber, and

the capacity change unit includes a diaphragm that seals one surface of the fluid chamber, and a piezoelectric element that is affixed to the diaphragm for deformation thereof.

4. The fluid jet device according to claim 1, wherein

the pulsation generation section includes a capacity change unit that changes the capacity of the fluid chamber, and

the capacity change unit includes diaphragms that respectively seal two opposing surfaces of the fluid chamber, and a piezoelectric element affixed to each of the diaphragms.

5. The fluid jet device according to claim 1, wherein

at least either the inlet fluid path or the outlet fluid path is a fluid hole formed to a side-wall configuring member of the fluid chamber.

6. The fluid jet device according to claim 1, wherein

at least either the inlet fluid path or the outlet fluid path is configured by a groove formed to a side-wall configuring member of the fluid chamber and a diaphragm.

7. The fluid jet device according to claim 1, wherein

at least either the inlet fluid path or the outlet fluid path is configured by a groove formed to a joint surface of two side-wall configuring members connected together on a surface substantially parallel to a diaphragm.

8. The fluid jet device according to claim 1, further comprising

a cover member that covers the pulsation generation section.

9. The fluid jet device according to claim 1, wherein

the pulsation generation section is fixed to a tip end of a flexible tube.

10. The fluid jet device according to claim 1, wherein

the pulsation generation section is fixed to a tip end of a rigid pipe having a diameter substantially the same as or equal to or smaller than that of the pulsation generation section.