PLUNGER PUMP FOR VOLUMES BELOW ONE MICROLITER, ALLOWING MANUAL INTERVENTION

• US 20130064693A1
• Filed: 04/12/2011
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MMI AG
• Original Assignee: MMI AG
• Inventors: Tschanz, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,366,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31578 based on axial translation, i.e. components directly operatively associated and axially moved with plunger rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31583 based on rotational translation, i.e. movement of piston rod is caused by relative rotation between the user activated actuator and the piston rod
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/006 Micropumps F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 9/02 the means being mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/06 Means for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion or vice versa

Abstract

An automated high-precision plunger pump for volumes of less than 1 microliter, which is used in the microscope-assisted micromanipulation of biological material, comprises a housing (1) and a pump head (8) that defines a working chamber (9) with a common or separate inlet and outlet opening (10), wherein the volume of the working chamber (9) can be altered by an axially movable plunger (7) that can be introduced into it. The plunger (7) is axially movable via a threaded spindle (5) or a spindle nut (6) arranged in threaded engagement on the threaded spindle (5), and the threaded spindle (5) and/or the spindle nut (6) can be rotationally driven and the respective other component is designed to be rotationally lockable.

Claims

1. An automated high-precision plunger pump for volumes of less than 1 microliter, comprising

a housing and a pump head, which defines a working chamber with a common or separate inlet and outlet opening, wherein the volume of the working chamber can be altered by a movable plunger that can be introduced axially into it,

wherein the plunger is axially movable by a threaded spindle or a spindle nut arranged in threaded engagement on the threaded spindle, and

the threaded spindle and/or the spindle nut is configured to be rotationally drivable and the the threaded spindle and/or the spindle nut is configured to be rotationally lockable with the aid of a clutch.

2. The plunger pump according to claim 1, wherein the plunger pump comprises a motor, which is in engagement with the spindle nut and/or the threaded spindle and is operatively connected to the rotationally locked threaded spindle and/or the rotationally locked spindle nut to drive the plunger.

3. The plunger pump according to claim 1, wherein the threaded spindle and/or the spindle nut are provided with an upstream gear mechanism.

4. The plunger pump according to claim 1, further comprising a coupling, wherein the coupling is a slip clutch.

5. The plunger pump according to claim 1, further comprising a coupling, wherein the coupling is manual or automated.

6. The plunger pump according to claim 1, wherein the spindle nut is mounted with respect to the housing or with respect to the plunger via a roller bearing, which is pretensioned free from play.

7. The plunger pump according to claim 1, wherein the plunger is co-rotatingly connected in a torsionally rigid manner to the threaded spindle.

8. The plunger pump according to claim 1, wherein the pump head is provided with one or more direction-oriented valves leading into the working chamber.

9. The plunger pump according to claim 1, further comprising one or more limit switches in the pump head, wherein the one or more limit switches specify the end positions of the plunger in the working chamber.