Solid state fluid delivery system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for the rapid and repeatable delivery of small quantities of a fluid to an intended target, comprising:
- A. at least one first housing having walls defining a dispensing chamber for said fluid, and at least one nozzle element defined in one of said walls for the discharge of said fluid; and
B. at least one second housing communicating with said first housing, said second housing comprising pump means comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements disposed in a stacked arrangement adjacent one another, each of said piezoelectric elements having at least one opening therein, said openings being journaled within each of said piezoelectric elements in axial alignment as between adjacent said piezoelectric elements, said axially aligned stacked piezoelectric elements being pliably sealed to one another whereby to define a non-porous chamber for receiving and holding a predetermined volume of said fluid, said plurality of piezoelectric elements being adapted for sequential excitation to simulate a peristaltic motion whereby to receive a predetermined volume of said fluid from said dispensing chamber, and thereafter to eject the same through said at least one nozzle element toward said target; and
actuation means for exciting said pump means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed that utilize piezoelectric materials as part of a delivery system capable of the rapidly repetitive dispensing of a fluid to an intended target site. In a particular embodiment, the apparatus contemplates a needleless injection system which comprises a second housing structure, a plurality of piezoelectric elements which are stacked in a layered fashion within the second housing structure, electronic circuitry disposed proximate the second housing structure and hence the layered stack of piezoelectric elements, and a first housing structure containing a fluid reservoir operatively connected to the second housing structure so as to allow fluid contained with the fluid reservoir to communicate with the layered stack of piezoelectric elements. The layered stack of piezoelectric elements has at least one common aperture formed therein which extends therethrough.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for the rapid and repeatable delivery of small quantities of a fluid to an intended target, comprising:
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A. at least one first housing having walls defining a dispensing chamber for said fluid, and at least one nozzle element defined in one of said walls for the discharge of said fluid; and B. at least one second housing communicating with said first housing, said second housing comprising pump means comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements disposed in a stacked arrangement adjacent one another, each of said piezoelectric elements having at least one opening therein, said openings being journaled within each of said piezoelectric elements in axial alignment as between adjacent said piezoelectric elements, said axially aligned stacked piezoelectric elements being pliably sealed to one another whereby to define a non-porous chamber for receiving and holding a predetermined volume of said fluid, said plurality of piezoelectric elements being adapted for sequential excitation to simulate a peristaltic motion whereby to receive a predetermined volume of said fluid from said dispensing chamber, and thereafter to eject the same through said at least one nozzle element toward said target; and
actuation means for exciting said pump means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A needleless injection system that utilizes layered piezoelectric materials to forcibly introducing fluid medication through the skin of a patient, said system comprising:
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a second housing having a first opening and a second opening formed the therein, a plurality of piezoelectric elements, said plurality of piezoelectric elements being stacked in a layered fashion and pliably sealed to one another within said second housing between said first opening and said second opening, each of said plurality of piezoelectric elements having an aperture formed therein, each said aperture being aligned so as to form a common aperture extending through said layered stack of piezoelectric elements from said first opening to said second opening whereby to define a chamber for receiving and holding a predetermined volume of said fluid; a first housing comprising a fluid reservoir, said fluid reservoir being operatively connected to said first opening of said second housing so as to allow fluid medication contained within said fluid reservoir to communicate with said layered stack of piezoelectric elements; and electronic circuitry, said electronic circuitry being electrically connected to said layered stack of piezoelectric elements so as to allow each of said plurality of piezoelectric elements to be individually excited and the size of each of said aperture to be individually controlled, thereby allowing said layered stack of piezoelectric elements to be utilized as a pump wherein fluid medication from said fluid reservoir may be forced into and out from each said aperture and ultimately be forcibly introduced through the skin of a patient. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A needleless injection method that utilizes layered piezoelectric materials to forcibly introduce fluid medication through the skin of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a second housing, having a first opening and a second opening formed therein; stacking a plurality of piezoelectric elements in a layered fashion within said second housing between said first opening and said second opening, each of said plurality of piezoelectric elements being pliably sealed to one another, and each having an aperture formed therein, each said aperture being aligned so as to form a chamber for receiving and holding a predetermined volume of said fluid, extending through said layered stack of piezoelectric elements from said first opening to said second opening; operatively connecting a first housing containing a fluid reservoir to said first opening of said second housing so as to allow fluid medication contained within said fluid reservoir to communicate with said layered stack of piezoelectric elements; and individually exciting each of said plurality of piezoelectric elements so as to allow the size of each said aperture to be individually controlled, thereby allowing said layered stack of piezoelectric elements to be utilized as a pump wherein fluid medication from said fluid reservoir may be forced into and out from each said aperture and ultimately be forcibly introduced through the skin of a patient.
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Specification