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:
- 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
at least one second housing communicating with said first housing, said second housing comprising pump means comprising at least one piezoelectric element in fluid communication with said first housing for forcing a predetermined quantity of said fluid out of said dispensing chamber and through said at least one nozzle element, said second housing being detachable from said first housing, and actuation means for exciting said pump means to force said fluid out of said dispensing chamber.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
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 appartus contemplates a solid state needleless injection system which comprises a first housing structure having a dispensing chamber of variable volume capacity and at least one nozzle element for fluid discharge, and a fluid reservoir operatively connected to the first housing structure, and a second housing structure containing at least one piezoelectric actuator. A valve means is disposed between the fluid reservoir and the dispensing chamber to control the flow of said fluid therebetween. The fluid which may be a medication, is forced out of the dispensing chamber through an injection port upon actuation of the piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectric actuator interacts with the dispensing chamber in such a manner that the overall capacity of the dispensing chamber may be altered by altering the degree of actuation of the piezoelectric actuator.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for the rapid and repeatable delivery of small quantities of a fluid to an intended target, comprising:
-
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 at least one second housing communicating with said first housing, said second housing comprising pump means comprising at least one piezoelectric element in fluid communication with said first housing for forcing a predetermined quantity of said fluid out of said dispensing chamber and through said at least one nozzle element, said second housing being detachable from said first housing, and actuation means for exciting said pump means to force said fluid out of said dispensing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A solid state needleless injection system that utilizes piezoelectric materials to forcibly introduce fluid medication through the skin of a patient, said system comprising:
-
a first housing having at least one wall and defining a dispensing chamber of variable volume formed therein, said dispensing chamber having an output port and an opening formed therein; and a second housing located in communication with said first housing, said second housing having at least one wall and defining a first piezoelectric actuator, said first piezoelectric actuator being disposed in fluid communication with a wall of said first housing proximate said dispensing chamber, and being excitable so as to provide a driving force against said wall to thereby force fluid from within said dispensing chamber through said output port. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A solid state needleless injection method that utilizes piezoelectric materials to forcibly introduce fluid medication into the skin of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a first housing, said having a dispensing chamber formed therein, said dispensing chamber having an output port and an opening formed therein; positioning a first piezoelectric actuator in fluid communication with said first housing and proximate a wall of said first housing; and exciting said first piezoelectric actuator so as to provide a driving force against said wall and thereby force fluid medication from within said dispensing chamber through said output port. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
-
Specification