Micro paddle wheel pump for precise pumping, mixing, dispensing, and valving of blood and reagents

• US 6,607,362 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Lum, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Freay, Charles G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, William H.
• Application Number:
  US09/976,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20030072647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 417/53, 417/423.1, 417/423.7, 417/423.14, 417/410.3, 604/151
• US Class Current: 417/53
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/112 with arms, paddles, vanes or blades
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/452 using independent floating stirring elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0475 specific mechanical means and fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/04 Adaptations for use in dentistry for driving tools or the like having relatively small outer diameter, e.g. pipe cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/0666 the motor being of the plane gap type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/10 Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working

Abstract

An apparatus and method for making a microscopic paddle wheel coupled inductively by an external electromagnet and used for valving and active pumping so that the actual pumping mechanism is completely isolated from the electromagnetic driver. The paddle wheel is inexpensive to manufacture and disposable. A cartridge having a network of conduits and reservoirs contains several of such paddle wheels to transport blood and reagents. A point-of-care device houses the electromagnetic driving mechanism and is reused with successive cartridges since the paddle wheels are contained by the cartridge and do not contaminate the driving mechanism.

Claims

1. A micro pumping device for transporting small volumes of biological fluid comprising:

a paddle wheel, said paddle wheel comprising a magnetic core and a hydrophobic surface, said magnetic core being rotatable by alternating inductive magnetic fields; and

a conduit, said conduit comprising a hydrophilic interior surface and a paddle wheel chamber having similar dimensions to said paddle wheel, said chamber housing said paddle wheel and allowing said paddle wheel to rotate freely.

2. A micro pumping device according to claim 1 wherein:

said paddle wheel pumps a predetermined volume with each rotation.

3. A micro pumping device according to claim 1 wherein:

said interior surface is hydrophilic as a result of at least one of the following;

corona surface treatment or plasma surface treatment.

4. A micro pumping device according to claim 1 wherein:

said hydrophobic surface of said paddle wheel comprises a hydrophobic polymer.

5. A process for making a micro pumping device according to claim 1 comprising:

molding said conduit to comprise a paddle wheel chamber,

molding said paddle wheel, such that said magnetic core is embedded within said paddle wheel; and

positioning said paddle wheel in said paddle wheel chamber.

6. A process of making a micro pumping device according to claim 5 further comprising:

placing a hydrophobic member within said conduit to facilitate the assembly of said paddle wheel within said conduit and reduce overhead flow.

7. A method for micro pumping using a device according to claim 1 comprising:

rotating said paddle wheel by rotating said magnetic core; and

transferring said biological fluid by rotating said paddle wheel.

8. A method for micro pumping according to claim 7 further comprising:

stopping said biological fluid from flowing by stopping the rotation of said paddle wheel.

9. A method for micro pumping according to claim 7 further comprising:

mixing components of said biological fluid contained in said conduit.

10. A method for micro pumping a predetermined volume of biological fluid according to claim 7 further comprising:

measuring said biological fluid transferred by said paddle wheel; and

stopping said paddle wheel rotation when said predetermined volume of biological fluid has been transferred.

11. A micro pumping device for transporting small volumes of biological fluid comprising:

a conduit, said conduit having a width W;

a paddle wheel, said paddle wheel having a diameter D, such that D>

W, and positioned in said conduit such that a portion of the paddle wheel is positioned in a paddle wheel chamber recessed in said conduit.

12. A micro pumping device according to claim 11 wherein:

said paddle wheel comprising at least two paddles, wherein said paddles define a predetermined volume between the paddles.

13. A micro pumping device according to claim 11 wherein:

said conduit comprising of an interior surface, wherein said surface is hydrophilic.

14. A micro pumping device according to claim 11 wherein:

said paddle wheel comprises of an exterior surface, wherein said surface is hydrophobic.

15. A process for making a micro pumping device according to claim 11 comprising:

molding said conduit to include a paddle wheel chamber,

molding said paddle wheel such that a magnetic core is embedded within said paddle wheel; and

positioning said paddle wheel in said paddle wheel chamber.

16. A method for micro pumping using a device according to claim 11 comprising:

rotating said paddle wheel; and

transferring said biological fluid by such rotation.

17. A method for micro pumping according to claim 16 further comprising:

stopping said biological fluid from flowing by stopping the rotation of said paddle wheel.

18. A method for micro-pumping according to claim 16 further comprising:

mixing components of said biological fluid.

19. A method for micro-pumping according to claim 16 further comprising:

measuring said biological fluid transferred by said paddle wheel; and

stopping said paddle wheel rotation when a predetermined volume of biological fluid has been transferred.