Ultrasonically actuated needle pump system
First Claim
1. An ultrasonically actuated pump comprising:
- (a) an outer needle having a distal end and a hollow bore;
(b) an inner needle having a hollow bore mounted within the bore of the outer needle and having a distal end positioned adjacent to and spaced inwardly from the distal end of the outer needle and a proximal end; and
(c) an ultrasonic actuator, coupled to the inner needle to selectively apply ultrasonic vibrations thereto without vibrating the outer needle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonically driven pump, which may be used for sampling body fluids or atomizing liquids, has a stationary outer needle and an inner needle mounted within the bore of the outer needle. The distal end of the inner needle is positioned adjacent to the distal end of the outer needle. The inner needle is ultrasonically vibrated by an ultrasonic actuator without vibrating the outer needle, with resulting draw of liquid through the distal end of the outer needle into the bore of the inner needle for discharge through the proximal end of the inner needle. The outer needle can be formed to have a penetrating tip suited for penetrating the skin of a subject to allow sampling of body fluids including interstitial fluids. The pump can also be used for atomizing liquid, by drawing liquid from a supply that is pumped from the distal end to an open proximal end of the inner needle where the liquid is discharged by atomization into the atmosphere.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ultrasonically actuated pump comprising:
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(a) an outer needle having a distal end and a hollow bore;
(b) an inner needle having a hollow bore mounted within the bore of the outer needle and having a distal end positioned adjacent to and spaced inwardly from the distal end of the outer needle and a proximal end; and
(c) an ultrasonic actuator, coupled to the inner needle to selectively apply ultrasonic vibrations thereto without vibrating the outer needle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11)
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7. An ultrasonically actuated pump comprising:
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(a) an outer needle having a distal end and a hollow bore, wherein the outer needle comprises a penetrating tip;
(b) an inner needle having a hollow bore mounted within the bore of the outer needle and having a distal end positioned adjacent to the distal end of the outer needle and a proximal end;
(c) an ultrasonic actuator, coupled to the inner needle to selectively apply ultrasonic vibrations thereto without vibrating the outer needle; and
(d) a silicon base to which the outer needle is fixed, and a silicon horn formed to concentrate ultrasonic energy at a tip of the horn, wherein the inner needle is bonded to the silicon horn to vibrate therewith, and wherein the ultrasonic actuator is bonded to the silicon horn, such that actuation of the ultrasonic actuator drives vibrations in the silicon horn which are transmitted to the inner needle bonded thereto.
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8. An ultrasonically actuated pump comprising:
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(a) an outer needle having a distal end and a hollow bore, wherein the outer needle comprises a penetrating tip;
(b) an inner needle having a hollow bore mounted within the bore of the outer needle and having a distal end positioned adjacent to the distal end of the outer needle and a proximal end;
(c) an ultrasonic actuator, coupled to the inner needle to selectively apply ultrasonic vibrations thereto without vibrating the outer needle; and
(d) a silicon base to which the outer needle is fixed, and a silicon horn formed to concentrate ultrasonic energy at a tip of the horn, wherein the inner needle is bonded to the silicon horn to vibrate therewith, and wherein the ultrasonic actuator is bonded to the silicon horn, such that actuation of the ultrasonic actuator drives vibrations in the silicon horn which are transmitted to the inner needle bonded thereto;
wherein the silicon base and the silicon horn are formed from a unitary piece of crystalline silicon and are joined together by connectors extending between the base and the silicon horn at a node of vibration in the silicon horn so that vibrations of the horn are not substantially transmitted to the base.
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12. An ultrasonically actuated pump comprising:
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(a) a plurality of parallel outer needles mounted together to a mounting plate, each outer needle having a hollow bore and a distal end at a position spaced away from the mounting plate;
(b) a plurality of inner needles, each inner needle mounted within the bore of an outer needle and free to vibrate with respect to the outer needle, each inner needle having a hollow bore, a proximal end, and a distal end positioned adjacent to the distal end of the outer needle in which it is mounted;
(c) an ultrasonic actuator coupled to the inner needles to selectively vibrate the inner needles at ultrasonic frequencies without vibrating the outer needles. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification