Precision fluid dispensing system
First Claim
1. A precision fluid dispensing system comprising:
- a two-piece pump having a two or more diameter piston disposed in an outer cylinder, said outer cylinder having a same number of diameters as said piston, said pump also having a plurality of input and output ports attached to said outer cylinder and defined by said piston and said cylinder;
a fixed frame attached to said outer cylinder, said fixed frame rigidly holding said outer cylinder;
a sliding frame attached to said piston, said sliding frame moving in relation to said fixed frame, said sliding frame displacing said piston by said movement;
a first motor attached to said sliding frame, said first motor coupled to said piston causing said piston to rotate between a plurality of port positions;
a second motor attached to said fixed frame, said second motor causing said sliding frame to move in relation to said fixed frame, whereby said sliding frame displaces said piston;
a closed loop feedback control system with an input and an output, said input proportional to said piston'"'"'s position, said output controlling said second motor, whereby said closed loop feedback control system allows displacement of said piston to precisely dispense a predetermined amount of fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A precision fluid dispensing system containing at least one two-piece pump and a precision closed loop controller drive system to address the small volume precision dispensing requirements of bioscience applications. A multiple diameter pump can be combined with a pump having multiple inlet and outlet ports to allow for precision multiple outlet dispenses in a single pump that finds use with microtiter plate pipetting and other precision dispensing. Inlet ports can be located on the smaller diameter of the cylinder with outlet ports on the larger diameter of the cylinder. A micro-controller with closed loop feedback provides exact linear positioning and motion of the pump piston as well as optional control of a nozzle to provide exact micro-dispensing of fluids.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A precision fluid dispensing system comprising:
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a two-piece pump having a two or more diameter piston disposed in an outer cylinder, said outer cylinder having a same number of diameters as said piston, said pump also having a plurality of input and output ports attached to said outer cylinder and defined by said piston and said cylinder;
a fixed frame attached to said outer cylinder, said fixed frame rigidly holding said outer cylinder;
a sliding frame attached to said piston, said sliding frame moving in relation to said fixed frame, said sliding frame displacing said piston by said movement;
a first motor attached to said sliding frame, said first motor coupled to said piston causing said piston to rotate between a plurality of port positions;
a second motor attached to said fixed frame, said second motor causing said sliding frame to move in relation to said fixed frame, whereby said sliding frame displaces said piston;
a closed loop feedback control system with an input and an output, said input proportional to said piston'"'"'s position, said output controlling said second motor, whereby said closed loop feedback control system allows displacement of said piston to precisely dispense a predetermined amount of fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of dispensing a predetermined amount of fluid comprising the steps of:
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specifying to a closed loop feedback control system a desired amount of fluid to dispense, said closed loop feedback control system coupled to a sliding piston in a two piece pump, said piston rotating between a plurality of inlet and outlet port positions and moving linearly out and in to load and dispense fluid, said closed loop feedback system sensing said piston'"'"'s linear position and controlling said displacement;
causing said piston to rotate to a predetermined inlet port position;
causing said piston to move linearly out thereby loading fluid;
causing said piston to rotate to a predetermined outlet port position;
causing said piston to move linearly in under direct control of said closed loop feedback system thereby dispensing a precise amount of said fluid. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system of the type used in biological sciences to dispense precision micro-quantities of fluids, the system comprising, in combination:
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a two piece pump means with an outer cylinder containing a plurality of ports with ports and a rotating and sliding inner piston for dispensing fluids;
a processor means for providing closed loop feedback control to said piston, said piston rotatable between port positions and displacable linearly, said processor means controlling a rotational and displacement position of said piston;
linear displacement measurement means for determining the displacement of said piston, said displacement being communicated to said processor means;
motor drive means for causing a linear displacement of said piston, said motor drive means being controlled by said processor means to precisely dispense a predetermined amount of fluid. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification