Vacuum device for substance extraction

• US 6,792,982 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spectro Incorporated (Spectro Scientific, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Spectro Incorporated (Spectro Scientific, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kumar, Krishna, Samuels, Mark A., Lincoln, Danny F.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US10/470,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20040069367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 141/65, 141/67, 141/98, 141/114, 141/192, 141/195, 141/329, 141/330
• US Class Current: 141/65
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/00 Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/0009 Special features
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/043 Micropumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/047 Pumps having electric drive

Abstract

A vacuum device and method for extraction of a substance from a fluid source, the vacuum device including an upper member that may be selectively, and operably, connected to a lower member. The upper member defines a bottom opening, and has a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the bottom opening. The vacuum pump is selectively coupled to an energy source. The lower member defines an inner cavity, a first opening, and a second opening, the inner cavity in communication with the first opening and the second opening. An elastic membrane defining an interior cavity is disposed in the inner cavity and is coupled to the first opening of the lower member. In use, the second opening of the lower member in placed in selective fluid communication with the fluid source, and the lower member is selectively coupled to the upper member such that the vacuum pump is electrically coupled to the energy source and the bottom opening of the upper member is in sealed contact with the first opening of the lower member so that the vacuum pump is in fluid communication with the interior cavity defined by the elastic membrane.

Claims

1. A vacuum device for extraction of a substance, comprising:

an upper member having a bottom surface, the bottom surface defining a bottom opening;

a vacuum pump therein the upper member, the vacuum pump in fluid communication with the bottom opening;

an energy source selectively coupled to the vacuum pump;

a lower member selectively coupled to the upper member, the lower member having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and defining an inner cavity having an inner surface, wherein the first surface defines a first opening and the second surface defines a second opening, the second opening of the lower member in selective fluid communication with the fluid source, and wherein the inner cavity is in fluid communication with the first opening and the second opening; and

an elastic membrane disposed therein the inner cavity and coupled to the first opening of the lower member, the membrane having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the membrane forming a generally pouch shape defining an interior cavity that is in communication with the first opening of the lower member, wherein at least a portion of the exterior surface of the membrane is in contact with a portion of the inner surface of the inner cavity of the lower member, and wherein, in use, the lower member is selectively coupled to the upper member such that the energy source is electrically coupled to the vacuum pump and the bottom opening of the upper member is in sealed contact with the first opening of the lower member so that the vacuum pump is in fluid communication with the interior cavity of the elastic membrane.

2. The vacuum device of claim 1, wherein the upper member has a male engaging element depending from a circumferential edge of the upper member, and wherein the lower member has a circumferentially extending female engaging element, the male engaging element and the female engaging element complementarily sized for a complementary interference fit when the upper and lower members are selectively connected together.

3. The vacuum device of claim 1, wherein the second surface of the lower member is mountable on a biological membrane so that the second opening of the lower member is positioned proximate the biological membrane for withdrawl of the substance from the biological membrane.

4. The vacuum device of claim 1, wherein the energy source is disposed therein the lower member.

5. The vacuum device of claim 1, wherein the membrane is movable from a first relaxed position, in which the exterior surface of the membrane is in contact with the inner surface of the inner cavity of the lower member proximate the second opening of the lower member, to a second operative position, in which portions of the membrane proximate the second opening are drawn away from the inner surface of the inner cavity and toward the first opening of the lower member so that a fluid cavity, in communication with the second opening of the lower member, is defined by the exterior surface of the portions of the membrane proximate the second opening and the portions of the inner surface of the inner cavity of the lower member extending from the second opening to the contact of the exterior surface of the membrane with the inner surface of the inner cavity, wherein the membrane moves from the first relaxed position to the second operative position upon application of vacuum to the interior cavity due to the actuation of the vacuum pump so that vacuum is applied to the second opening of the lower member.

6. The vacuum device of claim 1, further comprising a rupturable membrane disposed thereon the first surface of the lower member in overlying registration with the first opening of the lower member.

7. The vacuum device of claim 6, further comprising a gas sealed therein the interior cavity of the membrane by the rupturable membrane.

8. The vacuum device of claim 7, wherein the bottom surface of the upper member has a male port depending from the bottom surface, the male port defining the bottom opening of the upper member, wherein the first opening of the lower member has a female shape complementary to the male port of the upper member.

9. The vacuum device of claim 8, further comprising a pliable gasket in contact with a portion of the bottom surface of the upper member proximate the male port.

10. The vacuum device of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the upper member defines a pressure opening, wherein the first surface of the lower member defines a third opening, and wherein the inner surface of the lower member defines a port, proximate the second opening of the lower member, in communication with the inner cavity of the lower member, further comprising:

a pressure pump disposed therein the upper member, the pressure pump selectively coupled to the energy source and in fluid communication with the pressure opening of the upper member;

a fluid reservoir disposed therein the lower member, the fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the third opening in the lower member;

a calibration fluid disposed therein the fluid reservoir; and

a fluid conduit having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end coupled to the fluid reservoir, the distal end coupled to the port of the lower member,

wherein, in use, the lower member is selectively coupled to the upper member such that the pressure pump is electrically coupled to the energy source and the pressure opening of the upper member is in sealed contact with the third opening of the lower member so that the pressure pump is in fluid communication with the port of the lower member.

11. The vacuum device of claim 10, wherein the pressure pump is moveable from a first de-energized position, in which the pressure pump is deactivated and pressure is not communicated to the fluid in the fluid reservoir of the lower member, to a second energized position, in which pressure is communicated to the fluid in the fluid reservoir of the lower member from the pressure pump upon actuation of the pressure pump.

12. The vacuum device of claim 10, further comprising:

an assay sensor disposed on the inner surface of the inner cavity of the lower member proximate the second opening in the lower member; and

a system controller electrically coupled to the assay sensor and the energy source.

13. The vacuum device of claim 12, wherein the system controller is electrically coupled to the vacuum source and the pressure pump.

14. The vacuum device of claim 12, wherein the assay sensor extends circumferentially about the second opening in the lower member.

15. The vacuum device of claim 12, wherein the assay sensor is disposed on the inner surface proximate the port.

16. The vacuum device of claim 12, wherein the assay sensor can sense a characteristic of the fluid selected from a group consisting of pH, glucose, lactic acid, carbon dioxide, vitamin, and mineral.

17. The vacuum device of claim 12, wherein the system controller comprises:

a circuit card assembly disposed therein the upper member;

a processor electrically coupled to the circuit card assembly; and

a transmitter electrically coupled to the circuit card assembly.

18. The vacuum device of claim 12, further comprising:

at least one upper electrical contact disposed on the bottom surface of the upper member, the upper electrical contact electrically coupled to the system controller; and

at least one lower electrical contact disposed on the first surface of the lower member, the lower electrical contact electrically coupled to the assay sensor,

wherein, in use, the lower member is selectively coupled to the upper member such that the upper electrical contact is in contact with the lower electrical contact to complete the electrical coupling of the system controller and the assay sensor.

19. The vacuum device of claim 18, wherein the lower electrical contact is electrically coupled to the energy source.

20. The vacuum device of claim 5, further comprising a one-way stop valve disposed in the second opening of the lower member;

the stop valve oriented inwardly toward the inner cavity of the lower member to allow one-way passage of substance into the fluid cavity.