Ultrasonically actuated needle pump system
First Claim
1. A method of drawing a sample of body fluid comprising:
- (a) puncturing the skin of a subject with a penetrating tip located at a distal end of an outer needle having a hollow bore;
(b) ultrasonically vibrating an inner needle within the bore of the outer needle without substantially vibrating the outer needle, the inner needle having a hollow bore and a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end positioned adjacent to the penetrating tip of the outer tubular needle, so as to draw fluid into the inner needle from its distal end to its proximal end by the ultrasonic vibration of the inner needle.
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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.
33 Citations
1 Claim
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1. A method of drawing a sample of body fluid comprising:
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(a) puncturing the skin of a subject with a penetrating tip located at a distal end of an outer needle having a hollow bore;
(b) ultrasonically vibrating an inner needle within the bore of the outer needle without substantially vibrating the outer needle, the inner needle having a hollow bore and a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end positioned adjacent to the penetrating tip of the outer tubular needle, so as to draw fluid into the inner needle from its distal end to its proximal end by the ultrasonic vibration of the inner needle.
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Specification