Ultrasonically actuated needle pump system

• US 6,923,790 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (University of Wisconsin System)
• Original Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (University of Wisconsin System)
• Inventors: Lal, Amit, Lee, Chung-Hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBINSON, DANIEL LEON
• Application Number:
  US10/441,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 604/151, 604/131, 604/28, 604/500, 604/216, 604/340, 604/317, 604/153, 604/155, 604/164.01, 604/164.09, 604/164.1, 604/164.11, 604/166.01, 604/171, 604/173, 604/264, 604/94.01, 604/200.16, 128/200.14, 128/200.16
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/008 Interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00765 Decreasing the barrier function of skin tissue by radiated energy, e.g. using ultrasound, using laser for skin perforation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14514 using means for aiding extraction of interstitial fluid, e.g. microneedles or suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150083 by vibration, e.g. ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150297 for piercing devices, i.e. devices ready to be used for lancing or piercing for piercing elements A61B5/150282, for driving devices A61B5/15029
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150946 Means for varying, regulating, indicating or limiting the speed or time of blood collection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150977 Arrays of piercing elements for simultaneous piercing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15142 Devices intended for single use, i.e. disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis

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.

Claims

1. A method of atomizing a liquid comprising:

(a) inserting the distal end of an outer needle with a hollow bore into a supply of liquid to be atomized;

(b) ultrasonically vibrating an inner needle mounted within the bore of the outer needle, the inner needle having a hollow bore and a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the inner needle located adjacent to spaced inwardly from and completely surrounded by the distal end of the outer needle, to draw liquid by the vibration of the inner needle from die distal end of the inner needle to the proximal end of the inner needle where it is discharged by atomization into the atmosphere.