Micropump with integrated pressure sensor
First Claim
1. A method for making a micropump device, comprising:
- providing a substrate, said substrate comprising a first surface and fluidic channels;
said fluidic channels comprising an inlet channel, an outlet channel and a pumping cavity;
said inlet channel suitably adapted to receive fluid for transport through said micropump device;
said outlet channel suitably adapted to purge fluid from said micropump device;
providing a first valve for effectively permitting flow of fluid from said inlet channel to said pumping cavity, said first valve effectively restricting backflow of purged fluid from said pumping cavity to said inlet, and said first valve deposited through a first opening on said first surface of said substrate;
providing a second valve for effectively permitting flow of fluid from said pumping cavity to said outlet channel, said second valve effectively restricting backflow of purged fluid from said outlet channel to said pumping cavity, and said second valve deposited through a second opening on said first surface of said substrate;
effectively disposing a pump actuator over said first opening;
effectively disposing a cover over said second opening;
providing a sensing cavity having at least one surface;
providing a sensing area disposed on at least a portion of at least one sensing cavity surface, wherein said sensing area is capable of at least partial mechanical deformation;
providing a plurality of piezoresistors disposed within said sensing cavity;
providing a plurality of contact pads;
providing a plurality of conductive pathways communicably connecting said piezoresistors and said contact pads;
providing a substantially monolithic device package, wherein said sensing cavity is substantially internally disposed within said micropump device package; and
disposing said sensing area substantially near said pump chamber such that mechanical deformation of said sensing area at least partially corresponds to fluid pressure in the region of said pump chamber;
disposing at least one sensing piezoresistor near said sensing area of said sensing cavity such that mechanical deformation of said sensing area effectively actuates the resistance of said sensing piezoresistor; and
disposing at least one reference piezoresistor effectively removed from said sensing area of said sensing cavity such that mechanical deformation of said sensing area does not substantially actuate the resistance of said reference piezoresistor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An exemplary system and method for manufacturing micropump systems having integrated piezoresistive sensors is disclosed as including inter alia: a substrate, an inlet channel, an outlet channel, a pumping cavity, a first valve for permitting fluid flow from the inlet channel to the pumping cavity and restricting backflow of purged fluid from the pumping cavity to the inlet channel; a second valve for permitting fluid flow from the pumping cavity to an outlet channel and restricting backflow of purged fluid from the outlet channel to the pumping cavity; a pump actuator element; a pressure sensing cavity surface capable of at least partial mechanical deformation; a plurality of piezoresistors disposed within the sensing cavity; a plurality of contact pads; a plurality of conductive pathways connecting the piezoresistors and the contact pads; and a substantially monolithic device package, wherein the sensing cavity is substantially contained within the micropump device package. Disclosed features and specifications may be variously controlled, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to improve micropump operation in any microfluidic application. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention representatively provide for piezoresistive pressure sensors that may be readily integrated with existing portable ceramic technologies for the improvement of device package form factors, weights and other manufacturing and/or device performance metrics.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for making a micropump device, comprising:
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providing a substrate, said substrate comprising a first surface and fluidic channels; said fluidic channels comprising an inlet channel, an outlet channel and a pumping cavity; said inlet channel suitably adapted to receive fluid for transport through said micropump device; said outlet channel suitably adapted to purge fluid from said micropump device; providing a first valve for effectively permitting flow of fluid from said inlet channel to said pumping cavity, said first valve effectively restricting backflow of purged fluid from said pumping cavity to said inlet, and said first valve deposited through a first opening on said first surface of said substrate; providing a second valve for effectively permitting flow of fluid from said pumping cavity to said outlet channel, said second valve effectively restricting backflow of purged fluid from said outlet channel to said pumping cavity, and said second valve deposited through a second opening on said first surface of said substrate; effectively disposing a pump actuator over said first opening; effectively disposing a cover over said second opening; providing a sensing cavity having at least one surface; providing a sensing area disposed on at least a portion of at least one sensing cavity surface, wherein said sensing area is capable of at least partial mechanical deformation; providing a plurality of piezoresistors disposed within said sensing cavity; providing a plurality of contact pads; providing a plurality of conductive pathways communicably connecting said piezoresistors and said contact pads; providing a substantially monolithic device package, wherein said sensing cavity is substantially internally disposed within said micropump device package; and disposing said sensing area substantially near said pump chamber such that mechanical deformation of said sensing area at least partially corresponds to fluid pressure in the region of said pump chamber; disposing at least one sensing piezoresistor near said sensing area of said sensing cavity such that mechanical deformation of said sensing area effectively actuates the resistance of said sensing piezoresistor; and disposing at least one reference piezoresistor effectively removed from said sensing area of said sensing cavity such that mechanical deformation of said sensing area does not substantially actuate the resistance of said reference piezoresistor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for making a micropump device, comprising:
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providing a substrate, said substrate comprising a first surface and fluidic channels; said fluidic channels comprising an inlet channel, an outlet channel and a pumping cavity; said inlet channel suitably adapted to receive fluid for transport through said micropump device; said outlet channel suitably adapted to purge fluid from said micropump device; providing a first valve for effectively permitting flow of fluid from said inlet channel to said pumping cavity, said first valve effectively restricting backflow of purged fluid from said pumping cavity to said inlet, and said first valve deposited through a first opening on said first surface of said substrate; providing a second valve for effectively permitting flow of fluid from said pumping cavity to said outlet channel, said second valve effectively restricting backflow of purged fluid from said outlet channel to said pumping cavity, and said second valve deposited through a second opening on said first surface of said substrate; effectively disposing a pump actuator over said first opening; effectively disposing a cover over said second opening; providing a sensing cavity having at least one surface; providing a sensing area disposed on at least a portion of at least one sensing cavity surface, wherein said sensing area is capable of at least partial mechanical deformation; providing a plurality of piezoresistors disposed within said sensing cavity; providing a plurality of contact pads; providing a plurality of conductive pathways communicably connecting said piezoresistors and said contact pads; providing a substantially monolithic device package, wherein said sensing cavity is substantially internally disposed within said micropump device package; and enclosing said sensing cavity with a layer of ceramic tape. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification