Micro paddle wheel pump for precise pumping, mixing, dispensing, and valving of blood and reagents
First Claim
1. A disposable cartridge that operates in conjunction with a point-of-care analytical device, said cartridge comprising:
- a network of conduits and reservoirs within said cartridge; and
at least one micro pump fluidly coupled to said network for transporting small volumes of biological fluid, said pump comprising;
a rotatable portion having a magnetic core and configured to be rotatable by alternating inductive magnetic fields to urge fluid through said network,wherein said rotatable portion comprises a microscopic paddle wheel.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for making a microscopic paddle wheel coupled inductively by an external electromagnet and used for valving and active pumping so that the actual pumping mechanism is completely isolated from the electromagnetic driver. The paddle wheel is inexpensive to manufacture and disposable. A cartridge having a network of conduits and reservoirs contains several of such paddle wheels to transport blood and reagents. A point-of-care device houses the electromagnetic driving mechanism and is reused with successive cartridges since the paddle wheels are contained by the cartridge and do not contaminate the driving mechanism.
46 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A disposable cartridge that operates in conjunction with a point-of-care analytical device, said cartridge comprising:
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a network of conduits and reservoirs within said cartridge; and at least one micro pump fluidly coupled to said network for transporting small volumes of biological fluid, said pump comprising; a rotatable portion having a magnetic core and configured to be rotatable by alternating inductive magnetic fields to urge fluid through said network, wherein said rotatable portion comprises a microscopic paddle wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A disposable cartridge that operates in conjunction with a point-of-care analytical device, said cartridge comprising:
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a network of conduits and reservoirs within said cartridge; and at least one micro pump fluidly coupled to said network for transporting small volumes of biological fluid, said pump comprising; a rotatable portion having a magnetic core and configured to be rotatable by alternating inductive magnetic fields to urge fluid through said network, wherein said rotatable portion comprises a microscopic paddle wheel having a hydrophobic surface. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A point-of-care analytical device, said device comprising:
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a disposable cartridge; a network of conduits and reservoirs within said cartridge; a micro pump fluidly coupled to said network for transporting small volumes of biological fluid, said pump comprising a rotatable portion configured to be rotatable by alternating inductive magnetic fields to urge fluid through said network; and an external electromagnet providing said alternating inductive magnetic fields for causing the rotatable portion to move to transport small volumes, said electromagnet positioned external to said disposable cartridge and fluidically isolated from said micro pump; wherein said rotatable portion comprises a microscopic paddle wheel coupled inductively to said external electromagnet. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A point-of-care analytical device, said device comprising:
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a disposable cartridge; a network of conduits and reservoirs within said cartridge; a micro pump fluidly coupled to said network for transporting small volumes of biological fluid, said pump comprising a rotatable portion configured to be rotatable by alternating inductive magnetic fields to urge fluid through said network; and an external electromagnet providing said alternating inductive magnetic fields for causing the rotatable portion to move to transport small volumes, said electromagnet positioned external of said disposable cartridge and fluidically isolated from said micro pump; wherein said rotatable portion comprises a microscopic paddle wheel coupled inductively to said external electromagnet; and wherein the paddle wheel to actuate the motion may be separated by either plastic or silicon and still maintain an inductive coupling with the paddle wheel such that the magnetic core spins by rotating the magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification