Method for preparing an electrokinetic element

• US 7,666,287 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Lifescan Incorporated (Duv Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Huang, Mark, Thomas, Stan, Krulevitch, Peter, Zhao, Mingqi
• Primary Examiner(s): Aftergut; Jeff
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Jaeyun
• Application Number:
  US11/614,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20080149268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 156/242, 156/250, 156/299, 156/60, 156/219, 427/58, 298/880.2, 204/600, 204/450, 417/48, 137/803
• US Class Current: 204/600
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14778 the article consisting of a material with particular properties, e.g. porous, brittle
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/08 flexible, e.g. films
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/21 the layers being joined at their surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/22 with means connecting the layers, e.g. tie layers or undercuts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/685 by laminating inserts between two plastic films or plates
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/083 EVA, i.e. ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2025/00 Use of polymers of vinyl-aromatic compounds or derivatives thereof as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/16 PVDF, i.e. polyvinylidene fluoride
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2031/04 Polymers of vinyl acetate, e.g. PVAc, i.e. polyvinyl acetate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2075/00 Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2077/00 Use of PA, i.e. polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2079/085 Thermoplastic polyimides, e.g. polyesterimides, PEI, i.e. polyetherimides, or polyamideimides; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2081/06 PSU, i.e. polysulfones; PES, i.e. polyethersulfones or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/755 Membranes, diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/00 Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/006 Micropumps F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/206 Flow affected by fluid contact, energy field or coanda effect [e.g., pure fluid device or system]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 : Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1039 : Surface deformation only of sandwich or lamina [e.g., embossed panels]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1052 : with cutting, punching, tearing or severing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1092 : All laminae planar and face to face
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49236 : Fluid pump or compressor making

Abstract

A method for preparing an electrokinetic element is provided and generally includes providing a porous membrane adapted for use in an electrokinetic pump and encapsulating the porous membrane within a polymer substrate to yield an electrokinetic element base member having the porous membrane encapsulated by the polymer. In one embodiment, the method can include laminating the porous membrane between opposed sheets of a polymer before the step of encapsulating. The method can also include cutting the electrokinetic element base member into a plurality of slices and assembling an electrokinetic infusion pump by inserting a slice into a chamber of the pump.

Claims

1. A method for preparing an electrokinetic element, comprising:

providing a porous membrane adapted for use in an electrokinetic pump;

encapsulating the porous membrane within a polymer substrate to yield an electrokinetic element base member having the porous membrane encapsulated by the polymer, and;

cutting the electrokinetic element base member into a plurality of slices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each slice having a porous membrane surrounded by a polymer, the porous membrane extending from a first surface of the slice to a second surface of the slice.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising assembling an electrokinetic infusion pump by inserting the slice into a chamber of the pump.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising laminating the porous membrane between opposed sheets of a polymer before the step of encapsulating.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein laminating the porous membrane and encapsulating the porous the membrane within a polymer is performed as a continuous process.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein an adhesive material selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensitive adhesive, pressure sensitive adhesive, and UV curable adhesive is applied between the porous membrane and the opposed sheets during lamination.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein more than one porous membrane is encapsulated within a single polymer substrate to yield an electrokinetic element base member having multiple layers of porous material.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein encapsulating the porous membrane comprises co-extruding the porous membrane with the polymer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein encapsulating the porous membrane comprises casting the porous membrane within the polymer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein encapsulating the porous membrane comprises using injection molding to form the electrokinetic element base member having the porous membrane surrounded by the polymer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the porous membrane is in sheet form.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the slice has a thickness in the range of about 1-10 mm.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the slice has a diameter in the range of about 3-15 mm.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene vinyl acetate, polyethylene ethyl acetate, ionomers, polyamides, polyesters, and polyurethanes.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the porous membrane is made from a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), nylons, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyether sulfone, polysulfone, polystryrene, polyetherimide, polyolefins, and porous silica.

16. A method for fabricating an electrokinetic element, comprising:

providing a porous membrane;

laminating the porous membrane between top and bottom lamination films such that the porous membrane is sealed within the lamination films; and

encapturing the laminated porous membrane with a polymer to yield an electrokinetic element base member having the porous membrane surrounded by the polymer;

wherein laminating the porous membrane and encapturing the laminated membrane within a polymer substrate is performed as a continuous process.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising cutting the electrokinetic element base member into one or more slices.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising assembling an electrokinetic infusion pump by inserting the slice into a chamber of the pump.