Mold for making a membrane for use with a flow control system for a micropump

• US 8,764,425 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PicoLife Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: PicoLife Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Amirouche, Farid, Cantwell, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): BODAWALA, DIMPLE N
• Application Number:
  US13/174,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20110309229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 425/406, 425/408, 425/808, 425/112, 425/117, 425/127, 425/128, 425/129.1, 425/177, 425/183, 425/184, 425/193, 425/195, 425/253, 425/346, 425/352, 425/358, 425/395, 425/398, 425/400, 425/403, 425410-412, 425/423, 425/447, 425/470, 264/1.32, 264/2.5, 653/05
• US Class Current: 425/112
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2453 not being fixed to the valve body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0244 Micromachined materials, e.g. made from silicon wafers, microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] or comprising nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1422 with double acting or multiple pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14224 Diaphragm type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/043 Micropumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7879 Resilient material valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86002 Fluid pressure responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86019 Direct response valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49996 Successive distinct removal operations

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a mold for making a membrane. A mold may include a cylindrical female portion having a diameter D. The female portion may include a concave face having substantially the same diameter D as the lower portion and a radius of curvature R. The mold may also include a cylindrical male portion having a diameter substantially equal to D. The male portion may have a central cylindrical portion with a height H extending from the lower terminus and a diameter of D-G, wherein G is the annular thickness of a spacing gap extending radially outward from the central portion. The male portion may also have a centered, convex lower face with a diameter of D-G and a radius of curvature R. The mold may also include a tubular body portion support member configured to receive a portion of the female and male portions.

Claims

1. A mold configured for making a membrane having a reinforcement annulus configured to be received within a flow control system for use with a micropump, the mold comprising:

a female body portion having

(a) a cylindrical elongate lower portion extending along an axis and having a diameter D, and

(b) a centered, concave upper face having a diameter D that substantially equals the diameter D of the lower portion and having a radius of curvature R, the upper face being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the elongate lower portion and extending therefrom;

a male body portion having

(a) a cylindrical elongate upper portion having a lower terminus and extending along an axis, the upper portion having a diameter substantially equal to D,

(b) a central cylindrical portion having a height H and extending outwardly from the lower terminus along the axis of the upper portion, the central portion having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter D minus an annular width G of a spacing gap on each side;

(c) a centered, convex lower face having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter D minus the annular width G of the spacing gap on each side, a radius of curvature substantially equal to the radius of curvature R of the upper face and being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the elongate upper portion; and

a body portion support member having a generally elongated, tubular configuration, the body portion support member configured to receive at least a portion of the female body portion and at least a portion of the male body portion, so that the axis of the lower portion and the axis of the upper portion are aligned, whereby the convex face and concave face are positioned cooperatively to effect manufacture of the membrane having the reinforcement annulus configured to be received within the flow control system for use with the micropump.

2. The mold of claim 1, wherein D is about 0.25 inches and G is about 0.025 inches.

3. The mold of claim 1, wherein D is about 0.1875 inches and G is about 0.020 inches.

4. The mold of claim 1, wherein R is about 0.1563 inches.

5. The mold of claim 2, wherein R is about 0.1563 inches.

6. The mold of claim 2, wherein R is about 0.1250 inches.

7. The mold of claim 3, wherein R is about 0.1250 inches.

8. A mold configured for making a membrane having a reinforcement annulus configured to be received within a flow control system for use with a micropump, the mold comprising:

a female body portion having

(a) a cylindrical elongate lower portion extending along an axis and having a diameter D equal to about 0.1875 inches, and

(b) a centered, concave upper face having a diameter D that substantially equals the diameter D of the lower portion and having a radius of curvature R, the upper face being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the elongate lower portion and extending therefrom;

a male body portion having

(a) a cylindrical elongate upper portion having a lower terminus and extending along an axis, the upper portion having a diameter substantially equal to D,

(b) a central cylindrical portion having a height H and extending from the lower terminus along the axis of the upper portion, the central portion having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter D minis an annular width G of a spacing gap on each side, wherein G is equal to about 0.020 inches;

(c) a centered, convex lower face having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter D minus the annular width G of the spacing gap on each side, a radius of curvature substantially equal to R and being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the elongate upper portion; and

a body portion support member having a generally elongated, tubular configuration, the body portion support member configured to receive at least a portion of the female body portion and at least a portion of the male body portion, so that the axis of the lower portion and the axis of the upper portion are aligned, whereby the convex face and concave face are positioned cooperatively to effect manufacture of the membrane having the reinforcement annulus configured to be received within the flow control system for use with the micropump.