Gel coupling diaphragm for electrokinetic delivery systems
First Claim
1. A fluid delivery system, comprising:
- a pump module having a pumping chamber therein;
a pump engine configured to generate power to pump delivery fluid from the pumping chamber; and
a flexible member comprising a first and second diaphragms fluidically separating the pump module from the pump engine and configured to deflect into the pumping chamber when pressure is applied to the flexible member from the pump engine, wherein the flexible member comprises a gel occupying 50%-95% of an area between deflectable portions of the first and second diaphragms so as to transfer more than 80% of an amount of power generated by the pump engine to the pump module to pump delivery fluid from the pumping chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid delivery system includes a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber, a pair of electrodes, a porous dielectric material, an electrokinetic fluid, and a flexible member including a gel between two diaphragms. The pair of electrodes is between the first chamber and the second chamber. The porous dielectric material is between the electrodes. The electrokinetic fluid is configured to flow through the porous dielectric material between the first and second chambers when a voltage is applied across the pair of electrodes. The flexible member fluidically separates the second chamber from the third chamber and is configured to deform into the third chamber when the electrokinetic fluid flows form the first chamber into the second chamber.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A fluid delivery system, comprising:
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a pump module having a pumping chamber therein; a pump engine configured to generate power to pump delivery fluid from the pumping chamber; and a flexible member comprising a first and second diaphragms fluidically separating the pump module from the pump engine and configured to deflect into the pumping chamber when pressure is applied to the flexible member from the pump engine, wherein the flexible member comprises a gel occupying 50%-95% of an area between deflectable portions of the first and second diaphragms so as to transfer more than 80% of an amount of power generated by the pump engine to the pump module to pump delivery fluid from the pumping chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A fluid delivery system, comprising:
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a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber; a pair of electrodes between the first chamber and the second chamber; a porous dielectric material between the electrodes; an electrokinetic fluid configured to flow through the porous dielectric material between the first and second chambers when a voltage is applied across the pair of electrodes; and a flexible member comprising a gel between two diaphragms, the flexible member fluidically separating the second chamber from the third chamber, wherein the diaphragms and the gel deform into the third chamber and conform to an interior shape of the third chamber when the electrokinetic fluid flows from the first chamber into the second chamber. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of pumping fluid comprising:
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applying a first voltage to an electrokinetic engine to deflect a flexible member in a first direction to draw a set volume of fluid into a pumping chamber of an electrokinetic pump, the flexible member comprising a gel between two diaphragms; and applying a second voltage opposite to the first voltage to the electrokinetic engine to deflect the flexible member into the pumping chamber to pump the fluid out of the pumping chamber; and stopping the application of the second voltage to stop the deflection of the flexible member into the pumping chamber mid-stroke so as to deliver less than the set volume of fluid out of the pumping chamber. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification