Fluid ejection device, driving method of fluid ejection device, and operating instrument

• US 8,998,938 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Columbia Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Seto, Takeshi, Kawasumi, Kazuo, Kojima, Hideki, Ono, Yasuhiro, Hama, Yasuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuan V
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TIN DUC
• Application Number:
  US12/568,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20100078495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,017 Days
• Field of Search: 606/167, 606/27, 606/39, 239/1, 239/102.1, 604/48, 604/22, 604/131, 601/2, 601/3
• US Class Current: 606/167
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3203 Fluid jet cutting instruments

Abstract

A fluid ejection device includes: a fluid chamber whose capacity is variable; an inlet flow path and an outlet flow path communicating with the fluid chamber; a capacity changing unit which changes the capacity of the fluid chamber; a fluid supplying unit which supplies fluid to the inlet flow path; a fluid ejection opening disposed at an end of the outlet flow path opposite to an end communicating with the fluid chamber; a vibrating unit which vibrates a component in the vicinity of the fluid ejection opening; a vibration detecting unit which detects the level of vibration of the component in the vicinity of the fluid ejection opening; and an operation control unit which controls operation of the capacity changing unit based on the level of the vibration detected by the vibration detecting unit.

Claims

1. A fluid ejection device comprising:

a fluid chamber whose capacity is variable;

an inlet flow path and an outlet flow path communicating with the fluid chamber;

a capacity changing unit which changes the capacity of the fluid chamber, the capacity changing unit including a piezoelectric element;

a fluid supplying unit which supplies fluid to the inlet flow path;

a nozzle including a fluid ejection opening disposed at an end of the outlet flow path opposite to an end communicating with the fluid chamber;

a vibrating unit which vibrates a component in the vicinity of the fluid ejection opening;

a vibration detecting unit including a sensor which detects the level of vibration of the nozzle in the vicinity of the fluid ejection opening; and

an operation control unit which supplies drive signals that control operation of the capacity changing unit based on the level of the vibration detected by the vibration detecting unit, the drive signals causing the piezoelectric element to expand or contract to change the capacity of the fluid chamber.

2. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle in the vicinity of the fluid ejection opening forms the fluid ejection opening.

3. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a suction pipe having a suction opening positioned in the vicinity of the fluid ejection opening and a passage through which an object sucked via the suction opening passes; and

a sucking force giving unit which gives sucking force for sucking the object in the vicinity of the suction opening,

wherein the component in the vicinity of the fluid ejection opening forms the suction opening.

4. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein:

the vibrating unit has a vibrating force generating section which generates vibrating force for vibrating the fluid ejection opening;

the vibration detecting unit has a vibration receiving section which receives vibration; and

the vibrating force generating section and the vibration receiving section are provided on the outlet flow path.

5. The fluid ejection device according to claim 4, wherein:

a flat surface is provided at least on a part of the outer circumferential surface of the outlet flow path; and

the vibrating force generating section and the vibration receiving section are provided on the flat surface.

6. The fluid ejection device according to claim 3, wherein:

the vibrating unit has a vibrating force generating section which generates vibrating force for vibrating the suction opening;

the vibration detecting unit has a vibration receiving section which receives vibration; and

the vibrating force generating section and the vibration receiving section are provided on the suction pipe.

7. The fluid ejection device according to claim 6, wherein:

a flat surface is provided at least on a part of the outer circumferential surface of the suction pipe; and

the vibrating force generating section and the vibration receiving section are provided on the flat surface.

8. The fluid ejection device according to claim 4, wherein the vibration receiving section has a distortion gauge.

9. The fluid ejection device according to claim 4, wherein the vibrating force generating section has a vibrating force generating piezoelectric element.

10. The fluid ejection device according to claim 9, wherein the vibrating force generating section has function of generating vibrating force and function of receiving vibration as the vibration receiving section by using the vibrating force generating piezoelectric element for generating vibrating force.

11. The fluid ejection device according to claim 10, wherein:

the vibrating unit has a drive section which drives the vibrating force generating piezoelectric element;

the vibration detecting unit has an electromotive force detecting section which detects electromotive force generated on the vibrating force generating piezoelectric element; and

a time division control unit which controls the drive section and the electromotive force detecting section such that supply of drive signals by the drive section and detection of electromotive force by the electromotive force detecting section are performed by time division is provided.

12. The fluid ejection device according to claim 4, wherein:

the vibrating unit has the plural vibrating force generating sections; and

the vibrating unit controls operations of the vibrating force generating sections such that forces generated by the plural vibrating force generating sections can increase the vibrating force.

13. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the operation control unit allows operation of the capacity changing unit when the level of vibration detected by the vibration detecting unit is lower than a predetermined level, and prohibits operation of the capacity changing unit when the level of the vibration is equal to or higher than the predetermined level.

14. An operating instrument which supports medical treatment for an affected portion by using ejection of fluid, comprising the fluid ejection device according to claim 1.

15. A driving method of a fluid ejection device comprising:

the fluid ejection device including;

a fluid chamber whose capacity is variable,

an inlet flow path and an outlet flow path communicating with the fluid chamber,

a capacity changing unit which changes the capacity of the fluid chamber, the capacity changing unit including a piezoelectric element,

a fluid supplying unit which supplies fluid to the inlet flow path,

a nozzle including a fluid ejection opening disposed at an end of the outlet flow path opposite to an end communicating with the fluid chamber,

a vibrating unit,

a vibration detecting unit including a sensor, and

an operation control unit;

the method comprising;

vibrating a component in the vicinity of the fluid ejection opening by the vibrating unit;

detecting the level of vibration of the nozzle in the vicinity of the fluid ejection opening by the vibration detecting unit; and

supplying drive signals that control operation of the capacity changing unit based on the level of the vibration detected in the vibration detecting step by the operation control unit, the drive signals causing the piezoelectric element to expand or contract to change the capacity of the fluid chamber.