Systems and methods for supplying reduced pressure and measuring flow using a disc pump system

• US 9,239,059 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2013
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Locke, Christopher Brian, Tout, Aidan Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): Freay, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hansen, Kenneth J
• Application Number:
  US13/764,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20130223979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 417/216, 417/412, 417/413.2, 417/413.3, 417/426, 417/479, 700/282, 604/319, 731/68
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14224 Diaphragm type
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/026 each plate-like pumping flexible member working in its own pumping chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/046 with piezoelectric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/36 the pressure or differential pressure being created by the use of flow constriction
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/383 with electrical or electro-mechanical indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/40 Details of construction of the flow constriction devices

Abstract

Disc pump systems and methods relate to a disc pump system that includes a first disc pump having a first actuator and a second disc pump having a second actuator. The systems and methods utilize sensors to measure the displacements of the actuators and a processor to determine the pressure differential across each actuator as a function of the measured displacements of the actuators. The disc pumps are fluidly coupled by a known restriction and the processor determines the flow rate of the disc pump system based on the determined pressure differentials across each actuator and the characteristics of the known restriction.

Claims

1. A disc pump system comprising

a first disc pump having a first actuator;

a second disc pump having a second actuator;

a substrate having a known restriction, the first disc pump and the second disc pump being fluidly coupled by the known restriction;

a first optical receiver operable to receive a first reflected optical signal that indicates a displacement of the first actuator and to transmit a first displacement signal to a processor;

a second optical receiver operable to receive a second reflected optical signal that indicates the displacement of the second actuator and to transmit a second displacement signal to the processor;

the processor being coupled to the first disc pump, the second disc pump, the first optical receiver, and the second optical receiver, and being configured to;

determine a first pressure differential across the first disc pump in response to receiving the first displacement signal;

determine a second pressure differential across the second disc pump in response to receiving the second displacement signal;

determine a fluid flow rate of the disc pump system based on the first pressure differential and the second pressure differential; and

provide a first control signal and a second control signal to a driver;

the driver;

operable to receive and transmit a first drive signal to the first disc pump and a second drive signal to the second disc pump;

wherein the first drive signal causes the first disc pump to prevent fluid flow across the first disc pump and the first optical receiver to transmit the first displacement signal to the processor; and

wherein the second drive signal causes the second disc pump to supply fluid flow across the second disc pump and the second optical receiver to transmit the second displacement signal to the processor.

2. A disc pump system comprising:

a first disc pump and a second disc pump, each pump comprising;

a pump body having a substantially elliptically shaped cylindrical wall closed by two end plates, and a pair of interior plates adjacent each other and supported by the cylindrical wall to form a cavity within the pump body for containing fluids, the cavity having a height (h) and a radius (r), wherein a ratio of the radius (r) to the height (h) is greater than 1.2;

an actuator formed by the interior plates, operatively associated with a central portion of one of the end plates, and adapted to cause an oscillatory motion thereby generating radial pressure oscillations of the fluid within the cavity including at least one annular pressure node in response to a drive signal being applied to the actuator when in use;

an isolator having a ring-shape affixed to the cylindrical wall and supporting a periphery of the actuator;

a first aperture extending from the cavity to an outside of the pump body;

a first valve disposed in the first aperture to control the flow of fluid through the first aperture;

a second aperture extending through the actuator; and

a second valve disposed in the second aperture to control the flow of fluid through the second aperture; and

a substrate having a known restriction, wherein the first disc pump and the second disc pump are fluidly coupled by the known restriction.