Systems and methods for monitoring a disc pump system using RFID

• US 9,422,934 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2013
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2012
• 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): Kramer, Devon
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZOLLINGER, NATHAN C
• Application Number:
  US13/762,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20130209277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 417/322, 417/481, 417/482, 417/412, 417/413.1, 417/413.3, 737/15
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/0081 systems, control, safety measures
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/028 with in- or outlet valve arranged in the plate-like flexible member valve arranged in the piston F04B53/12
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/043 Micropumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/00 Component parts, details or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B1/00 - F04B23/00 or F04B39/00 - F04B47/00

Abstract

A disc pump system includes a pump body having a substantially cylindrical shape defining a cavity for containing a fluid, the cavity being formed by a side wall closed at both ends by substantially circular end walls, at least one of the end walls being a driven end wall. The system includes an actuator operatively associated with the driven end wall to cause an oscillatory motion of the driven end and an isolator is operatively associated with the peripheral portion of the driven end wall to reduce damping of the displacement oscillations. The isolator comprises a flexible material, which in turn includes an RFID tag.

Claims

1. A disc pump system comprising:

a pump body having a substantially cylindrical shaped cavity having a side wall closed at both ends by substantially circular end walls for containing a fluid, at least one of the end walls being a driven end wall;

an actuator comprising a central portion of the driven end wall and operable to cause an oscillatory motion of the driven end wall to generate displacement oscillations of the driven end wall in a direction perpendicular to the driven end wall, the displacement oscillations generating radial pressure oscillations of a fluid within the cavity of the pump body;

an isolator comprising a peripheral portion of the driven end wall and coupled to the side wall to reduce damping of the displacement oscillations of the driven end wall, the isolator comprising a flexible material that stretches and contracts in response to the oscillatory motion of the driven end wall;

a first aperture in either one of the end walls and extending through the pump body;

a second aperture in the pump body and extending through the pump body; and

,

a valve disposed in at least one of the first aperture and second aperture; and

an RFID tag integral with the flexible material of the isolator to store and transmit identification data associated with the isolator.

2. The disc pump system of claim 1, wherein the isolator comprises a flexible printed circuit material.

3. The disc pump system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag includes identification data that identifies the isolator, the actuator, the valve, and the pump body.

4. The disc pump system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is a passive RFID tag.

5. The disc pump system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is manufactured separately from the isolator and assembled to the isolator.

6. The disc pump system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is an active RFID tag.

7. The disc pump system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is a WISP device.

8. The disc pump system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor, wherein:

the sensor is operable to measure performance data of the disc pump system and communicate the performance data to the RFID tag; and

the RFID tag is operable to transmit the performance data to an RFID reader.

9. The disc pump system of claim 8, wherein the sensor is a strain gauge mounted on the isolator.

10. The disc pump system of claim 9, wherein the strain gauge is configured to measure strain in the isolator.

11. The disc pump system of claim 9, wherein the strain gauge is configured to measure the displacement of the actuator.

12. A disc pump system comprising:

a pump body having a substantially cylindrical shaped cavity having a side wall closed at both ends by substantially circular end walls for containing a fluid, at least one of the end walls being a driven end wall;

an actuator comprising a central portion of the driven end wall and operable to cause an oscillatory motion of the driven end wall to generate displacement oscillations of the driven end wall in a direction perpendicular to the driven end wall, the displacement oscillations generating radial pressure oscillations of a fluid within the cavity of the pump body;

an isolator comprising a peripheral portion of the driven end wall and coupled to the side wall to reduce damping of the displacement oscillations of the driven end wall, the isolator comprising a flexible printed circuit material and the flexible printed circuit material comprising an RFID tag to store and transmit data associated with the isolator

a first aperture disposed in either one of the end walls and extending through the pump body;

a second aperture disposed in the pump body and extending through the pump body; and

a valve disposed in at least one of the first aperture and second aperture.

13. The disc pump system of claim 12, wherein the RFID tag comprises a WISP device.

14. The disc pump system of claim 13, wherein:

the flexible printed circuit material further comprises a sensor for measuring the displacement of the actuator, and

the sensor is coupled to the WISP device.

15. The disc pump system of claim 14, wherein:

the WISP device comprises a power source, a memory and a processor;

the power source is operable to receive power from a wireless power source; and

the WISP device supplies power to the sensor.

16. The disc pump system of claim 14, wherein the WISP device is operable to determine the differential pressure generated by the disc pump based on data received from the sensor.

17. The disc pump system of claim 14, wherein the WISP device is operable to determine that the isolator is worn or damaged based on data received from the sensor.