Gas cell driven orientation independent delivery device

• US 9,840,361 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microlin LLC
• Original Assignee: Microlin LLC
• Inventors: Gordon, John Howard, Joshi, Ashok V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Valvis, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US14/010,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20140057174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14204 with gas-producing electrochemical cell
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14593 the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1483 using flexible bags externally pressurised by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/155 pressurised by gas introduced into the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0059 allowing operation in any orientation, e.g. for discharge in inverted position
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/02 Membranes or pistons acting on the contents inside the container, e.g. follower pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/026 Membranes separating the content remaining in the container from the atmospheric air to compensate underpressure inside the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/046 the gas or vapour flow coming from a source where the gas or vapour is not in contact with the liquid or other fluent material to be sprayed, e.g. from a compressive bulb, an air pump or an enclosure surrounding the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1028 Pumps having a pumping chamber with a deformable wall B05B11/1087 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/047 supply being effected by follower in container, e.g. membrane or floating piston , or by deformation of container B05B9/0838 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0072 the contents of a flexible bag being expelled by a piston or a movable bottom or partition provided in the container or the package
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/17 Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0142 conical
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0147 complex
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0176 variable
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/066 Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0685 flexible

Abstract

An orientation independent delivery device. The delivery device includes a gas chamber, a delivery chamber, a gas cell, and a delivery aperture. The gas chamber includes a gas-side rigid portion and a gas-side flexible barrier. The gas-side flexible barrier is sealed to the gas-side rigid portion. The delivery chamber includes a delivery-side rigid portion and a delivery-side flexible barrier. The delivery-side flexible barrier is sealed to the delivery-side rigid portion and is oriented adjacent to the gas-side flexible barrier. The gas cell is coupled to the gas-side rigid portion of the gas chamber. The gas cell increases a gas pressure within the gas chamber to expand the gas-side flexible barrier. Expansion of the gas-side flexible barrier applies a compressive force to the delivery-side flexible barrier allowing a delivery material to escape from the delivery chamber.

Claims

1. An orientation independent delivery device comprising:

a gas chamber comprising a gas-side rigid portion and a gas-side flexible barrier element, wherein the gas-side flexible barrier element is permanently sealed, around a first perimeter of the gas chamber, to the gas-side rigid portion such that gas introduced to the gas chamber is confined between the gas-side flexible barrier element and the gas-side rigid portion;

a delivery chamber comprising a delivery-side rigid portion and a delivery-side flexible barrier element, wherein the delivery-side flexible barrier element is permanently sealed, around a second perimeter of the delivery chamber, to the delivery-side rigid portion such that delivery material introduced to the delivery chamber is confined between the delivery-side flexible barrier element and the delivery-side rigid portion, the delivery-side flexible barrier element being oriented adjacent to, and a distinct element from, the gas-side flexible barrier element;

a self-powered gas cell coupled to the gas-side rigid portion of the gas chamber, the gas cell to increase a gas pressure within the gas chamber to expand the gas-side flexible barrier element, wherein expansion of the gas-side flexible barrier element applies a compressive force to the delivery-side flexible barrier element; and

a delivery aperture to allow a delivery material to escape from the delivery chamber in response to deflection of the delivery-side flexible barrier element in a direction toward the delivery-side rigid portion, wherein;

the gas-side rigid portion and the delivery-side rigid portion cooperate to define a constant volume during storage and use of the delivery device;

the gas chamber is permanently sealed to the delivery chamber to form a single unified piece; and

the gas-side flexible barrier element has an outer surface that is in continuous direct contact with the delivery-side flexible barrier element without separation.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the gas-side flexible barrier element comprises a material with a permeation coefficient of between 7.4 and 0.002 cm²/s-Pa for gas generated by the gas cell at standard temperature and pressure conditions.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the gas-side flexible barrier element comprises a material that is non-reactive with gas generated by the gas cell.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the delivery-side flexible barrier element comprises a material with a delivery material permeation coefficient of between 7.4 and 0.002 cm²/s-Pa for gas generated by the gas cell at standard temperature and pressure conditions.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the delivery-side flexible barrier element comprises a material that is non-reactive with the delivery material.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the seal between the gas chamber and the delivery chamber extends completely around the delivery chamber.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a dispersion structure coupled to the delivery aperture, the dispersion structure comprising molecular dispersion media with a breathable surface area to facilitate delivery of the delivery material to a delivery location.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the gas cell comprises a galvanic cell.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the galvanic cell generates hydrogen gas.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the gas-side rigid portion and the delivery-side rigid portion are affixed together to place the first perimeter in agreement with the second perimeter.

10. A delivery system comprising:

a delivery pump, wherein the delivery pump operates independent of orientation, the delivery pump comprising;

a gas chamber comprising a gas-side flexible barrier membrane and a gas-side rigid portion, the gas-side flexible barrier membrane being permanently sealed, around a perimeter of the gas chamber, to the gas-side rigid portion such that gas introduced to the gas chamber is confined between the gas-side flexible barrier membrane and the gas-side rigid portion;

a self-powered gas cell disposed in communication with the gas chamber to increase pressure within the gas chamber and distend the gas-side flexible barrier membrane away from the gas-side rigid portion by generating a gas within the gas chamber between said gas-side rigid portion and said gas-side flexible barrier membrane, gas in the gas chamber being in contact with the gas-side rigid portion and with the gas-side flexible barrier membrane;

a delivery chamber comprising a volume defined between a delivery-side flexible barrier membrane and a delivery-side rigid portion, the delivery-side flexible barrier membrane being permanently sealed, around a perimeter of the delivery chamber, to the delivery-side rigid portion such that delivery material introduced to the delivery chamber is confined between the delivery-side flexible barrier membrane and the delivery-side rigid portion, wherein the delivery chamber is coupled to the gas chamber to form a single unified piece with the delivery-side flexible barrier membrane being oriented directly adjacent to the gas-side flexible barrier membrane, wherein the gas-side flexible barrier element has an outer surface that is in continuous direct contact with the delivery-side flexible barrier element without separation, wherein the delivery-side flexible barrier membrane is configured to be pressed into the delivery chamber to dispense a delivery material from the delivery chamber in response to distension of the gas-side flexible barrier membrane away from the gas-side rigid portion, wherein the gas-side rigid portion and the delivery-side rigid portion together define a constant volume during storage and use of the delivery system;

a dispersion structure to receive the delivery material from the delivery pump, wherein the dispersion structure comprises molecular dispersion media having a breathable surface area to deliver the delivery material to a delivery site; and

a control module coupled to the gas cell of the delivery pump, the control module to control an operating parameter of the gas cell.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the gas cell comprises a hydrogen generating galvanic cell.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the gas-side flexible barrier membrane comprises a material that is non-reactive relative to the gas and having a gas permeation coefficient between 7.4 and 0.002 cm²/s-Pa at standard temperature and pressure conditions.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the delivery-side flexible barrier membrane comprises a material of relatively low delivery material permeability and reactivity compared to the delivery material.