Pump

• US 10,342,589 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2016
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oxford Nanopore Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Oxford Nanopore Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Jones, Anthony, Upsdell, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertheaud, Peter J
• Application Number:
  US15/384,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20170321694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 417415, 604211, 604218, 604224
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8822 characterised by means facilitating expulsion of fluid from the introducer, e.g. a screw pump plunger, hydraulic force transmissions, application of vibrations or a vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0222 Materials for reducing friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/145 using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31513 Piston constructions to improve sealing or sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31515 Connection of piston with piston rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31528 by means of rotational movements, e.g. screw-thread mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31586 performed by rotationally moving or pivoted actuator, e.g. an injection lever or handle
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/26 Sealing devices, e.g. packaging for pistons or pipe joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7544 Injection needles, syringes
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 13/00 Pumps specially modified to deliver fixed or variable measured quantities
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/03 driven by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/143 Sealing provided on the piston
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 7/06 the pistons and cylinders being relatively reciprocated and rotated
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 9/02 the means being mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/3208 provided with tension elements, e.g. elastic rings
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/328 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for elastic sealings moulding B29C

Abstract

A pump for use in low-profile applications comprises a barrel for holding fluid; and a piston that converts a rotational driving force into a longitudinal driving motion within the barrel. The pump provides space saving advantages by reducing the need for external equipment and mechanisms around the pump for providing actuation or moving the actuating mechanism.

Claims

1. A pump comprising:

a barrel for holding fluid;

a piston for drawing fluid into the barrel and driving fluid out of the barrel, wherein the piston comprises a plunger configured to move within the barrel and a sheath configured to move around an outer surface of the barrel; and

a driving member;

wherein an inner surface of the sheath and the outer surface of the barrel have complementary screw threads so that, in use, rotating the piston causes the piston to travel along the barrel;

wherein the piston comprises an engagement section for engaging with the driving member and enabling the driving member to turn the piston, and wherein the engagement section comprises a slot for engaging the driving member by relative motion between the piston and the driving member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the piston along the barrel.

2. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the plunger is hollow.

3. The pump according to claim 2, wherein the engagement section comprises an opening into the hollow plunger.

4. The pump according to claim 1 wherein, in use, the driving member is held translationally stationary with respect to the piston and barrel whilst the piston is moved relative to the barrel.

5. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the driving member has two flat and substantially parallel sides for engaging the engagement section.

6. The pump according to claim 2, wherein the pump is configured such that, in use, the driving member extends within the hollow plunger as the piston travels along the barrel.

7. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the driving member, in use, moves rotationally with respect to the barrel to drive the piston within the barrel.

8. The pump according to claim 1 further comprising a gear arranged to rotate the driving member, the gear being arranged to rotate with an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the driving member.

9. The pump according to claim 8 wherein the gear is a worm gear.

10. The pump according to claim 1, further comprising a stepper motor arranged to drive the driving member.

11. The pump according to claim 1, further comprising a piston head for forming a seal against an inner surface of the barrel, wherein the piston head is connected to the plunger of the piston so that the piston head is free to rotate with respect to the plunger or the barrel.

12. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the pump is configured to resist rotation of the piston relative the barrel at a predetermined position.

13. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the sheath is provided with a lug for resisting rotation of the piston relative to the barrel when the lug is brought into contact with another portion of the pump.

14. The pump according to claim 1, further comprising a driving member that engages the outer surface of the piston.

15. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the barrel comprises or consists of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, polytetrafluoroethylene, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, polypropylene, perfluoroalkoxy, poly(methyl methacrylate) or fluorinated ethylene propylene.

16. The pump according to claim 1 wherein the piston comprises acetal and/or polybutylene terephthalate.

17. The pump according to claim 16, wherein the piston further comprises glass fibre and/or polytetrafluoroethylene.

18. An analysis apparatus comprising a body and a cartridge attachable to the body, wherein the cartridge comprises a pump and wherein the body comprises a driving member for engaging with the pump;

wherein the pump comprises a barrel for holding fluid, and a piston for drawing fluid into the barrel and driving fluid out of the barrel;

wherein the piston comprises a plunger configured to move within the barrel and a sheath configured to move around an outer surface of the barrel;

wherein an inner surface of the sheath and the outer surface of the barrel have complementary screw threads so that, in use, rotating the piston causes the piston to travel along the barrel; and

wherein the piston comprises an engagement section for engaging with the driving member and enabling the driving member to turn the piston, wherein the engagement section comprises a slot for engaging the driving member by relative motion between the piston and the driving member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the piston along the barrel.

19. An analysis apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the cartridge comprises a plurality of pumps and the body comprises a plurality of respective driving members.

20. An analysis apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the body further comprises a gear for rotating the driving member and a stepper motor for driving the driving member.