FLUID EJECTION DEVICE AND MEDICAL APPARATUS

• US 20140296895A1
• Filed: 03/27/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: KOJIMA, Hideki, SEKINO, Hirokazu
• Granted Patent: US 9,737,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/167
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3203 Fluid jet cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00154 pulsed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/02 Operational features

Abstract

A fluid ejection device which ejects a fluid includes: an ejection tube which ejects the fluid; a fluid chamber which communicates with the ejection tube; a piezoelectric element capable of changing a volume of the fluid chamber; a controller which controls a drive voltage applied to the piezoelectric element; and a fluid supplying unit which supplies the fluid to the fluid chamber at a predetermined flow rate. If a maximum frequency available to be set of the drive voltage is fmax [Hz] and an amount of change in the volume of the fluid chamber when a maximum value available to be set of the drive voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element to drive the piezoelectric element is V1 [ml], the fluid supplying unit supplies the fluid at the predetermined flow rate above V1×fmax [ml/s].

Claims

1. A fluid ejection device which ejects a fluid, comprising:

an ejection tube which ejects the fluid;

a fluid chamber which communicates with the ejection tube;

a fluid supplying unit which supplies the fluid to the fluid chamber at a predetermined flow rate;

a pulsation generator which causes the fluid in the fluid chamber to be ejected from the ejection tube; and

a controller which controls operation of the pulsation generator to cause the fluid to be ejected periodically from the ejection tube;

wherein if a maximum frequency at which the control unit causes the fluid to be ejected is fmax [Hz], and

an amount of change in volume of the fluid chamber when the control unit causes the pulsation generator to operate is V1 [ml],

the fluid supplying unit supplies the fluid at the predetermined flow rate above V1×

fmax [ml/s].

2. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid supplying unit supplies the fluid at the predetermined flow rate below V1×

2.0×

fmax [ml/s].

3. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein when the fluid in a volume V1 [ml] is ejected from the ejection tube by driving the pulsation generator once, if a volume of the fluid ejected from the ejection tube together with the fluid of the volume V1 [ml] by an inertial effect of the fluid is V2 [ml],

the fluid supplying unit supplies the fluid at the predetermined flow rate equal to or above (V1+V2)×

fmax [ml/s].

4. The fluid ejection device according to claim 3, wherein the volume V2 is V1×

0.007.

5. A medical apparatus using the fluid ejection device according to claim 1.

6. A medical apparatus using the fluid ejection device according to claim 2.

7. A medical apparatus using the fluid ejection device according to claim 3.

8. A medical apparatus using the fluid ejection device according to claim 4.