Peristaltic micropump and related systems and methods

US10487819B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY · US

Inventors

• Parker A. Gould · Cambridge, US
• Loi T. Hoang · Hartsville, US
• Joseph R. Scherrer · Nashville, US
• William J. Matloff · Paradise Valley, US
• Kevin T. Seale · Nashville, US
• Erica L. Curtis · Atlanta, US
• David K. Schaffer · Nashville, US
• Douglas J. Hall · Chesterfield, US
• Ayeeshik Kole · Columbia, US
• Ronald S. Reiserer · Nashville, US
• Hunter Tidwell · Nashville, US
• Philip C. Samson · Nashville, US
• John P. Wikswo · Brentwood, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 22, 2017
• Grant date: Nov 26, 2019
• Expiry date: Nov 22, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01L2300/123
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A peristaltic micropump includes one or more flexible channels configured to transfer one or more pumped fluids, and an actuator configured to engage the one or more flexible channels and rotate about a central axis. The actuator includes a plurality of rolling elements and a driving element configured such that the driving element operably rotates about the central axis and each rolling element operably rolls about a respective axis that is not parallel to the central axis. The plurality of rolling elements is disposed between the one or more flexible channels and the driving element. The driving element includes a cage configured to capture the plurality of rolling elements such that the plurality of rolling elements is located at different radii from a center of the cage.