Pump for low flow rates

US6872315B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Roche Diagnostics GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Carlo Effenhauser · Weinheim, DE
• Herbert Harttig · Neustadt, DE
• Peter Kraemer · Hanau, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 5, 2004
• Grant date: Mar 29, 2005
• Expiry date: Aug 5, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T436/2575
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method of producing flow rates of a transport liquid of about 1 to 1000 nl/min. The method provides a pump having a housing defining a space and including a channel and a wettable membrane positioned in the housing, the membrane including a first side facing toward the channel and a second side facing the space. The method further includes at least partially filling the channel with the transport liquid, contacting the wettable membrane with the transport liquid to generate an underpressure in the channel,evaporating the transport liquid at the wettable membrane to remove the transport liquid from the channel and to create an underpressure in the channel, and maintaining a generally constant vapor pressure of the transport liquid in the space.