CA2167058A1 - Liquid material dispenser and valve - Google Patents
Liquid material dispenser and valveInfo
- Publication number
- CA2167058A1 CA2167058A1 CA002167058A CA2167058A CA2167058A1 CA 2167058 A1 CA2167058 A1 CA 2167058A1 CA 002167058 A CA002167058 A CA 002167058A CA 2167058 A CA2167058 A CA 2167058A CA 2167058 A1 CA2167058 A1 CA 2167058A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- pumping
- liquid
- dispenser
- reservoir
- stroke
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M5/00—Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm-rests
- A61M5/14—Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
- A61M5/142—Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M5/00—Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm-rests
- A61M5/14—Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
- A61M5/142—Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
- A61M2005/14204—Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps with gas-producing electrochemical cell
Abstract
A liquid material dispenser, for use, for example, in dispensing liquid medicine over an extended period of time, which includes a housing (10) enclosing a reservoir (12) for storing the liquid to be dispensed and having an outlet (14) through which the liquid is dispensed, and a connecting passageway (16) between the reservoir and the outlet. Located in the passageway is a diaphragm (18), one side of which defines a pumping chamber (20) and the other side of which defines a pressure control chamber (22). The diaphragm (18) is cyclically displaceable through a pumping stroke for pumping liquid through the outlet (14) and a drawing stroke for drawing liquid from the reservoir (12). Also located in the passageway (16) are a pair of valves (30, 33) which serve, during the drawing stroke, to cause the diaphragm (18) to draw liquid from the reservoir (12) into the pumping chamber (20), and during the pumping stroke, to cause the diaphragm (18) to pump liquid from the pumping chamber (20) through the outlet (14). An electrolytic cell (24) generates gas at suitable times for suitable durations and rates which is supplied to the pressure control chamber (22) to drive the pumping member (18) through the pumping stroke.
A vent is used for venting the gas from the pressure control chamber (22) to the atmosphere to drive the pumping member (18) through the drawing stroke. The vent has an inlet vent opening (40) inside toe pressure control chamber (22), with toe opening (40) being caused to open to end the pumping stroke and to close after a portion of the gas has vented.
A vent is used for venting the gas from the pressure control chamber (22) to the atmosphere to drive the pumping member (18) through the drawing stroke. The vent has an inlet vent opening (40) inside toe pressure control chamber (22), with toe opening (40) being caused to open to end the pumping stroke and to close after a portion of the gas has vented.
Description
2167~S8 De.scriplion Liquid Material Dispenser and Valve lechllical l ield rhe pre.sent invelllion relates to liquid material dispensers, and a S valve particularly suitable for use in such dispensers, and more particlllarly to di.spellser~ for dispensing medicament~ at small, preci~ely controlled rates.
Background Arl l lle invention i.s especially userul where the liquid is driven from 10 the dispellscr by thc lorec of gas generated at a suitable rate by an electrolytic cell. Exanlples of such systems are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,062,834 and 5,090,963, and in our lnternational Patent Publication WO 93/23096, which are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
In a v,lriety ol` applications, including, but not limited to, drug dclivery systems, it is required to dispense or deliver a liquid at a predetermined, precisely controlled rate. Electrolytic pumps, such as those de.scribed in lhe above-mentioned U.S. Patents, have been developed for this purpose. Illese pumps, however, generally include relatively large pumping chambers, and hence their pumping rates may be significantly influenced by pressure and temperature changes, particularly whell the dispenser is used over long periods of time and/or under varying ambient conditions.
Tl~e elcctrolytic pUlllp described in our lnternational Patent I'ublicalion WO '~3/230~6 provides a liquid material dispenser or pump of a construction wllicl~ call include a pumping chamber of relatively slllall volume so that the rate of delivery of the liquid is less sensitive to pressule and ~empera~ure variations.
%~ 5~;
However, tl~e venting of the pressure control ch~mber is carried out through a slow acting vent which releases the gas from the pressure conllol challlbel- to tl~e ~a~ ospllere to thereby drive the pumping member through lhe relurn stroke and draw liquid from the reservoir into the pulllping ch,~ ber. Such a slow vent may at times become plugged, reducing the venting rate or interrupting it entirely. ln addition, sitlce the ventillg is carried oul continuously at all times, it tends to reduce the efficiency of the pumping stroke by robbing the pumping chamber of sollle of its relatively high pressure gases when it is desired th.lt lhose gas~s cxerl IllaXillllllll force on the diaphragtn to pulnp tlle liquid.
In ,addi~ llc (Icvice disclosed in our International Patent Public,atioll WO '~/23()'~G uscs a pair of one-way umbrella valves for controllillg the tlow o~ liquid from the rescrvoir to the outside of the 1 5 device.
Furthermore, lhe device described in our International Patent Publication WO 93/23096 is designed so that gas production continues for a pre-de~ermined period of time. The duration is selected so as to deliver the desired amo~ t of liquid through the outlet. However, for a variety of reasons, includillg, but not limited to, partial plugging of the outlet or temperatule and pressure variations, the amount of liquid delivered during a fixed period of time may vary.
T here is thu.s a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advalltageous to have, an electrolytic pump along the lines dcscribed in our Inlerna~iollal Patent Publication WO 93/23096 but whicll would fcat-llc IllC~lllS for more efficiently venting the pressure conllol challlbcr ~ d which would make use of more one-way valves, and wllicll would have ~he ability to automatically discontinue the delivery of liquid when a rlxed amount of liquid has been made to pass througll the outlet.
~qvo gs/03078 2 ~ 6 7 ~ ~ 8 PCT/IE94/00037 Disclo~ure Or Invelllion ~ ccording lo ll~e present invention there is provided a liquid material dispellser, comprising: (a) a housing including a reservoir for storing liquid to be dispensed, an outlet through which the liquid is 5 dispensed, and a connecting passageway belween said reservoir and said olltlet; (b) a reciprocatable pumping member located in said passageway~ one ~ide of .said pumping member defining a pumping chamber wilh .said pas.sageway, and the other side of said pumping nlelllber ~lef`illillg a l~re.ss~lle control chalnber, said pumping member 10 being cyclically di.spl.lceable through a pumping stroke for pumping liquid lllr~ugll ~ai~ oll~le( and ~ drawillg stroke for drawing liquid from said re~ervoir; (c) valve means in said passageway effective, during said drawing stroke, to cause the pumping member to draw liquid from said reservoir into said pumping chamber, and during said 15 pumping stroke, to cause the pumping member to pump liquid from said pumping chamber through said outlet; (d) feeding means for feeding a gas at a preselected time and rate to said pressure control chamber to drive the pumping member through said pumping stroke;
and (e) a vent mechanism for venting said gas from said pressure 20 control cllamber to the atmosphere to drive the pumping member through said drawing ~troke, said vent mechanism having an inlet vent opening inside said pressure control chamber, said opening being caused to open to end .said pumping ~troke and to close after a portion of said gas ha.s vcn~c(l.
According lo furlher features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the pumping rnember is a diaphragm and the vent mechanism includes a displaceable member connected to the pumping member, the displaceable member being formed with the inlet vent opening. the inlet vent opening being in commllnication with a vent conduit leading to the atmosphere, and further includes a blocking member slidably mounted over the displaceable member so that the blocking member can alternately block and uncover the inlet vent opening. The blocking member is biased in a direction away from the pumping member and the displaceable member includes a~ ~7058 4 mealls for prevenling the blocking member from translating relative to tl1e displaceable member beyond a certain location, thereby biasing the displaceable melnber, so that when the blocking member is at said location it block.s the inlet vent opening.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments, tl1e biasing Or the blocking member is ~chieved using at least one leaf sprillg conl1ec~ing lhe walls of the pressure control chamber and the blocking member, one end of the leaf spring is held in a recession in tl1e walls of the pressure control chamber and the other end of thc Ic~f spril1g is held in a recession in the blocking nember.
According lo one embodin1ent of tl1e present invention the vent conduit is connected to the pumping member.
According to another embodiment of the present invention the vent COIl(]Uit is formed witl1 the displaceable member and is slidable througll a seal to the atmospl1ere.
According ~o furthel features in preferred embodiments, the feeding means includes all electrolytic cell which includes electrodes and electrolyte and whicll generates a gas at a rate substantially proporlional to the electrical current passillg through the electrolyte.
/~ccolding to yet furtllcr features, the valve means comprises:
(a) an upstrealn one-way valve in the passageway located between the reservoir and the p~ 1pillg chnn1ber and oriented such that during the drawing .stroke the pulllr)illg mel1lber draw.s Iiquid from the reservoir to thc pu~ g cln.llllbel; ,lnd (b) a down~trealll one-way valve in the ~as~.lgew.ly loc.lle(l h~lweell ~he pulnpil1g challlber an(l the outlet and oriented sucll that dllrillg the pumping slroke the pumping member pUI11pS liquid froll1 tl-e pulnping chamber through the outlet.
Also accordillg to the present invention tl1ere is provided a one-way valve ror colltrolling the flow of fluid through a p~ssage, --WO 95/03078 Zl 87~i5~ PCT/IE94/00037 comprisillg: (a) meall.s for fixing the position of the valve relative to the pa~ssageway; (b) a flexible member having a convex side in the direction of lhe flow and a concave side in the opposite direction; and (c) a slit in the flexible member such that when pressure is exerted S upon the concave ~side the ~slit is made to open to allow the flow of fluid while when prcssllle is exerted on tl-e convex side the slit is made to close and prevent the now of fluid.
Tlle pre~sellt invention ~succe~s~srully addresses the shortcomings of the pre.sently knowll conlïguration~s by providing a liquid dispenser 10 whicll i~s aclllated by clo.sillg all cleclrical circuit which activates an elcctrolytic cell .~o ~a.s to call.se gas to be generated at a predetermined ratc. When the plllllping melllber ha~s been ~sufficiently displaced, indicatillg the delivery throu~,h the device outlet of a substantially fixed amount Or liquid, tlle vent opens automatically and, pr~ ferably, 15 the gas generation is interrupted. The venting of the pressure control chamber bring.s about tlle drawing of additional liquid from the reservoir into the pumping chamber (the drawing stroke), where the liquid remains until gas is again generated so as to drive the diaphragm and thereby pump an additional aliquot of liquid out of the 20 unit, during the pumping ~stroke.
The principles and operalion of a liquid material dispenser and one-way valve according to the present invention may be better understood witll referellce to the drawings and the accompanying de.scription.
25 Brief De.scription ot Dl awin~s I he illVentiOIl i~ heleill de.scribed. by way of example only, with rel`el-ellce lo ~he accolll~-allying drawin~.s, wherein:
FIG. I i~s a cro.~s-~sectional view of one embodiment of a liquid materi~l di~pensel accol-ding to the present invention;
FIG. 2 i~ a one-way valve according to the present invention;
~ IG. 3 is a cros~s-scctional view of a second embodiment of a liquid material dhspellsel according to llle present invention;
I~IG. 4 i~s a cro.ss-sectional view of a tllird embodiment of a liquid material dispenser according to the present invention;
FlG. 5 i~s an enlargcd view of Lhe top central portion of the dispenser of l~igure 4 wi~h the leaf spring in its top position;
I l(i. 6 i.s ;u~ e~ ged view of the tol) central portion of the di~spen~scl ol l~igule ~ wi~h thc leaf spring in its bottom position; and l~lG~ 7 is all cnlarged cross-sectional view of the top central portion Or a fourll~ embodilllent of a liquid material dispenser according lo the invention.
Modes for Carryil1g Out the Invention Referring llOW to lhe drawings, Figure I illustrates a basic embodiment of a liquid material dispenser according to the present invention de~signed lO dcliver drugs at a slow, controlled and precise rate~ Througiloul lhe discussion which follows the dispenser is assun~ed to be u~sed for lhe dispensing of medication, it being underslood thal .such an application is merely illustrative of the many applicalions wllelein it i~s desired to inlerlllittently deliver a controlled amoullt of liquid al a relatively slow rale. The present invention is intended to cover all ~sucll applicaliolls and is not limited to medicinal applications.
I lle illu.slrated liclllid dispenser according to the present inVellliOn llaS a hOIlSillg 1O enclosing a reservoir 12 which contains the liquid to be dispell.sed. Housing 10 also includes an outlet 14 through wllicll the liquid is dispensed, and a connecting passageway 16 between re~serYoir 12 an(l outlet 1~. Passageway 16 includes an enlarged cavity whicll contail-.s a n~oYable, or reciprocatable, pumping member, --~VO 95/03078 PCT/IE94/00037 2I670~8 prefer~bly a diapllragln 18, which divides the enlarged cavity into a pumpi~ challlber 20 and a pressure control cllamber 22.
Diapllragtll 18 ser~e.s as a reciprocating pumping member and is cyclically di~splaceable lhrougll a pumping stroke and a drawing stroke 5 to effec~ lhe movelllelll of liquid from reservoir 12 through outlet 14.
As will be described in more detail below, during the drawing stroke, differelltial pre.ssllle across diaphragm 18 causes it to move in one direclion (upward~s in l~igure 1) a.s liqllid moves from reservoir 12 to pulnpillg challlbel 2~ uring lhe pUlllpillg stroke, when the direction 10 of differenlial pre.ssurc is reversed, diaphragm 18 is caused to move in lhc olhel direclion (~owllw~rds in ~igure 1) causing liquid to move from pumpillg cllalnber 20 through passageway 16 to outlet 14.
I he motion of diaphragm 18 during the pumping stroke is preferably brought about by an electrolytic cell 24 having a suitable 15 electrolyte, such as sodium bicarbonate or, preferably, potassium acetale, located wi~hin housing 10 and in communication with pressure control chamber 22 l~io a bore 26. Also shown in Figure 1 is a pair of electrodes 28 which are connected to a suitable electrical energy ~ource (nol .sllo~vn) wlliell may be housed either within or outside 20 housing lO.
Electrolytic cell 24 may be of any known construction.
Examples of possible configuration are described in U.S. Patent Nos.
5,062,834 and 5,090,963, alld in our International Patent Publication WO 93/23096.
Whel1evel appropriate, electrical energy is supplied to , electrodes 28 a~ a preselecled rate. bringing about electrolytic reactions whicll produce gases. Tlle rate of gas production is related to the electrical current supplied to electrolytic cell 24 and the total amount of gases produced is related to the total electrical energy supplied to the cell. The produced gases flow from electrolytic cell 24 to pressure conllol challlber 22 through bore 26 to displace diaphragm l 8 alld tllereby el ~cct tlle pUlllpillg of liquid from pumping chamber wo 95/03078 PCT/IEg4/00037 ~
~1~7~8 8 20 lhrollgh tl-e ~low~ re~l~l porliotl of passageway 16 and out through outlet 14.
I\ downstreatll one-way valve 30 is anchored in that portion of passageway 16 belween pumping chamber 20 and outlet 14 and is S oriented sllcll tha~ during llle pumping stroke of diaphragm 18, liquid is moved from puInpillg chamber 20 throllgh outlet 14.
An up.stIealll Onc-way valve 32 is anchored in that portion of pas~ageway 16 belwecn re~ervoir 12 and pumping chamber 20 and is Oliellted SllCh thal (Illling tlle drawiIlg stroke of diaphragm 18, liquid 10 is drawn from rcseI-voiI- 12 into pUIllpiIlg chamber 20.
One-way valves 30 and 32 can be of any suitable design, including the design de.scribed in our International Patent Publication WO 93/23096.
Preferably, as can best be seen in Figure 2, one-way valves are lS of the llnique design described below. It is to be noted that while the one-way valve described below is suitable for use in the context of a liquid material dispenser according to the present invention, it will be readily apparen~ to the reader that SUC}l valves may also be used in various otller applicalions. ~t is intended that all such applications fall 20 withiIl the scope of the present invention.
Each of one-way valves 30 and 32 according to the present inventioll includes meaIl~ for fixing tlle position of the valve relative to tlle passageway, for example, a rim 34 which is suitably connected to housing 10 (l~igure 1).
Connected to rim 34, preferably integrally formed with it, is a flexible member 36, preferably made of a suitable plastics or rubber.
Flexible member llaS a convex side whicll is installed so as to face in tlle desired diIection of tlle flow and a concave side which faces the opposite direction. Prelerably, flexible member 36 is hemispherical, --~VO 95/03078 PCT/IE94/00037 05~
or p~-tly spherical, in sllape Flexible member 36 features near its centre a slit 38 of sui~able length and shape.
Thus, when diaphragm 18 pushes downward, pressure is exerted on lhe concave side of downstream valve 30 and on the convex side of 5 upstl-eam valve 32 The exertion of pressure on the concave side of downstrealn valve 30 tend~s to bend flexible member 36 of valve 30 downstrea11l in the direction of outlet 14 Tlle bending tends to cause the portions of nexible n~elllber 36 of valve 30 which border on slit 38 to ~separate, lhereby ~llowing liquid to ~low downstream through 10 the Jorllled openill~
At the ~sallle time. the exertion of pressure on the convex side of upstream valve 32 tends to push flexible member 36 of valve 32 up~slrcalll in thc directioll of reservoir 12. This tends to cause the porlion~s of nexible nlelllber 36 of v~!lve 32 which border on slit 38 to 15 come logell~er, lllel-eby se~lillg the opening and preventing liquid from flowing upstrealll throllgll valve 32 Similarly, whell the pressure in pressure control chamber 22 is reduced, as will be described below, diaphragm 18 moves upwards and pressure i~s redllced in pumping chamber 20, on the concave side 20 of downstream valve 30 and on the convex side of upstrearn valve 32.
The reduction in pressure allows liquid to move through the upstream valve 32 and at tlle s~me time tightly closes downstream valve 30 to prevent any liquid fronl entering tlle device from the outside through outlet 14 A liquid ma~criLIl dispenser according to the present invention l`urlhcr ~catules a vellt n~cchanislll for vcnting gases created by electrolytic ccll 2~ Iroll~ pressure control chamber 22 to the almospllele. Tlle vcnting drops the pressure in pressure control challlbel 22 alld ca-l~ses diaphragm 18 to move so as to draw liquid from reservoir 12 into pulllpirlg chamber 20, as described above a~7 o~
I lle vent mecllall~ l includes an inlet vent opening 40 located in pres~ure con~rol cllalllbel- 22. As will be described below in more detail, inlet vent opcnillg 40 i~s caused to alternately open to end the pumping stroke and vent pressure control chamber 22 and to close after a porlion of lhe gases has vented.
The vent mecllalli~sln include~s a displaceable member 42 which is connected to diaphragm ] 8. Displaceable member 42 is formed with inlet vent openillg ~0 whicll is ill communication with a flexible vent conduit 44 Collllcclc(l to diapllragm 18 and leading to the atmosphere througll a fixed vcnt colldllit 46 formed in housing 10. The commutlicatioll bet-vecll inlet vent opening 40 and flexible vent conduit 44 i~ preferably erfccted througll a hollow portion of displaceable Inclllbcl 42.
l`lle vcnt IlleCI~.llli~lll l`urthcr includcs a blocking member 48 whicll is slidably moullted over displaceable member 42 so that blocking member 48 can alternately block and uncover inlet vent openillg 40 as described in more detail below.
Preferably, displaceab]e member 42 includes a section which is frusto-conical in shape and blocking member 48 is annular with an inner diameter whic}l is somewhat bigger than the outside diameter of the smallest diameter portion of the frusto-conical segment of displaceable melnber 42. Preferably also, displaceable member 42 features means for preventing blocking member 48 from translating rela~ive to said displaceable member beyond a certain location, such as a ledge 50, adjoinillg the largest diameter portion of the frusto-conical segment of di~splaceable melllber 42, and having an outside diameter which i~ ~OtllCWhat larger than the inner diameter of blocking member 48, lheleby l~revelltillg blocking melllber from sliding past ledge S0.
The functioll of ledge ~0 can also be achieved by other means, such as the hori7011~al pol tio~ Or di~placeable nlelllber 42 shown in ~ig~ c 3.
--WO 951030n PCT/IE94/00037 Il Blocking melllber 48 i~s normally biased in a direetion away from diaphraglll 18 (up~vard~s in ~igure 1). Thus, whenever blocking member 48 abuls agains~ ledge 50, displaceable member 42 is also bia~sed in the ~same direction.
S I he relative location and dimensiolls of displaceable member 42, blocking nlember ~8 and inlet vent opening 40 are such that whenever blockin~ nlember 48 ~but~s against ledge 50, inlet vent opening 40 is blocked. or clo~sed. thereby preventing gases from leaving pre~ssllle conlrol cllamber 22.
I he bia.sing ol blocking n~en1ber 48, and therefore of displaceable melllber ~2, a~s described above, is preferably aehieved thlougll use ol one or n~ol-e biasing springs, preferably one or more leal` spl-ings 52. one end ol eacll of wllic}l touches, or eonneets to, a wall ol pres.sllre colltlol chall~ber 22 while the otl~er end touches, or connecl~s to, blocking l~lelllber 48.
I'referably, tlle ends of leaf springs 52 fit into reeessions in the wall~s of pres~sule conlrol chamber 22 and blocking member 48.
Tl~e lenglll ol leaf spring 52 is such that when the vent mechalli~slll i~s in il~s neulral position (shown in Figures 1 and 3), leaf spring 52 i.s sllgl~lly benl ~so as to produce the upward bi~s on bloeking melllbel 48 and displaceable member 42, a~s described above.
In opelillion~ elecllical energy i~s supplied at a suitable rate to eleclrolytic cell 24 CaUSillg il lo generale gases which enter pressure collllol cll;lmbel 22 alld raise it~s pressllre. The increased pressure cau~se~s diapllraglll 18 lo move downw~rd so as to push liquid through oullel 14 a~s de~scl ibcd above. Sillce displaceable member 42 is conllectc(l lo diapllr.lgln 18, a t`orce is exerted on displaceable member 42 lo IllOVe dowl~w~lld. Ihis lorce is at first counteracted by the upward biasing force exelled by leaf spring 52.
~7~8 12 As the downward movement of diaphragm 18 continues, the downward force on displaceable menlber 42 increases, eventually equalling and overcoming the biasing force. At this point, leaf springs 52 instantaneously .strai~ghten and then bend rapidly in the downward S direction, causing bloclcing member 48 to slide downward relative to di~splaceable melnbel 42, so tllat blocking member abuts against abutting portion 54 of di~splaceable member 42. The relative movement of blocking nlelnber 48 and displaceable member 42 exposes inlet vent opening 40. Since the pressure in pressure control 10 ch,lll~ber 22 i~s lar~er lh;lll in the almosphere outside the dispenser, gase.s flow quickly ~hlougll inlet vent opening 40, flexible vent conduit 44 and rlxed ven~ collduit 46 and escape to tlle outside of the dispenser.
I he ven~illg Or the gases brings about a rapid pressure drop in pres~sure conlrol challlber 22 causing lhe pressure in pressure control challlber 22 to rapi(Jly 1`.111 from a pressllre above that in pumping chamber 20 lo a pre~ssllle below the pressure in pumping chamber 20.
lhe resultillg pre~ssule difl`erential pushes displaceable member 42 rapidly upward. A~s di~splaceable member 42 moves upward, abutting portion 54 of di~splaceable member 42 pushes blocking member 48 20 upward past the ancllol-illg point of leaf spring 52 in the wall of pressure control challlber 22 which causes leaf spring 52 to bend upwal-ds, thereby upwardly biàsing blocking member 48, and displaceable melllber 42~ as described above, and causing blocking member 48 to block, or close, inlet vcnt opening 40, thereby 25 termillating llle VCllling ol gases fronl pressure con~rol chamber 22.
I he lengtll alld .s~rengtll of lcaf spring 52, as well as the other compollelll~s Or lhc VCIl~ nlccllalli.slll, ale designed to actuate as de~scribed above sc) lh,l~ a sub.slalllially l~lxecl quantity of liquid is disltcllscd dlnillg cacl~ plln~ping .s~roke I'rererably~ a di.spenscl according lo lhe present invention also include.s a pair ol` eleclrical contacls 56 which are arranged so tha~
vhen displaceable melllbcl 42 i.s in its upwardly biased position con~ac~s 56 are toucllillg each olhel, wllile when displaceable member 21 6 7D~8 42 is ~i.splaced do-vllwal(l during venting, as described above, contacts 56 are ~slightly separaled from each olher, througll, for example, a slight downwald bia~s on tlle lower of the two contacts S6.
Contact.s ~6 are clectrically connected to taps 58 which ~re, in 5 turn, connected lo a ~suit.lble eleclrical circuit (not shown) which senses the momellt of separation of contacts 56 and is capable of using the inrortllatioll to cut orf elcc~rical energy to eleclrolytic cell 24 so that no ga~ses are generated wllile pre~ssure control chamber 22 is vented and during the period from the completion of the venting until the 10 initiation of the next pumping ~slroke.
Shown in l~igure ~ is a second embodiment according to the present invention, whereill inlet vent opening 40 does not communicate witll a flexible vent conduit as in the embodiment of Figure 1, but ratller comlllullicates directly with a vent conduit 60 15 which is connected to, or preferably, integrally formed with, displaceable melllber 42. Vent conduit 60 is sufficiently long to extend througll l10U~S;I1g 10 to the atmosphere. A suitable seal 62 allow.s vent conduit 60 to slide up and down yet seals pressure control challlber 22 ~so that 110 ga~se.s can escape except through vent conduit 20 60.
As will be readily apparent to the reader, the embodiment shown in Figure 3 can include contacts 56 and taps 58 as shown in the embodimellt o~ l~igure 1. These have been omitted from Figure 3 to enhance clarity.
l~ou.sillg 10, re.ser~oir 12 ~n(3/or di~phragm 18 may be made of any suilable conlïglllaliol~. c.g., circular or rectangul~r in cross-sectiOIn .llld m~ly hc m.ldc Or any .sui~able malerials.
For ease in as.sembly and disa~ssembly of the illustrated dispenser, housing 10 i~s made of a plurality of sections -- a top section lOa, a middle ~section lOb and a botlom section lOc. Top section lOa and mid(lle sec~ion I Ob cl~lmp togelher lo define between them `al671~5g ~4 punlping challlber 20 and pressure control chamber 22 and further form a volume whicll serves to hollse electrolytic cell 24.
Middle ~seclion 1 Ob and botlom ~section lOc clamp together to det`ine betwecn lhelll a cavily whicll includes reservoir 12 and to hold 5 in place a rolling diapl~ glll 64, wlliCIl iS flexible and preferably made of ~silicon mbber. Il will be seen lhat reservoir 12 is defined by middle .section lOb all(l rolling diaphragm 64. Rolling diaphragm 64 is shown in Figure~s I and 3 as it would appear when reservoir 12 is r.,ll of liquid. Showll in broken lines in Figure 3 is rolling diaphragm 64 a~s it would appear when reservoir 12 is empty. Diaphragm 18 and a re~servoir vent opellillg 68 permit reservoir 12 to expand and contract according to lhe amount of liquid material contained in re~servoir 12 as rolling melllbralle 64 moves.
Middle ~section lOb carries an injection plug 66 for filling the 15 reservoir by injection via a syringe needle (not shown). Middle section I Ob al~so include.s an injection vent 69 which allows air to escape during the injectiol- of liquid into reservoir 12.
I`l~e rill)s 34 ol valvc~s 30 and 32 are secured in opening~s formed in l~liddle ~section I Ob.
lhe illu.stlate(l dispen~ser operates as follows. Reservoir 12 is fillled willl liquid U~Sillg a .syringe (not shown) which pierces injection plug 66. Injection i.s contil-ued until the injected liquid begins to exit fronl outlet 14, indicatillg lhat reservoir 12, connecting passageway 16 and pl~ ping challlber 20 are all completely filled with the liquid.
I lle ratc Or dclivery of the liquid from reservoir 12 to outlet 14 i.s conllolled by all eleclrical control circuit (not shown) which controls thc enelgi7illg Or elcctrolytic cell 24 through electrodes 28.
During the intel-~al whell electrodes 28 are energized, electrolytic cell 2~ generate~s a ga~s or ga~se.s whicll are fed via bore 26 to pressure control chamber 22. I llese gases displace diaphragm 18 downward, thereby .stre~s~sing diaphlagm 18 and contracting pumping chamber 20.
--~VO 95/03078 2 1 ~ 7 ~ ~ PCT/IE94/00037 s Colllraclion ol pUltlpillg chamber 20 applies a pressure ViCI
passageway 16 lo close upstream valve 32 and open downstream valve 30. Accordingly, 1i4uid from pumping chamber 20 is pumped via valve 30 through oullet 14 while electrolytic cell 24 produces gas at a 5 rale which is relaled lo lhe magnitude of electrical current supplied to it.
As described above, at a certain point in the pumping stroke, blocking member 48 moves downward relative to displaceable mclllbel 42 expo~sing inlct venl opening 40 and venting pressure 10 Collllol chanlbel 22. alld ~sim~ nneously interrupting the generation of ga.ses by elcclrolylic cell 24.
I~OIIOWillg Velllillg, blocking melllber 48 and displaceable melnber 42, as well a.s lhc olher components of the vent mechanism, return to thcir rest pO~ilioll (as shown in Figures I and 3) with 15 pumping challlber 20 havillg been refilled with liquid drawn from reservoir 12.
When eleclrical current is again applied to electrolytic cell 24 diaphragm 18 will again be driven through a pumping stroke and will pump lhe liquid througll valve 30 and out through outlet 14.
~t) Shown in Figures 4-6 is a third embodiment according to the present inventiont whicll is generally the same as the embodiments depicted in l~igures I and 3 excepl for variations in the mechanism u.sed lo venl pre~ssule con~rol chamber 22 which are described below.
A liquid m.lterial di.spen.ser according to the embodiment shown 25 in l~igure~s 4-6 fealure~s a ~somewllat different vent mechanism for venling ga.ses crea~e(l by eleclrolytic cell 24 from pressure control chambel 22 lo lhe allllospllere. ï he venting drops the pressure in pressure conll~ l cllalllber 22 an(l cau~ses diaphragm 18 to move so as to draw liquid rrom reservoir 12 inlo putnping chamber 20, as 30 described above.
2~ `58 1 6 1 he ven( nlccllalli~slll showll in l~igure 4, and, in more detail, in lhe enlalge(l views ol ~igures 5 and 6, includes a displaceable member 142 WhiCIl iS collllccled to diaphragm 18 and WhiCIl iS made up of a number of pOltiOllS
Di~splace~ble Inenlbcr 142 includes an upper member 202 which is ~ble to lie 11~ agaill~t ~hc top il!ner wall of pressure control chamber 22 when lhe pre~sure control chamber is not being vented.
Upper melnber 202 is rigidly connecled to the rest of displaceable member 142 Vi~l a ~suilable connecting Inember 204, which is preferably in the forlll of a series of ribs extending downward from upper membel 202 ~o a central member 206.
L~lelldillg ~llrougll or between connecting member 204, through a .slot (nol ~l10WI1) j~ IC~ prillg 52 whicll also passes through an impact nlclllbcr 2()7 wllicll i.s not connected to displaceable member 142 alld is l`rec lo IllOVC belwcen upper member 202 and central member 206 of displaceable member 142. Leaf spring 52 and impact member 207 are located such that the downward motion of upper member 202 cau.ses the downward motion of impact member 207 which in turn, causes lhe same downward motion of leaf spring 52.
Central member 206 is connected to a lower member 208 and together with it forms a secondary chamber. The secondary chamber is split in~o all upper secondary ch~mber 210 and a lower secondary chamber 212 by a dhsplaceable plug 214 which is anchored to, or form~ a por~ion of lower member 208.
Di~placeable plug 214 featllres one or more suitably located bore~ 215 whicll ~erve lo conlinuou~ly connect upper secondary chambel 210 alld lo~Yer .secondary chamber 212. The size, sllape and movelllell~ of di~pl.lce.lhle plug 21~ are de.signed so that it can allelll,llely exlclld lhlollgh an OpCIlillg 216 in central member 206 so 3() a~ lo clo.~c olf or i~ol,llc upper ~econdary cllalnber 210, and tllererore al~o lower ~ecollcl.lly challlber 212 Irolll pressure control chamber 22, Cl IClreal CIOWI1~V~1ICI frOIll openillg 216 ~o a~ to put ~secondary -~flO95/03078 PCT~E94/~037 ~f ~7~
chaltlber 210. alld thel-el`ol-e also Ivwer secoll(lary chamber 212, in Colllnlullicalioll wi~ rc~sure control challlber 22.
I_ower .secon(lal-y chamber 212 i.s in continuous communication wi~h flcxible vent coll(luit 44 conl)ected to diaphragm 18 and leading to the atmo~spllere tlllougll a fixed vent conduit 46 formed in housing 10.
Tlle leng~ll ol' 1~ pring 52 i~ sllch tl)al when tlle vent nlecl~alli~m i.s in i~ eull.ll po~silion (~showll in ~igure 5), leaf spring 52 i.~ h~ly be~ o .~s ~o plo(lllce the upwal-d bias on impact member I o 207.
In opera~ioll, elcc~rical energy is sllpplied at a suitable rate to elec~roly~ic cell 24 c~using it to generate gases which enter pressure conlrol challlbcr 22 and raise its pressure, The increased pressure causes diaphraglll 18 lo move downward so as to push liquid through outle~ 14 a~s de~scribed above. Since displaceable member 142 is connected lo diaplllaglll 18, force is exerted on displaceable member 142, IllOVillg i~ dowl~ward. The downw~ud movement of displaceable membel 142 al~o .serve~ to move impact melllber 207 and leaf spring 52 downward.
As the downwar(l movement continues, downward force on leaf spring 52iSillCle~e(l. Evenlually tlle downward force on leaf spring 52 exceeds ils upwal(lly direcled biasing force. At this point, leaf sprillg 52illStallt~lllCOUSIy slraightells and then bends rapidly in the dowllwald direction. causillg impact member 207 to move rapidly downw~l(l alld impact di.splaceable plllg214. The impact causes displaceable plug 214~o move downward, which opens the previously closed OpCllillg 216, pU~illg pre~sure control chamber 22 in commullicatioll wi~h upper secondary chamber 210 (and therefore with lower second~ry Cllalllber212 and flexible vent conduit 44 and fixed vent cond-lit '16) all(l allowing the gases in pressure cont~ol Challlber22tO be rcleased outside the device. Since the pressure in 5~ ] 8 pl-e~sllre con~lo~ .u~lbel 22 i.s lligller lhall in the atmosphere oulside he di~pen~er~ ga.se.s cluickly esc~pe to ~he outside of the dispenser.
I lle venting of the gase~s brings about a rapid pressure drop in pre~s~sure control ch;ll1lber 22 causing the pressure in pressure control 5 cl~alllbel- 22 to r.lpidly f;lll frol1l a pressure above that in pumping cllalnbel 20 lo a pre.s~ule below tlle pressure in pumping chamber 20.
Tlle re.sultillg pres~sul-e difreren~ial pusl1es displaceable member 142 rapi(lly ~Ipw~rd. /~ di.sr)l.lceable meltlber 142 moves upwards evel1lu.llly le.lf ~pling 52 bcnds ~Ipward to pU~SIl impact member 207 upwald and away 1`10111 di~;placeable plug 214 allowing displaceable plug 21~ to ri.sc so 1~ lo once again clo~se opening 216 between pres~sllle contl-ol cl~alllber 22 alld the outside of lhe dispenser.
Best Mode for Carlyillg Ou~ the Invention Sl1owll in I igure 7 i~s a fourth and presenlly preferred 15 embodi1nent accor(lil1g to the present invention which is generally the same as ~lle elllbodimelll~s depicted in Figures 1 3 and 4-6 except for varialion~s in llle Illecllallisnl used to vent pressure control chamber 22 as de.scribed below. Accordillgly l~igure 7 shows an enlarged detail of the ventillg n~ecllallisl1l.
lllu~s, in l~igure 7 there is illustrated generally at 300 a detail of a liquid Illateri.ll di~spen.~el according to the present invention. The dispenser has a llollsil1g 310 including a reservoir (not shown) which col1laill.s lhe ]i(luid lo he dispensed ~nd including an outlet (not shown) througll wllicll thc liq~lid is dispensed. As with the embodiments illustraled in l~igure~s 1. 3 alld 4-6 tl1e liquid travels from the reservoir to lhe oullct l?i(l a p~s.s~geway 312 llaving an upstream one-way valve ~nd a down.stre.ll1l onc-~v;ly valve (not sl1own). Thus liquid coming from the re~ser~oil ~n(l upstreall1 valve îhrougll passageway 312 enters ~l~e illu.stlatc(l poltion ol the dispen.ser ~ tlle part of passageway 312 indicated at 31~ igure 7. Wilhin passageway 312 there is located a diaphragl1l 316 definillg~ on one side thereof with passageway 312 a plllllpil)g cl)~n~l-el 318 ;u1(1 on tlle other ~side thereof a pressure --WO 9!;/03078 PCT/IE94/00037 21 ~7~
conlrol cllamber 320. l~le diaphragm 316 is cyclically displaceable so as to draw liquid into llle pumping chamber 318 from the reservoir and upslream valve and to pUlllp liquid from pumping chamber 318 along connecting pa~ssa~eway 312 towards the downstream valve and the 5 outlel in lllc dil-eclio n in(licatcd al 322.
I~iaphra~nl 3 l 6 i.s conllected ~i(l a connecting rod 324 to a vent mecllalli~slll. in(licatc(l ~cnerally at 326, having an inlet vent opening 328. A leaf Splillg 330 is secured within pressure control chamber 320 and i.s conllecte(l lO conllec~ing rod 324. When the vent mechanism is 10 in il~s nell~ral posi~iol~ leaf spring 330 i~s slightly bent so as to produce an upward bias on collnec~ing rod 324. Inlet vent opening 328 is defined be~ween a ~seal meltlber 332 and housing 310. Seal member 332 i~s connecled ~ conllecting rod 324 to diaphragm 316.
I're~ssllle col~lrol cl~.llllbcr 320 extends from diaphr~gm 316 up to inlet venl openillg 328. One or more gaps 334 in se~l member 332 allow COllll~llllliCatiOIl belweel1 lower part 336 and upper part 338 of pressure control chalnber 320.
In operatioll, gas is generated within pressure control chamber 320 by an eleclrolylic cell 340, causing diaphragm 316 to be displaced downwards lhrougll tlle pumping stroke. Leaf spring 330 initially oppo~ses tllis downwald force but, as in lhe other embodiments, the upward bias provided by spring 330 is eventually overcome, and the spring s~ igh~ens al~(l thcll snaps downwards when it reaches the horizontal po.sition. This snapping action causes seal member 332 to snap downwar(l~s, C.lU~Sillg inlet vent opening 328 to open and thereby allowing tlle pressurised gas within pressure control chamber 320 to e~scape l~i(l inlcl venl opening 328 lhrougll a vent outlet 342.
Se,ll nlcll-l~cl 332 colllpriscs a central portion 344, a frusto-conical scclion 346 ~vill~ WlliCIl gap 334 is located, and an anchor seclion 348 holdillg thc .seal mcn~ber 332 in po.silion Hinges 350 allow cenlral porlion 344 lo move downwards and upwards in relation to allChOI SeC~iOIl 348. WhiCIl movements respectively open and seal inlet vent opening 328 inside tlle upper part 338 of pressure control cllamber 320.
The escape of the pressurised gas allows leaf spring 330 to relax, whereby diaphlaglll 316, connecting rod 324 and seal member 332 move upw.uds. ull~il inlet vent opening 328 is resealed. The upward movement of diaphragln 316 draws liquid from the reservoir through lhe up.stream valve and Vil/ the connecting passageway at 3I4 inlo pumping chamber ~18. lhus, pumping chamber 318 is refilled and inlet vent openillg ~28 is resealed allowing lhe pumping stroke to begi n agai n.
1~ will be appl-eciated lhat lhe illustrated dispenser does not hold lal-ge volullle~s Or ga~se~s over exlended periods, and therefore is not .significantly sensi(ive lo lemperalure and pressure fluctuations. In additioll, il will be noled lhal a di~spen~ser according to the present inventioll tends lo deliver ~subslantially the same amount of liquid in each succe~s~sive pUlllpillg stroke. The illustrated dispenser may lhererore be u~sed ror inlenllillenlly dispensing precisely set amounts Or liquids a~ pleci~ely conlrolled rales.
Background Arl l lle invention i.s especially userul where the liquid is driven from 10 the dispellscr by thc lorec of gas generated at a suitable rate by an electrolytic cell. Exanlples of such systems are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,062,834 and 5,090,963, and in our lnternational Patent Publication WO 93/23096, which are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
In a v,lriety ol` applications, including, but not limited to, drug dclivery systems, it is required to dispense or deliver a liquid at a predetermined, precisely controlled rate. Electrolytic pumps, such as those de.scribed in lhe above-mentioned U.S. Patents, have been developed for this purpose. Illese pumps, however, generally include relatively large pumping chambers, and hence their pumping rates may be significantly influenced by pressure and temperature changes, particularly whell the dispenser is used over long periods of time and/or under varying ambient conditions.
Tl~e elcctrolytic pUlllp described in our lnternational Patent I'ublicalion WO '~3/230~6 provides a liquid material dispenser or pump of a construction wllicl~ call include a pumping chamber of relatively slllall volume so that the rate of delivery of the liquid is less sensitive to pressule and ~empera~ure variations.
%~ 5~;
However, tl~e venting of the pressure control ch~mber is carried out through a slow acting vent which releases the gas from the pressure conllol challlbel- to tl~e ~a~ ospllere to thereby drive the pumping member through lhe relurn stroke and draw liquid from the reservoir into the pulllping ch,~ ber. Such a slow vent may at times become plugged, reducing the venting rate or interrupting it entirely. ln addition, sitlce the ventillg is carried oul continuously at all times, it tends to reduce the efficiency of the pumping stroke by robbing the pumping chamber of sollle of its relatively high pressure gases when it is desired th.lt lhose gas~s cxerl IllaXillllllll force on the diaphragtn to pulnp tlle liquid.
In ,addi~ llc (Icvice disclosed in our International Patent Public,atioll WO '~/23()'~G uscs a pair of one-way umbrella valves for controllillg the tlow o~ liquid from the rescrvoir to the outside of the 1 5 device.
Furthermore, lhe device described in our International Patent Publication WO 93/23096 is designed so that gas production continues for a pre-de~ermined period of time. The duration is selected so as to deliver the desired amo~ t of liquid through the outlet. However, for a variety of reasons, includillg, but not limited to, partial plugging of the outlet or temperatule and pressure variations, the amount of liquid delivered during a fixed period of time may vary.
T here is thu.s a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advalltageous to have, an electrolytic pump along the lines dcscribed in our Inlerna~iollal Patent Publication WO 93/23096 but whicll would fcat-llc IllC~lllS for more efficiently venting the pressure conllol challlbcr ~ d which would make use of more one-way valves, and wllicll would have ~he ability to automatically discontinue the delivery of liquid when a rlxed amount of liquid has been made to pass througll the outlet.
~qvo gs/03078 2 ~ 6 7 ~ ~ 8 PCT/IE94/00037 Disclo~ure Or Invelllion ~ ccording lo ll~e present invention there is provided a liquid material dispellser, comprising: (a) a housing including a reservoir for storing liquid to be dispensed, an outlet through which the liquid is 5 dispensed, and a connecting passageway belween said reservoir and said olltlet; (b) a reciprocatable pumping member located in said passageway~ one ~ide of .said pumping member defining a pumping chamber wilh .said pas.sageway, and the other side of said pumping nlelllber ~lef`illillg a l~re.ss~lle control chalnber, said pumping member 10 being cyclically di.spl.lceable through a pumping stroke for pumping liquid lllr~ugll ~ai~ oll~le( and ~ drawillg stroke for drawing liquid from said re~ervoir; (c) valve means in said passageway effective, during said drawing stroke, to cause the pumping member to draw liquid from said reservoir into said pumping chamber, and during said 15 pumping stroke, to cause the pumping member to pump liquid from said pumping chamber through said outlet; (d) feeding means for feeding a gas at a preselected time and rate to said pressure control chamber to drive the pumping member through said pumping stroke;
and (e) a vent mechanism for venting said gas from said pressure 20 control cllamber to the atmosphere to drive the pumping member through said drawing ~troke, said vent mechanism having an inlet vent opening inside said pressure control chamber, said opening being caused to open to end .said pumping ~troke and to close after a portion of said gas ha.s vcn~c(l.
According lo furlher features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the pumping rnember is a diaphragm and the vent mechanism includes a displaceable member connected to the pumping member, the displaceable member being formed with the inlet vent opening. the inlet vent opening being in commllnication with a vent conduit leading to the atmosphere, and further includes a blocking member slidably mounted over the displaceable member so that the blocking member can alternately block and uncover the inlet vent opening. The blocking member is biased in a direction away from the pumping member and the displaceable member includes a~ ~7058 4 mealls for prevenling the blocking member from translating relative to tl1e displaceable member beyond a certain location, thereby biasing the displaceable melnber, so that when the blocking member is at said location it block.s the inlet vent opening.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments, tl1e biasing Or the blocking member is ~chieved using at least one leaf sprillg conl1ec~ing lhe walls of the pressure control chamber and the blocking member, one end of the leaf spring is held in a recession in tl1e walls of the pressure control chamber and the other end of thc Ic~f spril1g is held in a recession in the blocking nember.
According lo one embodin1ent of tl1e present invention the vent conduit is connected to the pumping member.
According to another embodiment of the present invention the vent COIl(]Uit is formed witl1 the displaceable member and is slidable througll a seal to the atmospl1ere.
According ~o furthel features in preferred embodiments, the feeding means includes all electrolytic cell which includes electrodes and electrolyte and whicll generates a gas at a rate substantially proporlional to the electrical current passillg through the electrolyte.
/~ccolding to yet furtllcr features, the valve means comprises:
(a) an upstrealn one-way valve in the passageway located between the reservoir and the p~ 1pillg chnn1ber and oriented such that during the drawing .stroke the pulllr)illg mel1lber draw.s Iiquid from the reservoir to thc pu~ g cln.llllbel; ,lnd (b) a down~trealll one-way valve in the ~as~.lgew.ly loc.lle(l h~lweell ~he pulnpil1g challlber an(l the outlet and oriented sucll that dllrillg the pumping slroke the pumping member pUI11pS liquid froll1 tl-e pulnping chamber through the outlet.
Also accordillg to the present invention tl1ere is provided a one-way valve ror colltrolling the flow of fluid through a p~ssage, --WO 95/03078 Zl 87~i5~ PCT/IE94/00037 comprisillg: (a) meall.s for fixing the position of the valve relative to the pa~ssageway; (b) a flexible member having a convex side in the direction of lhe flow and a concave side in the opposite direction; and (c) a slit in the flexible member such that when pressure is exerted S upon the concave ~side the ~slit is made to open to allow the flow of fluid while when prcssllle is exerted on tl-e convex side the slit is made to close and prevent the now of fluid.
Tlle pre~sellt invention ~succe~s~srully addresses the shortcomings of the pre.sently knowll conlïguration~s by providing a liquid dispenser 10 whicll i~s aclllated by clo.sillg all cleclrical circuit which activates an elcctrolytic cell .~o ~a.s to call.se gas to be generated at a predetermined ratc. When the plllllping melllber ha~s been ~sufficiently displaced, indicatillg the delivery throu~,h the device outlet of a substantially fixed amount Or liquid, tlle vent opens automatically and, pr~ ferably, 15 the gas generation is interrupted. The venting of the pressure control chamber bring.s about tlle drawing of additional liquid from the reservoir into the pumping chamber (the drawing stroke), where the liquid remains until gas is again generated so as to drive the diaphragm and thereby pump an additional aliquot of liquid out of the 20 unit, during the pumping ~stroke.
The principles and operalion of a liquid material dispenser and one-way valve according to the present invention may be better understood witll referellce to the drawings and the accompanying de.scription.
25 Brief De.scription ot Dl awin~s I he illVentiOIl i~ heleill de.scribed. by way of example only, with rel`el-ellce lo ~he accolll~-allying drawin~.s, wherein:
FIG. I i~s a cro.~s-~sectional view of one embodiment of a liquid materi~l di~pensel accol-ding to the present invention;
FIG. 2 i~ a one-way valve according to the present invention;
~ IG. 3 is a cros~s-scctional view of a second embodiment of a liquid material dhspellsel according to llle present invention;
I~IG. 4 i~s a cro.ss-sectional view of a tllird embodiment of a liquid material dispenser according to the present invention;
FlG. 5 i~s an enlargcd view of Lhe top central portion of the dispenser of l~igure 4 wi~h the leaf spring in its top position;
I l(i. 6 i.s ;u~ e~ ged view of the tol) central portion of the di~spen~scl ol l~igule ~ wi~h thc leaf spring in its bottom position; and l~lG~ 7 is all cnlarged cross-sectional view of the top central portion Or a fourll~ embodilllent of a liquid material dispenser according lo the invention.
Modes for Carryil1g Out the Invention Referring llOW to lhe drawings, Figure I illustrates a basic embodiment of a liquid material dispenser according to the present invention de~signed lO dcliver drugs at a slow, controlled and precise rate~ Througiloul lhe discussion which follows the dispenser is assun~ed to be u~sed for lhe dispensing of medication, it being underslood thal .such an application is merely illustrative of the many applicalions wllelein it i~s desired to inlerlllittently deliver a controlled amoullt of liquid al a relatively slow rale. The present invention is intended to cover all ~sucll applicaliolls and is not limited to medicinal applications.
I lle illu.slrated liclllid dispenser according to the present inVellliOn llaS a hOIlSillg 1O enclosing a reservoir 12 which contains the liquid to be dispell.sed. Housing 10 also includes an outlet 14 through wllicll the liquid is dispensed, and a connecting passageway 16 between re~serYoir 12 an(l outlet 1~. Passageway 16 includes an enlarged cavity whicll contail-.s a n~oYable, or reciprocatable, pumping member, --~VO 95/03078 PCT/IE94/00037 2I670~8 prefer~bly a diapllragln 18, which divides the enlarged cavity into a pumpi~ challlber 20 and a pressure control cllamber 22.
Diapllragtll 18 ser~e.s as a reciprocating pumping member and is cyclically di~splaceable lhrougll a pumping stroke and a drawing stroke 5 to effec~ lhe movelllelll of liquid from reservoir 12 through outlet 14.
As will be described in more detail below, during the drawing stroke, differelltial pre.ssllle across diaphragm 18 causes it to move in one direclion (upward~s in l~igure 1) a.s liqllid moves from reservoir 12 to pulnpillg challlbel 2~ uring lhe pUlllpillg stroke, when the direction 10 of differenlial pre.ssurc is reversed, diaphragm 18 is caused to move in lhc olhel direclion (~owllw~rds in ~igure 1) causing liquid to move from pumpillg cllalnber 20 through passageway 16 to outlet 14.
I he motion of diaphragm 18 during the pumping stroke is preferably brought about by an electrolytic cell 24 having a suitable 15 electrolyte, such as sodium bicarbonate or, preferably, potassium acetale, located wi~hin housing 10 and in communication with pressure control chamber 22 l~io a bore 26. Also shown in Figure 1 is a pair of electrodes 28 which are connected to a suitable electrical energy ~ource (nol .sllo~vn) wlliell may be housed either within or outside 20 housing lO.
Electrolytic cell 24 may be of any known construction.
Examples of possible configuration are described in U.S. Patent Nos.
5,062,834 and 5,090,963, alld in our International Patent Publication WO 93/23096.
Whel1evel appropriate, electrical energy is supplied to , electrodes 28 a~ a preselecled rate. bringing about electrolytic reactions whicll produce gases. Tlle rate of gas production is related to the electrical current supplied to electrolytic cell 24 and the total amount of gases produced is related to the total electrical energy supplied to the cell. The produced gases flow from electrolytic cell 24 to pressure conllol challlber 22 through bore 26 to displace diaphragm l 8 alld tllereby el ~cct tlle pUlllpillg of liquid from pumping chamber wo 95/03078 PCT/IEg4/00037 ~
~1~7~8 8 20 lhrollgh tl-e ~low~ re~l~l porliotl of passageway 16 and out through outlet 14.
I\ downstreatll one-way valve 30 is anchored in that portion of passageway 16 belween pumping chamber 20 and outlet 14 and is S oriented sllcll tha~ during llle pumping stroke of diaphragm 18, liquid is moved from puInpillg chamber 20 throllgh outlet 14.
An up.stIealll Onc-way valve 32 is anchored in that portion of pas~ageway 16 belwecn re~ervoir 12 and pumping chamber 20 and is Oliellted SllCh thal (Illling tlle drawiIlg stroke of diaphragm 18, liquid 10 is drawn from rcseI-voiI- 12 into pUIllpiIlg chamber 20.
One-way valves 30 and 32 can be of any suitable design, including the design de.scribed in our International Patent Publication WO 93/23096.
Preferably, as can best be seen in Figure 2, one-way valves are lS of the llnique design described below. It is to be noted that while the one-way valve described below is suitable for use in the context of a liquid material dispenser according to the present invention, it will be readily apparen~ to the reader that SUC}l valves may also be used in various otller applicalions. ~t is intended that all such applications fall 20 withiIl the scope of the present invention.
Each of one-way valves 30 and 32 according to the present inventioll includes meaIl~ for fixing tlle position of the valve relative to tlle passageway, for example, a rim 34 which is suitably connected to housing 10 (l~igure 1).
Connected to rim 34, preferably integrally formed with it, is a flexible member 36, preferably made of a suitable plastics or rubber.
Flexible member llaS a convex side whicll is installed so as to face in tlle desired diIection of tlle flow and a concave side which faces the opposite direction. Prelerably, flexible member 36 is hemispherical, --~VO 95/03078 PCT/IE94/00037 05~
or p~-tly spherical, in sllape Flexible member 36 features near its centre a slit 38 of sui~able length and shape.
Thus, when diaphragm 18 pushes downward, pressure is exerted on lhe concave side of downstream valve 30 and on the convex side of 5 upstl-eam valve 32 The exertion of pressure on the concave side of downstrealn valve 30 tend~s to bend flexible member 36 of valve 30 downstrea11l in the direction of outlet 14 Tlle bending tends to cause the portions of nexible n~elllber 36 of valve 30 which border on slit 38 to ~separate, lhereby ~llowing liquid to ~low downstream through 10 the Jorllled openill~
At the ~sallle time. the exertion of pressure on the convex side of upstream valve 32 tends to push flexible member 36 of valve 32 up~slrcalll in thc directioll of reservoir 12. This tends to cause the porlion~s of nexible nlelllber 36 of v~!lve 32 which border on slit 38 to 15 come logell~er, lllel-eby se~lillg the opening and preventing liquid from flowing upstrealll throllgll valve 32 Similarly, whell the pressure in pressure control chamber 22 is reduced, as will be described below, diaphragm 18 moves upwards and pressure i~s redllced in pumping chamber 20, on the concave side 20 of downstream valve 30 and on the convex side of upstrearn valve 32.
The reduction in pressure allows liquid to move through the upstream valve 32 and at tlle s~me time tightly closes downstream valve 30 to prevent any liquid fronl entering tlle device from the outside through outlet 14 A liquid ma~criLIl dispenser according to the present invention l`urlhcr ~catules a vellt n~cchanislll for vcnting gases created by electrolytic ccll 2~ Iroll~ pressure control chamber 22 to the almospllele. Tlle vcnting drops the pressure in pressure control challlbel 22 alld ca-l~ses diaphragm 18 to move so as to draw liquid from reservoir 12 into pulllpirlg chamber 20, as described above a~7 o~
I lle vent mecllall~ l includes an inlet vent opening 40 located in pres~ure con~rol cllalllbel- 22. As will be described below in more detail, inlet vent opcnillg 40 i~s caused to alternately open to end the pumping stroke and vent pressure control chamber 22 and to close after a porlion of lhe gases has vented.
The vent mecllalli~sln include~s a displaceable member 42 which is connected to diaphragm ] 8. Displaceable member 42 is formed with inlet vent openillg ~0 whicll is ill communication with a flexible vent conduit 44 Collllcclc(l to diapllragm 18 and leading to the atmosphere througll a fixed vcnt colldllit 46 formed in housing 10. The commutlicatioll bet-vecll inlet vent opening 40 and flexible vent conduit 44 i~ preferably erfccted througll a hollow portion of displaceable Inclllbcl 42.
l`lle vcnt IlleCI~.llli~lll l`urthcr includcs a blocking member 48 whicll is slidably moullted over displaceable member 42 so that blocking member 48 can alternately block and uncover inlet vent openillg 40 as described in more detail below.
Preferably, displaceab]e member 42 includes a section which is frusto-conical in shape and blocking member 48 is annular with an inner diameter whic}l is somewhat bigger than the outside diameter of the smallest diameter portion of the frusto-conical segment of displaceable melnber 42. Preferably also, displaceable member 42 features means for preventing blocking member 48 from translating rela~ive to said displaceable member beyond a certain location, such as a ledge 50, adjoinillg the largest diameter portion of the frusto-conical segment of di~splaceable melllber 42, and having an outside diameter which i~ ~OtllCWhat larger than the inner diameter of blocking member 48, lheleby l~revelltillg blocking melllber from sliding past ledge S0.
The functioll of ledge ~0 can also be achieved by other means, such as the hori7011~al pol tio~ Or di~placeable nlelllber 42 shown in ~ig~ c 3.
--WO 951030n PCT/IE94/00037 Il Blocking melllber 48 i~s normally biased in a direetion away from diaphraglll 18 (up~vard~s in ~igure 1). Thus, whenever blocking member 48 abuls agains~ ledge 50, displaceable member 42 is also bia~sed in the ~same direction.
S I he relative location and dimensiolls of displaceable member 42, blocking nlember ~8 and inlet vent opening 40 are such that whenever blockin~ nlember 48 ~but~s against ledge 50, inlet vent opening 40 is blocked. or clo~sed. thereby preventing gases from leaving pre~ssllle conlrol cllamber 22.
I he bia.sing ol blocking n~en1ber 48, and therefore of displaceable melllber ~2, a~s described above, is preferably aehieved thlougll use ol one or n~ol-e biasing springs, preferably one or more leal` spl-ings 52. one end ol eacll of wllic}l touches, or eonneets to, a wall ol pres.sllre colltlol chall~ber 22 while the otl~er end touches, or connecl~s to, blocking l~lelllber 48.
I'referably, tlle ends of leaf springs 52 fit into reeessions in the wall~s of pres~sule conlrol chamber 22 and blocking member 48.
Tl~e lenglll ol leaf spring 52 is such that when the vent mechalli~slll i~s in il~s neulral position (shown in Figures 1 and 3), leaf spring 52 i.s sllgl~lly benl ~so as to produce the upward bi~s on bloeking melllbel 48 and displaceable member 42, a~s described above.
In opelillion~ elecllical energy i~s supplied at a suitable rate to eleclrolytic cell 24 CaUSillg il lo generale gases which enter pressure collllol cll;lmbel 22 alld raise it~s pressllre. The increased pressure cau~se~s diapllraglll 18 lo move downw~rd so as to push liquid through oullel 14 a~s de~scl ibcd above. Sillce displaceable member 42 is conllectc(l lo diapllr.lgln 18, a t`orce is exerted on displaceable member 42 lo IllOVe dowl~w~lld. Ihis lorce is at first counteracted by the upward biasing force exelled by leaf spring 52.
~7~8 12 As the downward movement of diaphragm 18 continues, the downward force on displaceable menlber 42 increases, eventually equalling and overcoming the biasing force. At this point, leaf springs 52 instantaneously .strai~ghten and then bend rapidly in the downward S direction, causing bloclcing member 48 to slide downward relative to di~splaceable melnbel 42, so tllat blocking member abuts against abutting portion 54 of di~splaceable member 42. The relative movement of blocking nlelnber 48 and displaceable member 42 exposes inlet vent opening 40. Since the pressure in pressure control 10 ch,lll~ber 22 i~s lar~er lh;lll in the almosphere outside the dispenser, gase.s flow quickly ~hlougll inlet vent opening 40, flexible vent conduit 44 and rlxed ven~ collduit 46 and escape to tlle outside of the dispenser.
I he ven~illg Or the gases brings about a rapid pressure drop in pres~sure conlrol challlber 22 causing lhe pressure in pressure control challlber 22 to rapi(Jly 1`.111 from a pressllre above that in pumping chamber 20 lo a pre~ssllle below the pressure in pumping chamber 20.
lhe resultillg pre~ssule difl`erential pushes displaceable member 42 rapidly upward. A~s di~splaceable member 42 moves upward, abutting portion 54 of di~splaceable member 42 pushes blocking member 48 20 upward past the ancllol-illg point of leaf spring 52 in the wall of pressure control challlber 22 which causes leaf spring 52 to bend upwal-ds, thereby upwardly biàsing blocking member 48, and displaceable melllber 42~ as described above, and causing blocking member 48 to block, or close, inlet vcnt opening 40, thereby 25 termillating llle VCllling ol gases fronl pressure con~rol chamber 22.
I he lengtll alld .s~rengtll of lcaf spring 52, as well as the other compollelll~s Or lhc VCIl~ nlccllalli.slll, ale designed to actuate as de~scribed above sc) lh,l~ a sub.slalllially l~lxecl quantity of liquid is disltcllscd dlnillg cacl~ plln~ping .s~roke I'rererably~ a di.spenscl according lo lhe present invention also include.s a pair ol` eleclrical contacls 56 which are arranged so tha~
vhen displaceable melllbcl 42 i.s in its upwardly biased position con~ac~s 56 are toucllillg each olhel, wllile when displaceable member 21 6 7D~8 42 is ~i.splaced do-vllwal(l during venting, as described above, contacts 56 are ~slightly separaled from each olher, througll, for example, a slight downwald bia~s on tlle lower of the two contacts S6.
Contact.s ~6 are clectrically connected to taps 58 which ~re, in 5 turn, connected lo a ~suit.lble eleclrical circuit (not shown) which senses the momellt of separation of contacts 56 and is capable of using the inrortllatioll to cut orf elcc~rical energy to eleclrolytic cell 24 so that no ga~ses are generated wllile pre~ssure control chamber 22 is vented and during the period from the completion of the venting until the 10 initiation of the next pumping ~slroke.
Shown in l~igure ~ is a second embodiment according to the present invention, whereill inlet vent opening 40 does not communicate witll a flexible vent conduit as in the embodiment of Figure 1, but ratller comlllullicates directly with a vent conduit 60 15 which is connected to, or preferably, integrally formed with, displaceable melllber 42. Vent conduit 60 is sufficiently long to extend througll l10U~S;I1g 10 to the atmosphere. A suitable seal 62 allow.s vent conduit 60 to slide up and down yet seals pressure control challlber 22 ~so that 110 ga~se.s can escape except through vent conduit 20 60.
As will be readily apparent to the reader, the embodiment shown in Figure 3 can include contacts 56 and taps 58 as shown in the embodimellt o~ l~igure 1. These have been omitted from Figure 3 to enhance clarity.
l~ou.sillg 10, re.ser~oir 12 ~n(3/or di~phragm 18 may be made of any suilable conlïglllaliol~. c.g., circular or rectangul~r in cross-sectiOIn .llld m~ly hc m.ldc Or any .sui~able malerials.
For ease in as.sembly and disa~ssembly of the illustrated dispenser, housing 10 i~s made of a plurality of sections -- a top section lOa, a middle ~section lOb and a botlom section lOc. Top section lOa and mid(lle sec~ion I Ob cl~lmp togelher lo define between them `al671~5g ~4 punlping challlber 20 and pressure control chamber 22 and further form a volume whicll serves to hollse electrolytic cell 24.
Middle ~seclion 1 Ob and botlom ~section lOc clamp together to det`ine betwecn lhelll a cavily whicll includes reservoir 12 and to hold 5 in place a rolling diapl~ glll 64, wlliCIl iS flexible and preferably made of ~silicon mbber. Il will be seen lhat reservoir 12 is defined by middle .section lOb all(l rolling diaphragm 64. Rolling diaphragm 64 is shown in Figure~s I and 3 as it would appear when reservoir 12 is r.,ll of liquid. Showll in broken lines in Figure 3 is rolling diaphragm 64 a~s it would appear when reservoir 12 is empty. Diaphragm 18 and a re~servoir vent opellillg 68 permit reservoir 12 to expand and contract according to lhe amount of liquid material contained in re~servoir 12 as rolling melllbralle 64 moves.
Middle ~section lOb carries an injection plug 66 for filling the 15 reservoir by injection via a syringe needle (not shown). Middle section I Ob al~so include.s an injection vent 69 which allows air to escape during the injectiol- of liquid into reservoir 12.
I`l~e rill)s 34 ol valvc~s 30 and 32 are secured in opening~s formed in l~liddle ~section I Ob.
lhe illu.stlate(l dispen~ser operates as follows. Reservoir 12 is fillled willl liquid U~Sillg a .syringe (not shown) which pierces injection plug 66. Injection i.s contil-ued until the injected liquid begins to exit fronl outlet 14, indicatillg lhat reservoir 12, connecting passageway 16 and pl~ ping challlber 20 are all completely filled with the liquid.
I lle ratc Or dclivery of the liquid from reservoir 12 to outlet 14 i.s conllolled by all eleclrical control circuit (not shown) which controls thc enelgi7illg Or elcctrolytic cell 24 through electrodes 28.
During the intel-~al whell electrodes 28 are energized, electrolytic cell 2~ generate~s a ga~s or ga~se.s whicll are fed via bore 26 to pressure control chamber 22. I llese gases displace diaphragm 18 downward, thereby .stre~s~sing diaphlagm 18 and contracting pumping chamber 20.
--~VO 95/03078 2 1 ~ 7 ~ ~ PCT/IE94/00037 s Colllraclion ol pUltlpillg chamber 20 applies a pressure ViCI
passageway 16 lo close upstream valve 32 and open downstream valve 30. Accordingly, 1i4uid from pumping chamber 20 is pumped via valve 30 through oullet 14 while electrolytic cell 24 produces gas at a 5 rale which is relaled lo lhe magnitude of electrical current supplied to it.
As described above, at a certain point in the pumping stroke, blocking member 48 moves downward relative to displaceable mclllbel 42 expo~sing inlct venl opening 40 and venting pressure 10 Collllol chanlbel 22. alld ~sim~ nneously interrupting the generation of ga.ses by elcclrolylic cell 24.
I~OIIOWillg Velllillg, blocking melllber 48 and displaceable melnber 42, as well a.s lhc olher components of the vent mechanism, return to thcir rest pO~ilioll (as shown in Figures I and 3) with 15 pumping challlber 20 havillg been refilled with liquid drawn from reservoir 12.
When eleclrical current is again applied to electrolytic cell 24 diaphragm 18 will again be driven through a pumping stroke and will pump lhe liquid througll valve 30 and out through outlet 14.
~t) Shown in Figures 4-6 is a third embodiment according to the present inventiont whicll is generally the same as the embodiments depicted in l~igures I and 3 excepl for variations in the mechanism u.sed lo venl pre~ssule con~rol chamber 22 which are described below.
A liquid m.lterial di.spen.ser according to the embodiment shown 25 in l~igure~s 4-6 fealure~s a ~somewllat different vent mechanism for venling ga.ses crea~e(l by eleclrolytic cell 24 from pressure control chambel 22 lo lhe allllospllere. ï he venting drops the pressure in pressure conll~ l cllalllber 22 an(l cau~ses diaphragm 18 to move so as to draw liquid rrom reservoir 12 inlo putnping chamber 20, as 30 described above.
2~ `58 1 6 1 he ven( nlccllalli~slll showll in l~igure 4, and, in more detail, in lhe enlalge(l views ol ~igures 5 and 6, includes a displaceable member 142 WhiCIl iS collllccled to diaphragm 18 and WhiCIl iS made up of a number of pOltiOllS
Di~splace~ble Inenlbcr 142 includes an upper member 202 which is ~ble to lie 11~ agaill~t ~hc top il!ner wall of pressure control chamber 22 when lhe pre~sure control chamber is not being vented.
Upper melnber 202 is rigidly connecled to the rest of displaceable member 142 Vi~l a ~suilable connecting Inember 204, which is preferably in the forlll of a series of ribs extending downward from upper membel 202 ~o a central member 206.
L~lelldillg ~llrougll or between connecting member 204, through a .slot (nol ~l10WI1) j~ IC~ prillg 52 whicll also passes through an impact nlclllbcr 2()7 wllicll i.s not connected to displaceable member 142 alld is l`rec lo IllOVC belwcen upper member 202 and central member 206 of displaceable member 142. Leaf spring 52 and impact member 207 are located such that the downward motion of upper member 202 cau.ses the downward motion of impact member 207 which in turn, causes lhe same downward motion of leaf spring 52.
Central member 206 is connected to a lower member 208 and together with it forms a secondary chamber. The secondary chamber is split in~o all upper secondary ch~mber 210 and a lower secondary chamber 212 by a dhsplaceable plug 214 which is anchored to, or form~ a por~ion of lower member 208.
Di~placeable plug 214 featllres one or more suitably located bore~ 215 whicll ~erve lo conlinuou~ly connect upper secondary chambel 210 alld lo~Yer .secondary chamber 212. The size, sllape and movelllell~ of di~pl.lce.lhle plug 21~ are de.signed so that it can allelll,llely exlclld lhlollgh an OpCIlillg 216 in central member 206 so 3() a~ lo clo.~c olf or i~ol,llc upper ~econdary cllalnber 210, and tllererore al~o lower ~ecollcl.lly challlber 212 Irolll pressure control chamber 22, Cl IClreal CIOWI1~V~1ICI frOIll openillg 216 ~o a~ to put ~secondary -~flO95/03078 PCT~E94/~037 ~f ~7~
chaltlber 210. alld thel-el`ol-e also Ivwer secoll(lary chamber 212, in Colllnlullicalioll wi~ rc~sure control challlber 22.
I_ower .secon(lal-y chamber 212 i.s in continuous communication wi~h flcxible vent coll(luit 44 conl)ected to diaphragm 18 and leading to the atmo~spllere tlllougll a fixed vent conduit 46 formed in housing 10.
Tlle leng~ll ol' 1~ pring 52 i~ sllch tl)al when tlle vent nlecl~alli~m i.s in i~ eull.ll po~silion (~showll in ~igure 5), leaf spring 52 i.~ h~ly be~ o .~s ~o plo(lllce the upwal-d bias on impact member I o 207.
In opera~ioll, elcc~rical energy is sllpplied at a suitable rate to elec~roly~ic cell 24 c~using it to generate gases which enter pressure conlrol challlbcr 22 and raise its pressure, The increased pressure causes diaphraglll 18 lo move downward so as to push liquid through outle~ 14 a~s de~scribed above. Since displaceable member 142 is connected lo diaplllaglll 18, force is exerted on displaceable member 142, IllOVillg i~ dowl~ward. The downw~ud movement of displaceable membel 142 al~o .serve~ to move impact melllber 207 and leaf spring 52 downward.
As the downwar(l movement continues, downward force on leaf spring 52iSillCle~e(l. Evenlually tlle downward force on leaf spring 52 exceeds ils upwal(lly direcled biasing force. At this point, leaf sprillg 52illStallt~lllCOUSIy slraightells and then bends rapidly in the dowllwald direction. causillg impact member 207 to move rapidly downw~l(l alld impact di.splaceable plllg214. The impact causes displaceable plug 214~o move downward, which opens the previously closed OpCllillg 216, pU~illg pre~sure control chamber 22 in commullicatioll wi~h upper secondary chamber 210 (and therefore with lower second~ry Cllalllber212 and flexible vent conduit 44 and fixed vent cond-lit '16) all(l allowing the gases in pressure cont~ol Challlber22tO be rcleased outside the device. Since the pressure in 5~ ] 8 pl-e~sllre con~lo~ .u~lbel 22 i.s lligller lhall in the atmosphere oulside he di~pen~er~ ga.se.s cluickly esc~pe to ~he outside of the dispenser.
I lle venting of the gase~s brings about a rapid pressure drop in pre~s~sure control ch;ll1lber 22 causing the pressure in pressure control 5 cl~alllbel- 22 to r.lpidly f;lll frol1l a pressure above that in pumping cllalnbel 20 lo a pre.s~ule below tlle pressure in pumping chamber 20.
Tlle re.sultillg pres~sul-e difreren~ial pusl1es displaceable member 142 rapi(lly ~Ipw~rd. /~ di.sr)l.lceable meltlber 142 moves upwards evel1lu.llly le.lf ~pling 52 bcnds ~Ipward to pU~SIl impact member 207 upwald and away 1`10111 di~;placeable plug 214 allowing displaceable plug 21~ to ri.sc so 1~ lo once again clo~se opening 216 between pres~sllle contl-ol cl~alllber 22 alld the outside of lhe dispenser.
Best Mode for Carlyillg Ou~ the Invention Sl1owll in I igure 7 i~s a fourth and presenlly preferred 15 embodi1nent accor(lil1g to the present invention which is generally the same as ~lle elllbodimelll~s depicted in Figures 1 3 and 4-6 except for varialion~s in llle Illecllallisnl used to vent pressure control chamber 22 as de.scribed below. Accordillgly l~igure 7 shows an enlarged detail of the ventillg n~ecllallisl1l.
lllu~s, in l~igure 7 there is illustrated generally at 300 a detail of a liquid Illateri.ll di~spen.~el according to the present invention. The dispenser has a llollsil1g 310 including a reservoir (not shown) which col1laill.s lhe ]i(luid lo he dispensed ~nd including an outlet (not shown) througll wllicll thc liq~lid is dispensed. As with the embodiments illustraled in l~igure~s 1. 3 alld 4-6 tl1e liquid travels from the reservoir to lhe oullct l?i(l a p~s.s~geway 312 llaving an upstream one-way valve ~nd a down.stre.ll1l onc-~v;ly valve (not sl1own). Thus liquid coming from the re~ser~oil ~n(l upstreall1 valve îhrougll passageway 312 enters ~l~e illu.stlatc(l poltion ol the dispen.ser ~ tlle part of passageway 312 indicated at 31~ igure 7. Wilhin passageway 312 there is located a diaphragl1l 316 definillg~ on one side thereof with passageway 312 a plllllpil)g cl)~n~l-el 318 ;u1(1 on tlle other ~side thereof a pressure --WO 9!;/03078 PCT/IE94/00037 21 ~7~
conlrol cllamber 320. l~le diaphragm 316 is cyclically displaceable so as to draw liquid into llle pumping chamber 318 from the reservoir and upslream valve and to pUlllp liquid from pumping chamber 318 along connecting pa~ssa~eway 312 towards the downstream valve and the 5 outlel in lllc dil-eclio n in(licatcd al 322.
I~iaphra~nl 3 l 6 i.s conllected ~i(l a connecting rod 324 to a vent mecllalli~slll. in(licatc(l ~cnerally at 326, having an inlet vent opening 328. A leaf Splillg 330 is secured within pressure control chamber 320 and i.s conllecte(l lO conllec~ing rod 324. When the vent mechanism is 10 in il~s nell~ral posi~iol~ leaf spring 330 i~s slightly bent so as to produce an upward bias on collnec~ing rod 324. Inlet vent opening 328 is defined be~ween a ~seal meltlber 332 and housing 310. Seal member 332 i~s connecled ~ conllecting rod 324 to diaphragm 316.
I're~ssllle col~lrol cl~.llllbcr 320 extends from diaphr~gm 316 up to inlet venl openillg 328. One or more gaps 334 in se~l member 332 allow COllll~llllliCatiOIl belweel1 lower part 336 and upper part 338 of pressure control chalnber 320.
In operatioll, gas is generated within pressure control chamber 320 by an eleclrolylic cell 340, causing diaphragm 316 to be displaced downwards lhrougll tlle pumping stroke. Leaf spring 330 initially oppo~ses tllis downwald force but, as in lhe other embodiments, the upward bias provided by spring 330 is eventually overcome, and the spring s~ igh~ens al~(l thcll snaps downwards when it reaches the horizontal po.sition. This snapping action causes seal member 332 to snap downwar(l~s, C.lU~Sillg inlet vent opening 328 to open and thereby allowing tlle pressurised gas within pressure control chamber 320 to e~scape l~i(l inlcl venl opening 328 lhrougll a vent outlet 342.
Se,ll nlcll-l~cl 332 colllpriscs a central portion 344, a frusto-conical scclion 346 ~vill~ WlliCIl gap 334 is located, and an anchor seclion 348 holdillg thc .seal mcn~ber 332 in po.silion Hinges 350 allow cenlral porlion 344 lo move downwards and upwards in relation to allChOI SeC~iOIl 348. WhiCIl movements respectively open and seal inlet vent opening 328 inside tlle upper part 338 of pressure control cllamber 320.
The escape of the pressurised gas allows leaf spring 330 to relax, whereby diaphlaglll 316, connecting rod 324 and seal member 332 move upw.uds. ull~il inlet vent opening 328 is resealed. The upward movement of diaphragln 316 draws liquid from the reservoir through lhe up.stream valve and Vil/ the connecting passageway at 3I4 inlo pumping chamber ~18. lhus, pumping chamber 318 is refilled and inlet vent openillg ~28 is resealed allowing lhe pumping stroke to begi n agai n.
1~ will be appl-eciated lhat lhe illustrated dispenser does not hold lal-ge volullle~s Or ga~se~s over exlended periods, and therefore is not .significantly sensi(ive lo lemperalure and pressure fluctuations. In additioll, il will be noled lhal a di~spen~ser according to the present inventioll tends lo deliver ~subslantially the same amount of liquid in each succe~s~sive pUlllpillg stroke. The illustrated dispenser may lhererore be u~sed ror inlenllillenlly dispensing precisely set amounts Or liquids a~ pleci~ely conlrolled rales.
Claims (19)
1. A liquid material dispenser, comprising:
(a) a housing including a reservoir for storing liquid to be dispensed, an outlet through which the liquid is dispensed, and a connecting passageway between said reservoir and said outlet;
(b) a reciprocatable pumping member located in said passageway, one side of said pumping member defining a pumping chamber with said passageway, and the other side of said pumping member defining a pressure control chamber, said pumping member being cyclically displaceable through a pumping stroke for pumping liquid through said outlet and a drawing stroke for drawing liquid from said reservoir;
(c) valve means in said passageway effective, during said drawing stroke, to cause the pumping member to draw liquid from said reservoir into said pumping chamber, and during said pumping stroke, to cause the pumping member to pump liquid from said pumping chamber through said outlet;
(d) feeding means for feeding a gas at a preselected time and rate to said pressure control chamber to drive the pumping member through said pumping stroke; and (e) a vent mechanism for venting said gas from said pressure control chamber to the atmosphere to drive the pumping member through said drawing stroke, said vent mechanism having an inlet vent opening inside said pressure control chamber, said opening being caused to open to end said pumping stroke and to close after a portion of said gas has vented, wherein said vent mechanism includes a displaceable member connected to said pumping member, said displaceable member being formed with said inlet vent opening, and said inlet vent opening being in communication with a vent conduit leading to the atmosphere.
(a) a housing including a reservoir for storing liquid to be dispensed, an outlet through which the liquid is dispensed, and a connecting passageway between said reservoir and said outlet;
(b) a reciprocatable pumping member located in said passageway, one side of said pumping member defining a pumping chamber with said passageway, and the other side of said pumping member defining a pressure control chamber, said pumping member being cyclically displaceable through a pumping stroke for pumping liquid through said outlet and a drawing stroke for drawing liquid from said reservoir;
(c) valve means in said passageway effective, during said drawing stroke, to cause the pumping member to draw liquid from said reservoir into said pumping chamber, and during said pumping stroke, to cause the pumping member to pump liquid from said pumping chamber through said outlet;
(d) feeding means for feeding a gas at a preselected time and rate to said pressure control chamber to drive the pumping member through said pumping stroke; and (e) a vent mechanism for venting said gas from said pressure control chamber to the atmosphere to drive the pumping member through said drawing stroke, said vent mechanism having an inlet vent opening inside said pressure control chamber, said opening being caused to open to end said pumping stroke and to close after a portion of said gas has vented, wherein said vent mechanism includes a displaceable member connected to said pumping member, said displaceable member being formed with said inlet vent opening, and said inlet vent opening being in communication with a vent conduit leading to the atmosphere.
2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vent mechanism further includes a blocking member slidably mounted over said displaceable member so that said blocking member can alternately block and uncover said inlet vent opening.
3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein said blocking member is biased in a direction away from said pumping member and wherein said displaceable member includes means for preventing said blocking member from translating relative to said displaceable member beyond a certain location, thereby biasing said displaceable member, so that when said blocking member is at said location it blocks said inlet vent opening.
4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means for preventing said blocking member from translating relative to said displaceable member beyond a certain location includes a ledge formed with said displaceable member having a transverse dimension larger than the transverse dimension of the opening of said blocking member.
5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein said biasing of said blocking member is achieved using at least one leaf spring connecting the walls of said pressure control chamber and said blocking member.
6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5, wherein one end of said leaf spring is held in a recession in the walls of said pressure control chamber and the other end of said leaf spring is held in a recession in said blocking member.
7. A dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 1-6, wherein said vent conduit is connected to said pumping member.
8. A dispenser as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a pair of electrical contacts arranged so that when said displaceable member is in its biased position said contacts make contact with each other
9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vent conduit is formed with said displaceable member and is slidable through a seal to the atmosphere.
10. A dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said feeding means includes an electrolytic cell which includes electrodes and electrolyte and which generates a gas at a rate substantially proportional to the electrical current passing through said electrolyte.
11. A dispenser as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a pair of electrical contacts arranged so that when said displaceable member is in its biased position said contacts make contact with each other to close an electrical circuit, which circuit controls said gas generation.
12. A dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said pumping member is a diaphragm.
13. A dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim when dependent on claim 10, wherein said electrolytic cell communicates with said pressure control chamber.
14. A dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said housing includes a top section, a middle section and a bottom section, said pressure control chamber and said pumping chamber being defined by said top and said middle sections.
15. A dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 1-13, wherein said housing includes a top section, a middle section and a bottom section, said reservoir being defined by said middle and bottom sections, said middle section including an injection plug and said bottom section including a reservoir vent opening.
16. A dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said valve means comprises:
(a) an upstream one-way valve in said passageway located between said reservoir and said pumping chamber and oriented such that during said drawing stroke the pumping member draws liquid from said reservoir to said pumping chamber; and (b) a downstream one-way valve in said passageway located between said pumping chamber and said outlet and oriented such that during said pumping stroke the pumping member pumps liquid from said pumping chamber through said outlet.
(a) an upstream one-way valve in said passageway located between said reservoir and said pumping chamber and oriented such that during said drawing stroke the pumping member draws liquid from said reservoir to said pumping chamber; and (b) a downstream one-way valve in said passageway located between said pumping chamber and said outlet and oriented such that during said pumping stroke the pumping member pumps liquid from said pumping chamber through said outlet.
17. A dispenser as claimed in claim 16, wherein said upstream and downstream valves each include means for fixing the position of said valves relative to said passageway and further include a flexible member having a convex side in the direction of the flow and a concave side in the opposite direction, said flexible member having a slit such that when pressure is exerted upon said concave side said slit is made to open to allow the flow of fluid while when pressure is exerted on the convex side said slit is made to close and prevent the flow of fluid.
18. A liquid material dispenser, comprising:
(a) a housing including a reservoir for storing liquid to be dispensed, an outlet through which the liquid is dispensed, and a connecting passageway between said reservoir and said outlet;
(b) a diaphragm in said passageway such that one side of the diaphragm defines a pumping chamber, and the other side defines a pressure control chamber;
(c) an electrolytic cell communicating with said control chamber and including electrodes and an electrolyte, said cell generating a gas substantially proportional to the quantity of electrical current passed through said electrolyte, for driving said diaphragm through a pumping stroke;
(d) valve means in said passageway causing the diaphragm to pump liquid from said pumping chamber through said outlet during said pumping stroke, and to draw liquid from said reservoir into said pumping chamber during said drawing stroke; and (e) a vent mechanism for venting said gas from said pressure control chamber to the atmosphere to drive the pumping member through said drawing stroke, said vent mechanism having an inlet vent opening inside said pressure control chamber, said opening being caused to open to end said pumping stroke and to close after a portion of said gas has vented.
(a) a housing including a reservoir for storing liquid to be dispensed, an outlet through which the liquid is dispensed, and a connecting passageway between said reservoir and said outlet;
(b) a diaphragm in said passageway such that one side of the diaphragm defines a pumping chamber, and the other side defines a pressure control chamber;
(c) an electrolytic cell communicating with said control chamber and including electrodes and an electrolyte, said cell generating a gas substantially proportional to the quantity of electrical current passed through said electrolyte, for driving said diaphragm through a pumping stroke;
(d) valve means in said passageway causing the diaphragm to pump liquid from said pumping chamber through said outlet during said pumping stroke, and to draw liquid from said reservoir into said pumping chamber during said drawing stroke; and (e) a vent mechanism for venting said gas from said pressure control chamber to the atmosphere to drive the pumping member through said drawing stroke, said vent mechanism having an inlet vent opening inside said pressure control chamber, said opening being caused to open to end said pumping stroke and to close after a portion of said gas has vented.
19. A one-way valve for controlling the flow of fluid through a passage, comprising:
(a) means for fixing the position of the valve relative to the passageway;
(b) a flexible member having a convex side in the direction of the flow and a concave side in the opposite direction; and (c) a slit in said flexible member such that when pressure is exerted upon said concave side said slit is made to open to allow the flow of fluid while when pressure is exerted on the convex side said slit is made to close and prevent the flow of fluid.
(a) means for fixing the position of the valve relative to the passageway;
(b) a flexible member having a convex side in the direction of the flow and a concave side in the opposite direction; and (c) a slit in said flexible member such that when pressure is exerted upon said concave side said slit is made to open to allow the flow of fluid while when pressure is exerted on the convex side said slit is made to close and prevent the flow of fluid.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| IE930532A IE930532A1 (en) | 1993-07-19 | 1993-07-19 | Liquid material dispenser and valve |
| IE930532 | 1993-07-19 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2167058A1 true CA2167058A1 (en) | 1995-02-02 |
Family
ID=11040017
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002167058A Abandoned CA2167058A1 (en) | 1993-07-19 | 1994-07-15 | Liquid material dispenser and valve |
Country Status (13)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5704520A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0708665B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH09505208A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR960703631A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE195657T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU675558B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2167058A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69425660T2 (en) |
| IE (1) | IE930532A1 (en) |
| IL (1) | IL110357A0 (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ268414A (en) |
| TW (1) | TW250438B (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA945272B (en) |
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| DE102015206589A1 (en) | 2015-04-14 | 2016-10-20 | Continental Automotive Gmbh | A method of determining a temperature of a diaphragm of a pump |
| US10857093B2 (en) | 2015-06-29 | 2020-12-08 | Corium, Inc. | Microarray for delivery of therapeutic agent, methods of use, and methods of making |
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| WO2017091584A1 (en) | 2015-11-25 | 2017-06-01 | Insulet Corporation | Wearable medication delivery device |
| CN108883226A (en) * | 2016-02-26 | 2018-11-23 | 普罗根尼蒂公司 | Compact platform for accurate drug delivery |
| SG11201807797RA (en) | 2016-03-18 | 2018-10-30 | Deka Products Lp | Pressure control gaskets for operating pump cassette membranes |
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| WO2019067367A1 (en) | 2017-09-26 | 2019-04-04 | Insulet Corporation | Needle mechanism module for drug delivery device |
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| WO2019191645A1 (en) | 2018-03-30 | 2019-10-03 | Deka Products Limited Partnership | Liquid pumping cassettes and associated pressure distribution manifold and related methods |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR1355521A (en) * | 1962-03-28 | 1964-03-20 | Gaz De Petrole | Diaphragm motor device and pressurized gas |
| US4350477A (en) * | 1977-04-20 | 1982-09-21 | Mazal Charles N | Pneumatic pulsatile fluid pump |
| GB2131496B (en) * | 1982-12-08 | 1986-09-10 | Moog Inc | Apparatus for dispensing infusate to a mammal body |
| US4687423A (en) * | 1985-06-07 | 1987-08-18 | Ivac Corporation | Electrochemically-driven pulsatile drug dispenser |
| US5062834A (en) * | 1989-02-24 | 1991-11-05 | Product Development (S.G.Z.) Ltd | Device for dispensing a liquid particularly useful for delivering medicaments at a predetermined rate |
| US5242406A (en) * | 1990-10-19 | 1993-09-07 | Sil Medics Ltd. | Liquid delivery device particularly useful for delivering drugs |
| US5090963A (en) * | 1990-10-19 | 1992-02-25 | Product Development (Z.G.S.) Ltd. | Electrochemically driven metering medicament dispenser |
| WO1992007614A1 (en) * | 1990-11-01 | 1992-05-14 | Harmac Medical Products, Inc. | Check valve for disposable pressure infusion system |
| IE80393B1 (en) * | 1990-12-31 | 1998-06-17 | Scient Innovations Ltd | Liquid delivery device particularly useful for delivering drugs |
| US5246147A (en) * | 1992-05-20 | 1993-09-21 | Sil Medics Ltd. | Liquid material dispenser |
-
1993
- 1993-07-19 IE IE930532A patent/IE930532A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
1994
- 1994-07-15 NZ NZ268414A patent/NZ268414A/en unknown
- 1994-07-15 EP EP94920569A patent/EP0708665B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-07-15 AT AT94920569T patent/ATE195657T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1994-07-15 AU AU71316/94A patent/AU675558B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1994-07-15 DE DE69425660T patent/DE69425660T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-07-15 US US08/591,583 patent/US5704520A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-07-15 CA CA002167058A patent/CA2167058A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1994-07-15 JP JP7505043A patent/JPH09505208A/en active Pending
- 1994-07-15 KR KR1019960700260A patent/KR960703631A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1994-07-18 IL IL11035794A patent/IL110357A0/en unknown
- 1994-07-19 ZA ZA945272A patent/ZA945272B/en unknown
- 1994-07-29 TW TW083106952A patent/TW250438B/zh active
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU7131694A (en) | 1995-02-20 |
| US5704520A (en) | 1998-01-06 |
| DE69425660D1 (en) | 2000-09-28 |
| ZA945272B (en) | 1995-02-27 |
| EP0708665A1 (en) | 1996-05-01 |
| TW250438B (en) | 1995-07-01 |
| AU675558B2 (en) | 1997-02-06 |
| KR960703631A (en) | 1996-08-31 |
| NZ268414A (en) | 1997-03-24 |
| IL110357A0 (en) | 1994-10-21 |
| JPH09505208A (en) | 1997-05-27 |
| IE930532A1 (en) | 1995-01-25 |
| DE69425660T2 (en) | 2001-05-03 |
| EP0708665B1 (en) | 2000-08-23 |
| ATE195657T1 (en) | 2000-09-15 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |