U.S. patent application number 12/325060 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-08 for thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump.
This patent application is currently assigned to NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY. Invention is credited to Ming-Yuan Cheng, Bonnie Tingting Chia, Hsin-Hung Liao, Yao-Joe Yang.
Application Number | 20100086416 12/325060 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42075961 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100086416 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang; Yao-Joe ; et
al. |
April 8, 2010 |
THERMO-PNEUMATIC PERISTALTIC PUMP
Abstract
A thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump. A heating base board
includes at least one heater. A membrane disposition board is
disposed on the heating base board and includes at least one
membrane chamber. The membrane chamber includes a first chamber
body and a second chamber body. The first chamber body connects to
the second chamber body and covers the heater. A fluidic receiving
board is disposed on the membrane disposition board and includes at
least one fluidic chamber, a fluidic inlet, and a fluidic outlet.
The fluidic chamber is connected between the fluidic inlet and the
fluidic outlet and is disposed on the second chamber body of the
membrane chamber.
Inventors: |
Yang; Yao-Joe; (Taipei City,
TW) ; Chia; Bonnie Tingting; (Taipei City, TW)
; Liao; Hsin-Hung; (Taipei City, TW) ; Cheng;
Ming-Yuan; (Taipei City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
QUINTERO LAW OFFICE, PC
615 Hampton Dr, Suite A202
Venice
CA
90291
US
|
Assignee: |
NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
Taipei
TW
|
Family ID: |
42075961 |
Appl. No.: |
12/325060 |
Filed: |
November 28, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/93 ;
417/55 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 43/043 20130101;
F04B 43/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/93 ;
417/55 |
International
Class: |
F04B 19/00 20060101
F04B019/00; F04B 43/12 20060101 F04B043/12; F04B 43/14 20060101
F04B043/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 2, 2008 |
TW |
TW97137881 |
Claims
1. A thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump, comprising: a heating base
board comprising at least one heater; a membrane disposition board
disposed on the heating base board and comprising at least one
membrane chamber, wherein the membrane chamber comprises a first
chamber body and a second chamber body, and the first chamber body
connects to the second chamber body and covers the heater; and a
fluidic receiving board disposed on the membrane disposition board
and comprising at least one fluidic chamber, a fluidic inlet, and a
fluidic outlet, wherein the fluidic chamber is connected between
the fluidic inlet and the fluidic outlet and is disposed on the
second chamber body of the membrane chamber.
2. The thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the membrane chamber further comprises a connecting chamber
body connecting the first chamber body to the second chamber
body.
3. The thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the heating base board further comprises at least one first
electrode and at least one second electrode, and the heater is
connected between the first and second electrodes.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Application claims priority of Taiwan Patent
Application No. 097137881, filed on Oct. 2, 2008, the entirety of
which is incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a thermo-pneumatic peristaltic
pump, and more particularly to a thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump
that provides a reduced heating effect on a fluid transported
thereby.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, a biomedical micro electro-mechanical system
(Bio-MEMS) is used for micro analytical instruments and
accomplishes multiple inspections and analyses on a single chip,
such as a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) or Bio-chip. Micro elements
manufactured by a micro electro-mechanical processing technique may
provide advantages of reduced manufacturing costs of detection
instruments, reduced consumption of inspection reagent, reduced
man-made operational errors, increased inspection and analysis
speed, and enhanced sensitivity and accuracy, facilitating thorough
research for related biological information.
[0006] Fluidic control on the LOC or Bio-chip is often accomplished
by a peristaltic pump. The peristaltic pump utilizes reciprocal
motion of membranes to alter the volume of fluidic chambers,
forcing a fluid in the fluidic chambers to flow in a specific
direction. Moreover, the peristaltic pump may be categorized into
electrostatic, shape-memory-alloy, thermo-pneumatic, piezoelectric,
electromagnetic, and pneumatic types.
[0007] Regarding a pneumatic peristaltic pump, a huge externally
connected aeration device is required. The aeration device sends
high-pressure gas into the pneumatic peristaltic pump to drive
membranes therein to reciprocate, enabling flowing of a fluid.
Although powerfully pushing the fluid forward, the pneumatic
peristaltic pump is a huge and complex structure, thereby causing
inconvenience of employment. To solve the aforementioned
disadvantages, a thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump can replace the
pneumatic peristaltic pump to play a critical role in driving the
fluid to flow in a micro fluidic system.
[0008] Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, a conventional
thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump 1 comprises a heating base board
10, a membrane disposition board 20, and a fluidic receiving board
30.
[0009] The heating base board 10 comprises a plurality of heaters
11, a plurality of first electrodes 12a, and a plurality of second
electrodes 12b. Each heater 11 is connected between each first
electrode 12a and each second electrode 12b. Additionally, the
first electrodes 12a and second electrodes 12b are electrically
connected to a controller (not shown).
[0010] The membrane disposition board 20 is disposed on the heating
base board 10 and comprises a plurality of membrane chambers 21.
Specifically, the membrane chambers 21 correspond to and cover the
heaters 11, respectively.
[0011] The fluidic receiving board 30 is disposed on the membrane
disposition board 20 and comprises a plurality of fluidic chambers
31, a fluidic inlet 32, and a fluidic outlet 33. The fluidic
chambers 31 sequentially connect to each other and are connected
between the fluidic inlet 32 and the fluidic outlet 33.
Additionally, the fluidic chambers 31 are disposed on the membrane
chambers 21 of the membrane disposition board 20, respectively.
[0012] When the thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump 1 drives a fluid
to flow, the controller performs sequential control for pushing the
fluid. Namely, the controller sequentially electrifies the heaters
11 via the first electrodes 12a and second electrodes 12b, enabling
heating operation of the heaters 11. Specifically, as shown in
FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, the controller electrifies only two heaters
11 every time, heating air in closed spaces between the two heaters
11 and two corresponding membrane chambers 21. Here, the air in the
closed spaces between the two heaters 11 and the two corresponding
membrane chambers 21 is heated to expand, increasing the volume of
the two corresponding membrane chambers 21, and further forcing the
two corresponding membrane chambers 21 to bulge upward. In another
aspect, when the controller stops electrifying a certain heater 11,
the air in the closed space between the heater 11 and a
corresponding membrane chamber 21 cools down, such that the volume
of the corresponding membrane chamber 21 returns to an original
size and the corresponding membrane chamber 21 does not bulge
upward any more. Accordingly, by repeatedly and sequentially
controlling the heating operation of the heaters 11 using the
controller, the fluid can flow into the fluidic chambers 31 via the
fluidic inlet 32 and flow out of the fluidic chambers 31 via the
fluidic outlet 33.
[0013] Nevertheless, in practical application, the thermo-pneumatic
peristaltic pump 1 has many drawbacks. Because the fluidic chambers
31 are disposed right on the heaters 11, the fluid flowing through
the fluidic chambers 31 is directly heated by the heaters 11 and
thus provides an increased temperature, adversely affecting the
structure or character of the fluid. Specifically, when the
temperature of the fluid increases, the structure of the fluid may
be damaged, bubbles may occur in the fluid, or the fluid may be
vaporized. Thus, subsequent application, such as inspection and
analysis, of the fluid output from the thermo-pneumatic peristaltic
pump 1 is adversely affected. Moreover, as the membrane chambers 21
provide a limited volume, a fluidic pushing force generated by the
thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump 1 is limited.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] A detailed description is given in the following embodiments
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0015] An exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a
thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump comprising a heating base board,
a membrane disposition board, and a fluidic receiving board. The
heating base board comprises at least one heater. The membrane
disposition board is disposed on the heating base board and
comprises at least one membrane chamber. The membrane chamber
comprises a first chamber body and a second chamber body. The first
chamber body connects to the second chamber body and covers the
heater. The fluidic receiving board is disposed on the membrane
disposition board and comprises at least one fluidic chamber, a
fluidic inlet, and a fluidic outlet. The fluidic chamber is
connected between the fluidic inlet and the fluidic outlet and is
disposed on the second chamber body of the membrane chamber.
[0016] The membrane chamber further comprises a connecting chamber
body connecting the first chamber body to the second chamber
body.
[0017] The heating base board further comprises at least one first
electrode and at least one second electrode. The heater is
connected between the first and second electrodes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The invention can be more fully understood by reading the
subsequent detailed description and examples with references made
to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1A is a perspective assembly view of a conventional
thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump;
[0020] FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view of the conventional
thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump of FIG. 1A;
[0021] FIG. 2A is a schematic cross section of the conventional
thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump in an operational mode;
[0022] FIG. 2B is a schematic cross section of the conventional
thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump in another operational mode;
[0023] FIG. 2C is a schematic cross section of the conventional
thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump in yet another operational
mode;
[0024] FIG. 3A is a perspective assembly view of a thermo-pneumatic
peristaltic pump of the invention; and
[0025] FIG. 3B is an exploded perspective view of the
thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] The following description is of the best-contemplated mode
of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the
purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and
should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention
is best determined by reference to the appended claims.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, a thermo-pneumatic
peristaltic pump 100 comprises a heating base board 110, a membrane
disposition board 120, and a fluidic receiving board 130.
[0028] The heating base board 110 comprises a plurality of heaters
111, a plurality of first electrodes 112a, and a second electrode
112b. Each heater 111 is connected between each first electrode
112a and the second electrode 112b. Additionally, the first
electrodes 112a and second electrode 112b are electrically
connected to a controller (not shown).
[0029] The membrane disposition board 120 is disposed on the
heating base board 110 and comprises a plurality of membrane
chambers 121. Each membrane chamber 121 comprises a first chamber
body 121a, a second chamber body 121b, and a connecting chamber
body 121c. In this embodiment, each connecting chamber body 121c
connects each first chamber body 121a to each second chamber body
121b, and each first chamber body 121a covers each heater 111.
Additionally, the membrane disposition board 120 may be composed of
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).
[0030] The fluidic receiving board 130 is disposed on the membrane
disposition board 120 and comprises a plurality of fluidic chambers
131, a fluidic inlet 132a, and a fluidic outlet 132b. The fluidic
chambers 131 are sequentially connected to each other and are
connected between the fluidic inlet 132a and the fluidic outlet
132b. Specifically, each fluidic chamber 131 is disposed on each
second chamber body 121b of each membrane chamber 121 and diverges
from each first chamber body 121a covering each heater 111.
[0031] When the thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump 100 drives a
fluid to flow, the controller performs sequential control for
pushing the fluid. Namely, the controller sequentially electrifies
the heaters 111 via the first electrodes 112a and second electrode
112b, enabling heating operation of the heaters 111. Specifically,
the controller electrifies only two heaters 111 every time, heating
air in closed spaces between the two heaters 111 and two
corresponding membrane chambers 121. Here, the air in the closed
spaces between the two heaters 111 and the two corresponding
membrane chambers 121 is heated to expand, increasing the volume of
the two corresponding membrane chambers 121, and further forcing
the two corresponding membrane chambers 121 to bulge upward. In
another aspect, when the controller stops electrifying a certain
heater 111, the air in the closed space between the heater 111 and
a corresponding membrane chamber 121 cools down, such that the
volume of the corresponding membrane chamber 121 returns to an
original size and the corresponding membrane chamber 121 does not
bulge upward any more. Accordingly, by repeatedly and sequentially
controlling the heating operation of the heaters 111 using the
controller, the fluid can flow into the fluidic chambers 131 via
the fluidic inlet 132a and flow out of the fluidic chambers 131 via
the fluidic outlet 132b.
[0032] Moreover, the raised height of the central portion of each
conventional membrane chamber 21, i.e. the difference between the
height of the central portion of each membrane chamber 21 after
expansion and that before expansion, can be expressed by the
following equation:
s = 3 V 0 .lamda. .DELTA. T .pi. R 2 ##EQU00001##
[0033] wherein, s denotes the raised height of the central portion
of the membrane chamber 21, V.sub.0 denotes the volume of the
closed space between the heater 11 and the corresponding membrane
chamber 21 before heating, .gamma. denotes the coefficient of
expansion of air, .DELTA.T denotes the temperature difference in
the membrane chamber 21, and R denotes the radius of the fluidic
chamber 31.
[0034] According to the equation above, when the values of .gamma.
and R are fixed, the value of s is in proportion to the values of
V.sub.0 and .DELTA.T. Namely, the value of s increases when the
value of V.sub.0 increases and the value of .DELTA.T is fixed, or
the required value of .DELTA.T for providing the same value of s
reduces when the value of V.sub.0 increases.
[0035] Accordingly, the thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump 100
provides many advantages as follows. Because the fluidic chambers
131 are not disposed right on the heaters 111, the fluid flowing
through the fluidic chambers 131 is not heated directly by the
heaters 111 and the temperature of the fluid is not increased as
obviously as the case heating directly. Thus, the structure or
character of the fluid can be stably maintained, benefiting
subsequent application, such as inspection and analysis, of the
fluid output from the thermo-pneumatic peristaltic pump 100.
Moreover, as each membrane chamber 121 comprises a first chamber
body 121a, a second chamber body 121b, and a connecting chamber
body 121c, the overall volume of each membrane chamber 121 is
immensely increased, i.e. the value of V.sub.0 is immensely
increased. Thus, after heated, each membrane chamber 121 provides
an enhanced expansion effect, generating a greater fluidic pushing
force. Additionally, as the overall volume of each membrane chamber
121 is immensely increased, the temperature difference therein may
be selectively reduced (i.e. the value of .DELTA.T may be
selectively reduced), thereby reducing consumption of electric
power.
[0036] While the invention has been described by way of example and
in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended
to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would
be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of
the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation
so as to encompass all such modifications and similar
arrangements.
* * * * *