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Digital incremental flow analysis systemRelated Patent Categories: Pumps, Condition Responsive Control Of Pump Drive Motor, By Control Of Electric Or Magnetic Drive MotorDigital incremental flow analysis system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070014672, Digital incremental flow analysis system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application derives priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/699,644 filed: 18 Jul. 2005. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to flow analysis in pumps and, in more particularly, to an optical analysis system for digital incremental flow analysis in positive displacement pumps. [0004] 2. Description of the Background [0005] Conventional positive displacement pumps pump liquids in and out of a pumping chamber by changing the volume of the chamber and controlling the valving of at least one inlet and one outlet port. [0006] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,478 to Bach et al. issued May 25, 2004 shows a precision fluid dispensing system with a two-piece positive displacement pump and a precision closed loop controller drive system that addresses the small volume precision dispensing requirements of bioscience applications. A micro-controller with closed loop feedback provides exact linear positioning and motion of the pump piston as well as optional control of a nozzle to provide exact micro-dispensing of fluids. Similarly, U.S. Patent Application 2005036692 by Bach further describes a two piston, two cylinder pump that can have multiple inlet and outlet ports on either diameter. These multiple port dual diameter pumps can have ports for dispensing a common fluid through several outlet ports or can be used to bring different reagents into the pump though multiple inlet ports. The use of different inlet ports for sequential reagent input to the pump allows for pump mixing of reagents and the dispensing of a common mixed solution. [0007] The conventional displacement (pumping) range for the above-described and other positive displacement pumps is approximately 500 ml to 5 ul, or smaller volumes if coupled to an active nozzle as described in patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,478. Smaller precision fluid pumps can be accomplished by using small piston and cylinders coupled to a magnetostrictive, piezoelectric or solenoid actuator. Magnetostrictive fluid pumps rely on expanding rods that serve as actuators. The rods are made of magnetostrictive material that changes dimensions in the presence of a magnetic field. Thus, the rods move in and out of a pumping chamber like a solenoid, thereby changing the volume of the chamber. The rods may be moved within a range of several tens of microns. There are no moving parts at all, and so magnetostrictive pumps can run reliably over a long period of time. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/273,583 by Bach et al. employs magnetostrictive actuator(s) to accomplish the functions of precision fluid dispensing, reagent mixing, and microarray dispensing. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/688,331 by Bach et al. shows a magnetostrictive actuator valve used for removing small volumes of fluid or fluid containing cells in a flowing stream or incremental flowing stream. [0008] There is a large demand for cost effective cell sorting of stem and other cell types. Sorted isolated cell populations are used for transplantation into myeloablated cancer patients. There are currently about 100,000 such transplantations a year in the US. Automated cell sorting techniques are becoming indispensable for both research and clinical applications. These devices detect the properties of cells, and implement the physical separation of cells of interest at high speed. The detection of cells are done using optical techniques such as fluorescence and light scattering, but the optics are typically interfaced to a sample chamber downstream of the pump, followed by separation of the cells of interest using electrostatic or other physical separation methods. The sample chamber and sorting relies on an open fluid flow system that creates a high potential for contamination. [0009] It would be greatly advantageous to provide a positive displacement pump design that allows for precision dispensing and mixing of fluids by assist of an optical system that interfaces directly with the pump itself and a precision closed loop controller drive system that addresses the small volume precision dispensing requirements of bioscience applications. Such a system would allow closure of the fluid flow system, reduces moving parts, and reduces the potential for contamination SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a positive displacement pump design for precision dispensing and mixing of fluids by assist of an optical system that interfaces the pump chamber directly to a precision closed loop controller drive system (utilizing feedback) for optical analysis thereof, especially for small volume precision dispensing requirements of bioscience applications. [0011] It is another object to provide a positive displacement pump design with direct optical analysis of the pump chamber which is nevertheless a closed fluid flow system, with few moving parts, and reduced potential for contamination [0012] It is another object to provide a positive displacement pump design as described above that has particular utility in bioscience applications such as a cell sorter. [0013] According to the present invention, the above-described and other objects are accomplished by providing a positive displacement pump design that allows an optical analysis of the fluids being pumped, mixed or sorted, via optical detection within the pump itself as opposed to downstream there from. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pump incorporates a glass rod as a piston that gives the ability to convey optical light into the pump cylinder and collect light back out of the piston to optical detectors. As an alternative to a glass piston, a positive displacement rod may encapsulate one or more optical fibers coupled to a gradient index lens at the distal end of the piston rid. A gradient index lens employs a gradually varying index of refraction within the lens material itself, allowing light rays to be redirected towards a point of focus. Thus, for example, a GRIN lens such as an EndoGRIN.TM. or Selfoc.TM. lens may be carried at the distal end of the piston rod and optically coupled directly to an optical fiber embedded in the positive displacement piston (or the optical fiber or bundle may itself serve as the pump piston). The gradient index lens serves as the optical focusing element and allows optical interrogation within the chamber of the positive displacement pump. The incorporation of optical detection within the confines of a positive displacement pump chamber has great utility, especially as the internal analysis volume decreases. For example, pistons in accordance with the present invention allow the detection in the pump to approach femto-liter volumes. The pump and detection system can be controlled and synchronized by a microprocessor. Optical detection can be based on fluorescence, scattered light or both. Other detection techniques such as absorbance are also included in this application. [0014] It is also understood that the use of a piston and cylinder incorporating optical detection in accordance with the invention can be used as a Precision Dispensing (or "Pick and Place") type of pump. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and certain modifications thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which: [0016] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a positive displacement pump 2 with pump-integrated optical analysis system according to a first embodiment of the invention. [0017] FIG. 2 shows a dual-diameter positive displacement pump 120 with pump-integrated optical analysis system according to an alternate embodiment of the invention. [0018] FIG. 3 shows a positive displacement pump 220 with pump-integrated optical analysis system according to another embodiment of the invention for small volume precision dispensing requirements of bioscience applications. [0019] FIG. 4(A-C) is a sequential view of a `pick and place" precision fluid pump with pump-integrated optical analysis system according to another alternate embodiment of the invention, while FIG. 4D illustrates an enlarged cross-section of the pick and place pump. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Continue reading about Digital incremental flow analysis system... Full patent description for Digital incremental flow analysis system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Digital incremental flow analysis system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Digital incremental flow analysis system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Pipe for steam turbine, manufacturing process of same, main steam pipe and reheat pipe for steam turbine, and steam turbine power plant using those pipes Next Patent Application: Method for controlling a pump means Industry Class: Pumps ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Digital incremental flow analysis system patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.20233 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , 174 |
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