Fluid delivery system

1 . A fluid delivery system to deliver a biocompatible fluid comprising:

a valve positioned at a first location of a flow path of a fluid substance, the valve including,

an actuator comprising a deformable chamber, and

a gate structure, the gate structure comprising a gate in the flow path of the fluid substance and having an opening, a housing comprising a hole, and a movable element,

wherein when the actuator is activated, the actuator applies force to the movable element to open the gate so that the opening of the gate and the hole of the housing are at least partially aligned along a same axis,

wherein the actuator applies the force to the movable element in response to deformation of the deformable chamber so as to allow the fluid substance to flow in the flow path;

wherein the opening of the gate and the hole of the housing are not aligned when the gate is closed; and

wherein a position of the opening relative to the hole is configured to change when the actuator is activated.

2 . The fluid delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises an electroosmotic (EO) pump.

3 . The fluid delivery system of claim 2 , wherein the EO pump comprises a second deformable chamber, a porous electrode positioned between the deformable chamber and the second deformable chamber, and a porous membrane positioned between the deformable chamber and the second deformable chamber, the deformable chamber and the second deformable chamber being in fluid communication.

4 . The fluid delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising a flow meter positioned at a second location of the flow path of the fluid substance, wherein the flow meter comprises a molded non-conductive housing, a heating element at least partially embedded in the molded non-conductive housing, and a sensing element at least partially embedded in the molded non-conductive housing.

5 . The fluid delivery system of claim 4 , further comprising a pump configured to drive the fluid substance along the flow path through the valve and the flow meter.

6 . The fluid delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the valve, the controller configured to control operation of the fluid delivery system.

7 . A fluid delivery system to deliver a biocompatible fluid comprising:

a flow meter positioned in a fluid flow path;

a valve positioned in the fluid flow path, the valve including an actuator comprising,

a first elastic diaphragm and a second elastic diaphragm;

a first deformable chamber and a second deformable chamber positioned between the first elastic diaphragm and the second elastic diaphragm, wherein, when the actuator is activated, the first deformable chamber and the second deformable chamber are configured to actuate a gate to open the fluid flow path to allow a fluid substance to flow through the fluid flow path;

a porous membrane positioned between the first deformable chamber and the second deformable chamber; and

a pump configured to drive the fluid substance along the fluid flow path through the valve and the flow meter;

wherein the first deformable chamber is configured to expand in response to an electroosmotic flow of a solution through the actuator;

wherein the fluid flow path is open when the first deformable chamber is in an expanded position.

8 . The fluid delivery system of claim 7 , wherein the valve comprises an electroosmotic (EO) pump.

9 . The fluid delivery system of claim 7 , wherein the pump comprises an electroosmotic (EO) pump.

10 . The fluid delivery system of claim 7 , wherein the flow meter further comprises a molded non-conductive housing, a heating element at least partially embedded in the molded non-conductive housing, and a sensing element at least partially embedded in the molded non-conductive housing.

11 . The fluid delivery system of claim 7 , further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the flow meter, the valve, and the pump, the controller configured to control operation of the fluid delivery system.

12 . A fluid delivery system to deliver a biocompatible fluid comprising:

a flow meter positioned at a first location of a flow path of a fluid substance, the flow meter comprising a molded non-conductive housing, an opening extending an entire length of the molded non-conductive housing, a plurality of heating elements at least partially embedded in the molded non-conductive housing and exposed to the flow path, and a plurality of sensing elements at least partially embedded in the molded non-conductive housing and exposed to the flow path,

wherein the plurality of heating elements are configured to transfer first thermal energy to the fluid substance in the flow path, and the plurality of sensing elements are configured to transduce second thermal energy from the flow path to an electrical signal,

wherein the plurality of heating elements and the plurality of sensing elements are spaced apart from each other along a length of the molded non-conductive housing; and

wherein each of the plurality of heating elements and the plurality of sensing elements comprises a curved portion, a first foot extending radially outward from the curved portion and comprising a first terminal, a second foot extending radially outward from the curved portion and comprising a second terminal, and a gap between the first foot and the second foot;

wherein each of the first terminals and second terminals is at least partially exposed to an exterior of the molded non-conductive housing.

13 . The fluid delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of heating elements and the plurality of sensing elements are arranged to contact the fluid substance during operation of the fluid delivery system.

14 . The fluid delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of heating elements comprises a conductive plastic, and the plurality of heating elements is disposed at least partially around a portion of the flow path.

15 . The fluid delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the opening comprises a diameter in a range from 0.5 mm to 1 mm.

16 . The fluid delivery system of claim 12 , wherein a volume of the flow path in the flow meter is between 0.1 mm 3 to 16 mm 3 .

17 . The fluid delivery system of claim 12 , further comprising a valve positioned at a second location of the flow path of the fluid substance, the valve configured to control a flow of the fluid substance along the flow path, wherein the valve comprises an actuator including a deformable chamber.

18 . The fluid delivery system of claim 17 , wherein the valve comprises a gate positioned in the flow path, the gate configured to open in response to deformation of the deformable chamber thereby allowing the fluid substance to flow in the flow path.

19 . The fluid delivery system of claim 17 , wherein the actuator comprises an electroosmotic (EO) pump.

20 . The fluid delivery system of claim 12 , further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the flow meter, the controller configured to control operation of the fluid delivery system, wherein the controller is configured to transmit current to the plurality of heating elements, to receive the electrical signal from the plurality of sensing elements, and to determine at least one of a temperature and a flow rate based at least in part on the electrical signal.

21 . The fluid delivery system of claim 12 , wherein each of the first terminals comprises an anode terminal and each of the second terminals comprises a cathode terminal.

22 . The fluid delivery system of claim 12 , wherein each of the first terminals and each of the second terminals comprise a dual in-line package structure configured to be mounted to a printed circuit board.