Granted Patent B2

US 12,458,745 · App. 17/297,960 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Inventors: Justin Alexander Long (Lago Vista, TX); Christopher Brian Locke (Bournemouth, GB)

Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company

A61M1/962F04B53/16A61M2205/3606

Abstract

Claims (30)

1 . A fluid aggregator for aggregating fluid flow into an inlet of a piezoelectric pump, the fluid aggregator comprising:

a member having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a first end between the first side and the second side, a second end opposite the first end, and a third end perpendicular to and extending from the first end to the second end;

a cavity disposed in the second side and having an area less than an area of the second side;

a channel disposed in the cavity, the channel having an area less than the area of the cavity;

a fluid lumen through the member from the channel to the first side;

the channel comprising a first arm and a second arm, a union of each arm with adjacent arms of the second side being positioned at the fluid lumen;

a conduit coupled to the first side, the conduit having at least one lumen fluidly coupled to the fluid lumen;

a first notch extending into the third end of the member, the first notch having a length extending into the cavity and a depth substantially equal to a depth of the member; and

a second notch extending into the third end of the member, the second notch having a length extending into the cavity and a depth substantially equal to a depth of the member.

2 . The fluid aggregator of claim 1 , the fluid aggregator further comprising:

a first leg extending from the second side and proximate to the first end, the first leg having a length substantially equal to a length of the first end; and

a second leg extending from the second side and proximate to the second end, the second leg having a length substantially equal to a length of the second end.

3 . The fluid aggregator of claim 2 , wherein the first leg has a surface facing the second leg and the second leg has a surface facing the first leg, the surface of the first leg and the surface of the second leg configured to be coupled to the piezoelectric pump.

4 . The fluid aggregator of claim 1 , wherein the channel further comprises a third arm, a union of each arm with adjacent arms of the channel being positioned at the fluid lumen.

5 . The fluid aggregator of claim 4 , wherein each arm has a same length.

6 . The fluid aggregator of claim 1 , wherein the first arm and the second arm comprise a V-shape, an apex of the V being positioned at the fluid lumen.

7 . The fluid aggregator of claim 1 , wherein the first arm and the second arm comprise a T-shape, the fluid lumen being located at a crossing of the first arm and the second arm.

8 . The fluid aggregator of claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises a tube coupled to the first side and having a tube connector projecting from the first end of the member, the tube connector configured to be fluidly coupled to another tube.

9 . The fluid aggregator of claim 1 , wherein each of the first notch and the second notch is configured to receive an electrical contact of the piezoelectric pump.

10 . The fluid aggregator of claim 1 , wherein the fluid lumen intersects a surface of the channel to form an edge, the edge being chamfered.

11 . The fluid aggregator of claim 1 , wherein the fluid aggregator is injection molded.

12 . The fluid aggregator of claim 1 , wherein the fluid aggregator is thermally conductive and configured to conduct heat away from the piezoelectric pump.

13 . The fluid aggregator of claim 12 , wherein the fluid aggregator has a 50% conductive loading ratio.

14 . The fluid aggregator of claim 1 , wherein the fluid aggregator comprises a polymer.

15 . The fluid aggregator of claim 1 , wherein the fluid aggregator is configured to cover and seal the inlet of the piezoelectric pump without contacting functioning components of the piezoelectric pump.

16 . The fluid aggregator of claim 1 , wherein:

the piezoelectric pump comprises a heat sink having an outer surface; and

the fluid aggregator is configured to cover the outer surface.

17 . The fluid aggregator of claim 1 , wherein the fluid aggregator weighs less than 1 gram.

18 . The fluid aggregator of claim 1 , wherein the fluid aggregator is configured to direct fluid flow across a surface of the piezoelectric pump having the inlet, the surface being perpendicular to the inlet.

Assignments (4)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (211)