IP Library Granted Patent US 8,684,973
Granted Patent B2
US 8,684,973 · App. 12/537,703 · Granted Apr 1, 2014

Micropump

Inventors: Julia Cassemeyer (Reutlingen, DE); Ralph Reichenbach (Esslingen, DE)
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,684,973
App. No.
12/537,703
Granted
Apr 1, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A micropump, which in particular is a pump for a medicinal active substance and which may be an insulin pump or an analgesic pump, has at least one valve, which has a valve chamber, and has a pump chamber. At least one immobile structural element, which reduces the valve chamber volume, is provided in the valve chamber.

Claims (54)

1. A micropump for a medicinal active substance, comprising:

a pump arrangement; and

at least one valve, in the pump arrangement, having a valve chamber and a pump chamber,

wherein the valve chamber and the pump chamber are both situated in the same direction of flow of the medicinal active substance with respect to the at least one valve,

wherein at least one immobile structural element, which reduces the valve chamber volume, is in the valve chamber,

wherein the structural element, on a side facing toward or away from a moveable diaphragm which delimits the valve chamber, is situated at a distance to the diaphragm, and

wherein the at least one immobile structural element is not situated in the pump chamber.

2. The micropump of claim 1 , wherein the structural element, on a side facing toward or away from a movable diaphragm which delimits the valve chamber has an antistick coating.

3. The micropump of claim 1 , wherein the structural element, on a side facing toward an immobile carrier layer which delimits the valve chamber, satisfies at least one of the following: (i) it has an antistick coating, and (ii) it is situated at a distance to the carrier layer.

4. The micropump of claim 1 , wherein the structural element is situated in an area between a peripheral wall, which externally delimits the valve chamber, and an adjustable valve element, which is a valve plunger.

5. A micropump for a medicinal active substance, comprising:

a pump arrangement; and

at least one valve, in the pump arrangement, having a valve chamber and a pump chamber,

wherein the valve chamber and the pump chamber are both situated in the same direction of flow of the medicinal active substance with respect to the at least one valve,

wherein at least one immobile structural element, which reduces the valve chamber volume, is in the valve chamber,

wherein the structural element, on a side facing toward or away from a moveable diaphragm which delimits the valve chamber, is situated at a distance to the diaphragm,

wherein the structural element is situated in an area between a peripheral wall, which externally delimits the valve chamber, and an adjustable valve element, which is a valve plunger, and

wherein the structural element is connected to the peripheral wall or is an extension of the peripheral wall directed radially inward.

6. A micropump for a medicinal active substance, comprising:

a pump arrangement; and

at least one valve, in the pump arrangement, having a valve chamber and a pump chamber,

wherein the valve chamber and the pump chamber are both situated in the same direction of flow of the medicinal active substance with respect to the at least one valve,

wherein at least one immobile structural element, which reduces the valve chamber volume, is in the valve chamber,

wherein the structural element, on a side facing toward or away from a moveable diaphragm which delimits the valve chamber, is situated at a distance to the diaphragm,

wherein the structural element is situated in an area between a peripheral wall, which externally delimits the valve chamber, and an adjustable valve element, which is a valve plunger, and

wherein a channel, which is an annular channel, is formed radially between the structural element and the valve element.

7. A micropump for a medicinal active substance, comprising:

a pump arrangement; and

at least one valve, in the pump arrangement, having a valve chamber and a pump chamber,

wherein the valve chamber and the pump chamber are both situated in the same direction of flow of the medicinal active substance with respect to the at least one valve,

wherein at least one immobile structural element, which reduces the valve chamber volume, is in the valve chamber,

wherein the structural element, on a side facing toward or away from a moveable diaphragm which delimits the valve chamber, is situated at a distance to the diaphragm, and

wherein the valve element is elastically suspended using at least one spring, which is a coiled spring.

8. The micropump of claim 7 , wherein the structural element is situated between two coiled springs, which are adjacent in the peripheral direction.

9. The micropump of claim 7 , wherein the structural element is situated at a distance to the coiled spring.

10. The micropump of claim 1 , wherein the structural element is exclusively situated at a distance to an inflow area or an outflow area of the valve chamber.

11. The micropump of claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve is an inlet valve.

12. The micropump of claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve is an outlet valve.

13. The micropump of claim 1 , wherein all functional elements of the micropump are exclusively manufactured by structuring from one direction.

14. The micropump of claim 1 , wherein the micropump is an insulin pump.

15. The micropump of claim 1 , wherein the micropump is an analgesic pump.

16. The micropump of claim 1 , wherein the structural element is situated in an area between a peripheral wall, which externally delimits the valve chamber and is in the form of an internal wall of a hollow cylinder, and an adjustable valve element, which is a valve plunger.

17. The micropump of claim 1 , wherein the structural element, on a side facing toward or away from a movable diaphragm which delimits the valve chamber has an antistick coating, wherein the structural element is exclusively situated at a distance to an inflow area or an outflow area of the valve chamber.

18. The micropump of claim 1 , wherein the structural element, on a side facing toward an immobile carrier layer which delimits the valve chamber, satisfies at least one of the following: (i) it has an antistick coating, and (ii) it is situated at a distance to the carrier layer, wherein the structural element is exclusively situated at a distance to an inflow area or an outflow area of the valve chamber.

19. A micropump for a medicinal active substance, comprising:

a pump arrangement; and

at least one valve, in the pump arrangement, having a valve chamber and a pump chamber,

wherein the valve chamber and the pump chamber are both situated in the same direction of flow of the medicinal active substance with respect to the at least one valve,

wherein at least one immobile structural element, which reduces the valve chamber volume, is in the valve chamber,

wherein the structural element, on a side facing toward or away from a moveable diaphragm which delimits the valve chamber, is situated at a distance to the diaphragm, and

wherein the structural element is situated in an area between a peripheral wall, which externally delimits the valve chamber, and an adjustable valve element, which is a valve plunger, wherein the structural element is connected to the peripheral wall or is an extension of the peripheral wall directed radially inward, wherein a channel, which is an annular channel, is formed radially between the structural element and the valve element, wherein the valve element is elastically suspended using at least one spring, which is a coiled spring.

20. The micropump of claim 19 , wherein the structural element is situated between two coiled springs, which are adjacent in the peripheral direction.

21. The micropump of claim 19 , wherein the structural element is situated at a distance to the coiled spring.

22. The micropump of claim 19 , wherein the structural element is exclusively situated at a distance to an inflow area or an outflow area of the valve chamber.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2009
From: CASSEMEYER, JULIA; REICHENBACH, RALPH
To: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
Reel/Frame 023435/0992 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2008 041 542 · Aug 26, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100057006A1 · Mar 4, 2010