Patent ID: 8956325
Filing Date: 2015-02-17
Classification: A61M,F04B

Abstract:
1. A liquid displacement apparatus, comprising: a silicon substrate; a first cavity formed in the substrate and having an inlet side and an outlet side; a piezoelectrically displaceable membrane positioned above the first cavity at least partially enclosing the cavity; a ceiling member positioned above the membrane; a second cavity positioned proximate the inlet side of the first cavity; and an inlet valve member at least partially suspended above the first cavity, the inlet valve member communicatively couples the second cavity to the first cavity by swinging to a first position that is at least partially in the first cavity in response to displacement of the membrane to a first displacement position and communicatively decouples the first cavity from the second cavity by swinging to a second position that is at least partially in the second cavity; a third cavity formed proximate to the outlet side of the first cavity and having an upper portion bound by the ceiling member and a lower portion bound by the substrate; and an outlet valve member positioned between the first cavity and the third cavity, the outlet valve member at least partially suspended over the first cavity and extending from the membrane, wherein the outlet valve member communicatively couples and decouples the first cavity to the third cavity by flexibly swinging between a third position that is at least partially in the third cavity and a fourth position that is at least partially in the first cavity, the outlet valve member abutting the substrate in the fourth position and communicatively decoupling the third cavity from the first cavity in response to displacement of the membrane to the first displacement position when in the fourth position.