Abstract:
The invention concerns a micropump for the substantially continuous delivery of a mass flow, the micropump having a sleeve axis and an offset axis of rotation. An internal rotor meshes with an external rotor in a sleeve and at least one outlet-side pressure opening in a first end-face insert part which is inserted into the sleeve of slightly largely diameter, is aligned in the axial direction. The invention further concerns a micromotor of similar construction in which the diameter of the delivery hose corresponds approximately to that of the sleeve casing. The pump and motor are extremely miniaturized yet still permit a continuous flow with high feed pressure and high output.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to pumps and motors of smallest constructional size, in the following referred to as one of micropump and micromotor. The terms designating orders of magnitude, being of a diameter range below 10 mm, particularly less than 3 mm. Such pumps may find manifold uses in the technical and medical sectors, for instance in microsystems engineering in dosing apparatuses, in medical engineering, as a drive means for one of a micro milling cutter and a bloodstream support pump. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Prior art is rich of specifications regarding the principle and the function of gear pumps having an inner wheel and an outer wheel, the wheels being in mating/meshing engagement (compare DE-A 17 03 802, claim 1, page 4, last paragraph and page 6, last paragraph, disclosing radially directed inflow and outflow channels). These operational units to be used as one of pumps and motors are characterized by having two axes, one axis of an inner rotor and another axis of an outer rotor, which axes are offset with respect to each other, and which rotors being in meshing engagement to circumferentially form pressure spaces (pressure chambers) cyclically changing their size and position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is to provide a micropump of a minimum constructional volume, with which pump a continuous flow of a fluid to be conveyed is achieved and at the same time a high conveying capacity and a high feed (discharge) pressure are obtained. 
     Said object is achieved with a micropump, wherein an outlet pressure opening of a face end insert part for a sleeve casing of slightly larger diameter is adapted to extend in an axial direction (claim  1 ). An inlet opening of a second face end insert part for the sleeve casing of slightly larger diameter may also be adapted to extend in axial direction (claim  2 ). Thus, the entire pump is in a position to generate a continuous flow of fluid in axial direction, which flow is oriented to a circumferential direction only in an inner portion of the pump, where the rotors are in meshing engagement to circumferentially displace the pressure chambers. As soon as the flow of fluid to be conveyed enters the face end insert part on the outlet side, it is discharged from there in the axial direction through a pressure opening extending in axial direction. The pressure opening may consist of a number of individual bores arranged at circumferential intervals, it may consist of one single bore and it may be provided by one bore together with a kidney-shaped receiving groove on the inside surface of the outlet insert part (claim  3 ). 
     The advantage of the pumps provided according to the invention is that, despite their almost unimaginable miniaturization, they are of a simple structure. An assembly of the micropump being available by a manufacturing method (claim  11 ), wherein substantially cylindrical parts as components being assembled in a uniaxial direction. The two end insert components, being inserted in axial direction, are positioned at both ends of the sleeve casing, while the meshing wheels (inner rotor and outer rotor) which are likewise inserted in (the same) axial direction are interposed axially between them. 
     The pump is driven for example on an extended end portion of the shaft of the inner rotor (claim  6 ) or radially via the casing by one of a mere mechanical and electromechanical force (claim  7 ). If an electromechanical drive force is used, e. g. one of the outer rotor and the sleeve casing may for a far reaching miniaturization be provided with integrated magnets, to serve as a rotor of a synchronous drive, the radially outer sleeve casing, which has a further outside radial position, permitting a penetration of electromagnetic fields. 
     Advantageously, slight conveying losses resulting from circumferential inexactnesses are used as a bearing for each respective rotatable component in the casing (claim  8 ). 
     A motor for driving the pump is also characterized by being of smallest constructional size, simultaneously providing a high power density and even presenting a favorable characteristic line (torque in relation to speed). If the number of revolutions is not too high, the motor achieves a torque permitting to drive a pump without gearing. The driving energy of the motor is generated by a fluidic flow, passing the meshing wheels (inner rotor and outer rotor) and being discharged to the environment at the outlet side. A drive fluid enters through an inlet tubing or connection piece which is adapted to be fixedly mounted at the sleeve casing of the insert part or at the insert part itself (claim  9 ). 
     When mounted at the face end insert, said insert may be slightly to markedly extended in relation to the sleeve casing to provide a firm fit for the inlet tubing. 
     The mounting of the inlet tubing implicates that the inlet tubing has about the same diameter as the micromotor, as described in claim  10 . 
     If a fluidic drive is used, there is no difficulty with regard to an electric insulation for smallest constructional sizes. The fluidic drive medium may simultaneously serve as coolant, lubricant, rinsing medium and bearing fluid. 
     The motor (claim  9 ) consists of the same components as the pump (claim  1 ), only different operational elements are one of fixedly and rotatably connected with each other. When uniaxially assembling (claim  11 ) the mentioned operational elements, a number of embodiments are provided to realize the motor and the pump, depending on which part is fixedly mounted on which, which part is rotatably mounted on which and which part the arrangement uses as a support on a fixed position. Using an inlet tubing as drive, the inlet tubing itself is the support. Driving the pump by an extended shaft portion, an elongated drive shaft is used. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     In the following, the invention is described in detail on the basis of several embodiments. 
     FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a pump  1  having an insert part  41  and a drive shaft  50 . 
     FIG. 1 a  illustrates an embodiment of adapting the components according to FIG. 1 to be one of fixedly and rotatably mounted in relation to each other, hatches indicating a fixed mounting. Surfaces adjoining each other and not being hatched in the border area are movable in relation to each other. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a motor  2  having an extended insert part  41  on which an inlet tubing for a drive fluid may be attached. 
     FIG. 2 a  illustrates an embodiment in which one of relatively movable and fixed “border areas” for a motor according to FIG. 2 are provided, hatches indicating a fixed border area. 
     FIG. 3 a , FIG. 3 b  and FIG. 3 c  show three radial positions of an inner rotor  20  in relation to an outer rotor  30 , both rotors being in meshing engagement. 
     FIG. 4 shows both, a side view of a casing  60  with two inserted face end parts  41 , 42 , and a sectional view A—A. 
     FIG. 5 shows an arrangement wherein, in a practical experiment, a pump  1  is provided in a conveying channel leading from a suction end S to a pressure end D. In this embodiment, a circumferentially directed driving force to a casing  60  of the pump  1  is selected. 
     FIG. 6 a , FIG. 6 b  and FIG. 6 c  are embodiments illustrating connections for a tubing SH through which a fluid for driving the motor  2  is entered. The tubing is mounted not to be rotatable. 
     FIG. 7 a , FIG. 7 b , FIG. 7 c  and FIG. 7 d  are embodiments illustrating connections for a drive A on one of a shaft  50  and an insert part  41  and an outer casing  60  with a circumferential drive  63   a , 63   b  as illustrated in the arrangement of FIG.  5 . FIG. 7 b  shows an electromechanical drive according to the principle of a synchronous motor. 
     FIG. 8 consists of three sketches A, B and C, illustrating three different embodiments of inlet and outlet openings  41   n , 42   n  located in the face end parts  41 , 42  according to FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic sketch of a micropump  1  which has a diameter of the order of below 10 mm, but which, preferably by manufacturing processes of wire spark erosion and cavity sinking, can be reduced to sizes of less than 2.5 mm in diameter. The length of the pump is in the latter diameter of 2.5 mm about 4 mm only, measured in the axial direction  100 . 
     Other manufacturing methods may also be used, such as LIGA engineering, plastics injection molding, ceramics injection molding, extrusion molding, metal sintering and micromilling or microturning or general microcutting. 
     The micropump  1  consists of a casing  60  in which five operational elements are integrated, some of them movably, some of them fixed, whereby, in the after “fixed integration”, operational elements which do not perform a relative movement with respect to each other or which by their function require a fixed connection may also be manufactured as one part if allowed by the manufacturing process. At each end face of the casing  60  there is a face end insert  41  and  42 , respectively, both having an eccentric bore for receiving a pump shaft  50 . The bores are flush along a first axis  100  which is slightly radially offset to the outside in relation to the center axis  101  of the casing  60 . 
     The two end inserts  41 ,  42  are at an axial distance from each other, and between them there are two rotors which rotate with one another and engage into one another, an outer rotor part  30  and an inner rotor part  20 . The inner rotor  20  has outwardly directed teeth distributed at uniform intervals about its circumference. The teeth engage with the outer rotor part  30  which has longitudinal grooves  30   a , 30   b , . . . which open inward and which are distributed circumferentially at uniform intervals and, in their shape, match the teeth of the inner rotor  20 , such that each tooth of the inner rotor—when performing its meshing rotational movement—forms an axially directed sealing line on the inner surface of the corresponding groove  30   a , 30   b , . . . of the outer rotor  30 . All the sealing lines move in the drive direction A about the axis  100 , whereby, when performing a rotational movement in a direction towards the end of the outlet opening  42   n , transport or pump chambers  20   a , 30   a ; 20   b , 30   b  (etc.) which are defined between two sealing lines, respectively, are reduced in their volume on one half of the pump, as shown in FIG. 3 a  to  3   c , and continuously increase on the opposite half of the pump to obtain a recurring cycle of minimum and maximum chamber volumes and vice versa. 
     The inner wheel  20  provides a rotational movement together with the drive shaft  50 , a drive mechanism can couple in a rotary movement A via a longer flexible shaft, an electrical drive mechanism can also be arranged directly on the shaft  50 . 
     FIG. 1 a  illustrates an embodiment of a definition of fixed border areas (closely adjacent surfaces of two adjoining parts of the pump). Hatches indicate a fixed (non-rotatable) border area, the remaining border areas allow a rotational movement of the adjacent parts. 
     While the rotation shaft  50  together with the inner wheel  20  arranged fixedly thereon and the outer wheel  30  are rotatable in the sleeve casing, the other parts of this embodiment of a micropump—the face end inserts  41 ,  42  and the sleeve casing  60  extending along the length of the pump  1 —are connected circumferentially to one another in a fixed manner. The shaft  50  is rotatably mounted in the bores of the end inserts  41 ,  42 , and the outer wheel  30  is likewise rotatably mounted in the fixed casing  60 . Thus, in the embodiment of a rotary drive via the shaft  50  according to FIG. 1 a , represented by an angle velocity vector A, both the outer wheel  30  and the inner wheel  20  move with a rotational movement of the sealing lines as shown in FIG.  3  and simultaneously changing chamber volumes  20   a ,  30   a  (etc.) between the outer wheel and the inner wheel during rotation. 
     The fixed border areas may for example be manufactured by gluing. The chamber volumes decrease in the direction toward the smallest distance between the axis  100  of the rotation shaft  50  and the casing  60 , as a result of which the fluid conveyed in them is subjected to increased pressure, whereas they become larger again on the other side after exceeding the smallest distance between axis  100  and inner surface  61  of the sleeve casing  60 . 
     Together with kidney-shaped openings  41   n , 42   n  in the end faces  41 , 42 , which are so arranged that their smallest radial width begins at the position at which the distance between the axis  100  and the inner surface  61  of the casing  60  is at its smallest, whereas their maximum radial width is located at the position which is close to the greatest distance of axis  100  from the inner surface  61  of the casing  60 , a feed pump is obtained. The inflow kidney  41   n , which is situated on the side for the suction of the fluid V′ to be conveyed, is mounted in the opposite direction to that outflow kidney  42   n  which in FIG. 1 a  is represented at the outflow position for the delivered (discharged) volume V being conveyed under pressure. FIG. 1 a  thus shows on the inflow side an inflow kidney  41   n  which, in the shown rotational direction A of the pump, widens in its radial extension from the smallest distance of the axis  100  to the greatest distance of the axis  100  from the inner surface  61 , while the outflow kidney  42   n  is situated in the face end insert  42  and narrows, in its radial extension, with its greatest radial width from the position of the greatest distance of the axis  100  from the inner surface  61  of the sleeve casing to the smallest distance of the axis  100  from the inner surface  61  of the casing  60 . 
     The dimensioning and the change in width of the two kidneys  41   n ,  42   n  are adapted to the following criteria: 
     A short circuit of the delivery, i.e. a direct connection between the inlet kidney and the outlet kidney, is prevented in all positions of rotation;. thereby, the circumferential extension of the reniform openings  41 , 42   n  is defined. 
     The inlet and outlet cross section of the kidneys—the change in radial dimensioning—is oriented to the root diameter of the outer wheel  30  and the root diameter of the inner wheel  20 . The cross-sectional surface should be chosen as large as possible, in order to obtain minor pressure losses, at any rate maintaining the stated dimensional specifications. 
     The two kidneys can alternatively be incorporated also as curved grooves  41   k , 42   k  into the inner flat wall of the end faces, in which case a cylindrical bore  41   b , 42   b  is then provided in the axial direction of the pump as outlet and inlet, respectively. This increases the stability, which, with the small component sizes, is not unimportant. Different embodiments of inlet and outlet kidneys are illustrated in FIG.  8 . 
     A single production of the pump consisting of only six components or less is advantageously possible with the stated wire spark erosion and cavity sinking, in which case all the pump parts can be adequately described with cylinder coordinates, which, for the production, means that one dimension requires no additional working. The end inserts  41  and  42  can be manufactured by wire spark erosion. The shaft  50  is cylindrical anyway, the inner rotor  20  can likewise be manufactured by wire spark erosion, as can the outer rotor  30 . The casing  60 , finally, is also a pump component, which can be manufactured by wire spark erosion. 
     If the aforementioned kidney-shaped inlet and outlet grooves  41   k , 42   k  are made in the inner sides of the end inserts  41 ,  42 , then cavity sinking can be used for this. 
     A material which is recommended for the manufacture of the micropump is hard-sintered metal which has a low stress and is fine-grained, can easily be worked by wire spark erosion and cavity sinking, and is medically acceptable. More favorable from the medical point of view is a ceramic material which, however, can only be processed in larger batch numbers and is not quite suited for the manufacture of individual functional samples. If the erosion methods are used, attention must be paid to the electrical conductivity of the material, if a ceramic injection molding process is used—with molds which can be made, for example, by wire spark erosion and cavity sinking—then the electrical conductivity of the material of the micropump is no longer necessary. In large batch numbers, plastic or metal injection molding processes can be used. 
     The pump  1  described with reference to the FIGS. 1 and 1 a  and to the manufacturing process, may readily be used for medical purposes, such as catheters. Said drive A may be provided by a thin, flexible shaft. The drive of the micropump may also be effected by a motor  2  which is driven by a fluid, and which is made in the same way and has the same appearance as the described pump  1 , only with said motor  2  a fluidic drive via the inflow kidney  41   n  with a tubing SH is chosen, which tubing is arranged fixedly on the insert  41  (FIGS.  2 , 2   a ). Since the casing  60  in the fluidic micromotor  2  is arranged fixedly on the outer wheel  30 —for example by adhesive bonding or by a matching fit or by a weld or solder connection—the casing  60  is rotated and can transmit its output drive force A′ to the drive A of the pump  1 . 
     Said drive A′ according to FIG. 2 a  has a mechanically rigid coupling to the drive shaft  50  of the pump  1  according to FIG. 1 a.    
     The pump can be driven—instead of via the shaft  50  with direction of rotation A—also via the casing  60  which is illustrated by embodiments in FIGS. 7 c  and  7   d . It is likewise possible to reverse the drive direction in order then to obtain the conveying action of the micropump in a conveying direction from V to V′. 
     If all aforementioned pump components are adapted to be sufficiently describable with cylinder coordinates, they may as well be assembled in one axial direction, the assembly of the six basic components of one of the pump  1  and the motor  2  being effected by putting them together (uniaxially) only in said axial direction and by one of connecting them in a mechanically rigid manner and leaving them movable at certain predetermined sections (in the aforementioned border areas). This embodiment of a uniaxial assembly is advantageous for an automatized series production which is desirable for such small constructional sizes. 
     The conceptions of a pump  1  and a motor  2  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are specified for an embodiment in FIG. 1 a  and FIG. 2 a , respectively, in which border areas presenting a fixed connection (for example glued or having positive fit) are indicated by hatched lines, whereas those border areas between two components which are not provided with hatched lines are adapted to be rotatable in relation to each other. In FIG. 1 a , the two end inserts  41 , 42  are non-rotatably (fixedly) connected to the inner surface  61  of the sleeve casing  60 . The border areas of the pump according to FIG. 2 a  are adapted to be rotatable. The pump according to FIG. 1 a  is provided with a further fixed connection between the shaft  50  and the inner rotor  20 , whereas said connection is adapted to be rotatably movable in the motor according to FIG. 2 a , instead the motor of FIG. 2 a  has a border area between the casing  60  and the outer wheel  30  which is non-rotatably connected, said border area being rotatably movable in the pump  1  according to FIG. 1 a.    
     Further embodiments of the motor  2  are illustrated in FIGS. 6 a ,  6   b  and  6   c ; further embodiments of pumps are shown in FIGS. 7 a ,  7   b ,  7   c  and  7   d.    
     In FIG. 6 a , a fluidic motor is shown, which is provided with a drive fluid V through a tubing SH. Said tubing is fixedly plugged on the end insert  41  (basic support or basic component) extending in direction of an axis  101 . Thus, the basic support  1  does not rotate, instead the inner rotor  20  and the outer rotor  30  rotate, which latter drives the casing  60 . The tubing SH is exemplarily adapted to have a mechanically immobile support at position  44 . FIG. 6 a  corresponds to FIG. 2 a  as far as the arrangement is concerned, FIG. 2 a  not yet showing said tubing SH. The basic component  41  is extended in axial direction for the mounting of the tubing SH to obtain an easy plug-on means. Accordingly, the tubing and the basic component have the same diameter, therefore, the tubing for entering a fluid V has a diameter corresponding to that of the motor  2 . The output and thus the drive force is performed via the casing  60 , accordingly the axis  101  of the casing is the axis of rotation. 
     In FIG. 6 b , a tubing SH is firmly supported in relation to the environment, as schematically represented by reference numeral  51 . The firm support may also be provided by the inherent stiffness of the tubing SH without requiring a firm support directly at the motor  2 . In this embodiment, the tubing SH is put on the casing  60 , a drive being effected via the shaft  50 , an axis  100  being the axis of rotation. In the present embodiment, the shaft  50  is extended in axial direction to mechanically couple the drive output. As far as the hatched border areas and the corresponding non-rotatable connection are concerned, reference is made to the aforementioned specification. 
     In FIG. 6 c , a tubing SH is also coupled to the casing  60 , alternatively to an end insert  41  prolonged in backward direction. In the present embodiment, the drive output is realized over an axially extended cover  42 , which is the second end insert on the front face end of the pump  2 . An axis  101  (casing axis) is the axis of rotation, the shaft  50  has a slight radial runout, i.e. the axis of rotation  100  moves along an orbital path. 
     FIG. 7 a  illustrates an embodiment of a pump corresponding to that of FIG. 1 a , a shaft  58  being provided which applies a rotary force “d” on a shaft  50  extended in axial direction. Reference numeral  100  designates the axis of rotation (the axis of the shaft  50 ), the casing  60  does not move and is coupled in a mechanically rigid manner at position  51 . In FIG. 7 a , the inner rotor  20  and the outer rotor  30  rotate inside the casing  60 . The two end inserts  41  and  42 , which do not have to be axially prolonged, are adapted to be rigidly mounted inside the casing  60 . 
     In FIG. 7 b , a coil arrangement  63  is shown coupling an electromagnetic field into the pump  1 . The rotor of this embodiment, which is adapted to be a synchronous motor, is the outer wheel  30 , which may for example be provided as a permanent magnet. In this embodiment, the casing  60  has to be arranged fixedly and simultaneously permit the passage of electromagnetic fields, thus it has to be made e.g. from plastics or ceramics. In FIG. 7 b , the rotatable components are the outer rotor  30  and the inner rotor  20  inside the casing  60 . The two rotors  20  are supported in said end inserts  41 , 42  by a fixed coupling between inner rotor  20  and shaft  50 , said inserts being fixedly mounted at the casing  60 . The axis of rotation of the outer rotor  30  is the axis  101  of the casing, the axis of rotation is the axis  100  of the rotating shaft  50 . An inlet  41   n  and an outlet  42   n  are immobile in circumferential direction and thus arranged at a radially defined position. 
     FIG. 7 c  illustrates a mechanical drive over a pinion or a driving gear  63   a  engaging at the casing  60  in circumferential direction and essentially without slip. The axis of rotation of this arrangement is the casing axis  101 . The end insert  41  does not move and is extended in axial direction to provide a mechanical fixing  44 . The outer rotor  30  is fixedly mounted at an inner jacket surface  61  of the casing  60 . The inner rotor is provided on the shaft  50  to be rotatably movable, whereas the shaft  50  itself is arranged not to be rotatable on the two end inserts  41 , 42 , which in turn are supported at the inner jacket surface  61  of the casing  60 . With the present arrangement of the pump  2  according to FIG. 7 c , a practical test was effected according to FIG. 5, in which a cylindrical ring  63   a  arranged in circumferential direction was used as a driving gear or pinion. 
     FIG. 7 d  illustrates another embodiment of a driving gear or pinion  63   b  provided as drive at the axially prolonged end insert  41 , a casing  51  being fastened in a mechanically fixed manner. The axis of rotation is constituted by the axis  101  of the casing, the shaft  50  slightly wobbles, i. e. an axis of rotation  100  of the shaft  50  moves on an orbital path. 
     In the same way as FIG. 7 b  shows a pump electromagnetically driven according to the synchronous principle, FIG. 7 d  may be transformed into such a synchronous embodiment by the mechanical engagement pinion  63   b , the basic support  41  being provided with a corresponding permanent magnet. In this case, one of a metallic and non-metallic design may freely be selected for the casing  60 . 
     The operational principle according to FIG. 3, wherein a number of circumferentially moving sealing lines are provided delimiting individual conveyance chambers between them, which on one half side of the pump increase (suction side) and on the opposite half side (pressure side) decrease from a maximum size, is shown again in FIG. 4 in a side view. In the sleeve casing  60 , the two face end inserts  41 , 42  are arranged concentrically and between the end inserts  41 , 42 , rotors  20  and  30  are shown, which are represented in FIG. 3 in a top plan view for a definition of the sealing lines. An inlet kidney  41   k  and an outlet kidney  42   k , which are schematically illustrated in FIG. 3, are turned to the sectional plane in FIG. 4 to make visible that they lead directly to the outward directed face ends of the rotors  20 , 30 . A non-rotatable attachment between the shaft  50  and the inner rotor  20  is realized by providing a flat section  50   f , said section allowing a positive force transmission in addition to an attachment by gluing. 
     The structure of the pump was already explained in FIG. 7 c . In FIG. 5, said pump was tested in a practical experimental arrangement with regard to its performance values and characteristic data. The pump is visible in the middle of FIG. 5, an inflow and an outflow lead the supplied fluid V′ to be pumped from the suction side S through the pump  1  in the direction of a pressure side D where the fluid V is under an increased pressure. Pressures that could be obtained with a pump arrangement of this kind were of a difference pressure of about 50 bar, at a pump performance of 200 ml/min, whereby it should be added that the pump  1  had a casing  60  of an outer diameter of the order of 10 mm. 
     As far as FIG. 5 is concerned, which is self explanatory, it should be mentioned that the drive casing  63   a  was fixedly coupled to the casing  60  of the pump and the driving power was transmitted to the pump over a drive tube  77  arranged centrically. Adaption casings are arranged at the end inserts  41 , 42  which were extended in the axial direction, said adaption casings serving for non-rotatably supporting the end inserts  41 , 42  as illustrated in FIG. 7 c . For measurement purposes, a wire resistance strain gauge DMS  74  is disposed around an inlet tubing  71 . Bores  73  provided in the measurement arrangement serve for the detection of leakages during conveyance and, as illustrated schematically, a drive  76  is adapted to be in engagement with a drive tubing  77 . 
     The arrangement according to FIG. 5 allowed to test the basic data and performance limits of the pump  1 . 
     In the fluidic micropump  1 , a fluid is pumped through a rotating displacement piston  30 / 20  changing its chamber volumes by rotation in a way to permit a fluid to be continuously sucked in through the inlet  41   n  and to be continuously discharged on the outlet side  42   n . In contrast to most of the other prior art pump systems, the invention also permits a reverse operation mode as a fluidic motor. 
     Due to a fluidic transmission of energy, the systems proposed by the invention are characterized by a high power to weight ratio, high pressures to be generated, high driving torques and high flow rates. 
     As manufacturing processes for a prototype realization of such motor/pump systems, the processes of wire spark erosion and cavity sinking may be used. Actual wire spark erosion machines operate with resolutions of 0.5 μm and achieve contour tolerances of 3 μm at surface roughnesses of a minimum of R a =0.1 μm. Machines operating with more exactness and fineness are actually being developed. On the one hand, the erosion methods may be used directly for the manufacturing of prototypes of micropumps/micromotors, on the other hand, these methods permit an industrial scale manufacture of molds and tools for the production of components according to alternative manufacturing methods in large series (ceramic, metal, plastics). The mentioned alternative methods for the manufacturing of motor and pump components may be one of extrusion molding, fine sintering, injection molding and diecasting. Other manufacturing methods, such as the LIGA-method, seem to be suited as well. 
     The following results are obtained with the erosion manufacturing method: 
     Inexpensive and simple manufacture of individual components and small series 
     Large width/height ratios (aspect ratios up to a maximum of 12 mm; compared to the LIGA method: 1 mm) 
     Wall inclinations up to 30° permitted 
     Processing of very different and hard materials permitted if they are electrically conductive, such as hard metal, silicium and electrically conductive ceramic materials. 
     Technology with low technological risk. 
     The advantages of hydraulic micromotors and micropumps: 
     Simple structure 
     Resistant, insensitive against pollutions 
     No valves required 
     Pump direction and rotating direction of the motor directly reversible 
     High driving torques 
     High weight coefficient 
     Characteristic line of torque/speed relatively inflexible. 
     Drive medium (fluid) of the motor may be used for cooling or rinsing 
     No electrical connections required (e. g. in explosion-proof environment or for operations on the brain or on the heart). 
     Fields of application of the micropump and the fluidic micromotor: 
     microhydraulic aggregate: coupling the micropump with a motor for the generation of hydraulic energy 
     analysis/dosing pump: for a removal and output of exactly defined fluid volumes in chemistry, medicine, food industry, mechanical engineering. 
     volume counter/flowmeter: application in measurement techniques 
     heating burner pump 
     drive for a micro milling cutter for medical and technical applications 
     endoscopic drive 
     dilatation catheter with an integrated micropump for maintaining the bloodstream during a balloon dilatation 
     medication catheter with an integrated micropump for maintaining the bloodstream during a medication (e.g. lysis treatment) 
     bloodstream support pump 
     control aggregate for ultrasonic mirrors (transducers) in catheters 
     drive for a rotating cutting tool provided on endoscopes, catheters 
     miniature generator: coupling the fluidic micropump with an electrical miniature generator for the generation of electric energy 
     pumps for fluidic and hydraulic microsystems 
     compressor for a miniature cooling aggregate: e.g. for the cooling of processors) 
     driving elements for large controlling torques 
     sun antiglare device: in multiplex panes, a light-absorbant liquid is pumped between the panes. 
     The contour of the rotors  20 , 30  is an equidistant of one of an epicycloid and an hypocycloid and is calculated according to a generally known formulation. 
     The basic components of the micropump are: 
     basic support (first end insert)  41   
     shaft  50   
     cover (second end insert)  42   
     inner rotor  20   
     outer rotor  30   
     casing  60 . 
     According to FIG. 2 a , the inner rotor  20  and the shaft  50  of the micropump  1  are fixedly connected. A cover  42  and basic support  41  are also fixedly connected with each other over the casing  60 . The connections may be provided as an adhesive connection, a press fit, one of a weld and a solder connection, etc. The pump  1  is driven by rotating the shaft  50 , e. g. by one of an electrical micromotor, a micromotor  2  driven by a fluid according to FIG. 2 a  and a flexible shaft  58  according to FIG. 7 a . Consequently, a fluid is pumped from the basic part  42  in the direction of the cover  42  or vice versa, depending on the direction of rotation. 
     A micromotor  2  according to FIGS.  2 , 2   a  is provided with a basic part  41  and a cover  42  which are fixedly connected with the shaft  50 . Further, the outer rotor  30  is connected with the casing  60 . A fluid under pressure is supplied at the inflow side of the basic part  41  to operate the motor. Consequently, the casing  60  (drive output A′) rotates around its axis  101 . The fluid leaves the micromotor at the outlet side with less pressure than at the inlet side. After deduction of the losses, the pressure difference is transformed into mechanical energy. Changing the pressure side and the outlet side results in a reversal of the direction of rotation A′ of the motor. 
     The micropump  1  and the micromotor  2  operate on the basis of the displacement principle. The operating chambers  20   a , 20   b  cyclically enlarge and reduce in volume, as described according to FIG.  3 . 
     A fluid under high pressure flows into the enlarging operating chamber of the micromotor  2  and effects a torque on the rotors  20 , 30  due to the pressure difference between inlet and outlet. The rotors  20 , 30  of the micropump  1  are driven. The fluid is sucked in by the enlarging chamber and is brought to a higher pressure when the chamber reduces in volume. The micropump  1  is driven by a small electric motor or by the fluidic micromotor  2 . Further embodiments of drives are provided by corresponding shafts. 
     FIG. 3 show that the fluid, when being pumped, is supplied into the pump chamber  20   a , 30   a  via the suction side, it is ejected via the pressure side. For a clear understanding, a tooth of the inner rotor is marked by a black point in FIG.  3 . For the micromotor, the pump principle is simply reversed. When operated as a motor, a high pressure is provided in the chamber  20   a , 30   a  via the inflow on the inflow side, the pressure having an effect on the tooth flanks and generating a force which is larger than the counterforce on the outlet side, since there, the pressure is reduced. The resulting torque drives the motor. 
     Modifications 
     Instead of by shaft  50 , the pump  1  may also be driven over the casing  60  (FIGS. 7 c , 7   d ). The advantage of such a drive is that the casing  60  may be driven via an inflexible drive, whereas, in case of driving the shaft  50 , which wobbles, a flexible connection piece is used. 
     The drive output A′ of the motor  2  may also be effected at the shaft  50  instead of the casing  60 . In this embodiment, the output is connected over a flexible connection piece or a jointed shaft. The advantage of such a drive is that the outflowing drive fluid does not have to pass through a possibly connected tool, but is permitted to flow out therebehind or to be returned. 
     In compensation of an axial gap between the combination of the inner/outer rotor  20 , 30  and the joining basic part  41  and cover  42 , additional compensation pockets  41   k , 42  may be provided at the basic part  41  and the cover  42  (axial gap compensation). 
     Bores  41   d , 41   e , 41   f , 41   g , 41   h  provided in the basic part and the cover, through which bores the fluid is supplied or discharged, may, in case of sensible fluids (e. g. blood) also be connected with each other in the form of a kidney  41   n , 42   n , as illustrated in FIG. 8 by reference numeral  41   n.    
     For the reason of a reduced friction, a hydrodynamic bearing may be used for the fluidic micromotor  2  instead of a slide bearing. In this case, the fluid for the bearing is introduced at the inflow side. 
     According to a further embodiment, also one of miniature ball bearings, roller bearings and stone bearings may be used instead of sliding bearings to reduce the friction. 
     The friction may also be reduced by coating the surfaces of the components with a friction-reducing layer, e.g. graphite or teflon. 
     A consequence of the operation principle of the motor  2  is a unilateral (de)flection of the shaft  50 . The unilateral radial gap resulting therefrom may be compensated by a radial gap compensation. 
     For medical applications, a physiologic fluid, such as a salt solution or blood plasma, may be used as a medium for driving the micromotor  2 . 
     For the speed control and for the detection of the turning angle, the fluidic micromotor/micropump may be provided with an angular shaft encoder consisting of fiber optical waveguides, scanning the positions of the teeth of the inner and outer wheel  20 , 30 . Thereby, an exact detection of the turning angle of one of the motor and the pump and an exact speed control are obtained. 
     The speed control and the detection of the turning angle, respectively, may alternatively be realized by an integrated pressure sensor measuring the pulsation of the pressure in the chamber and thus forwarding the turning angle to the control means. 
     The micropump  1  and the micromotor  2 , respectively, may be provided with a pressure sensor and related electronic drive means to constitute a complete microsystem. Further, one of switch-on/switch-off/overpressure/pressure relief and check valves may be integrated. By providing fluidic, electrical and optical interfaces, a completely closed microsystem may be realized. 
     Alternative manufacturing methods are fine sintering (metal, ceramics), extrusion molding, wire spark erosion and cavity sinking, diecasting, injection molding, micromilling, laser cutting. For an inexpensive production, a method should be applied which works according to the multiple use principle. The manufacture of large batch numbers and the use of automatized assembly methods, similarly to chips, allow an inexpensive production of micropumps and micromotors, eventually even as throw-away articles, since the consumption of material and energy is relatively small. 
     The inlet and the outlet, respectively, of the fluidic micropump  1  and micromotor  2  is effected in the direction of the rotating shaft  50 . The background thereof is, that the motor may simultaneously serve as a tool support and in this case, the fluid inlet is effected from the other side. Such a structure of the pump and the motor is adapted to medical applications and permits a very small cross-section. The use of another structure allows lateral inlet openings by providing reversing guides. 
     Further, due to the present structure, the micropump and the motor may consist of a minimum total number of components. Therefore, all components of the pump are adapted to be manufactured as 2½-D structures (prismatical shape provided by extrusion of an even curve into the space). 
     The fluidic micromotor  2  is an open system. The drive medium (fluid) freely leaves the outlet  42   n  to enter the operation environment. The system not being encapsulated, leakage losses also freely discharge into the operation environment at the bearing positions. The term of an “open system” is closely related to the abovementioned structure consisting of a very small number of components. Known embodiments encapsulate the entire system, regardless whether motor or pump, due to the use of oil as energy carrier. The present embodiment is based on the fact that the drive fluid and the pumped fluid, respectively, are adapted to be discharged into the environment. In medical systems, this allows the tool to be cooled and the treated area to be rinsed; this may also be used in technical systems (e. g. drilling tools, etc.). 
     As far as the constructive design of the open system is concerned, bearing gaps of a sufficient length between the basic part  41 , the cover  42  and the rotating casing  60  are to be provided, the gaps preventing a suction of false air by a labyrinth seal effect. Further, the open structure permits the use of simple hydrodynamic bearings for basic part-casing and cover-casing. 
     The casing  60  of the micromotor  2  is supported by a bearing consisting of basic part  41  and cover  42 . Conventional systems are in most cases supported over the surrounding casing. Said systems present a closed power flux. The motor  2  as proposed by the present invention is provided with a fixed connection between the so-called basic part  41  and the cover  42  via the shaft  50  connecting both parts fixedly and rigidly with each other. 
     The base part  41  and the cover  42  as well as the shaft  50  connecting them are secured against torsion by one of a flattened axial section and a glue. Other joining techniques, welding, soldering, shrinking connection by heating the casing and cooling the cover and the basic part may also be applied. 
     The pump direction is reversed by simply reversing the direction of rotation of the drive. This is valid correspondingly for the motor: The direction of rotation of the motor is reversed by changing the pressure and the suction side. The particular construction of the micropump according to FIG. 1 a  and of the micromotor according to FIG. 2 a  allows an operation as a motor and as a pump, if the system is driven externally (shaft in FIG. 1 a  and casing in FIG. 2 a ) in case of an operation as a pump. 
     The casing  60  of the micromotor may be used directly as a tool support. As a respective embodiment, a milling tool is mentioned. Such a tool is hollow inside and has an integrated rinsing means adapted to be used as one of a cooling and a chip removal means. 
     A beam waveguide for detecting and controlling the speed may be added to the systems. In this respect, the rotating teeth  20   a , 20   b  are scanned at a position suited to allow an incremental detection of the rotating speed as well as of the turning angle. 
     The micromotor  2  is particularly adapted for medical applications. In this respect, it may be used as a support for cufting tools, milling tools, sensors (particularly ultrasonic sensors, mirrors, etc.), actuators for endoscopes and other medical instruments to be moved. When used in medical systems, the micromotor presents advantages with regard to its body-compatible drive medium; electrical components, generating electromagnetical fields when used and thus having negative effects for example on nerve nerv tracts, etc. are dispensed with; hydraulic components provide a maximum power density and thus allow minimum constructional sizes. 
     Due to their structure, the fluidic micromotor and the micropump are to be easily cleaned and sterilized and are therefore well adapted for medical application. 
     In applications not requiring maximum tightness, the components may be manufactured to have a relatively large clearance thus permitting the use of inexpensive manufacturing technologies such as for example injection molding. These systems are manufactured for single use. 
     The drive medium (fluid) may be used as one of a coolant, lubricant and rinsing medium. 
     The openings on the inlet and outlet side may have different shapes according to FIG.  8 . Accordingly, a continuous kidney  41   n  (A in FIG. 8) may be provided which is arranged in the basic part  41  and the cover  42 . This shape may alternatively be approached by bores  41   d , 41   e , 41   f  . . .  41   h  (B in FIG.  8 ), providing these components with a higher stability, since webs between the bores  41   d  to  41   h  substantially increase the stability. The diameters of the bores  41   d  to  41   h  disposed circumferentially are continuously increasing. 
     In a further embodiment, one single continuous bore  41   b  is provided in combination with a kidney-shaped recess  41   k  (C in FIG. 8) not substantially weakening the stability but on the other hand allowing a sufficient flow rate. Particularly in medical applications, where blood is pumped, the blood cells are treated with care, the risk of shearing being substantially reduced. 
     The shapes shown in FIG. 8 on the inlet side of the basic support  41  are also applicable for the outlet side (cover  42 ). 
     While the present invention has been described at some length and with some particularity with respect to several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or the particular embodiment, but is to be construed broadly with reference to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention.