Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US8459509B2/en
Timestamp: 2018-11-15 05:25:45
Document Index: 693773357

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 200610007366', 'Application No. 04780745', 'Application No. 2008229802', 'Application No. 200610007366', 'Application No. 200610007365', 'Application No. 2007267881', 'Application No. 2009', 'Application No. 2009']

US8459509B2 - Fluid dispensing apparatus - Google Patents
US8459509B2
US8459509B2 US11441668 US44166806A US8459509B2 US 8459509 B2 US8459509 B2 US 8459509B2 US 11441668 US11441668 US 11441668 US 44166806 A US44166806 A US 44166806A US 8459509 B2 US8459509 B2 US 8459509B2
US11441668
US20070272710A1 (en )
An additional disadvantage associated with conventional reagent dispensing systems is the potential misalignment of individual cartridges within mounting apertures of a mounting assembly. In view of this disadvantage, there exists a need for a reagent dispensing system including cartridges that are shaped so as to self align within similarly-shaped mounting apertures.
The fluid dispensing cartridge of the present invention optionally may be used within a fluid dispensing system that includes a plurality of stations at which fluid dispensing cartridges may be located. The stations preferablyinclude mounting apertures that are shaped to receive the cartridges adjacent to a corresponding external actuator assembly. Although the cartridges may rely on gravitational force to seat within their respective mounting apertures, optionally the cartridges are releasably attached to the fluid dispensing apparatus using a mounting assembly. One example of a mounting assembly includes a tab that is located on the cartridge that is received in a slot adjacent to the respective mounting aperture. The tab may be wedge shaped so that as the tab is received by the slot the fit of the tab within the slot becomes tighter.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the fluid dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 1-3 show a preferred embodiment of a fluid dispensing apparatus 10, or cartridge, in accordance with the present invention. Fluid dispensing cartridge 10 generally includes a fluid reservoir 12 that is in fluid communication with a fluid dispensing assembly 14. Fluid reservoir 12 is generally a container that is configured to hold a predetermined amount of a fluid, such as a reagent or a rinsing fluid. Preferably, reservoir 12 is a rigid housing that is constructed from a fluid impermeable material. Fluid reservoir 12 may also include a replaceable fluid bladder or liner (not shown). It should also be appreciated that the reservoir may be constructed from any material suitable for holding liquid such as a chemically inertplastic, for example polyethylene or polypropylene. The reservoir material is preferably gas impermeable to prevent ambient air from contaminating the contents, thereby extending the shelf life of the fluid contained therein. In an embodiment in which a liner or bladder is used, a substantially rigid cover may be included that supports the liner or bladder. Such a rigid cover also may provide a grasping surface for handling and a marking surface so information may be recorded on the cartridge, for example by writing on the surface or affixing a label.
Fluid dispensing assembly 14 generally includes a pump assembly 20, a metering chamber 21, a reservoir valve 22, a nozzle valve assembly 23 and a nozzle 19. Pump assembly 20 further includes a moveable pump piston 25, a piston spring 26 and a deformable member, such as diaphragm 27, that are housed between a pump housing 24, or cap, and a portion 28 of a dispensing assembly housing 29. Portion 28 of dispensing assembly housing 29 and pump housing 24 are configured to be coupled together aid to collectively define a pump cavity 30 that houses piston 25, piston spring 26 and diaphragm 27. In the present embodiment, pump housing 24 held in place by a plurality of tabs that extend from dispensing assembly housing 29 so that pump housing 24 ma be snapped into place with diaphragm 27 interposed between housing 24 and housing 29. It should be appreciated that pump housing 24 may be coupled to dispensing assembly housing 29 by any mechanism known in the art for example, housing 24 may be adhered or welded to housing 29.
Referring to FIG. 5, dispensing assembly 14 may be placed in the ejecting state by applying an external force to piston 25 that is sufficient to overcome the force exerted on piston 25 by spring 26. The force causes piston 25 to movein the direction of arrow B. Movement of piston 25 in the direction of arrow B causes diaphragm 27 to be deformed and transforms it from the bowl-shaped rest position, shown in FIG. 4, into the substantially flat eject position, shown in FIG. 5. Deformation of diaphragm 27 reduces the volume of displacement space 34 and metering chamber 21, which increases the fluid pressure within metering chamber 21. Reservoir valve 22 remains closed in response to the increase in fluid pressure within metering chamber 21. Nozzle valve assembly 23, however, is configured to open when there is a sufficient increase in fluid pressure within metering chamber 21. As a result, the pressurized fluid within metering chamber 21 is ejected through nozzle 19, as shown by arrow C.
Operation of fluid dispensing assembly 114 is illustrated by FIGS. 10-12. Similar to the previously described embodiment, fluid dispensing assembly 114 is configured in one of a resting state, an ejection state, or a filling state duing operation. Reservoir valve assembly 122 and nozzle valve assembly 123 are closed when dispensing assembly 114 is in the resting state, shown in FIG. 10. As a result, there is no fluid flow either into dispensing assembly 114 from reservoir 112 or out of dispensing assembly 114 from metering chamber 121. In that state, diaphragm 127 is in the rest position and displacement space 134 has a maximum volume. In addition, spring 126 is under compression so that piston 125 is urged away from metering chamber 121.
With reference to FIG. 17, actuator assembly 75 is preferably activated using a controller 90 and control switches 91 that may be used to activate any oneof actuators 78, 79, 80. Preferably, controller 90 is a programmable computer. Controller also may be integrated into a main controller or control system for a fluid dispensing system 70 and programming steps for actuation of actuators 78, 79, 80 may beincluded in a main tissue processing program. Controller 90 may be any device that causes actuator assembly 75 to be automatically or manually activated. Furthermore, controller 90 may be located so that it does not move relative to cartridge mounting assembly 71. Alternatively, controller 90 may be located such that it moves relative to cartridge mounting assembly 71 and a hardwired or wireless communication link 92 may be provided between controller 90 and actuator assembly 75. Once activated, actuator assembly 75 applies a mechanical force 93 to pump assembly 20 of cartridge 10 to cause dispensing assembly 14 to dispense a stream or drip of fluid 94 onto receiving member 76.
1. A fluid dispensing cartridge comprising:
a dispensing assembly fluidly coupled to the fluid reservoir including:
a dispensing housing having a cavity therein;
a pump assembly having a movable pump piston, a piston spring disposed around the pump piston and a deformable member positioned within a pump assembly housing, the deformable member positioned between the dispensing housing and the pump assembly housing and fluidly sealing an opening of the cavity, the opening laterally offset from an outlet of the dispensing assembly that is configured to allow fluid to flow out of the dispensing assembly, and the pump piston having a portion extending out of the pump housing and dimensioned to receive a force applied by an external actuator; and
a nozzle valve assembly comprising a deformable valve, a nozzle and a spring biasing the deformable valve in a direction of the nozzle, the deformable valve dimensioned to be deformed between a first position forming a fluid seal between a surface of the deformable valve and a fluid conduit formed within the nozzle and a second position removing the fluid seal to allow fluid to flow through the fluid conduit, and
wherein the cavity and the deformable member collectively define a metering chamber and the deformable member is configured to be deformed from a concave configuration in a rest position, the rest position corresponding to a first metering chamber volume, to a substantially flat configuration in an eject position, the eject position corresponding to a second metering chamber volume that is smaller than the first metering chamber volume; and
a mounting portion positioned between the fluid reservoir and the dispensing assembly, the mounting portion comprising an inner surface and an outer alignment surface extending from the fluid reservoir to the dispensing assembly, the inner surface defining a fluid chamber between the fluid reservoir and the dispensing assembly such that the mounting portion is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and the dispensing assembly, the entire outer alignment surface comprising a horizontal cross-sectional shape configured to be received in a similarly shaped receiving assembly and a mounting tab extending from the outer alignment surface, the mounting tab configured to be received within a mounting slot of the receiving assembly.
2. The fluid dispensing cartridge of claim 1 further comprising a reservoir valve located between the fluid reservoir and the metering chamber that is configured to allow fluid to flow from the reservoir to the metering chamber.
3. The fluid dispensing cartridge of claim 2 wherein the deformable valve is located between the metering chamber and the nozzle.
4. The fluid dispensing cartridge of claim 3 wherein the deformable valve comprises a raised member extending from a surface of the deformable valve and the raised member forms the fluid seal against a wall of the fluid conduit.
5. The fluid dispensing cartridge of claim 2 wherein the reservoir valve is a one-way valve configured to allow fluid to flow from the reservoir into the dispensing assembly and the nozzle valve assembly is a one-way valve configured to allow fluid to flow from the dispensing assembly out of the cartridge.
6. The fluid dispensing cartridge of claim 2 further comprising a filter interposed between the reservoir valve and the fluid reservoir.
7. The fluid dispensing cartridge of claim 6 wherein the filter is a cap that retains the reservoir valve in the dispensing housing.
8. The fluid dispensing cartridge of claim 1 the fluid conduit of the nozzle defines an outlet of the dispensing assembly.
9. The fluid dispensing cartridge of claim 8 wherein the nozzle is constructed from a hydrophobic material.
10. The fluid dispensing cartridge of claim 1 further comprising a one-way valve coupled to the fluid reservoir that is configured to allow fluid to flow into the reservoir from the environment.
11. The fluid dispensing cartridge of claim 1 wherein the deformable member is biased to the rest position.
12. The fluid dispensing cartridge of claim 11 wherein the piston is configured such that translation of the piston deforms the deformable member between the rest position and the eject position.
13. The fluid dispensing cartridge of claim 1 wherein the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the mounting portion is configured to be received in the similarly shaped receiving assembly in one predetermined orientation.
14. The fluid dispensing cartridge of claim 1 wherein the horizontal cross-sectional shape is substantially trapezoidal.
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Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BUI, XUAN S.;REEL/FRAME:017935/0951