Patent ID: 7481337

Claim:
A microfluidic pump, comprising: a fluid reservoir system that includes a fluid chamber for holding a volume of a fluid; an outlet structure having an outlet port, wherein the fluid reservoir system is fluidically coupled to the outlet port; a constant force system coupled to the fluid reservoir, wherein the constant force system is adapted to apply a force to the fluid chamber, wherein the force causes the volume of the fluid to flow out of the fluid chamber and through the outlet port at a substantially constant pressure; wherein the constant force system includes a constant torque system rotationally coupled to the fluid reservoir system, wherein the constant torque system applies a torque on the fluid chamber to cause the volume of the fluid to flow out of the fluid chamber and through the outlet port at a substantially constant pressure; and wherein the constant torque system further comprises: an output drum connected to the fluid reservoir system; and a constant torque device that applies a torque on the output drum, causing the volume of the fluid to flow out of the fluid chamber and through the outlet port at a substantially constant pressure.