University of South Florida

Rochester Institute of Technology

Farzad Forouzandeh

David Borkholder

Robert Dana Frisina

Joseph Paul Walton

Xiaoxia Zhu

Denis Cormier

Robert Nash Carter

A closed leak-free, diffusion-blocking one-way check valve is composed of a substrate having a flow passage through the substrate, the flow passage has a sealing surface between the substrate and a membrane preventing flow through the flow passage. A thin film having internal stress is disposed on the membrane which induces deformation of the membrane biasing the membrane resulting in the sealing surface in a closed orientation. A method for fabrication and pump utilizing the check valve are disclosed.

Leak-free, diffusion-blocking check valve, pump and method

A miniature pump including a first chamber, a second chamber, a deformable membrane provided within the second chamber that divides the second chamber into first and second sub-chambers, the second sub-chamber defining a reservoir configured to contain liquid to be dispensed, a passage that connects the first chamber to the first sub-chamber, and an outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir, wherein pressurized fluid within the first internal chamber flows through the passage and into the first sub-chamber to compress the deformable membrane and cause liquid contained within the reservoir to flow out from the reservoir through the outlet and wherein the deformable membrane does not generate significant restoring forces when it is deformed and, therefore, will not return to its initial undeformed shape unless the reservoir is refilled.

Miniature pressure-driven pumps

In one embodiment, a fluid storage device includes a rigid outer housing that defines a septum cavity, a reservoir cavity, and a channel that extends between the two cavities, the outer housing further defining an outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir cavity, a septum provided within the septum cavity, the septum being made of an elastic polymer and facilitating refilling of the fluid storage device, and a thin, collapsible membrane that does not generate significant restoring forces when it is deformed as fluid is drawn from the reservoir cavity and, therefore, does not completely or partially return to its initial non-deformed shape even if the outlet of the device remains open after doses are administered.

Implantable drug storage devices for drug delivery

In one embodiment, a peristaltic micropump comprising a substrate having a first side and a second side, a microtube that extends across the first side of the substrate, and multiple pump actuators formed on the first side of the substrate and positioned adjacent to the microtube at discrete, spaced positions along the length of the microtube, wherein the micropump is configured to sequentially actuate the pump actuators so as to create peristaltic action that drives fluid contained in the microtube along the length of the tube.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

Farzad Forouzandeh