Fluid delivery device with hydrophobic surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11534585-B2
Application number	US-201916594390-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2019
Priority date	Jul 21, 2017
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a liquid delivery apparatus. A non-limiting example of the apparatus includes a substrate including a cavity formed in a surface of the substrate. The apparatus can also include a membrane disposed on the surface of the substrate covering an opening of the cavity. The apparatus can also include a hydrophobic layer disposed on the membrane. The apparatus can also include a seal disposed between the membrane and the substrate, wherein the seal surrounds the opening of the cavity. The apparatus can also include an electrode layer coupled to the membrane.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid delivery apparatus comprising:
a substrate comprising a cavity formed in a surface of the substrate;
a membrane connected to a hinged structure;
a hydrophobic layer disposed on the membrane, the hydrophobic layer between the membrane and the cavity; and
a drop of solution disposed in the cavity;
wherein the hinged structure is configured to partially release the membrane and the hydrophobic layer to expose the cavity and release the drop of solution; and
wherein the hydrophobic layer induces formation of an air pocket between the drop of solution and the membrane.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the membrane comprises a metal film.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a hydrophilic layer disposed on a surface of the cavity opposite the membrane.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of fluorocarbon films, micro-structured polymers, carbon nanotubes, electrodeposited metal films, oxides, oxide composites, and patterned films.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic layer has a thickness of about 1 Angstrom (Å) to about 500 nanometers (nm).

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a liquid comprising the drop of solution in the cavity.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the liquid comprises an active pharmaceutical agent.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the liquid comprises a microbattery electrolyte.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the hydrophobic layer lines a portion of the cavity.

10. An electronic delivery device comprising:
a dispensing array comprising a plurality of reservoirs, wherein each reservoir of the dispensing array comprises:
a cavity;
a membrane covering an opening of the cavity, the membrane connected to a hinged structure;
a hydrophobic layer disposed on the membrane, the hydrophobic layer between the membrane and the cavity; and
a drop of solution disposed in the cavity;

a microprocessor in communication with the dispensing array; and
a wireless receiver in communication with the microprocessor;
wherein the hinged structure is configured to partially release the membrane and the hydrophobic layer to expose the cavity and release the drop of solution; and
wherein the hydrophobic layer induces formation of an air pocket between the drop of solution and the membrane.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Liu Yang
• Wright Steven L

Classifications

• A61M2205/3303

  Using a biosensor · CPC title

• A61K9/0009

  involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis · CPC title

• A61M35/10

  Wearable devices, e.g. garments, glasses or masks · CPC title

• F16K99/0015

  Diaphragm or membrane valves · CPC title

• A61M37/00

  Other apparatus for introducing media into the body (for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30); Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin (salt baths A61H33/04) · CPC title