Syringe press

Abstract

A syringe press includes a housing, a compressible member, and a compression mechanism. The housing includes a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end. The housing is configured to support a syringe, which includes a cylinder configured to contain a fluid, and a piston having a seal configured to move within the cylinder, between the first and second ends. The compressible member is supported by the housing between the first end and the piston. The compression mechanism is supported by the housing and is configured to apply a compressive force to the piston, the cylinder and the compressible member, between the first and second ends and along the longitudinal axis. The piston is driven into the cylinder, and fluid is driven through an output of the cylinder responsive to the compressive force.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A syringe press for driving a fluid from a syringe, which includes a cylinder configured to contain a fluid, and a piston having a seal configured to move within the cylinder, the syringe press comprising:
 a housing having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end, the housing configured to support the syringe between the first and second ends;   a compressible member supported by the housing between the first end and the piston; and   a compression mechanism supported by the housing and configured to apply a compressive force to the piston, the cylinder and the compressible member, between the first and second ends and along the longitudinal axis;   wherein the piston is driven into the cylinder and fluid is driven through an output of the cylinder responsive to the compressive force.   
     
     
         2 . The syringe press of  claim 1 , wherein the compressive force is applied to the piston and the cylinder through a first abutting surface abutting an end of the piston, and a second abutting surface abutting an end of the cylinder adjacent the output. 
     
     
         3 . The syringe press of  claim 2 , wherein the output of the cylinder extends through an opening in the second end of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The syringe press of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible member stores the compression force and applies the compression force over a period of time to the piston and cylinder to drive the fluid through the output. 
     
     
         5 . The syringe press of  claim 4 , wherein the compressible member comprises a spring. 
     
     
         6 . The syringe press of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the compression mechanism comprises an elongated screw and a threaded member, the threaded member is attached to the housing and receives the elongated screw;   the compressive force is generated in response to rotation of the screw relative to the threaded member.   
     
     
         7 . The syringe press of  claim 6 , wherein compression mechanism comprises a knob attached to a first end of the screw, and an abutting member attached to a second end of the screw that abuts an end of the compressible member. 
     
     
         8 . A method for driving fluid from a syringe, wherein the syringe comprises a cylinder for containing a fluid and a piston having a seal configured to move within the cylinder, the method comprising:
 placing the syringe between first and second ends of a housing;   applying a compressive force to the piston, the cylinder, and a compressible member supported by the housing between the first end and the piston, between the first and second ends and along a longitudinal axis of the housing using a compression mechanism; and   driving the piston into the cylinder and driving fluid through an output of the cylinder responsive to applying a compressive force.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 compressing the compressible member in response to the compressive force;   expanding the compressible member over a period of time; and   driving the piston into the cylinder and driving fluid through an output of the cylinder over the period of time responsive to expanding the compressible member.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the period of time comprises  10  minutes. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the period of time comprises  15  minutes. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising driving the fluid through a filter responsive to driving fluid through an output of the cylinder. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising collecting the filtered fluid in a container. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising supporting the housing, the syringe, the compressible member and the compression mechanism above the container. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the compression mechanism comprises an elongated screw and a threaded member, the threaded member is attached to the housing and receives the elongated screw; and   applying a compressive force to the piston comprises rotating the elongated screw relative to the threaded member.