Continuous fluid delivery system and method

Abstract

The continuous fluid delivery systems includes a fluid pumping device comprising a pump housing comprising a base member with a plurality of inlet ports and at least one outlet port and at least two pairs of opposing pistons movably associated with the housing. Each pair of opposing pistons at least in part defines a respective pumping chamber of the fluid pumping device. The pistons in each pair of opposing pistons may be independently controlled such that any one of the plurality of inlet ports or the at least one outlet port is independently selectable to be in fluid communication with one of the respective pumping chambers. A drive system may be interfaced with the respective pistons to at least reciprocally operate the pistons relative to the base member. The pump housing and the at least two pairs of opposing pistons may comprise a disposable unit.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid pumping device, comprising:
 a pump housing comprising a base member comprising a plurality of inlet ports and at least one outlet port; and   at least two pairs of opposing pistons movably associated with the housing, each pair of opposing pistons at least in part defining a respective pumping chamber of the fluid pumping device, the pistons in each pair of opposing pistons independently controlled such that any one of the plurality of inlet ports or the at least one outlet port is independently selectable to be in fluid communication with one of the respective pumping chambers.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid pumping device of  claim 1 , wherein the base member supports the at least two pairs of opposing pistons to at least reciprocally operate relative to the base member. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid pumping device of  claim 1 , wherein the base member comprises a manifold portion defining the plurality of inlet ports and the at least one outlet port. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid pumping device of  claim 3 , further comprising a manifold cap on the manifold portion and defining the plurality of inlet ports and the at least one outlet port in combination with the manifold portion. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid pumping device of  claim 3 , wherein the manifold portion comprises a plurality of fluid passageways respectively connected to the plurality of inlet ports and the at least one outlet port. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid pumping device of  claim 5 , wherein the base member comprises at least one opening in each fluid passageway to enable fluid communication between the respective pumping chambers and the plurality of inlet ports and the at least one outlet port via the passageways. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid pumping device of  claim 1 , wherein one of the pistons in each pair of opposing pistons comprises a sleeve portion and the other of the pistons in each pair of opposing pistons is at least partially disposed in the sleeve portion to define the respective pumping chambers. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid pumping device of  claim 7 , wherein the sleeve portion defines an opening for fluid communication with a selected inlet port or the at least one outlet port to establish fluid communication between the selected inlet port or the at least one outlet port and the respective pumping chambers. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid pumping device of  claim 1 , further comprising respective fluid seal elements disposed between the base member and the sleeve portion in each pair of opposing pistons. 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a fluid pumping device, comprising:
 providing a fluid pumping device comprising:   a pump housing comprising a base member comprising a plurality of inlet ports and at least one outlet port; and   a pair of opposing pistons movably associated with the base member and at least in part defining a pumping chamber of the fluid pumping device; and   independently controlling the pistons such that any one of the plurality of inlet ports or the at least one outlet port is independently selectable to be in fluid communication with the pumping chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein one of the pistons comprises a sleeve portion defining an opening and the other of the pistons is at least partially disposed in the sleeve portion to define the pumping chamber, the method comprising establishing fluid communication between the opening and a selected inlet port or the at least one outlet port to establish fluid communication between the selected inlet port or the at least one outlet port and the pumping chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The method of claim  0  further comprising:
 independently controlling the pistons to select one of the plurality of inlet ports to be in fluid communication with the pumping chamber; 
 moving one of the pistons relative to the opposing piston to draw fluid into the pumping chamber from a fluid source associated with the selected inlet port; and 
 moving both pistons to select another inlet port or the at least one outlet port to be in fluid communication with the pumping chamber. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising moving one of the pistons relative to the opposing piston to eject fluid from the pumping chamber into the at least one outlet port. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fluid pumping device comprises at least two pairs of opposing pistons movably associated with the base member, each pair of opposing pistons at least in part defining a respective pumping chamber of the fluid pumping device, and the method comprising independently controlling the pistons in each pair of opposing pistons such that any one of the plurality of inlet ports or the at least one outlet port is independently selectable to be in fluid communication with one of the respective pumping chambers. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising independently controlling the pistons in the respective pairs of opposing pistons in a sequence comprising:
 independently controlling the pistons to select one of the plurality of inlet ports to be in fluid communication with one of the respective pumping chambers;   moving one of the pistons relative to the opposing piston to draw fluid into the pumping chamber from a fluid source associated with the selected inlet port; and   moving both pistons to select another inlet port or the at least one outlet port to be in fluid communication with the pumping chamber.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising moving one of the pistons relative to the opposing piston to eject fluid from the respective pumping chamber into the at least one outlet port. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the respective pairs of opposing pistons operate in a substantially staggered sequence such that substantially continuous fluid flow is delivered by the fluid pumping device at the least one outlet port. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising a drive system interfaced with the pistons, and the method comprising the drive system at least reciprocally operating the pistons relative to the base member. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the drive system comprises respective piston positioning devices interfaced with each piston and disposed on opposite sides of the base member, and the method comprising at least reciprocally operating the pistons from opposite sides of the base member with the respective piston positioning devices. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the drive system comprises respective piston positioning devices interfaced with each piston and disposed on a same side of the base member, and the method comprising at least reciprocally operating the pistons from the same side of the base member with the respective piston positioning devices. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the piston positioning devices are disposed commonly on a carriage movable by a carriage drive system, the method comprising moving the carriage with the carriage drive system. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the carriage moving in a bi-directional linear movement.