Digital incremental flow analysis system

Abstract

A positive displacement pump design that allows optical analysis of the fluids being pumped, mixed or sorted, via optical detection within the pump itself. Various embodiments of the device are disclosed, one employing a glass rod as a piston that gives the ability to convey optical light into the pump cylinder and collect light back out. Another employs a piston rod that encapsulates one or more optical fibers coupled to a gradient index lens at the distal end of the piston rod. A third embodiment comprises an optical fiber that serves directly as a piston actuator rod inserted through the capillary channel of a ceramic ferrule that slidably seats and aligns the optical fiber/piston actuator rod. In all embodiments the pump and detection system can be controlled and synchronized by a microprocessor, and optical detection can be based on fluorescence, scattered light, absorbance, or both.

1 . A pump comprising: 
 a pump housing defining an internal fluid chamber, at least one inlet port in fluid communication with said internal fluid chamber, and at least one outlet port in fluid communication with said internal fluid chamber;    a pump actuator including a first actuator rod formed of transparent optically transmissive material seated in said pump housing; and    an optical viewing system optically coupled to the chamber of said pump housing through the transmissive pump actuator;    a processor connected to said optical viewing system; and    a pump drive controller connected between said processor and said pump actuator for controlling displacement of said pump actuator in accordance with feedback from said optical viewing system.    
   
   
       2 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said first actuator rod comprises light-transmissive optical glass.  
   
   
       3 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said first actuator rod comprises light-transmissive polymeric material.  
   
   
       4 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said first actuator rod comprises an optical fiber or fiber optic bundle.  
   
   
       5 . The pump according to any one of claims  2 - 4 , wherein said pump actuator is a piston entirely formed of said first actuator rod.  
   
   
       6 . The pump according to any one of claims  2 - 4 , wherein said pump actuator is a piston and said first actuator rod is embedded axially inside said piston.  
   
   
       7 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said first actuator rod comprises light-transmissive polymeric material.  
   
   
       8 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said first actuator rod comprises a graded index lens.  
   
   
       9 . A positive displacement pump, comprising: 
 a cylinder head defining an internal fluid chamber, at least one valve member position is in fluid communication with said internal fluid chamber for aspirating fluid therein, and at least one valve member position is in fluid communication with at least one outlet port which is in communication with the internal fluid chamber.    a pump actuator including a first actuator rod formed of transparent optically transmissive material seated in said pump housing; and    an optical viewing system optically coupled to the chamber of said pump housing through the transmissive pump actuator;    a processor connected to said optical viewing system; and    a pump drive controller connected between said processor and said pump actuator for controlling displacement of said pump actuator in accordance with feedback from said optical viewing system.    
   
   
       10 . The pump according to  claim 9 , wherein said first actuator rod comprises light-transmissive optical glass.  
   
   
       11 . The pump according to  claim 9 , wherein said first actuator rod comprises light-transmissive polymeric material.  
   
   
       12 . The pump according to  claim 9 , wherein said first actuator rod comprises an optical fiber or fiber optic bundle.  
   
   
       13 . The pump according to any one of claims  10 - 12 , wherein said pump actuator is a piston entirely formed of said first actuator rod.  
   
   
       14 . The pump according to any one of claims  10 - 12 , wherein said pump actuator is a piston And said first actuator rod is embedded axially inside said piston.  
   
   
       15 . The pump according to  claim 9 , wherein said first actuator rod comprises light-transmissive polymeric material.  
   
   
       16 . The pump according to  claim 9 , wherein said first actuator rod comprises a graded index lens.  
   
   
       17 . A pump comprising: 
 a pump chamber;    a ceramic ferrule in fluid communication with said pump chamber and defined by an internal capillary channel;    an optical fiber slidably seated inside the capillary channel of said ceramic ferrule; and    an optical viewing system coupled to the optical fiber for viewing inside said pump chamber;    a processor connected to said optical viewing system; and    a pump drive controller connected between said processor and said pump actuator for controlling displacement of said pump actuator in accordance with feedback from said optical viewing system.    
   
   
       18 . A precision fluid dispensing pump, comprising: 
 a pump housing defining an internal fluid chamber;    a pump actuator including a piston rod seated in said pump housing, and a plurality of optical fibers inside said piston rod terminating at a face of said piston rod, said plurality of optical fibers including a source fiber and a sensor fiber; and    an optical viewing system optically coupled to the optical fibers inside said piston rod.    
   
   
       19 . The precision fluid dispensing pump according to  claim 18 , wherein said source fiber and sensor fiber are arranged for detecting any residual fluid left over in the pump housing and bridging the source and sensor fibers.  
   
   
       20 . The precision fluid dispensing pump according to  claim 18 , wherein said source fiber and sensor fiber are arranged for detecting an optical reflective.