Capacitive pumping and flow control

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to devices and methods for pumping and controlling the flow of a fluid. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to capacitive pumping and flow control devices and methods. In one embodiment, the invention provides a pump system having an inlet valve, an outlet valve, and a chamber between and in communication with each of the inlet valve and the outlet valve, the chamber having at least one elastic surface, wherein the chamber will dilate in response to a fluid exerting a pressure on the elastic surface, contain a quantity of the fluid when so dilated, and discharge the quantity of the fluid through the opened outlet valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pump system comprising:
 an inlet valve;   an outlet valve; and   a chamber between and in communication with each of the inlet valve and the outlet valve, the chamber being adapted to:
 receive, through the open inlet valve, a quantity of a compressible fluid at a first pressure; 
 hold the quantity of the compressible fluid at a second pressure greater than the first pressure against the closed inlet valve and the closed outlet valve; and 
 discharge the quantity of the compressible fluid through the open outlet valve. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure is a static head pressure exerted by a supply of the compressible fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein chamber includes at least one substantially inelastic material. 
     
     
         4 . The pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one additional outlet valve;   at least one additional chamber between and in communication with each of the inlet valve and the at least one additional outlet valve, the at least one additional chamber being adapted to:
 receive, through the open inlet valve, an additional quantity of the compressible fluid at the first pressure; 
 hold the additional quantity of the compressible fluid at a third pressure greater than the first pressure against the closed inlet valve and the closed at least one additional outlet valve; and 
 discharge the second quantity of the compressible fluid through the open at least one additional outlet valve, 
   wherein the third pressure is greater than the second pressure.   
     
     
         5 . The pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one additional outlet valve, wherein the chamber is adapted to discharge the quantity of the compressible fluid through the outlet valve and the at least one additional outlet valve in substantially equal quantities.   
     
     
         6 . The pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one additional inlet valve, wherein the chamber is adapted to receive the compressible fluid through the inlet valve and the at least one additional inlet valve in substantially equal quantities.   
     
     
         7 . The pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one additional inlet valve, wherein the chamber is adapted to receive the compressible fluid through the inlet valve and to receive an additional compressible fluid through the at least one additional inlet valve.   
     
     
         8 . The pump system of  claim 7 , wherein the chamber includes at least one assay surface containing a capture agent for an analyte present in the compressible fluid and substantially absent from the additional compressible fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one assay surface for binding to at least one biological molecule selected from a group consisting of: a protein, a protein fragment, a peptide, an aptamer, an antibody, an auto-antibody, an antigen, a native antigen, a protein complex (including complexes of a protein and at least one of the following: an antibody, an antigen, a native antigen, or an auto-antibody), a lipid, DNA, and RNA. 
     
     
         10 . The pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor device for sensing one or more predetermined atoms, ions, molecules, elements, compounds, or compositions in the fluid.   
     
     
         11 . The pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a micro reactor including catalyst particles for catalyzing a reaction with the fluid.   
     
     
         12 . The pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of flow channels formed as a matrix defining reaction chambers that are arranged in a plurality of fluidic columns and a plurality of fluidic rows,   wherein the outlet valve is in communication with at least one of the plurality of flow channels, such that the chamber is operable to discharge the quantity of the compressible fluid into the at least one of the plurality of flow channels.