Syringe meters small volumes of fluid used in chemical analysis. The standard body and plunger are adapted to fit with a motor driven micrometer, making a reliable and convenient device

Stuart, J. L.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

Motor	 Gear Drive
Micrometer 
Head 
Battery Box 
L mit Swn  
Metering Switch 
'-._....._ Operate/Fill 
Switch 
Micrometer 
Head Assembly 
Glass 
Plunqer	 - Syringe - 
June 1967	 Brief 67-10203 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U.S. space program, 
to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public at 15 cents each 
from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Automated Microsyringe Is Highly Accurate and Reliable 
The problem: 
To develop a device that will meter small (micro-
liter) volumes of fluid. In performing chemical analy-
sis with extremely small volumes of fluids (micro-
chemistry) a simple, reliable and convenient meter-
ing device was needed. 
The solution: 
A standard syringe body and plunger that has been 
adapted to fit with a motor driven micrometer. 
How it's done: 
A miniature electric motor and sell-contained bat-
tery drive the micrometer. The contents of the syringe 
can be metered very precisely since there is a propor-
tional relationship between the amount of fluid drawn 
into or expelled from the syringe and the relative 
reading of the micrometer. The micrometer is a 
standard depth-type micrometer that has been mech-
anized by the addition of gears and a motor drive.
To meter one sample of solution, the metering 
switch is toggled from the normally open position, 
and the motor is energized. The cycle proceeds auto-
matically until one unit volume of fluid has been 
metered out of the syringe. At the end of the cycle, 
the motor drives the stop cam and, in turn, the stop 
switch to its normally closed position. This process 
may be repeated as many times as there are samples 
of fluid within the syringe. On the last delivery sample, 
the limit switch will move to the opposite position to 
prevent any further fluid from being delivered by the 
syringe through manipulation of the metering switch. 
One feature of the normally closed position of the 
stop switch is to provide dynamic braking on the 
motor when the cam lifts the stop switch and de-
energizes the motor. This makes a short circuit across 
the motor, thus providing dynamic braking which 
permits accurate metering of fluids.
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19670000203 2020-03-11T20:32:23+00:00Z
Notes: 
1. This syringe can be used in automated wet chemi-
cal instrumentation. It is a highly adaptable de-
vice which can be used in a variety of applications 
where manually operated syringes are now used. 
2. Commercial use of this instrument in automatic 
and semiautomatic chemical apparatus could be 
extensive. It may• also find application in bio-
medical areas such as pathology laboratories in 
hospitals, or where extremely small and exact 
quantities of drugs or chemicals must be extracted 
or dispensed. 
3. Simple packaging modifications would permit 
timed and metered medication dosage, while al-
lowing the patient to have ambulatory freedom or 
outpatient status. 
4. Other possibilities for this instrument are: 
(a) it can be operated by electrical signals; 
(b) it may be used in a chemical or electro-
mechanical servo loop as a feedback element; 
(c) optical or electrical readout is possible.
5. Inquiries concerning this invention may be di-
rected to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
NASA Pasadena Office 
4800 Oak Grove Drive 
Pasadena, California 91103 
Reference: B67-10203 
Patent status: 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for the commercial 
use of this invention may be made to NASA, Code 
GP, Washington, D.C. 20546.
Source: J. L. Stuart
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
(NPO-10142) 
Brief 67-10203	 Category 01


Automated microsyringe is highly accurate and reliable

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