JPH09192213A - Fluid supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fluid supply device that has a simple structure, is convenient to use, and is inexpensive. SOLUTION: This fluid supply device has a fluid retaining part 17 a pressure transfer part 21, and an electrochemical cell part 23 in which a metal oxide, with the additions of an anion exchange resin serving as a medium for moving anions and of a conducting agent, is used as the cathode. Because generation of hydrogen from the cathode can be prevented and the reduction reaction of the metal oxide can be made to proceed very effectively, the device is very convenient to use with no limitations on its service site, has a simple structure, and is inexpensive.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluid supply device for accurately supplying a fluid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a fluid supply device has come to be used for injecting a small amount of a fluid by using an electrochemical method and accurately.

One of the inventors of the present application utilizes an electrochemical cell which generates a gas in an amount proportional to the current value by passing a direct current, and has an apparatus having a pump function and a gas flow rate control function. Proposed (Japanese Patent No. 121
4001), and an electrochemical infusion pump utilizing this principle has been proposed (H.R.M.Maguette, US Pat. No. 4,522,698).

This electrochemical infusion pump has an electrochemical cell in which porous gas diffusion electrodes are joined to both sides of a hydrated cation exchange membrane which functions as an electrolyte, and hydrogen is supplied to the anode of the electrochemical cell. When supplied and a direct current is applied between the positive and negative electrodes, hydrogen becomes hydrogen ions at the anode, and the generated hydrogen ions pass through the ion exchange membrane to reach the cathode side, where an electrochemical reaction occurs in which hydrogen is generated. It takes advantage of what happens. That is, the pressurized hydrogen generated at the cathode is used as a drive source for pushing the piston, diaphragm, bellows and the like. It is also possible to use oxygen as a reactant of this electrochemical cell instead of hydrogen, and if air is used as the oxygen source to be supplied to the cathode, the structure of the infusion pump will be quite simple.

The infusion pump utilizing such an electrochemical system can be used not only for supplying medical drugs but also for supplying any fluid such as gas or liquid. The electrochemical fluid supply device is suitable for supplying a very small amount of fluid with high accuracy because the fluid supply rate can be determined by the magnitude of the electric current applied to the electrochemical cell.

As the electrochemical cell used in this electrochemical fluid supply apparatus, various kinds other than the above-mentioned system are conceivable, and one of them is a water electrolysis cell utilizing the electrolysis reaction of water ( There is JP-A-2-302264). This cell holds water in an electrochemical cell in which a cathode is bonded to one surface of a cation exchange membrane and an anode is bonded to the other surface, and hydrogen or oxygen generated by electrolysis of water when a direct current is applied to both electrodes, Alternatively, a mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen is used as a pressure source.

[0007]

A conventional fluid supply device using an electrochemical system is characterized in that a target fluid is pushed out by the pressure of a gas generated from an electrochemical cell. The gas to be used is introduced into the pressure transmission unit containing the fluid storage unit, and at the same time, the gas not used for pressurization is released to the outside of the electrochemical cell. When the above-mentioned water electrolysis cell is used as the electrochemical cell and oxygen is used for pressurization, oxygen is introduced into the pressure transmission part, hydrogen is released to the outside of the electrochemical cell, and conversely, hydrogen is added. When used for pressure, hydrogen is introduced into the pressure transmitter and oxygen is released outside the electrochemical cell. In any case, hydrogen gas was generated, and in some cases careful handling was required, which was not always convenient.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a fluid supply device having a simple structure, being easy to use and inexpensive.

[0009]

A fluid supply device according to the present invention is characterized by using a metal oxide for a cathode of an electrochemical cell to prevent generation of hydrogen from the cathode.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a fluid supply device that has a simple structure, is easy to use, and is inexpensive.

Further, in the fluid supply device of the present invention, by mixing the anion exchange resin and the conductive agent into the cathode metal oxide of the electrochemical cell, the reduction reaction of the metal oxide proceeds smoothly and a large direct current is generated. Even when flowing, only oxygen can be stably generated.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The structure of an electrochemical cell used in a fluid supply device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional structure of an electrochemical cell. In FIG. 1, 1 is an anion exchange membrane serving as an electrolyte, 2 is an anode, 3 is a cathode made of a mixture of a metal oxide, an anion exchange resin and a conductive agent. 4 is a porous body which acts as a water holding portion, 5 is an anode current collector, 6 is a cathode current collector, 7 is an anode lead wire, 8 is a cathode lead wire, 9 is packing, 10 is a cell container, 11 is an oxygen passage. Is.

A certain amount of water is dispersed in the cathode 3,
When a direct current is applied to the electrochemical cell having this structure, water is electrochemically decomposed to generate hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions. At the cathode 3, hydrogen oxides are not generated because the metal oxides are reduced by the hydrogen ions, and the hydroxide ions pass through the anion exchange membrane 1 which is an electrolyte with some hydration water to the anode 2. Reach At the anode 2, oxygen and water are generated. Oxygen generated from this anode 2 is used as a pressure source. The water in the cathode 3 is electrolyzed by applying a direct current, but the water contained in the cathode 3 moves to the cathode 3 from the porous body 4 as a water holding portion which is in contact with the cathode 3. The amount of is kept almost constant. Further, when the amount of water inside the anion exchange membrane 1 is reduced even by a small amount due to the movement of hydroxide ions, the water is removed from the anion exchange membrane 1 or the porous body 4 or the cathode 3 as a water holding portion in contact with the anion exchange membrane. The amount of water contained in the anion exchange membrane 1 is constantly kept substantially constant, the conductivity of the anion exchange membrane during current application becomes substantially constant, and stable electrochemical cell characteristics are obtained. . Therefore, when a constant current is applied, the voltage of the electrochemical cell is stable and the amount of gas generated per unit time is constant.

Since the cell container 10 has a closed structure, oxygen generated by the application of a direct current is sent to the pressure transmission section through the oxygen passage 11 without leaking to the outside of the electrochemical cell.

The electrochemical cell that can be used in the present invention generally uses an anion exchange membrane that exhibits anion conductivity by containing water as an electrolyte, and uses a metal oxide containing water in the cathode, an anion exchange resin and a conductive material. It is possible to use any cell in which oxygen is generated from the anode in proportion to the amount of electricity when a direct current is applied using a mixture of agents, but more specifically, the following cells can be used. is there. 1) Manganese dioxide was used as a metal oxide, and a powder of an anion exchange resin as a medium for anion transfer in the cathode and a carbon powder such as acetylene black as a conductive agent were mixed and pressed into pellets. Formed into a sheet, or a cathode formed into a sheet by adding a binder such as polytetrafluoroethylene to the mixture of the metal oxides, by pressing on the other surface of the anion exchange membrane with the anode bonded to one surface. Bonding, or a paste prepared by dispersing the mixture of the metal oxides in a solvent, the electrolyte, the anode and the cathode are integrated by a method of directly applying to the other surface of the anion exchange membrane with the anode bonded to one surface. The joined body is manufactured. The joined body is sandwiched by an anode current collector and a cathode current collector and housed in a cell container having a closed structure to form an electrochemical cell. When a direct current is applied to both electrodes of this electrochemical cell, water is electrolyzed at the cathode and hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions are generated.The generated hydrogen ions react with manganese dioxide and the hydroxide ions are anions. It passes through the exchange membrane to reach the anode, becomes oxygen and water, and this oxygen is used as a pressure source.

In this case, at the cathode, only the reduction reaction of manganese dioxide to manganese oxyhydroxide proceeds, and hydrogen gas is not generated.

It is also possible to use a solution of the anion exchange resin instead of mixing the powder of the anion exchange resin as the medium of the anion transfer in the cathode. 2) Using nickel oxyhydroxide as the metal oxide,
This is mixed with a powder of an anion exchange resin as a medium of anion transfer in the cathode and a carbon powder such as acetylene black as a conductive agent, and the cathode formed into a pellet by pressing, or the metal oxide A cathode formed by adding a binder such as polytetrafluoroethylene to the mixture and molding it into a sheet is joined by pressing to the other surface of the anion exchange membrane in which the anode is joined to one surface, or the mixture is dispersed in a solvent. Then, the paste-like product is directly applied to the other surface of the anion exchange membrane having the anode bonded to one surface to prepare a bonded body in which the electrolyte, the anode, and the cathode are integrated. The joined body is sandwiched by an anode current collector and a cathode current collector and housed in a cell container having a closed structure to form an electrochemical cell.
When a direct current is applied to both electrodes of this electrochemical cell, water is electrolyzed at the cathode to generate hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions, and the generated hydrogen ions react with nickel oxyhydroxide to form hydroxide ions. Passes through the anion exchange membrane to reach the anode, becomes oxygen and water, and uses this oxygen as a pressure source.

It is also possible to use a solution of the anion exchange resin instead of mixing the powder of the anion exchange resin as the medium of the anion transfer in the cathode.

In this case, at the cathode, only the reduction reaction of nickel oxyhydroxide to nickel hydroxide proceeds and hydrogen gas is not generated.

Next, the operating principle of the fluid supply apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid supply device according to the present invention before use, in which 17 is a bag-shaped body as a fluid storage unit, 18 is a fluid, 19 is a fluid supply port,
Reference numeral 20 denotes a closed container having a bag-shaped body housed therein, which is made of a hard material that is not deformed by the pressure of gas. Bag 1
A pressure transmitting portion 21 is formed by the outer wall surface of 7 and the inner wall surface of the closed container 20, and gas generated from the electrochemical cell is introduced and accumulated in the pressure transmitting portion 21. Further, 22 is a gas introduction pipe,
23 is an electrochemical cell, 24 is a power supply, and 25 is a switch.

In using this fluid supply device, first, the switch 25 is turned on to apply a direct current to the electrochemical cell 23, and the gas generated from the electrochemical cell 23 at that time is passed through the gas introduction pipe 22 to the pressure transmission section. 21. Then, the pressure inside the pressure transmission part 21 rises and pushes the inner surfaces of the bag-like body 17 and the closed container 20, but the closed container 20
Is made of a material that is not deformed by the pressure of gas, so that only the bag-like body 17 is deformed in the contracting direction. The deformation of the bag-shaped body 17 is started almost at the same time when the gas is introduced into the pressure transmission section 21. As a result, the fluid 18 inside the bag-shaped body 17 is pushed out and supplied to the outside from the fluid supply port 19. When the gas is continuously generated from the electrochemical cell 23, the fluid 18 inside the bag-shaped body 17 is continuously supplied to the outside from the fluid supply port 19.

The volume of oxygen generated from the electrochemical cell is
The theoretical value is 210 ml (0
Since the amount of oxygen generated is proportional to the amount of electricity supplied, it is possible to determine the supply rate of the fluid by determining the magnitude of the current supplied.

It is also possible to provide a backflow prevention valve at the fluid supply port 19 and to install the electrochemical cell 23 in the closed container 2.
The gas introduction pipe 22 may be omitted by directly attaching the gas introduction pipe 22 to 0. Further, a direct current is required for the operation of the electrochemical cell, but a large current is required when a relatively large amount of fluid needs to be supplied. A direct current may be supplied to the cell. on the other hand,
When supplying a small amount of fluid of about 1 ml per hour, a small battery may be used as the power source. When such a small battery is used, the battery and the electrochemical cell are directly attached to the end portion of the container, and the fluid supply device becomes portable.

The fluid supply device of the present invention is most suitable for medical purposes of supplying a medicinal solution to a patient, but is also applicable to industrial and other supply of fluids such as liquids and gases.

[0024]

The structure and method of use of the fluid supply device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments.

Example 1 A bag-shaped body made of an organic polymer sheet as a fluid storage section, and a cathode made of a mixture of manganese dioxide which is a metal oxide, an anion exchange resin powder and acetylene black powder were used. A fluid supply device was manufactured using an electrochemical cell. 2 shows a sectional structure before use, and FIG. 3 shows a sectional structure before use. The symbols in FIGS. 2 and 3 are the same.

In FIG. 2, 17 is a bag-shaped body for storing a fluid, made of polyvinyl chloride and having a size of 70 mm × 5.
The thickness was 0 mm and the thickness was 0.5 mm, and the edges of the sheet were integrated by heat fusion. 18 is a fluid, here about 30 ml
Physiological saline was used. A fluid supply port 19 is made of polyvinyl chloride and has dimensions of 5 mm in outer diameter and 4 mm in inner diameter. Reference numeral 20 denotes an acrylic hermetically-sealed container having a bag-shaped body housed therein, and the internal dimensions are 60 mm × 40 mm × 15 mm, and the hermetically-sealed container is not deformed by the pressure of gas. A pressure transmitting portion 21 is formed by the outer surface of the bag-like body 17 and the inner surface of the closed container 20, and gas generated from the electrochemical cell is accumulated in the pressure transmitting portion 21. In a state before use, the volume of the closed space 21 is small. Reference numeral 22 is a gas introducing pipe, made of polyvinyl chloride, and has dimensions of an outer diameter of 5 mm and an inner diameter of 4 mm. 23
Is an electrochemical cell, 24 is a power source, a combination of a battery and a resistor, and 25 is a switch.

As the electrochemical cell, one having a sectional structure shown in FIG. 1 was used. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is an anion exchange membrane having a diameter of 12 mm, which acts as an electrolyte, and the one having a matrix structure made of a polystyrene-based polymer and having quaternary ammonium as a functional group was used. When a direct current is applied, hydroxide ions move from the cathode side to the anode side in the anion exchange membrane. Reference numeral 2 denotes an anode, which is formed by bonding a porous platinum electrode having a diameter of 8 mm to one side of an anion exchange membrane 1 as an electrolyte by electroless plating. 3 is a cathode, which is a metal oxide of manganese dioxide in a weight ratio of 1 to an anion exchange resin having a matrix structure of a polystyrene-based polymer and a functional group of quaternary ammonium as a hydroxide ion transfer medium. The powder has a particle size of 0.40 to 0.
A pellet-shaped cathode was produced by mixing 0.12 of 53 mm and 0.15 of acetylene black powder as a conductive agent, weighing 0.85 g of this metal oxide mixture, and pressing. . This pellet-shaped cathode was bonded to the other surface of the anion exchange membrane, which was bonded to the anode on one surface by pressing. Numeral 4 is a porous body as a water holding portion, and uses a polypropylene non-woven fabric, and about 0.8 ml of water is used.
It is included. 5 is an anode current collector, 6 is a cathode current collector, 7 is an anode lead wire, 8 is a cathode lead wire, and the materials 5 to 8 are all titanium. 9 is silicone packing,
Reference numeral 10 is a cell container made of acrylic resin, and 11 is an oxygen passage.

When this fluid supply device is used for supplying physiological saline, for example, first, a switch 25 is turned on to supply a direct current of 10 mA from the power source 24 to the electrochemical cell, and oxygen is supplied from the anode of the electrochemical cell 23. Occurs.
If this oxygen is accumulated in the pressure transmitting section 21 for accumulating gas through the gas introducing pipe 22, the pressure of oxygen inside the pressure transmitting section 21 is increased by continuing the energization, and the bag-shaped body 17
Only the water is deformed in the contracting direction, and the physiological saline solution 18 inside the bag-shaped body 17 is pushed out and supplied to the outside from the fluid supply port 19 at a rate of 2.2 ml per hour for 24 hours.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional structure showing a state in which the flow rate supply device according to the present invention is in use. The water 18 is supplied to the outside and the amount thereof is decreasing.

Example 2 An electrochemical cell using a cathode made of a mixture of manganese dioxide having different amounts of anion exchange resin powder and acetylene black powder added was used, except for the cathode of the electrochemical cell. The same fluid supply device as 1 was produced.

Acetone black 0.15 was used as an anion exchange resin in a weight ratio of 1 to manganese dioxide.
A mixture of 2, 0.03, 0.12 and 0.20,
In addition, an electrochemical cell using a cathode made of a mixture of acetylene black of 0.05, 0.06 and 0.30 as the anion exchange resin 0.12 was tested. FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the energization time and the terminal voltage.

In FIG. 5, curve 31 is for acetylene black 0.15 and anion exchange resin 0.02, curve 32 is for acetylene black 0.15 and anion exchange resin 0.03, and curve 33 is for acetylene black. Curve 3 with 0.15 and anion exchange resin 0.12
4 is acetylene black 0.15 and anion exchange resin 0.20, and curve 35 is acetylene black 0.1.
The curve 36 at the time of 05, anion exchange resin 0.12 is acetylene black 0.06, anion exchange resin 0.1.
When the curve is 2, the curve 37 is acetylene black 0.30,
The relationship between the energization time and the terminal voltage when the anion exchange resin is 0.12 is shown.

The curve 31 shows that the terminal voltage rises significantly. This is because the amount of anion exchange resin in the cathode is small, so that the pathway for hydroxide ion migration is not sufficiently formed, and only part of the manganese dioxide existing at the interface with the anion exchange membrane as the electrolyte is reduced. The reason is that manganese dioxide inside the cathode is not involved in the reaction. Further, it can be seen that the curve 35 also has an early rise in the terminal voltage. This is because the amount of acetylene black in the cathode is so small that the electron transfer path is not sufficiently formed, and only a portion of manganese dioxide existing at the interface with the anion exchange membrane as the electrolyte is reduced and the inside of the cathode is reduced. This is due to the fact that the manganese dioxide in 1. is not involved in the reaction. On the contrary, when the addition amount of the anion exchange resin is 0.03 or more and the addition amount of acetylene black is 0.06 or more, the terminal voltage is 2V.
It gradually rises in the vicinity, and it can be seen that the reduction of manganese dioxide inside the cathode is sufficiently advanced. When the terminal voltage sharply rises to around 3 V, it indicates that the reduction reaction of manganese dioxide is completed. That is, in order to sufficiently react the manganese dioxide in the cathode, it was necessary to add the anion exchange resin in an amount of 0.03 or more and the acetylene black in an amount of 0.06 or more in a weight ratio with respect to manganese dioxide 1. .

In this case, physiological saline was supplied at the same rate as in Example 1.

[Example 3] An electrochemical cell using nickel oxyhydroxide as the metal oxide of the cathode was used.
A fluid supply device was produced. The cathode 3 is an anion exchange resin having a polystyrene-based polymer as a base structure and a quaternary ammonium functional group as a transfer medium of hydroxide ions, relative to nickel oxyhydroxide 1 which is a metal oxide in a weight ratio. 0.12 powder having a particle size of 0.40 to 0.53 mm and acetylene black powder 0.15 as a conductive agent are mixed, and the mixture of the metal oxides is mixed with 0.8
A pellet-shaped cathode was produced by weighing 0 g and pressing. The pellet-shaped cathode was bonded by pressing to the other surface of the anion exchange membrane having the anode bonded to one surface. All were the same as in Example 1 except for the cathode of the electrochemical cell. In this case, the physiological saline was supplied at the same rate when the same current as in Example 1 was applied.

[Example 4] A fluid supply device was prepared in which an electrochemical cell was directly attached to a closed container having a bag-shaped body housed therein. FIG. 4 shows a state before use, and symbols 17 to 25 in FIG. 4 indicate the same as those in FIG.
The electrochemical cell 23 is directly attached to the closed container, and in this case, the gas introduction tube is unnecessary. In this case, the physiological saline was supplied at the same rate when the same current as in Example 1 was applied.

[Embodiment 5] A fluid supply device having a structure similar to that of Embodiment 1 was prepared in which a fluid inlet and a fluid supply port were separately attached to a bag-shaped body as a fluid storage unit.
In this case, the physiological saline was supplied at the same rate when the same current as in Example 1 was applied.

[Embodiment 6] A fluid supply device having a structure similar to that of the embodiment 1 in which a check valve was attached to the fluid supply port was produced. In this device, there was no liquid leakage from the fluid supply port when not in use, and the liquid supply was stopped even if the pressure outside the fluid supply port was reduced during use.
With this structure, it is also possible to use gas as a fluid instead of liquid.

[0038]

In the fluid supply device according to the present invention,
The amount of the target fluid supplied is determined by the amount of gas generated from the electrochemical cell, and the amount of gas generated from the electrochemical cell can be set by the amount of energizing electricity, in other words (current x time), The amount of supply per unit time is the value of current, and when a constant current is applied, the total amount of supply can be determined by time, so that the fluid can be supplied accurately with a very simple method. It is a thing.

Since the fluid supply device according to the present invention uses the metal oxide for the cathode of the electrochemical cell, hydrogen generation from the cathode can be prevented, so that the place of use is not limited and it is extremely convenient. Is good. Moreover, it is equipped with a sealed container containing a fluid storage unit inside, an electrochemical cell and a power source, and because it can be made smaller and lighter as a whole, it can be carried and used in clothes pockets etc. It is extremely convenient for portable use.

Further, since the anion exchange resin as a medium of anion transfer and the conductive agent are added to the cathode metal oxide of the electrochemical cell, the reduction reaction of the metal oxide can proceed extremely efficiently. .

Furthermore, the fluid supply device according to the present invention is easy to operate in use, and is extremely easy for a patient to use, particularly when used for supplying a medical drug solution.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a cross section of an electrochemical cell used in a fluid supply device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross section of the fluid supply device according to the present invention before use.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cross section of a fluid supply device according to the present invention in a state of being in use.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a cross section of an electrochemical cell used in a fluid supply device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the terminal voltage and the time when the amounts of anion exchange resin and acetylene black added to the cathode of the electrochemical cell used in the fluid supply apparatus according to Example 3 of the present invention are changed. It is a figure.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Anion Exchange Membrane 2 Porous Platinum Anode 3 Cathode Made of Mixture of Metal Oxide, Anion Exchange Resin and Conductive Agent 4 Porous Body as Water Retaining Section 5 Anode Current Collector 6 Cathode Current Collector 7 Anode Lead Wire 8 Cathode Lead Line 9 Packing 10 Cell container 11 Oxygen passage 17 Bag-like body as fluid storage unit 18 Fluid 19 Fluid supply port 20 Closed container 21 Pressure transmission unit 22 Gas introduction pipe 23 Electrochemical cell 24 Switch

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A fluid storage unit, a pressure transmission unit, and an electrochemical cell unit, wherein the pressure transmission unit is formed by a closed space between an outer wall of the fluid storage unit and an inner wall of a closed container for housing the fluid storage unit, The electrochemical cell includes an anode, a cathode containing a metal oxide, an anion exchange resin and a conductive agent, a water holding portion in contact with the cathode, and an electrolyte formed of an anion exchange membrane, and the cathode is included in the cathode. The anion exchange resin is composed of polystyrene-based basic anion exchange resin, the anion exchange membrane as the electrolyte is composed of polystyrene-based basic anion exchange resin, the fluid reservoir is provided with a fluid supply port, the electrochemical A gas generated by applying a direct current to the cell section is introduced into the pressure transmission section to press the fluid storage section and supply the fluid from the fluid supply port. Characterized Rukoto, fluid supply device. 2. The weight ratio of the anion exchange resin contained in the cathode of the electrochemical cell is 0.0 with respect to the metal oxide 1.
The fluid supply device according to claim 1, wherein the number is 3 or more. 3. The conductive agent contained in the cathode of the electrochemical cell is carbon powder, and the weight ratio of the carbon powder is 0.06 or more relative to the metal oxide 1. 3. The fluid supply device according to 1 or 2. 4. The fluid supply device according to claim 1, wherein the water holding portion in contact with the cathode is made of a porous body. 5. The fluid supply device according to claim 1, wherein the gas generated from the electrochemical cell is introduced into the pressure transmission section via a tube. 6. The fluid supply device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell is integrally attached to a container that accommodates the fluid storage unit. 7. A fluid supply port also serves as an inlet for pre-injecting a fluid, as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3,
The fluid supply device according to 4, 5, or 6. 8. The fluid supply device according to claim 1, wherein a fluid inlet is provided.