Variable rate infusion apparatus with indicator and adjustable rate control

• US 20020177809A1
• Filed: 05/14/2001
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pescadero Beach Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Science Incorporated
• Inventors: Arnold, Steven M., Kriesel, Marshall S., Garrison, James, Kazemzadeh, Farhad
• Granted Patent: US 6,645,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/141 with capillaries for restricting fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/152 pressurised by contraction of elastic reservoirs containers for dispensing contents by contraction of an elastic bag provided therein, in general B65D83/0061
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16877 Adjusting flow; Devices for setting a flow rate

Abstract

An apparatus for accurately infusing medicinal agents into an ambulatory patient at specific rates over extended periods of time. The apparatus is of a compact, low profile, laminate construction and includes an elastic distendable membrane, chamber having a fluid outlet. The apparatus also includes a highly novel fluid flow indicator that provides a readily discernible visible indication of fluid flow through the apparatus. Additionally, the apparatus includes a novel adjustable flow rate control means for precisely adjustably controlling the rate of fluid flow from the reservoir of the device.

Claims

1. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:

(a) a housing having an outlet passageway;

(b) a stored energy means disposed within said housing for forming a fluid reservoir having an inlet and an outlet in communication with said outlet passageway of said housing, said stored energy means comprising at least one generally planar distendable member, said member being distendable as a result of pressure imparted by fluids to establish internal stresses, said stresses tending to move said member toward a less distended configuration;

(c) fluid flow control means carried by said housing for controlling the rate of fluid flow from said reservoir toward said outlet passageway of said housing, said fluid flow control means comprising a rate control film rotatably connected to said housing intermediate said reservoir outlet and said outlet passageway, said rate control film having first and second spaced apart porous areas, said thin film being rotatable from a first position wherein said first porous area is aligned with said outlet of said reservoir and said outlet passageway and a second position wherein said second porous area is aligned with said outlet of said reservoir and said outlet passageway.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said first and second porous areas each comprise laser drilled areas.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 further comprises a control wheel carried by said housing for rotating said rate control film.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 further including locking means for locking means for locking said control wheel against rotation.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 in which said locking means comprises a threaded member threadably connected to said base for rotation between a first position wherein said control wheel is locked against rotation and a second position wherein said control wheel is rotatable.

6. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:

(a) a housing having a bottom portion and an outlet passageway;

(b) a stored energy means disposed within said housing for forming a fluid reservoir having an inlet and an outlet in communication with said outlet passageway of said housing, said stored energy means comprising at least one generally planar distendable member, said member being distendable as a result of pressure imparted by fluids to establish internal stresses, said stresses tending to move said member toward a less distended configuration;

(c) fluid flow control means carried by said housing for controlling the rate of fluid flow from said reservoir toward said outlet passageway of said housing, said fluid flow control means comprising a control knob rotatably connected to said housing intermediate said reservoir outlet and said outlet passageway, said control knob having first and second spaced apart porous rate control frits, said control knob being rotatable from a first position wherein said first porous rate control frit is aligned with said outlet of said reservoir and said outlet passageway and a second position wherein said second porous rate control frit is aligned with said outlet of said reservoir and said outlet passageway.

7. The device as defined in claim 6 in which flow rate control indicia are imprinted on said control knob.

8. The device as defined in claim 6 further including filling means for filling said reservoir, said filling means comprising a fill port connected to said housing and means disposed within said housing for controlling fluid flow between said fill port and said reservoir.

9. The device as defined in claim 6 further including locking means for locking said control knob against rotation.

10. The device as defined in claim 6 further including locking means for locking said control knob against rotation, said locking means comprising a locking member having spaced-apart spanner receiving apertures.

11. The device as defined in claim 6 in which said control knob is accessible from said bottom portion of said housing.

13. The device as defined in claim 12, further including locking means for said control knob against rotation.

14. The device as defined in claim 12, in which said fill means comprises a fill port connected to said lower portion of said housing.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which said fill means further comprises a valve means disposed within said housing for controlling fluid flow between said fill port and said reservoir.

12. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:

(a) a fluid dispenser including;

(i) a housing having a base, having an upper portion and a lower portion;

(ii) a stored energy means for forming, in conjunction with said upper portion of said base, a fluid reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, said stored energy means comprising at least one distendable member superimposed over said upper portion of said base, said member being distendable as a result of pressure imparted by the fluids to be infused to establish internal stresses, said stresses tending to move said member toward a less distended configuration;

(iii) an outlet passageway formed in said base for communication with said outlet of said fluid reservoir;

(b) fluid flow control means carried by said base for controlling the rate of fluid flow from said reservoir toward said outlet passageway, said fluid flow control means comprising a control knob rotatably connected to said base intermediate said reservoir outlet and said outlet passageway, said control knob being accessible from said lower portion of said base and having first and second spaced apart rate control frits, said control knob being rotatable from a first position wherein said first rate control frit is aligned with said outlet of said reservoir and said outlet passageway and a second position wherein said second rate control frit is aligned with said outlet of said reservoir and said outlet passageway;

(c) infusion means in communication with said outlet passageway for infusing fluid from said reservoir into the patient; and

(d) filling means connected to said housing for filling said reservoir.