Troubleshooting accelerator system for implantable drug delivery pumps
First Claim
1. A method for detecting a leak in an implantable drug pump, comprising:
- providing an implantable drug pump having a housing having a first reservoir disposed therein and containing a fluid having one or more drugs, and a second reservoir disposed therein and containing a radiolucent fluid, at least one inlet port formed in the housing and in communication with at least one of the first and second reservoirs, an outlet port formed in the housing and adapted to deliver a fluid to a patient'"'"'s body, a first programmable valve in fluid communication with the first reservoir and the outlet port, the first valve being movable between a closed position, in which fluid is prevented from flowing from the first reservoir to the outlet port, and an open position, in which fluid is free to flow from the first reservoir to the outlet port, a second programmable valve in fluid communication with the second reservoir and the outlet port, the second valve being movable between a closed position, in which fluid is prevented from flowing from the second reservoir to the outlet port, and an open position, in which fluid is free to flow from the second reservoir to the outlet port, and a driver mechanism effective to drive fluid from the first and second reservoirs to the outlet port for delivering fluid to a patient'"'"'s body;
causing the first valve to move to the closed position;
causing the second valve to move to the open position; and
actuating the driver mechanism to cause the radiolucent fluid disposed within the second reservoir to flow through the valve and into the outlet port to be delivered to a patient'"'"'s body;
wherein the flow of radiolucent fluid through the pump can be radiographically viewed to determine if any leaks exist in the implantable drug pump and structures connected to the implantable drug pump.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable pump and methods for detecting leaks in an implantable pump are provided. In one embodiment, the implantable drug pump includes a housing having at least one inlet port and an outlet port formed therein. The outlet port is adapted to communicate with a catheter for delivering fluid to a patient'"'"'s body, and the inlet port(s) are effective to deliver fluid into the housing. The housing further includes at least one reservoir disposed therein and effective to contain a fluid. In use, the pump preferably includes a fluid having one or more drugs disposed in at least one of the reservoirs, and a radiolucent fluid disposed in one of the reservoirs. A user programmable control mechanism is coupled to the drug pump and is effective to selectively control movement of the valves between the open and closed positions.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for detecting a leak in an implantable drug pump, comprising:
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providing an implantable drug pump having a housing having a first reservoir disposed therein and containing a fluid having one or more drugs, and a second reservoir disposed therein and containing a radiolucent fluid, at least one inlet port formed in the housing and in communication with at least one of the first and second reservoirs, an outlet port formed in the housing and adapted to deliver a fluid to a patient'"'"'s body, a first programmable valve in fluid communication with the first reservoir and the outlet port, the first valve being movable between a closed position, in which fluid is prevented from flowing from the first reservoir to the outlet port, and an open position, in which fluid is free to flow from the first reservoir to the outlet port, a second programmable valve in fluid communication with the second reservoir and the outlet port, the second valve being movable between a closed position, in which fluid is prevented from flowing from the second reservoir to the outlet port, and an open position, in which fluid is free to flow from the second reservoir to the outlet port, and a driver mechanism effective to drive fluid from the first and second reservoirs to the outlet port for delivering fluid to a patient'"'"'s body;
causing the first valve to move to the closed position;
causing the second valve to move to the open position; and
actuating the driver mechanism to cause the radiolucent fluid disposed within the second reservoir to flow through the valve and into the outlet port to be delivered to a patient'"'"'s body;
wherein the flow of radiolucent fluid through the pump can be radiographically viewed to determine if any leaks exist in the implantable drug pump and structures connected to the implantable drug pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An implantable drug pump, comprising:
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a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port formed therein, the outlet port being adapted to communicate with a catheter for delivering fluid to a patient'"'"'s body, and the inlet port being effective to deliver fluid into the housing;
a plurality of reservoirs disposed within the housing and effective to contain a fluid therein, the plurality of reservoirs being selectively rotatable within the housing such that any one of the plurality of reservoirs can be positioned to be in fluid communication with the outlet port, and any one of the plurality of reservoirs can be positioned to be in fluid communication with the inlet port;
a valve disposed between the plurality of reservoirs and the outlet port, the valve being effective to control the flow of fluid from the plurality of reservoirs to the outlet port; and
a driver mechanism effective to selectively drive fluid from the plurality of reservoirs to the outlet port. - View Dependent Claims (12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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13. The implantable drug pump of claim I 1, wherein the driver mechanism is adapted to selectively apply a force to at least one of the plurality of reservoirs to cause fluid disposed within the reservoir to be forced through the valve and the outlet port.
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20. An implantable drug pump, comprising:
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a housing having an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports formed therein, the plurality of outlet ports being adapted to communicate with at least one catheter for delivering fluid to a patient'"'"'s body, and the inlet port being effective to deliver fluid into the housing;
a plurality of reservoirs disposed within the housing and effective to contain a fluid therein, each of the plurality of reservoirs being in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of outlet ports and with the inlet port;
a plurality of valves, each valve being disposed between one of the plurality of reservoirs and one of the plurality of outlet ports, the plurality of valves being effective to control the flow of fluid from the plurality of reservoirs to the plurality of outlet ports; and
a driver mechanism effective to selectively drive fluid from the plurality of reservoirs to the plurality of outlet ports. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification