Infusor with flexible sheath

• US 20040171987A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Black, Larry, Bridle, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,341,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• 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

Abstract

An improved ambulatory infusion device for dispensing a fluid into a patient includes a flexible bladder enclosure including a sheath of flexible material having a first open end a closed second end. The first open end of the sheath is affixed to a rigid closure, and a bladder support is secured in fixed position relative to the closure. An elastic bladder is mounted on the bladder support and positioned inside the sheath for holding fluid to be dispensed. The closed second end of the sheath is free to conform to the body of the patient so that the device is comfortable when worn. In other aspects, a flow restrictor and a pressure regulator are provided.

Claims

1. An ambulatory infusion device for dispensing a fluid into a patient comprising:

a bladder enclosure comprising a sheath of flexible material having a first open end defining a mouth and a second closed end, the first open end being affixed to a rigid closure;

a bladder support secured in fixed position relative to said closure; and

an elastic bladder mounted on the bladder support and positioned inside the sheath for holding the fluid,

the sheath extending from said closure toward the closed second end of the sheath spaced beyond said bladder, said closed second end of the sheath being free to conform to the body of the patient so that the device is comfortable when worn.

2. An infusion device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said closed second end of the sheath is free of attachment to said bladder support.

3. An infusion device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said closed second end of the sheath is freely movable so that the sheath is foldable on one or more fold lines extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sheath for more compact storage of the infusion device.

4. An infusion device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the sheath is formed of a resilient material, and wherein the bladder and the sheath stretch as the bladder is filled with fluid.

5. An infusion device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the sheath is adapted to collapse from an expanded condition when the bladder is full to an unexpanded condition as the fluid is being dispensed from the bladder.

6. An infusion device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the sheath has a folded shape in its unexpanded condition.

7. An infusion device as set forth in claim 6 wherein the sheath material is resilient so that the sheath tends to regain its folded shape as the sheath moves from the expanded condition to said unexpanded condition.

8. An infusion device as set forth in claim 7 wherein the sheath includes pleated opposing sides which fold inward toward the bladder as the sheath collapses to said unexpanded condition.

9. An infusion device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sheath is adapted to collapse from an expanded condition when the bladder is full to an unexpanded condition as the fluid is being dispensed from the bladder.

10. An infusion device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sheath is made of polyethylene.

11. An infusion device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sheath is made of vinyl.

12. An infusion device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rigid closure is generally rectangular and wherein the first end of the sheath is sealed around the closure.

13. An infusion device as set forth in claim 12 wherein the sheath has pleated opposing sides which fold inward toward the bladder as the sheath collapses from an expanded condition when the bladder is full to an unexpanded condition as the fluid is being dispensed from the bladder.

14. An infusion device as set forth in claim 13 wherein the sheath has a length which is greater than the length of the bladder in an unfilled condition to allow for lengthwise expansion of the bladder as it is filled.

15. An infusion device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bladder support includes a stem extending into the sheath for mounting the bladder inside the sheath.

16. An infusion device as set forth in claim 15 wherein the bladder support further comprises a head on the stem mounted in an opening in said rigid closure, said device further comprising a flow regulator on the head of the bladder support in fluid communication with the bladder for controlling the flow of the fluid from the infusion device.

17. An ambulatory infusion device for dispensing a fluid into a patient comprising:

a bladder enclosure comprising a sheath of flexible material having a first open end defining a mouth and a second closed end, the first open end being affixed to a rigid closure;

a bladder support secured in fixed position relative to said closure; and

an elastic bladder mounted on the bladder support and positioned inside the sheath for holding the fluid,

the sheath extending from said closure toward the closed second end of the sheath spaced beyond said bladder, said closed second end of the sheath being free of attachment to said bladder support to allow for folding of the sheath.

18. An ambulatory infusion device for dispensing a fluid at a predetermined flow rate comprising:

a bladder having an interior volume for storing the fluid under pressure;

a pressure regulator in fluid communication with the bladder;

a flow restrictor in fluid communication with the pressure regulator and positioned downstream therefrom, the flow restrictor having an inlet for receiving the fluid at an inlet pressure and an outlet for discharging the fluid at an outlet pressure,

the flow restrictor being formed of flexible tubing having an inside diameter less than about 0.003 inches.

19. An infusion device as set forth in claim 18 wherein the inside diameter of the tubing is sized about 0.0022 inches.

20. An infusion device as set forth in claim 19 further comprising intermediate tubing connecting the pressure regulator to the flow restrictor.

21. An infusion device as set forth in claim 20 wherein the flexible tubing is made of a polymer.

22. An infusion device as set forth in claim 21 wherein the length of the flexible tubing of the flow restrictor is determined based on the fluid pressure change from an inlet of the tubing to an outlet of the tubing.

23. A method of using the infusion device of claim 18 comprising securing the flow restrictor against the skin of a patient so as to promote a constant temperature of the flow restrictor.

24. A method of manufacturing the flow restrictor of claim 18 comprising measuring fluid flow resistance through a length of the flexible tubing and then trimming the length of the tubing based on the fluid flow resistance.

25. A method of manufacturing as set forth in claim 24 wherein the measuring step is performed by forcing pressurized air through the tubing and measuring the pressure difference from an inlet end to an outlet end of the tubing.

26. An ambulatory infusion device for dispensing a fluid into a patient comprising:

a bladder enclosure comprising a sheath of flexible material having a first open end defining a mouth and a second closed end, the first open end being affixed to a rigid closure;

a bladder support secured in fixed position relative to said closure;

an elastic bladder mounted on the bladder support, the bladder being positioned inside the sheath and having an interior volume for storing the fluid under pressure,

the sheath extending from said closure toward the closed second end of the sheath spaced beyond said bladder, said closed second end of the sheath being free to conform to the body of the patient so that the device is comfortable when worn,

a pressure regulator in fluid communication with the bladder, and

a flow restrictor in fluid communication with the pressure regulator and positioned downstream therefrom, the flow restrictor having an inlet for receiving the fluid at an inlet pressure and an outlet for discharging the fluid at an outlet pressure.