Electroactive polymer actuated medication infusion pumps
First Claim
1. A drug delivery pump apparatus comprising:
- (a) a contractible and expandable enclosure having an interior volume defining a medication reservoir;
(b) an electroactive polymer actuator, said electroactive polymer actuator reducing said interior volume of said contractible and expandable enclosure upon contraction of said electroactive polymer actuator based upon received control signals;
(c) a medication outlet port providing fluid communication between said interior volume of said contractible and expandable enclosure and an exterior of said delivery pump apparatus; and
(d) a control unit electrically coupled to said actuator and sending said control signals to said actuator.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a drug delivery pump apparatus, which comprises: (a) an expandable and contractible enclosure having an interior volume that defines a medication reservoir; (b) one or more electroactive polymer actuators; (c) a medication outlet port providing fluid communication between the interior volume of the contractible and expandable enclosure and an exterior of the delivery pump apparatus; and (d) a control unit electrically coupled to the one or more actuators and sending control signals to the same. The one or more electroactive polymer actuators act to reduce the interior volume of the contractible and expandable enclosure based upon the received control signals. The present invention is also directed to a method of delivering a liquid therapeutic agent to a patient. The method comprises: (a) providing the above infusion pump apparatus; (b) placing the outlet port of the infusion pump apparatus in fluid communication with a patient; and (c) sending the control signals to the one or more actuators to reduce the internal volume of the contractible and expandable enclosure, thereby forcing a portion of the liquid therapeutic agent within the medication reservoir through the outlet port and into the patient.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A drug delivery pump apparatus comprising:
-
(a) a contractible and expandable enclosure having an interior volume defining a medication reservoir;
(b) an electroactive polymer actuator, said electroactive polymer actuator reducing said interior volume of said contractible and expandable enclosure upon contraction of said electroactive polymer actuator based upon received control signals;
(c) a medication outlet port providing fluid communication between said interior volume of said contractible and expandable enclosure and an exterior of said delivery pump apparatus; and
(d) a control unit electrically coupled to said actuator and sending said control signals to said actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification