Trouble shooting accelerator system for implantable drug delivery pumps
First Claim
1. A method for detecting a leak in an implantable drug pump, comprising:
- causing a first valve of an implantable drug pump to move from an open position, in which fluid can flow from a first reservoir formed in a housing of the implantable drug pump to an outlet port formed in the housing of the implantable drug pump, to a closed position, in which fluid is prevented from flowing from the first reservoir to the outlet port;
causing a second valve to move from a closed position, in which fluid is prevented from flowing from a second reservoir formed in the housing of the implantable drug pump to the outlet port, to an open position, in which fluid is free to flow from the second reservoir to the outlet port;
actuating a driver mechanism to cause a radiolucent fluid disposed within the second reservoir to flow through the second valve and into the outlet port to be delivered to a patient'"'"'s body; and
radiographically viewing the radiolucent fluid flowing through the implantable drug pump to determine if any leaks exist in the implantable drug pump and structures connected to the implantable drug pump.
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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.
25 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for detecting a leak in an implantable drug pump, comprising:
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causing a first valve of an implantable drug pump to move from an open position, in which fluid can flow from a first reservoir formed in a housing of the implantable drug pump to an outlet port formed in the housing of the implantable drug pump, to a closed position, in which fluid is prevented from flowing from the first reservoir to the outlet port;
causing a second valve to move from a closed position, in which fluid is prevented from flowing from a second reservoir formed in the housing of the implantable drug pump to the outlet port, to an open position, in which fluid is free to flow from the second reservoir to the outlet port;
actuating a driver mechanism to cause a radiolucent fluid disposed within the second reservoir to flow through the second valve and into the outlet port to be delivered to a patient'"'"'s body; and
radiographically viewing the radiolucent fluid flowing through the implantable drug pump 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 plurality of reservoirs selectively rotatably disposed within a housing such that any one of the plurality of reservoirs can be positioned to be in fluid communication with an outlet port formed in the housing, and any one of the plurality of reservoirs can be positioned to be in fluid communication with an inlet port formed in the housing;
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, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An implantable drug pump, comprising:
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a housing having a plurality of inlet ports and an outlet port formed therein;
a catheter coupled to the outlet port for delivering fluid to a patient'"'"'s body;
a plurality of reservoirs disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of inlet ports and with the outlet port;
a plurality of valves, each valve being disposed between one of the plurality of reservoirs and the outlet port, the plurality of valves 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 (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification