Constant force material delivery system and method

• US 20060186143A1
• Filed: 02/23/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endologix
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Incorporated
• Inventors: Argentine, Jeffery C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,708,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/336
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1454 spring-actuated, e.g. by a clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for dispensing material from a container. Devices can include driving means for providing one or more forces, and actuator means for activating the driving means whereby the driving means causes material to be dispensed from the container.

Claims

1. A method for dispensing a material from a container, the method comprising:

providing a driving arrangement that is adaptable between a first configuration and a second configuration;

executing a first actuation of an actuator assembly to cause the driving arrangement to assume the first configuration such that the driving arrangement forces material from the container under a first force; and

executing a second actuation of the actuator assembly to cause the driving arrangement to assume the second configuration such that the driving arrangement forces material from the container under a second force.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first force is greater than the second force.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the driving arrangement comprises a first force generation element and a second force generation element such that when the driving arrangement is in the first configuration, both the first and the second force generation elements cause the driving arrangement to force material from the container under the first force, and when the driving arrangement is in the second configuration, only the first force generation element causes the driving arrangement to force material from the container under the second force.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first force generation element comprises a first spring and the second force generation element comprises a second spring.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first spring comprises a first leaf spring and the second spring comprises a second leaf spring.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of executing a first actuation of the actuator assembly comprises actuation of a first portion of the actuator assembly, and the step of executing a second actuation of the actuator comprises actuation of a second portion of the actuator assembly.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of executing a first actuation of the first portion of the actuator assembly comprises activation of a first force generation element and a second force generation element such that when the driving arrangement is in the first configuration, both the first and the second force generation elements cause the driving arrangement to force material from the container at a first controlled flow rate, and the step of executing a second actuation of the second portion of the actuator assembly comprises deactivation of the second force generation element such that when the driving arrangement is in the second configuration only the first force generation element causes the driving arrangement to force material from the container at a second controlled flow rate.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the material comprises a fluid.

9. A device that dispenses material from a container, the device comprising:

a driving arrangement that is adaptable between a first configuration and a second figuration; and

an actuator assembly coupled with the driving arrangement;

wherein a first actuation of the actuator assembly causes the driving arrangement to assume the first configuration such that the driving arrangement forces material from the container under a first force, and a second actuation of the actuator assembly causes the driving arrangement to assume the second configuration such that the driving arrangement forces material from the container under a second force.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the first force is greater than the second force.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the driving arrangement comprises a first force generation element and a second force generation element such that when the driving arrangement is in the first configuration, both the first and the second force generation elements cause the driving arrangement to force material from the container under the first force, and when the driving arrangement is in the second configuration, only the first force generation element causes the driving arrangement to force material from the container under the second force.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the first force generation element comprises a first spring and the second force generation element comprises a second spring.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the first spring comprises a first leaf spring and the second spring comprises a second leaf spring.

14. The device of claim 9 wherein the first actuation of the actuator assembly comprises actuation of a first portion of the actuator assembly, and the second actuation of the actuator comprises actuation of a second portion of the actuator assembly.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein actuation of the first portion of the actuator assembly comprises activation of a first force generation element and a second force generation element such that when the driving arrangement is in the first configuration, both the first and the second force generation elements cause the driving arrangement to force material from the container at a first controlled flow rate, and actuation of the second portion of the actuator assembly comprises deactivation of the second force generation element such that when the driving arrangement is in the second configuration only the first force generation element causes the driving arrangement to force material from the container at a second controlled flow rate.

16. The device of claim 9 wherein the material comprises a fluid.

17. A device that dispenses fluid from a syringe, the device comprising:

a body that removably receives a syringe;

a driving arrangement coupled with the body, where the driving arrangement is adaptable between a constrained configuration, a first active configuration, and a second active configuration, the driving arrangement comprising;

a carriage comprising a spring support and a ram;

a first spring coupled with the spring support, the first spring providing a first spring force; and

a second spring coupled with the spring support, the second spring providing a second spring force;

a first actuator coupled with the driving arrangement; and

a second actuator coupled with the driving arrangement;

wherein actuation of the first actuator releases the driving arrangement from the constrained configuration to assume the first active configuration such that the first spring and the second spring transmit the first spring force and the second spring force, respectively, from the carriage ram to the syringe plunger to dispense material from a syringe chamber; and

wherein actuation of the second actuator causes the driving arrangement to assume the second active configuration such that only the first spring transmits the first spring force from the carriage ram to the syringe plunger to dispense material from the syringe chamber.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the first spring force is greater than the second spring force.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the first spring comprises a first leaf spring and the second spring comprises a second leaf spring.

20. The device of claim 17 wherein the first actuator comprises a first release member which engages and releasably secures the driving arrangement in the constrained configuration.

21. The device of claim 17 wherein the second actuator comprises a second release member which engages and releasably secures the second spring in a compressed configuration.

22. The device of claim 17 wherein the material comprises a fluid.