Fluid delivery and mixing apparatus with flow rate control

• US 20060206052A1
• Filed: 02/13/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BioQ Pharma Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BioQuiddity, Inc.
• Inventors: Kriesel, Joshua W., Kriesel, Marshall S., Langerud, Alan D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,029,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/82
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1408 in parallel, e.g. manifolds, sequencing valves access sites A61M39/02; tube connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/141 with capillaries for restricting fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2429 by telescoping of ampoules or carpules with the syringe body

Abstract

A dual reservoir fluid dispensing apparatus for use in controllably dispensing fluid medicaments, such as antibiotics, analgesics and like medicinal agents from either or both of the device reservoirs. The fluid dispensing apparatus includes novel fill means for selectively filling each of the reservoirs with the same or different medicaments that are to be dispensed to the patent. Stored energy sources are provided in the form of a pair of constant force spring members of novel design that provide the force necessary to continuously and substantially uniformly expel fluid from the reservoirs. The apparatus also includes novel adjustable flow rate assemblies that are disposed intermediate the outlet port of the fluid reservoirs and the outlet port of the device for precisely controlling the rate of fluid flow from the outlet port toward the patient.

Claims

1. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluids to a patient at a controlled rate comprising a housing having:

(a) a first fluid reservoir for containing fluid to be dispensed to the patient, said housing being provided with a first inlet for permitting fluid flow into said first fluid reservoir and a first outlet for permitting fluid flow from said first fluid reservoir;

(b) first fluid displacement means disposed within said housing for movement between a first position and a second position to cause said fluid contained within said first fluid reservoir to flow toward said first outlet;

(c) first stored energy means disposed within said housing for acting upon said first fluid displacement means to cause said first fluid displacement means to move toward said second position, said first stored energy means comprising a first constant force spring;

(d) first fill means carried by said housing for filling said first fluid reservoir with the fluid to be dispensed;

(e) first flow control means carried by said housing for controlling fluid flow from said first fluid reservoir to the patient, said first flow control means comprising a first selector member rotatably mounted within said housing, said first selector member having a fluid passageway formed therein;

(f) a second fluid reservoir for containing fluid to be dispensed to the patient, said housing being provided with a second inlet for permitting fluid flow into said second fluid reservoir and a second outlet for permitting fluid flow from said second fluid reservoir;

(g) second fluid displacement means disposed within said housing for movement between a first position and a second position to cause said fluid contained within said second fluid reservoir to flow toward said second outlet;

(h) second stored energy means disposed within said housing for acting upon said second fluid displacement means to cause said second fluid displacement means to move toward said second position, said second stored energy means comprising a second constant force spring;

(i) second fill means carried by said housing for filling said second fluid reservoir with the fluid to be dispensed;

(j) second flow control means carried by said housing for controlling fluid flow from said second fluid reservoir to the patient, said second flow control means comprising a second selector member rotatably mounted within said housing, said second selector member having a fluid passageway formed therein;

(k) dispensing means connected to said housing and in communication with said fluid passageways formed in said first and second selector members for dispensing fluid to the patient; and

(l) selector means carried by said housing for controlling fluid flow from said first and second flow control means toward said dispensing means.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said housing further includes a first connector portion and in which said first fill means comprises a first fill syringe assembly interconnectable with said first connector portion, said first fill syringe assembly comprising:

(a) a hollow housing having a chamber; and

(b) a fill vial telescopically receivable with and said chamber of said hollow housing, said fill vial having a fluid reservoir and a plunger disposed within said fluid reservoir for movement between first and second positions.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said housing further includes a second connector portion and in which said second fill means comprises a second fill syringe assembly interconnectable with said second connector portion, said second fill syringe assembly comprising:

(a) a hollow housing having a chamber; and

(b) a fill vial telescopically receivable within said chamber, said fill vial having a fluid reservoir and a plunger disposed within said fluid reservoir for movement between first and second positions.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said first flow control means further includes a first flow rate control member mounted within said housing, said first flow control member having a plurality of elongated fluidic flow control channels in communication with said fluid passageway formed in said first selector member.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said second flow control means further includes a second flow rate control member mounted within said housing, said second flow control member having a plurality of elongated fluidic flow control channels in communication with said fluid passageway formed in said second selector member.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including first stop means for preventing rotation of said first selector member.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including second stop means for preventing rotation of said second selector member.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said selector means comprises a selector component and in which said apparatus further includes third stop means for preventing rotation of said selector component.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which each of said first and second flow control means further comprise priming means for priming said fluid passageways formed therein.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including disabling means carried by said housing for irrevocably disabling the device and rendering it inert.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 in which said disabling means comprises a disabling shaft that is telescopically movable within a fluid outlet passageway formed within said housing.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 in which said plurality of elongated fluidic flow control channels of said flow rate control member have a depth of approximately 1-1000 μ

m.

13. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluids to a patient comprising:

(a) a housing having a fluid reservoir for containing fluid to be dispensed to the patient, said housing being provided with an inlet for permitting fluid flow into said fluid reservoir and an outlet for permitting fluid flow from said fluid reservoir;

(b) fluid displacement means disposed within said housing for movement between a first position and a second position to cause said fluid contained within said fluid reservoir to flow toward said outlet;

(c) stored energy means disposed within said outer housing for acting upon said fluid displacement means to cause said fluid displacement means to move toward said second position, said stored energy means comprising a constant force spring;

(d) fill means carried by said housing for filling said reservoir with the fluid to be dispensed;

(e) flow control means carried by said housing for controlling fluid flow from said reservoir to the patient, said flow control means comprising;

(i) a selector member rotatably mounted within said housing, said flow control member having a plurality of fluid passageways formed therein;

(ii) a flow rate control member mounted within said housing, said flow control member having a plurality of elongated fluidic flow control channels in communication with said plurality of fluid passageways formed in said selector member;

(iii) priming means for priming said plurality of elongated fluidic micro channels with fluid from said reservoir; and

(f) dispensing means connected to said housing and in communication with said plurality of fluid.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 further including stop means for preventing rotation of said selector member.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said housing includes a vial receiving chamber and in which said fill means comprises a fill vial receivable within said vial receiving chamber.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said plurality of elongated fluidic flow control channels of said flow rate control member have a depth of approximately 10-100 μ

m.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said flow control means further comprises a second selector member rotatably mounted within said housing, said second flow selector member having a plurality of fluid passageways formed therein in communication with said elongated fluidic flow control channels of said flow rate control member.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said housing further includes a connector portion and in which said fill means comprises a pierceable septum mounted within said housing and a fill syringe assembly interconnectable with said connector portion, said fill syringe assembly comprising:

(a) a hollow housing having a chamber; and

(b) a fill vial telescopically receivable within said chamber of said hollow housing, said fill vial having a fluid reservoir and a plunger disposed within said fluid reservoir for movement between first and second positions.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 further including disabling means carried by said housing for irrevocably disabling the device and rendering it inert.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said disabling means comprises a disabling shaft that is telescopically movable within a passageway formed within said housing.

21. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising vent means carried by said housing and in communication with said flow rate control member for venting to atmosphere gases contained within said plurality of elongated fluidic micro channels.

22. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 further comprising reservoir volume indicator means for indication of the volume of fluid within said fluid reservoir.

23. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said fluidic micro channels have surfaces, said surfaces being modified to provide unique surface characteristics.

24. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said flow control means further comprises vent mean for venting to atmosphere gases contained within said fluidic micro channels.

25. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said flow control means further comprises filter means for filtering fluid flowing from said reservoir toward said fluidic micro channels.

26. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said fluid reservoir comprises a closed in bellows structure.

27. The apparatus as defined in claim 26 in which said bellows structure has internal surfaces said surfaces being modified to provide drug and environmental compatibility.