Implantable flow regulator with failsafe mode and reserve drug supply
First Claim
1. A flow regulator implantable within a subject for regulating flow of a drug through a delivery pathway from a source to a treatment site, the flow regulator comprising:
- a movable diversion member operably coupled to the delivery pathway;
an actuator actuatable to move the diversion member between at least a first mode position and a second mode position;
the first mode position being defined where the diversion member is substantially restricting flow through the delivery pathway;
the second mode position being defined where the diversion member is positioned to allow flow through the delivery pathway, wherein the diversion member is biased to normally return to the first mode position and restrict flow to the treatment site, and wherein supplying power to actuate the actuator moves the diversion member from the first mode position toward the second mode position.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable flow regulator (22) for regulating flow of a drug along a drug delivery pathway (14) from a drug source to a treatment site within a subject includes a movable diversion member (24) and an actuator. The movable diversion member (24) is operably coupled to a delivery pathway (14). The actuator is actuatable to move the diversion member (24) between at least a first mode position where the diversion member (24) restricts flow through the delivery pathway (14) (i.e., delivery pathway is “closed”), and a second mode position where the diversion member (24) is position to allow flow through the delivery pathway (14) (i.e., delivery pathway is “open”). Supplying power to actuate the actuator moves the diversion member (24) from its normally biased first mode or “closed” position, which is also a failsafe position, toward its second mode or “open” position. In the “open” position, drug is supplied to target sites, typically from a drug supply reserve within the regulator.
53 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. A flow regulator implantable within a subject for regulating flow of a drug through a delivery pathway from a source to a treatment site, the flow regulator comprising:
-
a movable diversion member operably coupled to the delivery pathway;
an actuator actuatable to move the diversion member between at least a first mode position and a second mode position;
the first mode position being defined where the diversion member is substantially restricting flow through the delivery pathway;
the second mode position being defined where the diversion member is positioned to allow flow through the delivery pathway, wherein the diversion member is biased to normally return to the first mode position and restrict flow to the treatment site, and wherein supplying power to actuate the actuator moves the diversion member from the first mode position toward the second mode position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 19)
-
-
10. A flow regulator implantable within a subject for regulating flow of a drug through a delivery pathway from a source to a treatment site within the subject, the flow regulator comprising:
-
a generally cylindrical body in which a generally axial bore is defined;
the bore having a generally transverse opening defined therein;
a delivery conduit that forms a part of the delivery pathway and extends through the bore, the delivery conduit having a resilient portion positioned adjacent the opening in the bore;
a spheroidal diversion element positioned within the opening and adjacent the resilient portion;
a movable member coupled to the body adjacent the diversion element and the opening in the bore and moveable in the axial direction to change the position of the diversion element among at least first and second positions;
the first position being defined where the diversion element is urged radially inwardly against the resilient portion and delivery pathway is restricted;
the second position being defined at a point axially spaced from the first position where the diversion element is free to move radially away from the resilient portion such that flow can pass through the delivery conduit; and
an actuator positioned within the body and actuatable to move the movable member from the first position in the axial direction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. An implantable drug delivery system for delivering drug to a treatment site within a subject according to a predetermined treatment plan, comprising:
-
an implantable drug source capable of supplying drug at a substantially constant rate;
an implantable flow regulator that is connectable to the source to receive drug from the source;
an accumulation chamber defined in the flow regulator and sized to hold a reserve of drug received from the source;
a first outlet on the flow regulator defining part of a diversion pathway along which drug can be diverted to a waste vessel or into systemic absorption;
a second outlet on the flow regulator defining part of the delivery pathway to the treatment sites;
the flow regulator having a first mode of operation in which the accumulation chamber is filled and thereafter drug is diverted through the first outlet and along the diversion pathway, and a second mode in which drug flows from the accumulation chamber outward through the second outlet and along the delivery pathway. - View Dependent Claims (27)
-
-
28. A method of supplying drug on demand in an implantable drug delivery system, comprising:
-
providing a drug delivery source implanted within a subject containing drug to be delivered to a treatment site;
providing a flow regulator implanted within a subject in fluid communication with and positioned downstream of the source, the regulator having an accumulation space defined therein in which a reserve of drug from the source is accumulated, the regulator having a first mode position in which drug from the source is diverted away from the treatment site and a second mode position in which drug is delivered to the treatment site; and
supplying drug to the treatment site on demand from the accumulation space after the regulator is changed from the first mode position to the second mode position. - View Dependent Claims (29)
-
Specification