Electrokinetic Infusion Pump System

• US 20070066939A1
• Filed: 09/18/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lifescan Incorporated (Duv Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lifescan Incorporated (Duv Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Bohm, Sebastian, Krulevitch, Peter, Roberts, Neil, Sieh, Zara, Benett, William
• Application Number:
  US11/532,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20070066939A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/152
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14513 with secondary fluid driving or regulating the infusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence

Abstract

Various methods and devices are provided for delivering an infusion liquid using an electrokinetic infusion pump. The electrokinetic infusion pump can generally include an infusion housing having an infusion reservoir. The infusion reservoir has an infusion outlet and is capable of containing an infusion liquid. A plunger is movably coupled to the infusion housing and is adapted to be manually displaced relative to the infusion housing to load the infusion reservoir with infusion liquid. A movable partition can be disposed within the infusion housing and has a first surface in communication with an electrokinetic solution and a second surface, isolated from the first surface, in communication with the infusion reservoir. The electrokinetic infusion pump can further include an electrokinetic engine integrated within the plunger and adapted to selectively deliver electric potential across an electrokinetic porous media to cause the electrokinetic solution within the electrokinetic engine to displace the movable partition to effect delivery of at least a portion of the infusion liquid through the infusion outlet.

Claims

1. An electrokinetic infusion pump comprising:

an infusion housing including an infusion reservoir, the infusion reservoir having an infusion outlet and being capable of containing an infusion liquid;

a plunger movably coupled to the infusion housing and adapted to be manually displaced relative to the infusion housing to load the infusion reservoir with infusion liquid;

a movable partition disposed within the infusion housing and having a first surface in communication with an electrokinetic solution and a second surface, isolated from the first surface, in communication with the infusion reservoir; and

an electrokinetic engine integrated within the plunger and adapted to selectively apply electric potential across an electrokinetic porous media to cause the electrokinetic solution within the electrokinetic engine to displace the movable partition to effect delivery of at least a portion of the infusion liquid through the infusion outlet.

2. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 1, wherein the movable partition forms part of a displacement piston that is adapted to be slidably disposed within the infusion housing to form, with an inner surface of the displacement piston, an adjustable receiving reservoir which is fluidly isolated from the infusion reservoir and capable of containing an electrokinetic solution.

3. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 2, wherein the adjustable receiving reservoir is formed by a chamber extending within the displacement piston.

4. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 2, wherein the plunger is in the form of a generally elongate member having a forward piston extending from a distal portion of an outer plunger housing.

5. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 4, wherein the electrokinetic engine further includes:

a fixed supply reservoir effective to contain an electrokinetic solution and having a first electrode in communication therewith and a fixed receiving chamber being capable of receiving a volume of the electrokinetic solution from the fixed supply reservoir and having a second electrode in communication therewith, the electrokinetic porous media being disposed between the fixed supply reservoir and the fixed receiving chamber; and

an inner channel formed in the forward piston and providing a fluid communication pathway between the adjustable receiving reservoir and a fixed receiving chamber.

6. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 5, wherein the forward piston is adapted to slidably mate within the chamber extending within the displacement piston.

7. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 6, wherein the application of electric potential across the porous media is effective to cause electrokinetic solution in the fixed supply chamber to flow through the porous media, into the fixed receiving chamber, through the inner channel of the forward piston and into the adjustable receiving chamber, causing a distally directed force to be placed on the displacement piston, thus resulting in distal movement of the movable partition which will effect dispensing of at least a portion of the infusion liquid through the infusion outlet.

8. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 5, wherein the diameter of the adjustable receiving chamber (D₁) is less then the diameter of the fixed supply reservoir (D₂) to allow for a larger volume of infusion liquid to be displaced than the volume of electrokinetic solution that is displaced within the electrokinetic engine.

9. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 8, wherein the ratio of (D₁/D₂)² defines an amplification factor and the amplification factor is greater than 1.

10. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 9, wherein the amplification factor is about 4.

11. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 1, wherein the plunger includes a knob disposed on a proximal end thereof, the knob being adapted for grasping by a user to enable rotational and longitudinal movement of the plunger.

12. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 1, wherein the electrokinetic infusion pump includes a latch disposed on a portion of the plunger, that latch being selectively movable between a latched condition in which it is coupled to the displacement piston to allow movement of the displacement piston and the movable partition with movement of the plunger, and an unlatched condition in which it is uncoupled from the displacement piston to permit movement of the displacement piston and the movable partition independent of the plunger.

13. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 12, wherein the latched condition allows for loading of the infusion liquid into the infusion reservoir, and wherein the unlatched condition allows for delivery of at least a portion of the infusion liquid through the infusion outlet when an electric potential is applied across the porous media to cause the electrokinetic solution within the electrokinetic engine to displace the movable partition.

14. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 11, wherein a surface of the outer plunger housing includes an axial groove formed along at least a portion of the length thereof and a perimeter groove extending transversely from a distal portion of the axial groove, the perimeter groove being angled towards a proximal end of the outer plunger housing.

15. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 14, wherein the infusion housing includes a surface feature slidably disposed within the axial and perimeter grooves of the outer plunger housing.

16. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 15, wherein the knob disposed on the plunger is adapted to move the plunger proximally to fill the infusion reservoir with infusion liquid, the plunger being adapted to move proximally until the surface feature reaches the distal end of the axial groove.

17. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 16, wherein the knob is able to be rotated to cause the surface feature to travel along the perimeter groove to allow at least a portion of the infusion liquid to be delivered through the infusion outlet to prime the infusion pump.

18. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 17, wherein a first locking feature provided on the infusion housing irreversibly engages a second locking features provided on the plunger to lock the plunger to the infusion housing.

19. An electrokinetic infusion pump comprising:

a base capable of being attached to a patient,

an electrokinetic engine infusion module adapted to selectively apply electric potential across an electrokinetic porous media to cause an electrokinetic solution within the module to displace a movable partition disposed adjacent to a deformable infusion reservoir that is adapted to contain an infusion liquid to effect delivery of at least a portion of the infusion liquid through an infusion outlet, the module being adapted to be detachably coupled to the base; and

a controller configured to control the application of electric potential across the electrokinetic porous media and adapted to be detachably coupled to the base.

20. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 19, wherein the base is attachable to the patient using an adhesive.

21. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 19, wherein the base further includes a clip to enable attachment of the base to an article of clothing worn by a user.

22. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 19, wherein the controller is integrated with the electrokinetic engine infusion module.

23. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 19, wherein the controller is separate from the electrokinetic engine infusion module.

24. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 23, further including a battery disposed within the controller.

25. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 23, further including a battery disposed within the electrokinetic engine infusion module.

26. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 19, wherein the electrokinetic porous media separates a collapsible supply chamber containing an electrokinetic solution and an expandable receiving chamber within the electrokinetic engine such that electrokinetic solution is able to flow from the supply chamber through the porous media and into the expandable receiving chamber when a voltage is applied to the electrokinetic solution infusion module.

27. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 26, wherein transfer of the electrokinetic solution from the collapsible supply chamber is effective to expand the expandable receiving chamber such that the expandable receiving chamber applies a compressive force to the deformable infusion reservoir to effect delivery of the infusion liquid.

28. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 19, wherein the infusion outlet comprises a needle that extends through an opening in the base.

29. The electrokinetic infusion pump of claim 19, wherein the infusion outlet comprises a catheter extending from a portion of the infusion pump.