Electrokinetic pump designs and drug delivery systems

• US 20070148014A1
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teleflex Life Sciences Pte., Ltd. (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Eksigent Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Gearhart, Michael, Anex, Deon, Schwimmer, Charles, Black, David, Rush, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,794,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/392
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14513 with secondary fluid driving or regulating the infusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14526 the piston being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/00 Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/006 Micropumps F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/04 Pumps for special use
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0391 Affecting flow by the addition of material or energy

Abstract

The present invention provides a fluid delivery system having a first chamber, a second chamber and a third chamber; a flow-through pump element separating the first chamber from the second chamber; a moveable pump element separating the second chamber from the third chamber; a first outlet in communication with the third chamber; and second outlet in communication with the second chamber. Additionally, the present invention provides methods of operating a fluid delivery system having a first chamber, a second chamber and a delivery chamber by reducing the volume of the second chamber while increasing the volume of the delivery chamber without operation of a flow-through pump element that separates the second chamber from the first chamber.

Claims

1. A fluid delivery system, comprising:

A first chamber, a second chamber and a third chamber;

A flow-through pump element separating the first chamber from the second chamber;

A moveable pump element separating the second chamber from the third chamber;

A first outlet in communication with the third chamber; and

A second outlet in communication with the second chamber.

2. The fluid delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the first chamber, the second chamber and the third chamber are within a single housing.

3. The fluid delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the second outlet is in communication with the first chamber.

4. The fluid delivery system according to claim 2 wherein the second outlet is in communication with the exterior of the housing.

5. The fluid delivery system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a moveable pump element in the first chamber.

6. The fluid delivery system according to claim 5 wherein the moveable pump element is a diaphragm.

7. The fluid delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the flow-through pump element is an electrokinetic pump.

8. The fluid delivery system according to claim 4 further comprising:

a valve separating the second outlet from the exterior of the housing.

9. The fluid delivery system according to claim 4 further comprising:

a flap separating the second outlet from the exterior of the housing.

10. The fluid delivery system according to claim 2 further comprising:

A valve positioned in the housing that when actuated allows communication between the third chamber and the exterior of the housing and communication between the second chamber and the first chamber.

11. The fluid delivery system according to claim 1 further comprising a vent in communication with the first chamber, the second chamber or the third chamber.

12. The fluid delivery system according to claim 2 wherein a portion of the housing is shaped to conform to an anatomical contour.

13. The fluid delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the first chamber, the second chamber or the third chamber comprises a plurality of cells.

14. The fluid delivery system according to claim 13 wherein the plurality of cells are interconnected.

15. The fluid delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the moveable pump element is separated by the operation of the flow-through pump element.

16. The fluid delivery system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a seal separating the second chamber from the moveable element.

17. A method of operating a fluid delivery system having a first chamber, a second chamber and a delivery chamber, comprising:

Reducing the volume of the second chamber while increasing the volume of the delivery chamber without operation of a flow-through pump element that separates the second chamber from the first chamber.

18. A method of operating a fluid delivery system according to claim 17 wherein the reducing step is performed by moving a moveable pump element that separates the second chamber from the delivery chamber.

19. A method of operating a fluid delivery system according to claim 17 further comprising:

Moving fluid within the second chamber from the second chamber to a location outside of the housing.

20. A method of operating a fluid delivery system according to claim 17 further comprising:

Moving fluid within the second chamber from the second chamber to a location inside of the housing.

21. A method of operating a fluid delivery system according to claim 20 wherein the location is inside of the first chamber.

22. A method of operating a fluid delivery system according to claim 17 further comprising:

Opening a fluid pathway from outside the housing to the second chamber before the reducing step.

23. A method of operating a fluid delivery system according to claim 22 wherein opening a fluid pathway comprises opening a valve.

24. A method of operating a fluid delivery system according to claim 17 further comprising:

Operating a flow-through pump element that separates the first chamber from the second chamber to reduce the volume of the first chamber and the third chamber.

25. A method of operating a fluid delivery system according to claim 17 further comprising:

Operating a flow-through pump element that separates the first chamber from the second chamber to reduce the volume of the first chamber and increase the volume of the second chamber.

26. A method of operating a fluid delivery system according to claim 17 further comprising:

Operating a flow-through pump element that separates the first chamber from the second chamber to move a moveable pump element that separates the second chamber from the delivery chamber.

27. A method of operating a fluid delivery system according to claim 17 further comprising:

Operating a flow-through pump element that separates the first chamber from the second chamber to move a delivery fluid within the delivery chamber to a location outside of the housing.

28. A method of operating a fluid delivery system according to claim 17 further comprising:

Operating a valve within the housing to allow fluid flow from outside the housing into the delivery chamber.

29. A method of operating a fluid delivery system according to claim 28 wherein operating the valve allows fluid flow from the second chamber to the first chamber.

30. A method of operating a fluid delivery system according to claim 17 further comprising:

Operating a flow-through pump element that separates the first chamber from the second chamber to rupture a seal in the second chamber.

31. A method of operating a fluid delivery system according to claim 17 further comprising:

Operating a flow-through pump element that separates the first chamber from the second chamber to separate a moveable pump element positioned between the second chamber and the delivery chamber.