Systems, Apparatus and Associated Methods for Needleless Delivery of Therapeutic Fluids

• US 20080119784A1
• Filed: 11/19/2007
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Astora Women's Health Holdings LLC (Endo International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Ams Research Corporation (Endo International PLC)
• Inventors: Hauschild, Sidney F., Roychowdhury, Suranjan, Copa, Vincent G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,491,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/70
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00006 of control signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00011 characterised by signal transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00114 Electrical cables in or with an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00124 electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/166 Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/30 Syringes for injection by jet action, without needle, e.g. for use with replaceable ampoules or carpules

Abstract

A needleless fluid delivery system for delivering therapeutic fluids to treatment sites within a patient. The fluid delivery system can include an automated injector source and a needleless access device. The access device can include a delivery scope and a treatment specific applicator. The automated injector source, delivery scope and applicator can be operably coupled with quick-connect style fittings so as to allow for quick replacement and maintenance of used or damaged components. The automated injector source can include a hands-free input mechanism allowing a medical professional to use both hands in manipulating the delivery scope and needleless applicator at the same time an injection is desired. The delivery scope and needleless applicator can comprise flexible or rigid lengths of tubing based on the accessibility of the treatment site. The needleless delivery system can include an imaging system for precisely position the applicator with respect to the treatment location.

Claims

1. A needless fluid delivery system comprising:

an automated injector source including a user interface and a connector member; and

an applicator including a scope portion and a delivery portion, the scope portion adapted to attach to the connector member such that a pressurized fluid from the automated injector source can be delivered to a treatment site through a delivery lumen defined within the applicator.

2. The needleless fluid delivery system of claim 1, wherein the user interface included an input means selected from the group consisting of:

a foot pedal and a touch screen.

3. The needleless fluid delivery system of claim 1, wherein the applicator is selected from the group consisting of:

a male urethra applicator, a prostate applicator, a bladder applicator, a female bladder/urethra applicator and a ureter/kidney applicator.

4. The needleless fluid delivery system of claim 1, wherein the applicator includes a communication member for communicating an applicator configuration to the automated injector source such that the automated injector source preconfigures itself for standard operating conditions consistent with the applicator configuration.

5. The needless fluid delivery system of claim 4, wherein the communication member is selected from the group consisting of:

a microchip and a RFID tag.

6. The needleless fluid delivery system of claim 1, wherein the scope portion includes a flexible scope and a supply connector adapted to operably attach to the connector member.

7. The needleless fluid delivery system of claim 6, wherein the delivery portion includes a flexible tube that is steerable by the flexible scope.

8. The needleless fluid delivery system of claim 7, wherein the flexible tube includes a tube vacuum lumen and a tube delivery lumen and an applicator head is slidably positioned over the flexible tube such that an applicator vacuum lumen is operably connected to the tube vacuum lumen and an applicator delivery lumen is operably connected to the tube delivery lumen wherein a vacuum source in the automated injector proximates tissue against a treatment end such that an injection fluid can be delivered through the applicator delivery lumen at the treatment end.

9. The needleless fluid delivery system of claim 8, wherein an applicator head is slidably advanced through the flexible tube, the applicator head including an applicator vacuum lumen and an applicator delivery lumen such that the applicator head can be advanced into a working channel in flexible tube such that a vacuum source in the automated injector proximates tissue within the working channel wherein an injection fluid can be delivered through the applicator delivery lumen at the working channel.

10. A method for delivery a therapeutic fluid to a treatment location comprising:

providing a needleless delivery system including an automated injector and an applicator;

positioning a delivery end of the applicator at a treatment location; and

actuating an input device on the automated injector to deliver a therapeutic fluid through the delivery end.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

communicating an applicator configuration to the automated injector such that the automated injector preconfigures itself for standard operating conditions associated with the applicator configuration.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein actuating the input device comprises interfacing with a touch screen on the automated injector.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein actuating the input device comprises stepping on a foot pedal operably connected to the automated injector.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein positioning the delivery end of the applicator at the treatment location comprises:

steering a flexible tube of the applicator with a flexible scope of the applicator; and

attaching the flexible scope to the automated injector.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

sliding an applicator head over the delivery end;

supplying a vacuum through a vacuum lumen in the flexible tube to position tissue against the applicator head; and

administering the therapeutic fluid into the tissue through a delivery lumen in the applicator head.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

advancing an applicator head through the flexible tube;

supplying a vacuum through a vacuum lumen in the applicator head to position tissue within a working channel on the flexible tube; and

administering the therapeutic fluid into the tissue within the working channel through a delivery lumen in the applicator head.