Implantable bolus injector

• US 20080195083A1
• Filed: 01/28/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koullis Pitsillides, Michael Axelsson
• Original Assignee: Koullis Pitsillides, Michael Axelsson
• Inventors: Axelsson, Michael, Pitsillides, Koullis
• Application Number:
  US12/011,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20080195083A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/891.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0024 Solid, semi-solid or solidifying implants, which are implanted or injected in body tissue compositions for intravenous administration, normal injectable solutions or dispersions for, e.g. subcutaneous administration A61K9/0019; brain implants A61K9/0085; (coated) prostheses, catheters or stents A61L

Abstract

An implantable bolus injector having a battery, an electronic control unit and an injector including a shape memory alloy spring, a standard low-tension spring, and a threaded top part with a stainless steel cannula. The electronic control unit is connected to the shape memory alloy spring via a direct connection to the lower part of the spring and via the low-tension spring that ensures a connection between the spring and the control unit during the expansion of the shape memory alloy spring.

Claims

1. An implantable bolus injector device comprising a battery, an electronic control unit and an injector comprising a shape memory alloy spring as an actuator and a low-tension spring, wherein the electronic control unit is connected to the shape memory alloy spring via the low-tension spring, wherein the injector device has no skin-penetrating parts.

2. The implantable bolus injector device of claim 1, wherein the injector is activated remotely via an external radio signal.

3. The implantable bolus injector device of claim 1, wherein the injector is activated via a direct connection to a telemetric implant.

4. The implantable bolus injector device of claim 1, wherein the injector delivers a fixed volume over a particular time period.

5. The implantable bolus injector device of claim 4, wherein the fixed volume is 0.1 to 5 ml and the particular time period is less than 60 seconds.

6. The implantable bolus injector device of claim 1, wherein the injector can inject against vascular pressures up to 15 kPa.

7. The implantable bolus injector device of claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy spring is made of Nitinol.

8. The implantable bolus injector device of claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy spring is made of a wire wound around a metal rod of suitable diameter, and then the length of the spring is set before heating the spring above its annealing temperature.

9. The implantable bolus injector of claim 8, wherein the wire has a diameter of 0.77 mm and was formed by being wound around a 3 mm metal rod to form an 18 mm long spring.

10. The implantable bolus injector device of claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy spring is made of a material selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron and copper-based shape memory alloys.

11. The implantable bolus injector device of claim 1, wherein the injector device is encased in silicon.

12. The implantable bolus injector device of claim 1, wherein the control unit links between the battery and the shape memory alloy spring.