Implantable Infusion Devices Including Apparatus For Confirming Fluid Flow And Systems, Apparatus And Methods Associated With Same

• US 20090149810A1
• Filed: 12/05/2008
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Inventors: Lord, Peter C., Gibson, Scott R., Bowman, Sam W., Shelton, Brian M., Ring, Lawrence Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,323,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/111
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16863 Occlusion detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0244 Micromachined materials, e.g. made from silicon wafers, microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] or comprising nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0294 Piezoelectric materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• 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 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16886 for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/28 by drag-force, e.g. vane type or impact flowmeter

Abstract

Implantable infusion apparatus, systems and methods that involve the use of a sensor that is associated with the catheter outlet.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring an infusion device that is implanted within a body and includes a reservoir for an infusible substance, a fluid transfer device, a catheter with an outlet, and a sensor device associated with the catheter outlet that senses a characteristic that is representative of fluid flow, the method comprising the step of:

wirelessly querying the sensor device associated with the catheter outlet.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of wirelessly querying the sensor device comprises wirelessly querying the sensor device associated with the catheter outlet with a device that is external to the body.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

powering the sensor device with the wireless query.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining whether fluid is flowing though the catheter outlet based on the result of the wireless query.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the step of:

identifying the location of the catheter outlet relative to the patient in response to a determination that fluid is flowing through the catheter outlet.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the step of:

making an adjustment associated with the infusible substance in response to a determination that the catheter outlet is properly located.

7. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the catheter is connected to an outlet port, the method further comprising the step of:

observing the pressure at the outlet port.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of wirelessly querying the sensor device comprises transmitting electromagnetic field pulses to the sensor device associated with the catheter outlet.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of wirelessly querying the sensor device comprises measuring the capacitance of the sensor device associated with the catheter outlet.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of wirelessly querying the sensor device comprises measuring the flow through the sensor device.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of wirelessly querying the sensor device comprises measuring the pressure at the sensor device.

12. An implantable infusion device, comprising:

a housing;

a fluid transfer device carried within the housing;

a power supply carried within the housing and operably connected to the fluid transfer device;

a catheter, including a outlet, operably connected to the fluid transfer device; and

a sensor device, which is not powered by the power supply within the housing, associated with the catheter outlet and configured to measure a characteristic that is indicative of fluid flow through the catheter outlet.

13. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fluid transfer device comprises an electromagnet pump.

14. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensor device comprises a pressure sensor device.

15. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensor device comprises a flow sensor device.

16. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensor device includes an antenna.

17. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensor device comprises a passive sensor device.

18. An apparatus for use with an implanted infusion device, the implanted infusion device including a catheter with an outlet and a sensor device associated with the catheter outlet that is configured to measure a characteristic which is indicative of fluid flow through the catheter outlet, the apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a user interface carried by the housing; and

means, associated with the housing, for wirelessly querying the sensor device and receiving a signal indicative of the characteristic.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the user interface comprises a touch screen.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

means, responsive to the signal indicative of the characteristic, for determining whether the catheter is blocked.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

means for providing a visible and/or audible indication that the catheter is blocked.

22. A method of monitoring an infusion device that is implanted within a body and includes a reservoir for an infusible substance, a fluid transfer device, a catheter, and a plurality of spaced sensor devices associated with the catheter that sense a characteristic that is representative of fluid flow, the method comprising the step of:

wirelessly querying at least two of the spaced sensor devices associated with the catheter.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the step of wirelessly querying the sensor devices comprises wirelessly querying the sensor devices associated with the catheter with a device that is external to the body.

24. A method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising the step of:

powering the sensor devices with the wireless query.

25. A method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising the step of:

determining whether fluid is flowing though the catheter based on the result of the wireless query.

26. A method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising the step of:

identifying the location of a blockage or leak based on the result of the wireless query.

27. An implantable infusion device, comprising:

a housing;

a fluid transfer device carried within the housing;

a power supply carried within the housing and operably connected to the fluid transfer device;

a catheter, including a outlet, operably connected to the fluid transfer device; and

a plurality of spaced sensor devices, which are not powered by the power supply within the housing, associated with the catheter and configured to measure a characteristic that is indicative of fluid flow through the catheter.

28. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the fluid transfer device comprises an electromagnet pump.

29. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the sensor devices comprises flow sensor devices.

30. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the sensor devices include an antenna.

31. An implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the sensor devices comprise passive sensor devices.