Multiple reservoir implantable drug infusion device and method

• US 20090227989A1
• Filed: 03/05/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FLO, LLC
• Original Assignee: Flowonix Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: O'Connor, Partrick J., Buckman, Joshua L., Burke, Paul F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,551,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/891.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1486 the bags being substantially completely surrounded by fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16809 by repeated filling and emptying of an intermediate volume pressure infusion using positive displacement pumps A61M5/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407

Abstract

Multiple reservoir implantable valve accumulator pump for the delivery of medication, and method of infusate delivery. The apparatus includes at least first and second infusate reservoirs in a common pressure chamber, each in fluid communication with a metering assembly. The metering assembly includes an accumulator that is preferably a fixed volume accumulator having an inlet and an outlet. A first valve is in fluid communication with the first infusate reservoir and an inlet of the accumulator, and a second valve is in fluid communication with the second infusate reservoir and an inlet of the accumulator. An outlet valve is in fluid communication with the outlet of the accumulator. The accumulator can be filled with infusate from the first and second infusate reservoirs sequentially, can be filled from the first infusate reservoir multiple times consecutively, the second infusate reservoir multiple times consecutively, or any combination or permutation thereof.

Claims

1. Implantable infusion apparatus, comprising:

a pressure chamber;

at least first and second infusate reservoirs in said pressure chamber;

a metering assembly comprising an accumulator having an inlet and an outlet;

a first valve in fluid communication with said first infusate reservoir and said accumulator;

a second valve in fluid communication with said second infusate reservoir and said accumulator;

and an outlet valve in fluid communication with said outlet of said accumulator;

wherein when said first valve is open and said second valve and said outlet valve are closed, infusate from said first infusate reservoir is introduced into said accumulator, and wherein when said outlet valve is open and said first and second valves are closed, infusate is expelled from said accumulator; and

when said second valve is open and said first valve and said outlet valve are closed, infusate from said second infusate reservoir is introduced into said accumulator, and wherein when said outlet valve is open and said first and second valves are closed, infusate is expelled from said accumulator.

2. The implantable infusion apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a diaphragm disposed in said accumulator such that said diaphragm deflects in a first direction in response to the opening of either of said first and second valves while said outlet valve is closed, and deflects in a second direction in response to the opening of said outlet valve while said first and second inlet valves are closed.

3. The infusion apparatus of claim 2, wherein said accumulator further comprises a spacer, said spacer having an annular groove and a trough in fluid communication with said annular groove and with said inlet and outlet of said accumulator, the diameter of said annular groove being smaller than the length of said trough, said annular groove and trough defining a fluid flow path.

4. The infusion apparatus of claim 1, wherein said infusate flows out of said accumulator in a series of predetermined volume spikes, the frequency of said spikes being determined by the cycling rate of said first and second valves and said outlet valve.

5. A method of independently introducing infusate into an accumulator from at least two separate infusate sources, comprising:

providing a pressure chamber;

providing a first infusate reservoir in said pressure chamber, said first infusate reservoir adapted to contain a first infusate;

providing a second infusate reservoir in said pressure chamber, said second infusate reservoir adapted to contain a second infusate;

providing a metering assembly comprising an accumulator in fluid communication with said first infusate reservoir via a first valve and in fluid communication with said second infusate reservoir via a second valve, and an outlet valve in communication with an outlet of said accumulator;

introducing a first infusate into said first infusate reservoir;

introducing said first infusate from said first infusate reservoir into said accumulator by opening said first valve while said second valve and said outlet valve are in a closed position;

emptying said accumulator of said first infusate by opening said outlet valve while said first and second valves are closed.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

introducing a second infusate into said second infusate reservoir;

introducing said second infusate from said second infusate reservoir into said accumulator by opening said second valve while said first valve and said outlet valve are in a closed position; and

emptying said second infusate from said accumulator by opening said outlet valve while said first and second valves are in a closed position.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said first infusate reservoir is filled with said first infusate, and said accumulator is filled with and then emptied of said first infusate, multiple times before said second infusate is introduced into said second infusate reservoir.