FLOW SENSOR CONTROLLED INFUSION DEVICE
First Claim
1. An implantable infusion device comprising:
- an outlet through which a fluid is deliverable;
a reservoir for containing the fluid;
a flow path in fluid communication with the reservoir and the outlet, the flow path including;
(i) a pressure regulator having a housing defining a major chamber and a diaphragm disposed in the housing such that the diaphragm sealingly divides the major chamber into first and second minor chambers; and
(ii) a flow restrictor in fluid communication with the first and second minor chambers of the pressure regulator, wherein the flow restrictor is disposed downstream of the first minor chamber and upstream of the second minor chamber;
a flow sensor configured to detect information regarding flow rate of the fluid downstream of the flow restrictor;
an actuator assembly configured to vary pressure in the first minor chamber relative to pressure in the second minor chamber; and
a processor operably coupled to the flow sensor and the pressure adjustment actuator assembly, wherein the processor is configured to provide instructions to the actuator assembly for adjusting the pressure in the first minor chamber relative to pressure in the second minor chamber based on the information from the sensor to regulate flow rate of the fluid.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable infusion device includes an outlet through which a fluid is deliverable and a reservoir for containing the fluid. A flow path is in fluid communication with the reservoir and the outlet. The flow path includes a pressure regulator and a flow restrictor. The pressure regulator has a housing defining a major chamber and a diaphragm disposed in the housing such that the diaphragm sealingly divides the major chamber into first and second minor chambers. The flow restrictor is in fluid communication with the first and second minor chambers of the pressure regulator and is disposed downstream of the first minor chamber and upstream of the second minor chamber. The device further includes (i) a flow sensor configured to detect information regarding flow rate of the fluid downstream of the flow restrictor, and (ii) a pressure adjustment actuator assembly configured to vary pressure in the first minor chamber of the pressure regulator relative to pressure in the second minor chamber. The device also includes a processor operably coupled to the flow sensor and the pressure adjustment actuator assembly. The processor is configured to provide instructions to the actuator assembly for adjusting the pressure in the first minor chamber relative to pressure in the second minor chamber based on the information from the sensor to regulate flow rate of the fluid.
66 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An implantable infusion device comprising:
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an outlet through which a fluid is deliverable; a reservoir for containing the fluid; a flow path in fluid communication with the reservoir and the outlet, the flow path including; (i) a pressure regulator having a housing defining a major chamber and a diaphragm disposed in the housing such that the diaphragm sealingly divides the major chamber into first and second minor chambers; and (ii) a flow restrictor in fluid communication with the first and second minor chambers of the pressure regulator, wherein the flow restrictor is disposed downstream of the first minor chamber and upstream of the second minor chamber; a flow sensor configured to detect information regarding flow rate of the fluid downstream of the flow restrictor; an actuator assembly configured to vary pressure in the first minor chamber relative to pressure in the second minor chamber; and a processor operably coupled to the flow sensor and the pressure adjustment actuator assembly, wherein the processor is configured to provide instructions to the actuator assembly for adjusting the pressure in the first minor chamber relative to pressure in the second minor chamber based on the information from the sensor to regulate flow rate of the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for controlling flow rate of a fluid through a flow path of an implantable infusion device, the flow path including a flow restrictor and a flow regulator, the flow restrictor including a major chamber sealingly divided into first and second minor chambers by a diaphragm, wherein the flow restrictor is disposed in the flow path between the first and second minor chambers, the method comprising:
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sensing flow rate information downstream of the flow restrictor; determining whether the flow rate is at a target rate based on the sensed information; and adjusting the relative pressure between the first and second minor chambers of the pressure regulator if the flow rate is not at the target rate. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An implantable infusion device comprising:
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an outlet through which a fluid is deliverable; a reservoir for containing the fluid; a flow path in fluid communication with the reservoir and the outlet, the flow path including; (i) a variable valve configure to allow variable amounts of fluid to pass through the valve; and (ii) a flow restrictor in fluid communication with and disposed downstream of the variable valve; a flow sensor configured to detect information regarding flow rate of the fluid downstream of the flow restrictor; an actuator assembly configured to vary the degree to which the variable valve is open; and a processor operably coupled to the flow sensor and the actuator assembly, wherein the processor is configured to provide instructions to the actuator assembly for adjusting the degree to which the variable valve is open based on the information from the sensor to regulate flow rate of the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification