DEVICE AND METHOD EMPLOYING SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY
First Claim
1. A medical device for pumping a fluid, comprising:
- a plunger having reciprocal movement in a displacement cavity between a first limit and a second limit;
a shape memory alloy wire attached to the plunger for pulling the plunger in a first direction in the displacement cavity;
a digital timing circuit for activating the shape memory alloy wire including a capacitor for providing electrical energy to the shape memory alloy wire; and
an insulin reservoir containing insulin and being in fluid communication with the displacement cavity so that as the shape memory alloy wire is activated the wire shortens and pulls the plunger in the first direction thereby drawing a predetermined volume of insulin from the reservoir into the displacement cavity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for the metering and delivery of small discrete volumes of liquid is comprised of a small or minimal number of inexpensive components. One such component is a movable member, such as a miniature precision reciprocating displacement pump head, which is driven by an actuator that comprises a shape memory alloy material. The operating mechanism of the system is of little or minimal complexity. The system facilitates the precise metering and delivery of the small discrete volumes of liquid. Potential applications for the system include subcutaneous, long-term, automated drug delivery, for example, the delivery of insulin to a person with diabetes. In such an application, the small, simple and inexpensive nature of the invention would allow for its use as both a portable and a disposable system.
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Citations
65 Claims
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1. A medical device for pumping a fluid, comprising:
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a plunger having reciprocal movement in a displacement cavity between a first limit and a second limit; a shape memory alloy wire attached to the plunger for pulling the plunger in a first direction in the displacement cavity; a digital timing circuit for activating the shape memory alloy wire including a capacitor for providing electrical energy to the shape memory alloy wire; and an insulin reservoir containing insulin and being in fluid communication with the displacement cavity so that as the shape memory alloy wire is activated the wire shortens and pulls the plunger in the first direction thereby drawing a predetermined volume of insulin from the reservoir into the displacement cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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28. A medical device for pumping a fluid, comprising:
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a plunger having reciprocal movement in a displacement cavity between a first limit and a second limit; a shape memory alloy wire attached to the plunger for moving the plunger in a first direction in the displacement cavity; a digital timing circuit for activating the shape memory alloy wire including a capacitor for providing electrical energy to the shape memory alloy wire; and an reservoir containing insulin and being in fluid communication with the displacement cavity so that as the shape memory alloy wire is activated the wire changes length thereby moving the plunger in the first direction thereby drawing a predetermined volume of insulin from the reservoir into the displacement cavity. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A medical device for pumping a fluid, comprising:
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a plunger having reciprocal movement in a tubular-shaped displacement cavity between a first limit and a second limit; a shape memory alloy wire attached to the plunger for moving the plunger in a first direction in the displacement cavity; a digital timing circuit for activating the shape memory alloy wire including a capacitor for providing electrical energy to the shape memory alloy wire; and an insulin reservoir containing insulin and being in fluid communication with the displacement cavity so that as the shape memory alloy wire is activated the wire shortens and pulls the plunger in the first direction thereby drawing a predetermined volume of insulin from the reservoir into the tubular-shaped displacement cavity. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A medical device for pumping a fluid, comprising:
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a plunger having reciprocal movement in a displacement cavity between a first limit and a second limit; a shape memory alloy wire attached to the plunger for pulling the plunger in a first direction in the displacement cavity; a digital timing circuit for activating the shape memory alloy wire including a battery for providing electrical energy to the shape memory alloy wire; and an insulin reservoir containing insulin and being in fluid communication with the displacement cavity so that as the shape memory alloy wire is activated the wire shortens and pulls the plunger in the first direction thereby drawing a predetermined volume of insulin from the reservoir into the displacement cavity. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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Specification