FLOW REGULATING STOPCOCKS AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20100065578A1
• Filed: 10/29/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tandem Diabetes Care Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tandem Diabetes Care Incorporated
• Inventors: DiPerna, Paul M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,408,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/1
• 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 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/36 the pressure or differential pressure being created by the use of flow constriction
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/16 for liquid or semiliquid
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 22/02 involving measurement of pressure

Abstract

A novel enhanced stopcock is disclosed, as well as related methods, that safely controls flow of flow materials from a pump. Pump fills a first chamber, from which a second chamber is filled. Flow material is dispensed from the second chamber when the stop cock is moved to a different position wherein it is no longer in fluid communication with the first chamber. Pressure sensors disposed in fluid communication with first and second chambers are used to determine the volume of flow material dispensed.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a first chamber;

a first compressible member disposed in the first chamber;

a stopcock having a second chamber for holding aliquots of flow material to be dispensed;

a second compressible member disposed in the second chamber; and

a first pressure sensor;

wherein the second chamber is filled with flow material from first chamber when stopcock is in a first position and the stopcock device only dispenses flow material when the stopcock is in the second position that is not in fluid communication with the first chamber.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second pressure sensor in communication with the second chamber;

wherein the first pressure sensor is in communication with the first chamber.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first pressure sensor is in communication with the second chamber.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first compressible member and second compressible member each comprise at least one of a compressed closed cell foam, a piston, or a elastomeric diaphragm in the first chamber that segregates gas from the flow material.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein stopcock is rotated between the first position and the second position with a motor.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the stopcock occupies one of three positions:

a fill position for filling second chamber with flow material from first chamber, a dispense position for dispensing flow material from second chamber and sensing position for measuring a gas pressure in second chamber, and a closed position wherein second chamber is not in fluid communication with first chamber or a dispensing conduit.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the stopcock occupies one of four positions:

a fill position for filling second chamber with flow material from first chamber, a dispense position for dispensing flow material from second chamber, a pressure sensing position for measuring a gas pressure in second chamber, and a closed position wherein second chamber is not in fluid communication with first chamber or a dispensing conduit.

8. A method comprising providing a stopcock device having:

a first chamber;

a first compressible member disposed in the first chamber;

a stopcock having a second chamber for holding aliquots of flow material to be dispensed;

a second compressible member disposed in the second chamber; and

a first pressure sensor;

wherein the second chamber is filled with flow material from first chamber when stopcock is in a first position and the stopcock device only dispenses flow material when the stopcock is in the second position that is not in fluid communication with the first chamber.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising a second pressure sensor in communication with the second chamber;

wherein the first pressure sensor is in communication with the first chamber.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first pressure sensor is in communication with the second chamber.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first compressible member and second compressible member each comprise at least one of a compressed closed cell foam, a piston, or a elastomeric diaphragm in the first chamber that segregates gas from the flow material.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein stopcock is rotated between the first position and the second position with a motor.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the stopcock occupies one of three positions:

a fill position for filling second chamber with flow material from first chamber, a dispense position for dispensing flow material from second chamber and sensing position for measuring a gas pressure in second chamber, and a closed position wherein second chamber is not in fluid communication with first chamber or a dispensing conduit.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the stopcock occupies one of four positions:

a fill position for filling second chamber with flow material from first chamber, a dispense position for dispensing flow material from second chamber, a pressure sensing position for measuring a gas pressure in second chamber, and a closed position wherein second chamber is not in fluid communication with first chamber or a dispensing conduit.

15. A method comprising:

positioning a stopcock into a first position whereby a first chamber and a second chamber are in fluid communication;

positioning the stopcock into a second position whereby the first chamber and the second chamber are not in fluid communication and whereby the second chamber is in fluid communication with a dispensing conduit;

measuring the pressure in the second chamber with a first pressure sensor; and

calculating the flow rate in about real time.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

filling the first chamber with a flow material; and

measuring the pressure of first chamber with a second pressure sensor to determine the volume of flow material in the first chamber.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first chamber is filled whereby the first chamber is pressurized sufficiently to effect flow of flow material from the first chamber to the second chamber.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the pressure in first chamber is sufficient to effect the flow of flow material from the first chamber to the second chamber of substantially all of the flow material in the first chamber.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising preventing the simultaneous filling of the first chamber and dispensing from the second chamber.