FLUID METERING DEVICE

• US 20100268200A1
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medipacs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medipacs, Inc.
• Inventors: Fanter, Dale L., Banister, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,995,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/891.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14513 with secondary fluid driving or regulating the infusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14593 the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/02 having plate-like flexible members, e.g. diaphragms F04B43/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2231/00 Organic materials not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2251/08 Shape memory

Abstract

A device for metering fluids comprising a fluid chamber with one inlet or outlet port, at least one sidewall and a movable separator that is in contact with and separates the fluid in the chamber from the other components of the device, a porous actuator housing and wicking material, a flexible polymer actuator material in contact with the porous actuator housing and the moveable separator, an actuator hydrating solution reservoir with at least one sidewall, an inlet port, and in fluid contact with porous actuator housing, a fluid gate located at some point between actuator hydrating solution reservoir and the polymer actuator, effectively keeping actuator dry, and an external shell to hold all components so that the polymer actuator can only move in a direction and apply pressure to the separator in contact with the fluid in the fluid chamber, thereby dispensing fluid from fluid chamber.

Claims

1. A device for metering fluids comprising a fluid chamber with one inlet or outlet port, at least one sidewall and a movable separator that is in contact with and separates the fluid in the chamber from the other components of the device, a porous actuator housing and wicking material, a flexible polymer actuator material in contact with the porous actuator housing and the moveable separator, an actuator hydrating solution reservoir with at least one sidewall, an inlet port, and in fluid contact with porous actuator housing, a fluid gate located at some point between actuator hydrating solution reservoir and the polymer actuator, effectively keeping actuator dry, and an external shell to hold all components so that the polymer actuator can only move in a direction and apply pressure to the separator in contact with the fluid in the fluid chamber, thereby dispensing fluid from fluid chamber.

88. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized by one of the following features:

(a) wherein the fluid chamber is removable;

(b) the fluid chamber is made of a plastic, metal, glass, ceramic carbon or combination of these materials;

(c) wherein the fluid chamber inlet/outlet port is capped or sealed by a pierceable septum;

(d) wherein the movable separator is a rubber plunger;

(e) wherein the movable separator is an elastomeric membrane and also a part of or attached to the fluid chamber;

(f) wherein the porous actuator housing is made from plastic, metal, glass, ceramic, carbon or combination of these materials;

(g) wherein the polymer actuator material is removable;

(h) wherein the polymer actuator material is hydrophilic;

(i) wherein the polymer actuator material is a combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials;

(j) wherein the polymer actuator material, fluid gate, porous actuator housing, actuator hydrating solution reservoir are enclosed together as a sealed unit with an elastic membrane in contact with actuator material, with a port covered by a pierceable septum that allows filling and venting of the actuator hydrating solution reservoir with actuator hydrating solution;

(k) wherein the fluid gate stopping actuator hydrating solution from contacting actuator is removable by the following methods of piercing, dissolving, tearing, pushing or by pulling gate out of hydrating solution path to allow hydration of the polymer actuator;

(l) wherein the fluid gate is a membrane that can be torn, pierced or dissolved;

(m) wherein the fluid gate can be opened and closed like a valve;

(n) wherein the fluid in the fluid chamber is a medicine or has therapeutic value;

(o) wherein the fluid chamber can be filled in the device;

(p) wherein the fluid chamber septum is pierced and the fluid is released into tubing that is in contact with a person or patient via a needle or other method that allows metering of released fluid to desired contact point;

(q) wherein the fluid chamber septum is pierced and the fluid is released into tubing that is in contact with an animal via a needle or other method that allows metering of released fluid to desired contact point;

(r) wherein the actuator material has varying layers of density and porosity;

(s) wherein the actuator material has reacted and unreacted molecular sites;

(t) wherein the actuator material has varying degrees of reacted and unreacted molecular sites;

(u) wherein the actuator materials ratio of reacted to unreacted molecular sites determines the speed and pressure generation of the actuator material;

(v) wherein protonation of reactive molecular sites within the actuator material, by interaction with the actuator hydrating solution or chemical byproduct of that interaction, determines the speed and pressure generation of the actuator material;

(w) wherein the actuator materials density or porosity determines the speed and pressure generation of the actuator material;

(x) wherein the amount of surface area of the actuator surface in fluid contact with the actuator hydrating solution via the porous actuator housing wicking material determines the speed and pressure generation of the actuator material; and

(y) wherein the device is implanted into a person or animal.

89. The device in claim 1 wherein the actuator hydrating solution pH or chemical makeup determines the speed and pressure generation of the actuator material.

90. The device in claim 89, wherein the device is implanted in a person or animal and utilizes body fluids as the actuator hydrating solution and has an opening in the exterior shell that allows the uptake of fluids by the actuator material.

2-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A device for metering fluids comprising two or more separate fluid chambers with one inlet or outlet port, at least one sidewall and a movable separator that is in contact with and separates the fluid in the fluid chambers from the other components of the device, a porous actuator housing and wicking material, a flexible polymer actuator material in contact with the porous actuator housing and the moveable separators, an actuator hydrating solution reservoir with at least one sidewall, an inlet port, and in fluid contact with porous actuator housing, a fluid gate located between each actuator hydrating solution reservoir and the polymer actuator, and an external shell to hold all components so that the polymer actuator can only move in a direction and apply pressure to the separator in contact with the fluid in the fluid chamber, thereby dispensing fluid from fluid chambers.

91. The device as claimed in claim 29, characterized by one of the following features:

(a) wherein one or more of the fluid chambers are removable;

(b) wherein one or more of the fluid chambers are made of a plastic, metal, glass, ceramic carbon or combination of these materials;

(c) wherein one or more of the fluid chambers inlet/outlet ports are capped or sealed by a pierce able septum;

(d) wherein the movable separator is a rubber plunger;

(e) wherein the movable separator is an elastomeric membrane and also a part of the fluid chamber;

(f) wherein the porous actuator housing is made from plastic, metal, glass, ceramic, carbon or combination of these materials;

(g) wherein the polymer actuator material is removable;

(h) wherein the polymer actuator material is hydrophilic;

(i) wherein the polymer actuator material is a combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials;

(j) wherein the polymer actuator material, fluid gate, porous actuator housing, actuator hydrating solution reservoir are enclosed together as a sealed unit with an elastic membrane in contact with actuator material, with a port covered by a pierceable septum that allows filling and venting of the actuator hydrating solution reservoir with actuator hydrating solution;

(k) wherein the fluid gate stopping actuator hydrating solution from contacting actuator is removable or broken by the following methods piercing, dissolving, tearing, pushing or by pulling gate out of hydrating solution path to allow hydration of the polymer actuator;

(l) wherein the fluid gate is a membrane that can be torn, pierced or dissolved;

(m) wherein the fluid gate can be opened and closed like a valve;

(n) wherein the fluids in the fluid chambers are a medicine or have therapeutic value;

(o) wherein the fluid cambers can be filled in the device;

(p) wherein the fluid chamber septums are pierced and the fluid is released into tubing that is in contact with a person or patient via a needle or other method that allows metering of released fluid to desired contact point;

(q) wherein the fluid chamber septum is pierced and the fluid is released into tubing that is in contact with an animal via a needle or other method that allows metering of released fluid to desired contact point;

(r) wherein the actuator material is an epoxy;

(s) wherein the actuator material has varying layers of density and porosity;

(t) wherein the actuator material has reacted and unreacted molecular sites;

(u) wherein the actuator material has varying degrees of reacted and unreacted molecular sites;

(v) wherein the actuator materials ratio of reacted to unreacted molecular sites determines the speed and pressure generation of the actuator material;

(w) wherein the actuator materials density or porosity determines the speed and pressure generation of the actuator material;

(x) wherein the amount of surface area of the actuator surface in fluid contact with the actuator hydrating solution via the porous actuator housing wicking material determines the speed and pressure generation of the actuator material;

(y) wherein there are one or more different actuator materials providing different speeds and pressures for one or more fluid chambers; and

(z) wherein the device is implanted into a person or animal.

92. The device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the actuator hydrating solutions pH or chemical makeup determines the speed and pressure generation of the actuator material.

93. The device as claimed in claim 92, wherein the device is implanted into a person or animal, and utilizes body fluids as the actuator hydrating solution and has an opening in the exterior shell that allows the uptake of body fluids by the actuator material.

95. The device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the actuator hydrating solutions pH or chemical makeup determines the speed and pressure generation of the actuator material.

96. The device as claimed in claim 95, wherein the device is implanted in the body of a person or animal, and utilizes body fluids as the actuator hydrating solution and has an opening in the exterior shell that allows the uptake of body fluids by the actuator material.

98. The device as claimed in claim 29, wherein multiple types of medication, gene therapies, proteins etc. are metered to a patient via the best route to deliver the particular medications at a desired site on or in the patient.

30-57. -57. (canceled)

58. A device for metering fluids comprising two or more separate fluid chambers with one or more inlet or outlet ports that are in fluid connection with a mixing chamber, and have at least one sidewall and a movable separator that is in contact with and separates the fluid in the fluid chambers from the other components of the device, a mixing chamber with one or more inlet port openings that are in fluid contact with the fluid chambers, and an exit port opening, that is in fluid contact with tubing or fluid channel or method to transport mixed fluids to desired delivery site;

a porous actuator housing and wicking material, a flexible polymer actuator material in contact with the porous actuator housing and the moveable separators, an actuator hydrating solution reservoir with at least one sidewall, an inlet port, and in fluid contact with porous actuator housing, a fluid gate located between each actuator hydrating solution reservoir and the polymer actuator, and an external shell to hold all components so that the polymer actuator can only move in a direction and apply pressure to the separator in contact with the fluid in the fluid chamber, thereby dispensing fluid from fluid chambers.

94. The device as claimed in claim 58, characterized by one or more of the following features:

(a) wherein one or more of the fluid chambers are made of a plastic, metal, glass, ceramic carbon or combination of these materials;

(b) wherein one or more of the fluid chambers inlet/outlet ports are capped or sealed by a pierceable septum;

(c) wherein the movable separator is a rubber plunger;

(d) wherein the movable separator is an elastomeric membrane and also a part of the fluid chamber;

(e) wherein the porous actuator housing is made from plastic, metal, glass, ceramic, carbon or combination of these materials;

(f) wherein the polymer actuator material is removable;

(g) wherein the polymer actuator material is hydrophilic;

(h) wherein the polymer actuator material is a combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials;

(i) wherein the polymer actuator material, fluid gate, porous actuator housing, actuator hydrating solution reservoir are enclosed together as a sealed unit with an elastic membrane in contact with actuator material, with a port covered by a pierceable septum that allows filling and venting of the actuator hydrating solution reservoir with actuator hydrating solution;

(j) wherein the fluid gate stopping actuator hydrating solution from contacting actuator is removable or broken by the following methods piercing, dissolving, tearing, pushing or by pulling gate out of hydrating solution path to allow hydration of the polymer actuator;

(k) wherein the fluid gate is a membrane that can be torn, pierced or dissolved;

(l) wherein the fluid gate can be opened and closed like a valve;

(m) wherein the fluids in the fluid chambers are a medicine or have therapeutic value;

(n) wherein the fluid cambers can be filled in the device;

(o) wherein the mixing chamber exit port is capped or sealed by a septum, septum is pierced and the fluid is released into tubing that is in contact with a person or patient via a needle or other method that allows metering of released fluid to desired contact point;

(p) wherein the mixing chamber exit port is capped or sealed by a septum, septum is pierced and the fluid is released into tubing that is in contact with an animal via a needle or other method that allows metering of released fluid to desired contact point;

(q) wherein the actuator material is an epoxy;

(r) wherein the actuator material has varying layers of density and porosity;

(s) wherein the actuator material has reacted and un-reacted molecular sites;

(t) wherein the actuator material has varying degrees of reacted and un-reacted molecular sites;

(u) wherein the actuator materials ratio of reacted to un-reacted molecular sites determines the speed and pressure generation of the actuator material;

(v) wherein the actuator materials density or porosity determines the speed and pressure generation of the actuator material;

(w) wherein the amount of surface area of the actuator surface in fluid contact with the actuator hydrating solution via the porous actuator housing wicking material determines the speed and pressure generation of the actuator material;

(x) wherein there are one or more different actuator materials providing different speeds and pressures for one or more fluid chambers; and

(y) wherein the device is implanted into a person or animal.

97. The device as claimed in claim 58, wherein a two part insulin is mixed together at the prescribed ratio and metered after mixing to a patient via subcutaneous delivery.

99. The device as claimed in claim 58, wherein multiple types of medication, gene therapies, proteins etc. are metered to a patient via the best route to deliver the particular medications at a desired site on or in the patient.

59-87. -87. (canceled)