OSMOTIC PUMP APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
First Claim
1. A fluid delivery apparatus comprising:
- a first osmotic compartment coupled to a stationary semi-permeable membrane, wherein;
the stationary semi-permeable membrane permits fluid migration across the membrane and into the first osmotic compartment; and
the first osmotic compartment is adapted to initially include a chemical composition that functions to alter osmotic pressure within the first osmotic compartment upon fluid migration across the stationary semi-permeable membrane;
a second osmotic compartment coupled to a portion of the stationary semi-permeable membrane, wherein the second osmotic compartment contains a fluid capable of migrating from the second osmotic compartment across the stationary semi-permeable membrane into the first osmotic compartment;
a displaceable barrier member coupled to the first osmotic compartment, wherein the displaceable barrier member is displaced in response to alterations in osmotic pressure within the first osmotic compartment;
a medication reservoir including a fluid outlet for delivering a fluid medication from the medication reservoir, wherein the medication reservoir is coupled to the displaceable barrier member such that a fluid medication is delivered from the medication reservoir through the fluid outlet upon displacement of the displaceable barrier member;
a solute reservoir including a fluid conduit that is capable of delivering a solute fluid from the solute reservoir into the first osmotic compartment, wherein delivery of the solute fluid into the first osmotic compartment functions to alter osmotic pressure within the first osmotic compartment;
a solute delivery system that delivers the solute fluid from the solute reservoir into the first osmotic compartment; and
a solute delivery controller that controls delivery of the solute fluid from the solute reservoir into the first osmotic compartment.
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Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for pumping fluids such as fluid medications are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention provide an osmotic pump fluid delivery apparatus including elements designed to control the fluid delivery rate. Typical embodiments of the invention include an arrangement of elements such as solute reservoirs that can manipulate the solute concentrations within an inner osmotic compartment or compartments of an osmotic pump so as to control fluid delivery from the pump. Other embodiments include sealed electro-osmotic pumps that do not discharge ions into the surroundings or require water from an external source. These embodiments of the invention provide new ways to control fluid delivery in apparatuses that employ osmotic processes to function.
100 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fluid delivery apparatus comprising:
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a first osmotic compartment coupled to a stationary semi-permeable membrane, wherein; the stationary semi-permeable membrane permits fluid migration across the membrane and into the first osmotic compartment; and the first osmotic compartment is adapted to initially include a chemical composition that functions to alter osmotic pressure within the first osmotic compartment upon fluid migration across the stationary semi-permeable membrane; a second osmotic compartment coupled to a portion of the stationary semi-permeable membrane, wherein the second osmotic compartment contains a fluid capable of migrating from the second osmotic compartment across the stationary semi-permeable membrane into the first osmotic compartment; a displaceable barrier member coupled to the first osmotic compartment, wherein the displaceable barrier member is displaced in response to alterations in osmotic pressure within the first osmotic compartment; a medication reservoir including a fluid outlet for delivering a fluid medication from the medication reservoir, wherein the medication reservoir is coupled to the displaceable barrier member such that a fluid medication is delivered from the medication reservoir through the fluid outlet upon displacement of the displaceable barrier member; a solute reservoir including a fluid conduit that is capable of delivering a solute fluid from the solute reservoir into the first osmotic compartment, wherein delivery of the solute fluid into the first osmotic compartment functions to alter osmotic pressure within the first osmotic compartment; a solute delivery system that delivers the solute fluid from the solute reservoir into the first osmotic compartment; and a solute delivery controller that controls delivery of the solute fluid from the solute reservoir into the first osmotic compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of modulating fluid medication delivery from a medication reservoir within a fluid medication delivery apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises:
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a first osmotic compartment coupled to a stationary semi-permeable membrane, wherein; the stationary semi-permeable membrane permits fluid migration across the membrane and into the first osmotic compartment; and the first osmotic compartment is adapted to initially include a chemical composition that functions to alter osmotic pressure within the first osmotic compartment upon fluid migration across the stationary semi-permeable membrane; a second osmotic compartment coupled to a portion of the stationary semi-permeable membrane, wherein the second osmotic compartment contains a fluid capable of migrating from the second osmotic compartment across the stationary semi-permeable membrane into the first osmotic compartment; a displaceable barrier member coupled to the first osmotic compartment, wherein the displaceable barrier member is displaced in response to alterations in osmotic pressure within the first osmotic compartment; a medication reservoir including a fluid outlet for delivering a fluid medication from the medication reservoir, wherein the medication reservoir is coupled to the displaceable barrier member such that fluid medication is delivered from the medication reservoir through the fluid outlet upon displacement of the displaceable barrier member; a solute reservoir including a fluid conduit that is capable of delivering a solute fluid from the solute reservoir into the first osmotic compartment, wherein delivery of the solute fluid into the first osmotic compartment functions to alter osmotic pressure within the first osmotic compartment; a fluid delivery system that delivers the solute fluid from the solute reservoir into the first osmotic compartment; and a solute delivery controller that controls delivery of the solute fluid from the solute reservoir into the first osmotic compartment; the method comprising; delivering an amount of the solute fluid from the solute reservoir into the first osmotic compartment, wherein the amount of fluid delivered from the solute reservoir into the first osmotic compartment is sufficient to alter the osmotic pressure within the first osmotic compartment so as to displace the displaceable barrier member and modulate delivery of the fluid medication from the medication reservoir through the fluid outlet. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification