SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INFUSION OF FLUIDS USING STORED POTENTIAL ENERGY AND A VARIABLE FLOW RESISTOR

• US 20110251579A1
• Filed: 03/04/2011
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PAVmed Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pavilion Holdings Group, LLC
• Inventors: Cronin, Paul John, Barker, William Edgar III, deGuzman, Brian Justo, Glennon, Michael, Aklog, Lishan
• Granted Patent: US 8,622,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1454 spring-actuated, e.g. by a clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14593 the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16877 Adjusting flow; Devices for setting a flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7793 With opening bias [e.g., pressure regulator]

Abstract

Systems and methods for infusion of fluids using stored potential energy and a variable flow resistor. In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an infusion device that includes a plunger situated within a vessel so as to define a chamber within which a volume of fluid can be accommodated between a downstream surface of the plunger and the vessel. The infusion device further includes an outflow path through which the fluid in the chamber can be dispensed upon displacement of the plunger by a force acting thereon. A variable flow resistor is situated within the outflow path and is configured to allow a substantially constant fluid flow rate from the vessel to be maintained as the force acting on the plunger decreases.

Claims

1. An infusion device comprising:

a plunger situated within a vessel so as to define a chamber within which a volume of fluid can be accommodated between a downstream surface of the plunger and the vessel;

an outflow path through which the fluid in the chamber can be dispensed upon displacement of the plunger by a force acting thereon; and

a variable flow resistor situated within the outflow path and being configured to vary resistance to fluid flow from the chamber, so as to maintain a substantially constant fluid flow rate from the vessel as the force acting on the plunger decreases.

2. The infusion device of claim 1, wherein the force acting on the plunger is a stored potential energy that has been released.

3. The infusion device of claim 1, wherein the variable flow resistor acts to lower the resistance to fluid flow as the force acting on the plunger decreases.

4. The infusion device of claim 1, wherein the variable flow resistor includes a solid member and a permeable member designed to move relative to one another so as to increase an area across the permeable member through which fluid within the outflow path can flow as the force acting on the plunger decreases.

5. The infusion device of claim 4, wherein the solid member is attached to the plunger so that as the displacement of the plunger acts to move the solid member relative to the permeable member so as to increase the area across the permeable member through which fluid within the outflow path can flow as the force acting on the plunger decreases.

6. The infusion device of claim 1 further comprising an electronic control module to pre-set the flow rate of the fluid from the vessel.

7. The infusion device of claim 1 further comprising an electronic control module configured to dispense a pre-set flow rate of the fluid from the vessel based on information about a patient.

8. An infusion system comprising an array of infusion devices of claim 1, wherein the each device is controlled by an electronic control module and is in fluid communication with a lumen of a multi-lumen tubing.

9. A method for delivering fluid comprising:

providing within a chamber, defined between downstream surface of a plunger and a vessel within the plunger is situated, a volume of fluid to be delivered;

causing a force to act on the plunger to displace the plunger within the vessel, such that the fluid is dispensed from the chamber;

varying the resistance to flow within a path through which the fluid is being dispensed from the chamber s the force on the plunger decreases, so as to maintain a substantially constant rate of dispensing.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein, in the step of causing, the force acting on the plunger is a stored potential energy that has been released.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein, in step of varying, the variable flow resistor acts to lower the resistance to fluid flow as the force on the plunger decreases.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of varying includes providing a variable flow resistor comprising a solid member and a permeable member designed to move relative to one another so as to increase an area across the permeable member through which fluid within the outflow path can flow as the force acting on the plunger decreases.

13. An infusion device comprising:

a plunger situated within a vessel so as to define a chamber within which a volume of fluid can be accommodated between a downstream surface of the plunger and the vessel;

an outflow path through which the fluid in the chamber can be dispensed upon displacement of the plunger by a force acting thereon; and

a variable flow resistor situated downstream of the outflow path and being configured to receive the fluid from the chamber, the resistor configured to maintain a substantially constant pressure therein, so that such pressure can act to deliver the fluid from the resistor at a substantially constant rate, as the force acting on the plunger decreases.

14. The infusion device of claim 13, wherein the variable flow resistor is in fluid communication with a valve having a pre-determined aperture through which the fluid may be dispensed from the variable flow resistor.

15. The infusion device of claim 13 further comprising an electronic control module configured to dispense a pre-set flow rate of the fluid from the vessel based on information about a patient.

16. A method for delivering fluid comprising:

providing within a chamber, defined by a downstream surface of a plunger and a vessel in which the plunger is situated, a volume of fluid to be dispensed;

causing a force to act on the plunger to displace the plunger within the vessel, such that the fluid is dispensed from the chamber;

receiving the fluid dispensed from the chamber in an environment designed to maintain a substantially constant pressure that can act to dispense the fluid from the environment; and

dispensing the fluid from the environment while maintaining a substantially constant difference in pressure upstream and downstream of the aperture, thereby providing a constant flow rate of fluid to a patient as the force on the plunger declines.

17. A pressure regulator comprising:

an inlet cavity;

a housing in communication with the inlet cavity;

a plunger movably disposed within the housing;

an outflow cavity defined between a surface of the plunger and the housing;

a channel for fluid communication between the inlet cavity and the outflow cavity, so as to maintain equilibrium of forces acting on each side of the plunger; and

an outlet through which the fluid can be dispensed from the outflow cavity.

18. The pressure regulator of claim 17 further comprising a feedback loop so as to modify the flow of fluid between the inlet cavity and the outlet cavity to maintain equilibrium of forces acting on each side of the plunger.

19. The pressure regulator of claim 17 further comprising a mechanism that acts to exert a force on the plunger to maintain the plunger substantially stationary in an equilibrium position.

20. The pressure regulator of claim 17, wherein the channel includes a cannula having one set of perforations in communication with the inlet cavity and a second set of perforations in communication with the outflow cavity, so as to allow the fluid to flow from the inlet cavity into the outflow cavity.