FLUID DELIVERY DEVICE REFILL ACCESS

• US 20120053562A1
• Filed: 08/25/2011
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Haase, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,143,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/168 Means for controlling media flow to the body or for metering media to the body, e.g. drip meters, counters ; Monitoring media flow to the body flow control in general G05D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line

Abstract

A therapeutic fluid delivery system including, in various examples, a first reservoir configured to house a first therapeutic fluid, a second reservoir configured to house a second therapeutic fluid, and an inlet port configured to receive a fluid delivery needle is described. The inlet port is configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and the first reservoir, and the inlet port is further configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and the second reservoir.

Claims

1. A therapeutic fluid delivery system comprising:

a first reservoir configured to house a first therapeutic fluid;

a second reservoir configured to house a second therapeutic fluid; and

an inlet port configured to receive a fluid delivery needle,

wherein the inlet port is configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and the first reservoir, and the inlet port is further configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and the second reservoir.

2. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 1, wherein the inlet port comprises a first septum and a second septum, and wherein the inlet port is configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and the first reservoir when the fluid delivery needle penetrates the first septum and fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and the second reservoir when the fluid delivery needle penetrates the second septum.

3. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 2, wherein the inlet port is configured so the fluid delivery needle penetrates the first septum before the fluid delivery needle penetrates the second septum.

4. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 2, wherein the inlet port defines a fluid intake aperture interposed between the first septum and the second septum.

5. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 4, wherein the fluid delivery needle comprises a first fluid delivery needle configured to deliver fluid to the first reservoir and a second fluid delivery needle configured to deliver fluid to the second reservoir, and wherein the inlet port is configured to block the first fluid delivery needle from penetrating the second septum.

6. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 5, wherein a cross-sectional area of the fluid intake aperture decreases between the first septum and the second septum.

7. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first reservoir or the second reservoir is defined by a bellows.

8. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 7, wherein the bellows comprises a convolution constructed of an elastomer.

9. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 7, further comprising a propellant reservoir.

10. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 2, further comprising:

a sensor configured to detect a characteristic that varies as the fluid delivery needle penetrates at least one of the first septum and second septum; and

a processor configured to determine when the fluid delivery needle penetrates the at least one of the first septum and second septum based on the detected characteristic.

11. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to determine when the fluid delivery needle penetrates both the first septum and the second septum based on the detected characteristic.

12. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 10, wherein the characteristic is selected from the group consisting of pressure, current, voltage, and resistance.

13. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 12, wherein the characteristic is pressure, the sensor comprises a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor, and the processor is configured to determine when the fluid delivery needle penetrates the first septum based on the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor and the second septum based on the pressure detected by the second pressure sensor.

14. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 12, wherein the characteristic is electrical resistance.

15. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 14, further comprising a wire mesh proximate at least one of the first septum or the second septum, wherein the wire mesh is electrically connected to the sensor.

16. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 15, wherein the wire mesh comprises a first wire mesh proximate the first septum, and further comprising a second wire mesh proximate the second septum.

17. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 14, further comprising a set of two or more stacked discs proximate at least one of the first septum or the second septum, wherein each of the discs comprises a plurality of slots, wherein the slots in the respective discs are arranged at an angle to one another to form a plurality of apertures in the set of stacked discs, and wherein the set of stacked discs is electrically connected to the sensor.

18. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 17, wherein the angle between the slots of the respective discs of the set of stacked discs is at least one of approximately 90 or approximately 120 degrees.

19. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 17, wherein the set of stacked discs comprises a first set of stacked discs proximate the first septum, and further comprising a second set of stacked discs proximate the second septum.

20. The fluid delivery system of claim 10, further comprising a programmer, wherein the processor is configured to cause the programmer to at least one of vibrate, issue an audible sound, or display a visual message when at least one of the first septum or the second septum is penetrated by the fluid delivery needle.

21. The fluid delivery system of claim 20, wherein the processor is configured to cause the programmer to at least one of vibrate, issue an audible sound, or display a visual message when the fluid delivery needle is withdrawn from at least one of the first septum or the second septum.

22. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 1, further comprising a valve interposed between a fluid delivery pump and the first and second reservoirs.

23. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 22, wherein the valve comprises a rotary valve.

24. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 22, wherein the valve comprises a first valve interposed between the first reservoir and the fluid delivery pump, and a second valve interposed between the second reservoir and the fluid delivery pump.

25. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 24, wherein the first valve is configured to actuate in response to instructions from a processor, and the second valve is a passive valve.

26. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 25, wherein the second valve is a check valve.

27. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 26, wherein a force required to open the check valve is less than or equal to approximately 2 pounds per square inch.

28. The therapeutic fluid delivery system of claim 25, wherein the first valve includes a solenoid.

29. A method comprising:

inserting a fluid delivery needle into an inlet port of a fluid delivery device,

wherein the inlet port is configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and a first reservoir configured to house a first therapeutic fluid, and the inlet port is further configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and a second reservoir configured to house a second therapeutic fluid.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the inlet port comprises a first septum and a second septum, and wherein the inlet port is configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and the first reservoir when the fluid delivery needle penetrates the first septum and fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and the second reservoir when the fluid delivery needle penetrates the second septum.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

detecting a characteristic that varies as the fluid delivery needle penetrates at least one of the first septum and second septum with a sensor; and

determining when the fluid delivery needle penetrates the at least one of the first septum and second septum based on the detected characteristic.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein determining when the fluid delivery needle penetrates the at least one of the first septum and second septum comprises determining when the fluid delivery needle penetrates both the first septum and the second septum based on the detected characteristic.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the characteristic is selected from the group consisting of pressure, current, voltage, and resistance.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising generating a needle penetration indication when at least one of the first septum or the second septum is penetrated by the fluid delivery needle, wherein generating the needle penetration indication comprises at least one of vibrating, issuing an audible sound, or displaying a visual message.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising generating a needle withdrawal indication when the fluid delivery needle is withdrawn from at least one of the first septum or the second septum.

36. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that cause a programmable processor to:

cause a sensor to detect a characteristic that varies as a fluid delivery needle penetrates at least one of a first septum and a second septum in an inlet port of a fluid delivery device; and

determine when the fluid delivery needle penetrates the at least one of the first septum and second septum based on the detected characteristic,

wherein the inlet port is configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and a first reservoir configured to house a first therapeutic fluid, and the inlet port is further configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and a second reservoir configured to house a second therapeutic fluid.

37. A fluid delivery system comprises:

means for delivering fluid to a fluid delivery device, the fluid delivery device comprising a first reservoir configured to house a first therapeutic fluid and a second reservoir configured to house a second therapeutic fluid; and

means for receiving the means for delivering fluid,

wherein the first reservoir and the second reservoir are in fluid communication with the means for receiving.