IMPLANTABLE DRUG PUMPS AND REFILL DEVICES THEREFOR

• US 20130116665A1
• Filed: 10/01/2012
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MiniPumps, LLC
• Original Assignee: MiniPumps, LLC
• Inventors: Humayun, Mark, Tai, Yu-Chong, Kavazov, Julian D., Jiang, Fukang, Jelisavcic, Nenad
• Granted Patent: US 9,603,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/891.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0244 having means for detecting an inserted needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0208 Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/162 Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube ; Connections between reservoir and tube in jet-action syringes A61M5/30; connectors for tubes having sealed ends and a needle for piercing them A61M39/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/46 having means for controlling depth of insertion

Abstract

Implanted drug pump devices can be refilled with a refill needle inserted through a fill port in the drug reservoir of the drug pump device. Proper needle insertion may be verified visually or using electrical, magnetic, optical, acoustic, or other suitable sensing mechanisms.

Claims

1. An implantable, refillable drug pump device comprising:

a drug reservoir having a fill port for insertion of a needle through an aperture thereof; and

a sensor for sensing needle insertion through the aperture, the sensor comprising an emitter and a detector establishing a signal path therebetween through the fill port, the emitter and detector being located such that, when the needle has been inserted, the signal path is detectably interrupted.

2. The drug pump device of claim 1, wherein the emitter and the detector are disposed in opposed relation about a side portion of the fill port, the aperture being through a top of the fill port.

3. The drug pump device of claim 1, wherein the emitter is an optical emitter and the detector is an optical detector.

4. The drug pump device of claim 3, wherein the optical emitter emits visible light into the fill port.

5. The drug pump device of claim 3, wherein the emitter and the detector are disposed outside opposed optical windows through a wall of the fill port.

6. The drug pump device of claim 3, wherein the emitter and the detector are disposed outside and aimed through an optical window through a wall of the fill port, the device further comprising an optical reflector disposed opposite the optical window so as to reflect, to the detector, light from the emitter passing through the fill port whereby, when the needle has been inserted, the signal path is detectably interrupted between the emitter and the reflector.

7. The drug pump device of claim 1, wherein the emitter is an acoustic emitter and the detector is an acoustic detector.

8. An implantable, refillable drug pump device comprising:

a drug reservoir having a fill port for insertion of a needle through an aperture thereof; and

a capacitive sensor for sensing insertion of the needle through the aperture, the sensor comprising (i) electrodes disposed in opposed relation about a side portion of the fill port and (ii) circuitry for measuring a change in capacitance resulting from insertion of the needle into the reservoir through space between the electrodes.

9. A system comprising:

an implantable drug pump device comprising a drug reservoir having a fill port;

a needle for insertion through an aperture of the fill port; and

a magnetic sensing mechanism for sensing insertion of the needle through the aperture, the sensing mechanism comprising at least one magnet for generating a magnetic field and at least one magnetic-field sensor,

wherein the at least one magnet and the at least one magnetic-field sensor are configured to sense, via measurement of the magnetic field by the at least one magnetic-field sensor, when the needle has been inserted into the reservoir.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one magnet is integrated into the port so as to generate a magnetic field therein, and the at least one magnetic-field sensor is integrated into the needle.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the magnetic field has a maximal field strength along an axis through the fill port, and the magnetic-field sensor is configured to detect a region of maximal field strength.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one magnetic-field sensor is integrated into the port and the at least one magnet is integrated into the needle.

13. A system comprising:

an implantable drug pump device comprising a drug reservoir having a fill port for receiving a needle through an aperture thereof;

a needle for insertion through the aperture, the needle comprising a source of light illuminating the fill port when the needle has been inserted through the aperture; and

an optical window in a wall of the fill port facilitating observation of light in the chamber.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the aperture is sealed by an opaque, needle-penetrable septum.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the source of light comprises an optical fiber integrated with the needle and connected to an external light source.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising an optical sensor.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of an interior surface of the wall of the fill port is optically reflective.

18. An implantable, refillable drug pump device comprising:

a drug reservoir having a fill port for insertion of a needle through an aperture thereof; and

a sensor for sensing needle insertion through the aperture, the sensor comprising a piezo-element and associated circuitry for measuring an electrical response resulting from force applied to the piezo-element,

wherein the piezo-element is disposed on a wall opposite the aperture such that full insertion of the needle results in force applied the piezo-element and a resulting measurable electrical response.

19. A system comprising:

an implantable, refillable drug pump device comprising a drug reservoir having a fill port for insertion of a needle through an aperture thereof, and an electrically conductive plate disposed on a wall opposite the aperture and having a voltage applied thereacross; and

an electrically conductive needle for insertion through the aperture, the needle comprising a sensor for measuring an electrical response resulting from electrical contact of the needle with the conductive plate, the electrical response being indicative of the insertion of the needle.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the conductive plate comprises a conductive polymer.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the electrical response comprises a current flowing through the needle.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the needle is connected to a current-detecting circuit having an impedance that does not exceed an impedance of the plate by an amount precluding detection of the current through the needle by the current-detecting circuit.

23. A system comprising:

an implantable, refillable drug pump device comprising a drug reservoir having a fill port for insertion of a needle through an aperture thereof; and

a refill tool comprising a needle for insertion through the aperture, the needle comprising at least one of (i) a rigid wire disposed along a length of the needle and visibly extending from the refill tool at a proximal end thereof or (ii) markings placed at various positions along the length of the needle, the at least one of a rigid wire or markings providing a visual indication of how far the needle has been inserted.