ELECTROKINETIC PUMP DESIGNS AND DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS

• US 20130156608A1
• Filed: 02/11/2013
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Teleflex Life Sciences Pte., Ltd. (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Charles Martin Schwimmer, David Laurence Black, Deon Stafford Anex, Michael James Gearhart, Richard Dean Rush
• Inventors: ANEX, Deon Stafford, SCHWIMMER, Charles Martin, BLACK, David Laurence, RUSH, Richard Dean, GEARHART, Michael James
• Application Number:
  US13/764,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20130156608A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14513 with secondary fluid driving or regulating the infusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14526 the piston being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/00 Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/006 Micropumps F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/04 Pumps for special use
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0391 Affecting flow by the addition of material or energy

Abstract

The present invention provides a fluid delivery system having a first chamber, a second chamber and a third chamber; a flow-through pump element separating the first chamber from the second chamber; a moveable pump element separating the second chamber from the third chamber; a first outlet in communication with the third chamber; and second outlet in communication with the second chamber. Additionally, the present invention provides methods of operating a fluid delivery system having a first chamber, a second chamber and a delivery chamber by reducing the volume of the second chamber while increasing the volume of the delivery chamber without operation of a flow-through pump element that separates the second chamber from the first chamber.

Claims

1. A fluid delivery system, comprising:

a housing including a first chamber and a second chamber;

a third chamber fluidically separated from the second chamber; and

a flow-through electrokinetic engine in the housing between the first and second chamber;

wherein the first chamber, the second chamber, the third chamber, and the electrokinetic engine are axially aligned; and

wherein, in operation, the fluid delivery system is configured to pump a pump fluid through the flow-through electrokinetic engine only in a single direction from the first chamber to the second chamber when a voltage is applied across the electrodes, the pumping of pump fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber causing a delivery fluid to be delivered from the third chamber.

2. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes the third chamber.

3. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, further comprising a movable member fluidically separating the second chamber from the third chamber, wherein the movable member is configured to pump a delivery fluid from the third chamber when pump fluid is pumped from the first chamber to the second chamber.

4. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, wherein the flow-through electrokinetic engine comprises a pair of capacitive electrodes, each of the capacitive electrodes configured such that a pump fluid can flow therethrough and a porous dielectric material between the electrodes.

5. The fluid delivery system of claim 4, wherein each of the electrodes of the pair of electrodes comprises a material having a capacitance of at least 10⁻

4 Farads per square centimeter.

6. The fluid delivery system of claim 4, wherein the electrodes comprise a carbon nanofoam.

7. The fluid delivery system of claim 4, wherein the porous dielectric material comprises a microporous filter having a pore size between 100 and 200 nanometers.

8. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, wherein the delivery fluid is a drug, a pharmacological agent, or a therapeutic agent.

9. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, further comprising control circuitry configured to regulate the flow rate and delivery timing of the delivery fluid from the third chamber.

10. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to allow a user to provide instructions regarding delivery of the delivery fluid from the third chamber.

11. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an adhesive configured to attach the housing to skin.

12. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the housing is shaped to conform to a body contour.

13. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, wherein the housing is flexible so as to conform anatomically to a body contour.

14. A method of delivering fluid comprising:

applying a current from a power supply to move a liquid in an electrokinetic device only in a single direction from a first chamber to a second chamber, the liquid flowing axially through a first capacitive electrode, through a porous dielectric, and through a second capacitive electrode to generate electrokinetic power; and

using the generated electrokinetic power to continuously deliver a delivery fluid from a third chamber that is coaxial with the first chamber and the second chamber.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first, second, and third chambers are all within a single housing.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the delivery fluid is a drug, a pharmacological agent, or a therapeutic agent.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein applying a current from a power supply comprises applying current from a battery.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising regulating the flow rate or the delivery timing of the delivery fluid from the third chamber.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising obtaining a syringe prefilled with delivery fluid and filling the third chamber with the delivery fluid.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the syringe is prefilled with a prescribed amount of the delivery fluid.