LOW PROFILE ACTUATOR AND IMPROVED METHOD OF CAREGIVER CONTROLLED ADMINISTRATION OF THERAPEUTICS
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Accused Products
Abstract
A polymer actuator, power supply and method of using the activation are described.
1 Citation
119 Claims
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1-102. -102. (canceled)
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103. :
- A polymeric actuator assembly comprising;
a housing; a carrier having an upper surface within the housing; a plurality of discrete polymeric actuators disposed across the upper surface; an electrolyte contained in the housing and in contact with the plurality of discrete polymeric actuators; and an apparatus for changing the pH in the electrolyte; wherein, each discrete polymeric actuator has a volume that expands in response to the change in pH, and each discrete polymeric actuator is physically constrained to cause the expansion to be predominantly in a direction that is directed away from the upper surface. - View Dependent Claims (104, 105, 106)
- A polymeric actuator assembly comprising;
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107. :
- A polymeric actuator system comprising;
a housing; a polymeric actuator within the housing; a first electrode in contact with the electrolyte; a first electrolyte in contact with the polymeric actuator and the first electrode; a second electrode; a second electrolyte in contact with the second electrode; and a porous separator configured to separate the first electrolyte from the second electrolyte; wherein the first electrolyte is configured to change in pH in response to current passing between the first electrode to the second electrode and, the polymeric actuator is configured to change volume in response to the change in pH. - View Dependent Claims (108)
- A polymeric actuator system comprising;
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109. :
- An actuator system comprising;
a housing; a polymeric actuator having a volume disposed within the housing; an electrolyte within the housing and in contact with the polymeric actuator; an electrode set within the housing and configured to modulate an ion concentration or pH of the electrolyte in response to charge being passed through the electrode set; and a power supply configured to; (A) deliver a first positive bias charge through the electrode set during a first time period, the volume being configured to change from a first volume to a second volume in response to the delivery of the first positive bias charge; and deliver a negative bias charge through the electrode set having a magnitude that is less than the first positive bias charge, a rate of change of the volume is configured to be reduced in response to the delivery of the negative bias charge; (B) deliver a first positive bias charge through the electrode set during a first time period, the volume being configured to change from a first volume to a second volume in response to the delivery of the first positive bias charge; pause for a second time period that is longer than the first time period; and deliver a second positive bias charge during a third time period, the second positive bias charge having a greater magnitude than the first positive bias charge;
or(C) a power supply configured to programmably pass charge through the electrode such that the polymeric actuator alternates between relatively short periods of rapid expansion each followed by a relatively longer period with reduced expansion. - View Dependent Claims (110)
- An actuator system comprising;
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111. :
- A method of controlling an expansion of a polymeric actuator comprising;
providing a housing containing a polymeric actuator, an electrolyte in contact with the polymeric actuator, and an electrode set configured to modulate ion concentration or pH within the electrolyte in response to current being passed through the electrode set, the polymeric actuator having a volume that is responsive to the change in ion concentration or pH; passing a first forward bias charge through the electrode set that is sufficient to change the volume from a first volume to a second volume; and passing a reverse bias charge through the electrode set that is of smaller magnitude than the forward bias charge and that is sufficient to reduce a rate of change of the volume. - View Dependent Claims (112)
- A method of controlling an expansion of a polymeric actuator comprising;
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113. :
- A method of providing a therapeutic liquid comprising;
providing a liquid delivery device comprising; a housing configured to be mounted to a patient body; a reservoir within the housing; a fluid delivery device coupled to the reservoir and configured to deliver fluid to the patient; and a controller having a memory device; selecting a medication type and concentration based upon a particular class of patient conditions; filling the reservoir with the type and concentration of the medication; and storing information on the memory device that defines parameters that govern operation of the fluid delivery device pursuant to safety and efficacy of administration specific to the medication type and concentration. - View Dependent Claims (114)
- A method of providing a therapeutic liquid comprising;
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115. :
- A therapeutic liquid delivery device comprising;
a housing configured to be mounted to a patient body; a reservoir within the housing containing a medication; a fluid delivery device coupled to the reservoir and configured to deliver fluid to the patient; a controller having a memory device storing information including; (1) an operating system that is factory loaded that enables operation of the device; and (2) parameters received from a filling and programming facility that are specific to the medication type and concentration; a user interface; the controller configured to; Read information defining the parameters; Receive inputs from the user interface; and Operate the fluid delivery device to administer the medication to the patient pursuant to the parameters. - View Dependent Claims (116)
- A therapeutic liquid delivery device comprising;
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117. :
- An article of manufacture for providing a therapeutic liquid comprising;
a liquid delivery device comprising; a housing configured to be mounted to a patient body; a reservoir within the housing, and optionally containing a medication; a fluid delivery device coupled to the reservoir and configured to deliver fluid to the patient; a user interface; and a controller having a computer readable storage medium having computer readable code disposed thereon for; (a) storing information on the memory device that defines parameters that govern operation of the fluid delivery device pursuant to safety and efficacy of administration specific to the medication type and concentration; (b) reading information defining parameters received from a filling and programming facility that are specific to the medication type and concentration; receive inputs from the user interface; and operate the fluid delivery device to administer the medication to the patient pursuant to the parameters;
or(c) storing information defining parameters that govern operation of the fluid delivery device according to safety and efficacy of administration of the medication type and concentration; the controller configured to; read the information defining the parameters; receive inputs from the user interface; and operate the fluid delivery device to administer the medication to the patient pursuant to the parameters; based on a physician order, a caregiver retrieving the liquid delivery device from inventory. - View Dependent Claims (118)
- An article of manufacture for providing a therapeutic liquid comprising;
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119. :
- A medication delivery system comprising a computer controlled liquid delivery device, including a pump, and a patient monitoring device, wherein the patient monitoring device provides feedback to the computer controlled liquid delivery device for adjusting or stopping the pump, or for signaling an alarm, if the patient monitoring device detects signs of over-or-under-medication of the patient, wherein the patient monitoring device preferably is selected from the group consisting of a pulse oximeter, a blood CO2 sensor, a respiration rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, and a glucose monitor.
Specification