HIGH-VISCOSITY FILLING OF IMPLANTED DEVICES
First Claim
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1. A system for filling an implantable reservoir with a high-viscosity fluid, the system comprising:
- a first fluid line for fluidly coupling to the implantable reservoir;
fluidly coupled to the first fluid line, a second fluid line for conducting the high-viscosity fluid to the first fluid line;
fluidly coupled to the first and second fluid lines, a first pump for evacuating air from at least the first fluid line, thereby eliminating dead space therefrom;
fluidly coupled to the second fluid line, a first fluid reservoir for containing the high-viscosity fluid; and
a second pump for pumping high-viscosity fluid from the first fluid reservoir to the implantable reservoir via the first fluid line.
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Abstract
In various embodiments, high-viscosity fluids are utilized to fill implantable reservoirs while filling accuracy is improved via elimination of dead space and/or utilization of pushing fluids to urge the high-viscosity fluid into the implantable reservoir.
10 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for filling an implantable reservoir with a high-viscosity fluid, the system comprising:
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a first fluid line for fluidly coupling to the implantable reservoir; fluidly coupled to the first fluid line, a second fluid line for conducting the high-viscosity fluid to the first fluid line; fluidly coupled to the first and second fluid lines, a first pump for evacuating air from at least the first fluid line, thereby eliminating dead space therefrom; fluidly coupled to the second fluid line, a first fluid reservoir for containing the high-viscosity fluid; and a second pump for pumping high-viscosity fluid from the first fluid reservoir to the implantable reservoir via the first fluid line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of filing an implantable reservoir with high-viscosity fluid though a first fluid line fluidly coupled to the implantable reservoir, the method comprising:
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introducing the high-viscosity fluid into a second fluid line fluidly coupled to the first fluid line; evacuating air from the first fluid line; and thereafter, urging the high-viscosity fluid into the implantable reservoir via the first fluid line. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of filing an implantable reservoir with a pre-determined amount of high-viscosity fluid though a fluid line fluidly coupled to the implantable reservoir, the method comprising:
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disposing the pre-determined amount of high-viscosity fluid into a first region of the fluid line; disposing a pushing fluid into a second region of the fluid line, wherein (i) the pushing fluid is different from the high-viscosity fluid and (ii) the first region of the fluid line is disposed upstream of the implantable reservoir and downstream of the second region of the fluid line; and applying force to the pushing fluid to thereby urge the high-viscosity fluid into the implantable reservoir, substantially no pushing fluid entering the implantable reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification