Implantable infusate pump
First Claim
1. An implantable infusate pump of the type having an infusate chamber, an inlet to the chamber, a self-sealing septum closing the inlet, an outlet from the chamber, and a power cell for forcing infusate from the chamber through the outlet, the improvement comprising an antechamber in the fluid stream between the pump inlet and the chamber and filter means in the fluid path between the antechamber and the chamber so that when the pump is refilled via its inlet by injecting infusate fluid through the septum, any foreign matter entrained in the incoming fluid is trapped in the antechamber and cannot enter the chamber and possibly clog its outlet.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rechargeable infusate pump for implantation in the human body can be refilled periodically by injection through an inlet septum under the skin. A conduit from the pump outlet conducts fluid to an infusion site in the body. The needle penetrating the septum protrudes into an antechamber and discharges fluid and any foreign matter is trapped in the antechamber so that it cannot enter the pump chamber and possibly clog the pump outlet. This foreign material is removed by injecting a needle into the antechamber and drawing a vacuum to suck out the debris.
The pump also has a special ring-like outlet filter in the fluid stream between the pump chamber and its outlet to provide a maximum amount of filter area in a minimum amount of space and the pump outlet includes a special flow controller which is able to very accurately meter the infusate to the selected body site.
-
Citations
12 Claims
- 1. An implantable infusate pump of the type having an infusate chamber, an inlet to the chamber, a self-sealing septum closing the inlet, an outlet from the chamber, and a power cell for forcing infusate from the chamber through the outlet, the improvement comprising an antechamber in the fluid stream between the pump inlet and the chamber and filter means in the fluid path between the antechamber and the chamber so that when the pump is refilled via its inlet by injecting infusate fluid through the septum, any foreign matter entrained in the incoming fluid is trapped in the antechamber and cannot enter the chamber and possibly clog its outlet.
-
12. The method of cleaning debris from an implantable infusion pump of the type having an inlet including a self-sealing septum and an infusate chamber, the improvement comprising the steps of forming an antechamber between the septum and the infusate chamber, placing a filter in the fluid path between the antechamber and the chamber to trap foreign material present due to percutaneous injection of infusate intto the antechamber when refilling the pump and removing debris from the antechamber by injecting a needle through the septum into the antechamber and drawing a vacuum in the needle to suck the debris from the antechamber.
Specification