Portable fluid infusion apparatus
First Claim
1. Portable fluid infusion apparatus comprising a syringe for holding a predetermined quantity of an injectable liquid to be delivered to a patient, a piston within the body of the syringe for ejecting liquid therefrom, a flexible member connected to said piston within the body of the syringe and extending in a path bent sharply away from the axis of the syringe, and means for driving the flexible member into the body of the syringe in a controlled manner for dispelling said liquid from the syringe.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable infusion device includes a disposable syringe which is located in a removable section of a compact package that comprises the device. In order to conserve space, a flexible piston rod assembly is provided wherein the syringe plunger head is connected to a thin flexible plunger stem which is reversely bent about the upstream end of the syringe body so that the outer end of the stem lies directly adjacent and parallel to the syringe body. A small motor located in the non-removable portion of the package drives the plunger through a screw which sequentially engages closely spaced teeth on the face of the plunger stem as it moves along the outer surface of the syringe. When the syringe contents have been discharged, the removable section, including the syringe and plunger stem assembly, can be readily removed and replaced.
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Citations
24 Claims
- 1. Portable fluid infusion apparatus comprising a syringe for holding a predetermined quantity of an injectable liquid to be delivered to a patient, a piston within the body of the syringe for ejecting liquid therefrom, a flexible member connected to said piston within the body of the syringe and extending in a path bent sharply away from the axis of the syringe, and means for driving the flexible member into the body of the syringe in a controlled manner for dispelling said liquid from the syringe.
- 9. A portable fluid infusion device comprising a package including a permanent portion and a disposable portion, said permanent portion including a power supply, a motor, and control means for operating the motor, said disposable portion comprising a syringe including a piston operable within the body of the syringe for expelling fluid therefrom, and flexible pusher means positioned closely adjacent to and parallel with the body of the syringe for moving the piston within said syringe body, said syringe extending for substantially the full length and width of the disposable portion whereby said means for moving the piston comprises a relatively small volume of the disposable portion, said disposable portion further including means for removably connecting the disposable portion to the permanent portion so that said means for moving the piston operatively engages said motor when said portions are connected.
- 13. For use with a portable infusion apparatus that includes a drive means and means for controlling the drive means to control the amount of an injectable liquid delivered to a patient, a disposable syringe for holding a predetermined quantity of said liquid, a piston within the body of the syringe for ejecting liquid thereform, and a flexible member connected to said piston, and guide means for constraining said flexible member to extend in a path bent sharply away from the axis of the syringe, said flexible member having means thereon adapted for engagement by said drive means to propel said piston.
- 20. For use with a portable infusion apparatus that includes a drive means and means for controlling the drive means to control the amount of an injectable liquid delivered to a patient, a disposable syringe for holding a predetermined quantity of said liquid, a piston within the body of the syringe for ejecting liquid therefrom, a flexible pusher member rigidly connected to said piston, said pusher member having a flexibility such that it can be flexed into a path sharply diverging from the axis of the syringe, and means on said pusher member for adapting the member for engagement over the major portion of its length with said drive means in order to propel said piston within the body of the syringe.
Specification