Implantable infusion device and method of manufacture thereof
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing an implantable infusion apparatus having:
- (a) housing means for forming an infusate chamber, said housing means including;
(i) a generally tubular wall section disposed about said chamber, said wall section including an interior surface,(ii) a base closing said wall section proximate a bottom end thereof,(iii) an entry port into said chamber at a top end of said housing means, and(iv) a ledge disposed intermediate said entry port and chamber,(B) means for closing said entry port including a self-sealing, penetrable septum of resilient material disposable on said ledge,(C) means defining a fluid outlet passage from said chamber for selectively delivering infusate therefrom, said passage defining means including a hollow exterior stem having a stem end and connected to said housing means,said method comprising the steps of;
forming a socket in said wall section,providing said stem end with a circular ridge of reduced cross-section,seating said stem end in said socket;
generating sufficient heat by resistance welding so as to melt said ridge and flow the melted material about said stem end thereby creating a secure butt weld with said wall section,after said joining step, disposing said septum on said ledge to close said entry port, including installing said septum from said top end of said housing, andretaining said septum at least partially within said entry port.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved infusion device is of the type which can be implanted for drug delivery within a patient'"'"'s body, and supplied with infusate without the need for surgical removal. The infusion device has a housing forming a chamber and an entry port into the chamber. The entry port is closed by a septum. The septum has a convex top section extending from the housing, and a frusto-conical section which matingly engages a similarly shaped interior surface of the housing. The interior surface can be provided with a plurality of notches with which the septum engages by material flexure. This arrangement improves retention of the septum and operation of the infusion device, and permits advances in the method by which such devices are manufactured.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing an implantable infusion apparatus having:
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(a) housing means for forming an infusate chamber, said housing means including; (i) a generally tubular wall section disposed about said chamber, said wall section including an interior surface, (ii) a base closing said wall section proximate a bottom end thereof, (iii) an entry port into said chamber at a top end of said housing means, and (iv) a ledge disposed intermediate said entry port and chamber, (B) means for closing said entry port including a self-sealing, penetrable septum of resilient material disposable on said ledge, (C) means defining a fluid outlet passage from said chamber for selectively delivering infusate therefrom, said passage defining means including a hollow exterior stem having a stem end and connected to said housing means, said method comprising the steps of; forming a socket in said wall section, providing said stem end with a circular ridge of reduced cross-section, seating said stem end in said socket; generating sufficient heat by resistance welding so as to melt said ridge and flow the melted material about said stem end thereby creating a secure butt weld with said wall section, after said joining step, disposing said septum on said ledge to close said entry port, including installing said septum from said top end of said housing, and retaining said septum at least partially within said entry port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification