Implantable drug infusion reservoir having fluid impelling resilient foam member
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An implantable infusion system comprising:
- a housing;
a reservoir in said housing;
an inlet in said housing for providing access to said reservoir from an external point for charging said reservoir with a fluid to be dispensed;
an outlet providing fluid communication between said reservoir and a remote location for dispensing said fluid;
means interposed between said reservoir and said outlet to meter the flow of said fluid; and
a solid compressible member filling substantially that portion of said reservoir unoccupied by said fluid for providing a force urging said fluid from said reservoir into said outlet by expansion and contracting upon filling said reservoir with fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable infusion reservoir having a resilient foam member in a rigid housing to urge fluid to an implantation site. The foam member compresses upon charging and then expands to maintain a predetermined pressure characteristic within the fluid. The foam replaces the previously used two-phase propellent and eliminates the need for a hermetic metal bellows. The foam may be either closed celled or open celled, with or without a barrier skin. The device can be conformal to any desired shape and employ various metering techniques to deliver accurate quantities of fluid.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An implantable infusion system comprising:
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a housing; a reservoir in said housing; an inlet in said housing for providing access to said reservoir from an external point for charging said reservoir with a fluid to be dispensed; an outlet providing fluid communication between said reservoir and a remote location for dispensing said fluid; means interposed between said reservoir and said outlet to meter the flow of said fluid; and a solid compressible member filling substantially that portion of said reservoir unoccupied by said fluid for providing a force urging said fluid from said reservoir into said outlet by expansion and contracting upon filling said reservoir with fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An implantable infusion system comprising:
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a hollow housing; a penetrable septum mounted in said housing for providing access to an interior portion of said housing from an external point for supplying to said housing a fluid to be dispensed; an outlet catheter establishing fluid communication between said interior portion of said housing and a location for dispensing said fluid; and a resilient compressible member positioned in said housing and occupying the volume of said interior portion unoccupied by said fluid for providing a force by expansion pressurizing said fluid to expel said fluid from said interior portion into said outlet catheter, said resilient member contacting upon filling said interior portion with fluid. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification