Implantable stimulation and drug infusion techniques
First Claim
1. An implantable system for infusing a fluid agent and providing electrical stimulation to a body using a source of fluid pressure and a source of electrical power both located external to said body, comprising:
- an implantable housing defining a first surface and a second surface;
a percutaneous fill port located adjacent said first surface;
an antenna located inside said housing for receiving radio frequency power signals;
means located inside said housing and coupled to said antenna for generating stimulation pulses from said radio frequency power signals received by said antenna;
a catheter defining an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end and a fluid lumen for transporting said fluid agent through said catheter, said catheter comprising at least one electrode for administering electrical stimulation to a predetermined portion of said body, at least one catheter conductor for transmitting said stimulation pulses to said at least one electrode and means for transporting said fluid agent from said fluid lumen to a predetermined portion of said body;
a reservoir located inside said housing and adapted to hold said fluid agent at a pressure maintained by a supply of said fluid agent admitted through said fill port for transmitting said fluid agent from said fluid lumen in the absence of a source of fluid pressure inside said housing; and
connector means for transmitting said stimulation pulses from said means for generating to said at least one catheter conductor and for transporting said fluid agent from said reservoir to said fluid lumen, whereby said fluid agent and said electrical stimulation are administered to said body in the absence of a source of fluid pressure or electrical power inside said housing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable system for infusing a fluid agent and providing electrical stimulation without requiring an implanted pump or implanted source of electrical energy. An implantable housing is fitted with a percutaneous fill port that communicates with a reservoir to hold a fluid agent, such as a drug. An antenna located inside the housing receives radio frequency power signals from an outside antenna. A pulse generator outside the housing receives power and information from the radio frequency signals to produce stimulation pulses. The pulses and the fluid agent are both transported by a catheter to a site of application in the body. A connector allows the stimulation pulses and fluid agent to be transported from the housing to the catheter while maintaining electrical isolation between the stimulating pulses and the fluid agent.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An implantable system for infusing a fluid agent and providing electrical stimulation to a body using a source of fluid pressure and a source of electrical power both located external to said body, comprising:
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an implantable housing defining a first surface and a second surface; a percutaneous fill port located adjacent said first surface; an antenna located inside said housing for receiving radio frequency power signals; means located inside said housing and coupled to said antenna for generating stimulation pulses from said radio frequency power signals received by said antenna; a catheter defining an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end and a fluid lumen for transporting said fluid agent through said catheter, said catheter comprising at least one electrode for administering electrical stimulation to a predetermined portion of said body, at least one catheter conductor for transmitting said stimulation pulses to said at least one electrode and means for transporting said fluid agent from said fluid lumen to a predetermined portion of said body; a reservoir located inside said housing and adapted to hold said fluid agent at a pressure maintained by a supply of said fluid agent admitted through said fill port for transmitting said fluid agent from said fluid lumen in the absence of a source of fluid pressure inside said housing; and connector means for transmitting said stimulation pulses from said means for generating to said at least one catheter conductor and for transporting said fluid agent from said reservoir to said fluid lumen, whereby said fluid agent and said electrical stimulation are administered to said body in the absence of a source of fluid pressure or electrical power inside said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An implantable system for infusing a fluid agent and providing electrical stimulation to a body, comprising:
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an implantable housing defining a first surface and a second surface; a percutaneous fill port located adjacent said first surface; a reservoir located inside said housing for holding said fluid agent at a pressure maintained by a supply of said fluid agent admitted through said fill port; an antenna located inside said housing for receiving radio frequency power signals; means located inside said housing and coupled to said antenna for generating stimulation pulses from said radio frequency power signals received by said antenna; a catheter defining an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, a fluid lumen for transporting said fluid agent through said catheter, and a second lumen electrically isolated from said fluid lumen and being located around said first lumen, said catheter comprising at least one electrode for administering electrical stimulation to a predetermined portion of a body, at least one catheter conductor carried in said second lumen for transmitting said stimulation pulses to said at least one electrode, a terminal coupled to each of said at least one catheter conductor and extending through said outer surface of said catheter, and means for transporting said fluid agent from said fluid lumen to a predetermined portion of a body; and connector means for transmitting said stimulation pulses from said means for generating to said at least one catheter conductor and for transporting said fluid agent from said reservoir to said fluid lumen, said connector means comprising a connector block assembly for each of said at least one catheter conductor, each said connector block assembly comprising a block defining an opening, a metal sleeve located inside said opening and connected to said terminal of one of said at least one catheter conductor, and a conductor coupled between said means for generating and said metal sleeve, said connector means further comprising a tube located inside said fluid lumen and extending through said opening of said connector block assembly for each of said at least one catheter conductor, said tube being coupled between said reservoir and said fluid lumen, whereby fluid is transported from said reservoir to said fluid lumen of said catheter for administration to said body while said stimulation pulses are being conducted to said at least one catheter conductor, in the absence of a source of fluid pressure or electrical power inside said housing.
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Specification