Self-contained liquid microdispenser

• US 5,928,194 A
• Filed: 07/23/1998
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Henri J.R. Maget
• Original Assignee: Henri J.R. Maget
• Inventors: Maget, Henri J. R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn Wood
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRING, NOELLE K
• Application Number:
  US09/121,409
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131, 604/890.1, 604/19, 604/23, 604/26, 604/48, 604/49, 604/51, 604/93, 604/140, 604/141, 604/143, 604/145, 604/151, 604/209, 604/310, 222/309
• US Class Current: 604/141
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14204 with gas-producing electrochemical cell
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/155 pressurised by gas introduced into the reservoir

Abstract

A compact, small, self-contained liquid containment and dispensing device is disclosed which included an elongated fluid reservoir/conduit, a liquid dispenser in the form of a liquid retentive matrix material, a gas pump and an electric pump activation circuit. The liquid to be administered or dispensed (e.g., a medication or fragrance vapor) is placed in the reservoir and the pump is activated, generating gas into the reservoir to expel the liquid from the reservoir to the matrix material at a controlled and essentially constant rate. Methods of use of the device to administer medications, provide vapors, and for other purposes are also disclosed. A substance to be administered (e.g., a medication or drug) which is soluble in the liquid can also be preloaded into the matrix material and administered by dissolution in the liquid. The device is sufficiently small to be easily portable and can be easily attached to a person'"'"'s or animal'"'"'s body for administration of medication to a human or animal patient. The devices may also be used, for instance, to dispense chemicals, vapor forming liquids, topical parasiticidal liquids, insecticide vapors, human or animal hormones, birth control compositions or antibiotics. The devices can be housed in compact but rugged housings which will stand up to the active movements of people or animals, or in decorative housings which can be used and displayed in homes, offices and other living or working areas.

Claims

1. A self-contained liquid containment and dispensing device which comprises:

an elongated fluid conduit having a first end and a second end and an internal volume sufficient to contain a predetermined quantity of liquid;

a liquid dispenser in fluid communication with said first end of said conduit, comprising a porous liquid- and gas-permeable material containment member disposed such that said liquid upon discharge from said first end of said conduit flows through said material containment member before exiting from said device, and said member has an internal structure through which said liquid diffuses slowly;

a gas generation member in fluid communication with said second end of said conduit for generating gas and pumping said gas into said conduit through said second end; and

an activation circuit comprising an electric power source for electrically activating said gas generation member;

whereby when liquid is contained in said conduit and said gas generation member is activated to generate and pump said gas into said second end of said conduit, said pumped gas forces said liquid to be expelled from said conduit through said first end and dispensed though said dispenser.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said fluid conduit is disposed in a spiral or helical configuration.

3. A device as in claim 2 wherein said fluid conduit comprises a length of tubing disposed in a spiral or helical configuration.

4. A device as in claim 1 wherein said fluid conduit comprises a plurality of concentric fluid channels with a fluid passage between each pair of adjacent concentric channels, such that fluid can flow in a continuous path between the outermost and innermost of said channels.

5. A device as in claim 4 wherein said concentric channels are generally circular in plan.

6. A device as in claim 1 wherein said fluid conduit is of sufficient length to hold at least one quantity of each of a plurality of different liquids, said quantities disposed sequentially along the length of said conduit and remaining substantially unmixed at the interfaces between respective adjacent quantities, such that movement of cumulative body of liquids causes each successive different liquid to be expelled seriatim through said first end of said conduit.

7. A device as in claim 6 wherein adjacent quantities of said different liquids are separated by a quantity of a barrier fluid disposed therebetween which is substantially immiscible with either of said adjacent liquids.

8. A device as in claim 1 wherein said liquid is volatile and said material containment member operates to retard the flow of said liquid for a period of time sufficient to permit said volatile liquid to vaporize and said vapor to be dispersed into the ambient environment.

9. A device as in claim 1 wherein said material containment member comprises at least one internal containment site for retaining a material soluble in said liquid, such that the retarded flow of said liquid through said member provides sufficient time for said liquid to at least partially dissolve said soluble material and transport the dissolved material out of said member.

10. A device as in claim 9 wherein said material containment member comprises a body having an internal matrix of interstices, said interstices comprising internal containment sites.

11. A device as in claim 1 further comprising chemical or physical attachment means for attaching said device to another object.

12. A device as in claim 1 further comprising a housing in which said fluid conduit is disposed.

13. A device as in claim 12 wherein said housing is at least partially formed of a transparent material such that the progress of said liquid through said conduit can be observed visually from outside said housing.

14. A device as in claim 12 further comprising said gas generation member and said activation circuit being disposed in a module separable from said housing, said housing containing a receptacle for receiving said module, and upon receiving of said module in said receptacle, said gas generation member and said second end of said liquid conduit become operably connected.

15. A device as in claim 14 further comprising access means in said module for providing access to components of said gas generation member or said activation circuit within said module from the exterior of said module.

16. A device as in claim 1 wherein said gas generation member operates to generate a gas which is substantially unreactive with said liquid and substantially harmless to the ambient environment surround said device and to users of said device.

17. A device as in claim 1 wherein said gas generation member operates to generate gaseous air, oxygen or hydrogen.

18. A device as in claim 1 wherein said dispensing device comprises administration means for administering said liquid to a human or animal.

19. A device as in claim 18 wherein said dispensing device comprises administration means to administer said liquid transdermally or topically.

20. A device as in claim 1 wherein said liquid is volatile and dispensing device comprises means for retaining said liquid during volatilization and dispersing vapor so formed to ambient environment.

21. A method of administering a liquid to a human or animal patient which comprises:

a. providing a self-contained liquid containment and dispensing device which comprises;

i. an elongated fluid conduit having a first end and a second end and an internal volume sufficient to contain a predetermined quantity of liquid;

ii. a liquid dispenser in fluid communication with said first end of said conduit, comprising a porous liquid- and gas-permeable material containment member disposed such that said liquid upon discharge from said first end of said conduit flows through said material containment member before exiting from said device, and said member has an internal structure through which said liquid diffuses slowly;

iii. a gas generation member in fluid communication with said second end of said conduit for generating and pumping gas into said conduit through said second end; and

iv. an activation circuit comprising an electric power source for electrically activating said gas generation member;

b. placing a quantity of said liquid within said conduit;

c. attaching said device to said patient in such manner that said liquid dispenser is in fluid communication with said patient; and

d. activating said circuit to operate said gas generation member to generate and pump said gas into said second end of said conduit, said pumped gas forcing said liquid to be expelled from said conduit through said first end and administered though said dispenser to said patient.

22. A method as in claim 21 wherein said liquid dispenser comprises a skin contact pad and said administration is transdermal or topical.

23. A method as in claim 22 wherein said skin contact pad comprises at least one internal containment site for retaining a material soluble in said liquid, such that the retarded flow of said liquid through said pad provides sufficient time for said liquid to at least partially dissolve said soluble material and transport the dissolved material out of said pad.

24. A method as in claim 23 wherein said pad comprises an internal matrix of interstices, said interstices comprising said internal containment sites.

25. A method as in claim 23 wherein said material soluble in said liquid administered comprises a medication, a hormone, a drug, a treating agent for a disease or dysfunction, a vitamin, a mineral, a dietary supplement or a biological composition and said material following dissolution in said liquid during passage of said liquid through said pad is administered to said patient simultaneously with administration of said liquid.

26. A method as in claim 21 wherein said device is attached to said patient by adhesive.

27. A method as in claim 21 further comprising placing a quantity of each of a plurality of different liquids into said conduit with said quantities disposed sequentially along the length of said conduit and remaining substantially unmixed at the interfaces between respective adjacent quantities, said activation thereupon causing each successive different liquid to be expelled seriatim through said first end of said conduit.

28. A method as in claim 27 wherein each said liquid administered comprises a medication, a hormone, a drug, a treating agent for a disease or dysfunction, a vitamin, a mineral, a dietary supplement or a biological composition, and at least two of said liquids differ from each other.

29. A method as in claim 21 wherein said liquid is administered to a human patient.

30. A method as in claim 21 wherein said liquid is administered to a veterinary patient.

31. A method of delivering a vaporized liquid to the ambient environment which comprises:

a. providing a self-contained liquid containment and dispensing device which comprises;

i. an elongated fluid conduit having a first end and a second end and an internal volume sufficient to contain a predetermined quantity of liquid;

ii. a liquid dispenser in fluid communication with said first end of said conduit, comprising a porous liquid- and gas-permeable material containment member disposed such that said liquid upon discharge from said first end of said conduit flows through said material containment member before exiting from said device, and said member has an internal structure through which said liquid diffuses slowly;

iii. a gas generation member in fluid communication with said second end of said conduit for pumping gas into said conduit through said second end; and

iv. an activation circuit comprising an electric power source for electrically activating said gas generation member;

b. placing a quantity of volatile liquid within said conduit;

c. placing said device containing said volatile liquid within said ambient environment; and

d. activating said circuit to operate said gas generation member to pump said gas into said second end of said conduit, said pumped gas forcing said liquid to be expelled from said conduit through said first end;

e. retaining at least a portion of said volatile liquid within said device for a period of time sufficient for said portion to vaporize; and

f. dispersing the resultant vapor through said dispenser into said ambient environment.

32. A method as in claim 31 wherein said vapor emits a fragrance within said ambient environment.

33. A method as in claim 31 wherein said vapor contains a compound which masks or eliminates undesirable odors in said ambient environment.

34. A method as in claim 31 wherein said vapor contains an insecticidal chemical.

35. A method as in claim 34 wherein said vapor further contains an insect attractant chemical or pheromone.

36. A method as in claim 31 further comprising disposing said device within a decorative housing.

37. A method as in claim 31 further comprising placing a quantity of each of a plurality of different vaporizable liquids into said conduit with said quantities disposed sequentially along the length of said conduit and remaining substantially unmixed at the interfaces between respective adjacent quantities, said activation thereupon causing each successive different vaporizable liquid to be expelled seriatim through said first end of said conduit and vapors therefrom being dispersed seriatim to the ambient environment.