Apparatus for drug infusion implanted within a living body

• US 5,976,109 A
• Filed: 04/30/1996
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Heruth, Kenneth T.
• Primary Examiner(s): DeMille, Danton D.
• Application Number:
  US08/641,362
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131, 604/132, 604/141, 604/143, 604/149, 604/214, 604/218, 604/315, 604/316, 604/88, 604/93, 604/140, 604/146, 604/150-155, 604/891.1
• US Class Current: 604/140
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14506 mechanically driven, e.g. spring or clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14513 with secondary fluid driving or regulating the infusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a system wherein a drug or other fluid to be delivered to a specific desired location within the body is stored in a reservoir that is directly displaced by a force to infuse the drug from the device into the patient. Several specific methods are used to displace the reservoir, including, generally, hydraulic displacement, mechanical screw-type displacement, and spring force displacement of the fluid reservoir.

Claims

1. A periodically refillable drug infusion device to be implanted within a living body, comprising:

a drug fluid reservoir for receiving a supply of drug fluid; and

a hydraulic displacer for selectively controlling the egress of drug fluid from said drug fluid reservoir for delivery into said living body, said hydraulic displacer including a working fluid reservoir disposed adjacent said drug fluid reservoir, and a pump for selectively pumping working fluid into said working fluid reservoir to thereby vary the volume of said drug fluid reservoir for controlling the egress of drug fluid from said drug fluid reservoir into said living body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hydraulic displacer comprises a working fluid supply reservoir in fluid communication with said working fluid reservoir, said pump operating to selectively transfer said working fluid between said working fluid supply reservoir and said working fluid reservoir so that as said working fluid reservoir expands, the volume of said drug fluid reservoir decreases to thereby selectively force said drug fluid into said living body.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said working fluid reservoir includes bellows-like sidewalls which expand and contract when said working fluid is selectively pumped into and out of said working fluid reservoir to thereby selectively vary the volume of said drug fluid reservoir for selectively delivering said drug fluid into said living body.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said working fluid reservoir includes smooth sidewalls and said hydraulic displacer includes a piston assembly capable of slidable movement within said working fluid reservoir when said working fluid is selectively pumped into and out of said working fluid reservoir to thereby selectively vary the volume of said drug fluid reservoir for selectively delivering said drug fluid into said living body.

5. A periodically refillable drug infusion device for implantation within a living body, comprising:

a drug fluid reservoir for receiving a supply of drug fluid; and

a drug fluid reservoir displacer for selectively controlling the ingress of drug fluid into said drug fluid reservoir and selectively controlling the egress of drug fluid out of said drug fluid reservoir for delivery into said living body, said drug fluid reservoir displacer including a working fluid reservoir disposed proximate said drug fluid reservoir, and a pump for selectively pumping working fluid into and out of said working fluid reservoir to thereby selectively adjust the volume of said drug fluid reservoir for controlling the ingress and egress of drug fluid into and out of said drug fluid reservoir.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said drug fluid reservoir displacer comprises a hydraulic displacer including a working fluid supply reservoir in fluid communication with said working fluid reservoir, said pump operating to selectively transfer said working fluid between said working fluid supply reservoir and said working fluid reservoir so that as said working fluid reservoir expands, the volume of said drug fluid reservoir decreases to thereby selectively force said drug fluid into said living body.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said working fluid reservoir includes bellows-like sidewalls which expand and contract when said working fluid is selectively pumped into and out of said working fluid reservoir to thereby selectively vary the volume of said drug fluid reservoir for selectively delivering said drug fluid into said living body.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said working fluid reservoir includes smooth sidewalls and said hydraulic displacer includes a piston assembly capable of slidable movement within said working fluid reservoir when said working fluid is selectively pumped into and out of said working fluid reservoir to thereby selectively vary the volume of said drug fluid reservoir for selectively delivering said drug fluid into said living body.

9. A periodically refillable drug infusion device to be implanted within a living body, comprising:

a drug fluid reservoir having an interior chamber for receiving drug fluid, a drug fluid inlet in fluid communication with said interior chamber, and a drug fluid outlet in fluid communication with said interior chamber; and

a hydraulic displacer for selectively controlling the ingress of drug fluid into said interior chamber through said drug fluid inlet and selectively controlling the egress of drug fluid out of said interior chamber through said drug fluid outlet for delivery into said living body, said hydraulic displacer including a working fluid reservoir disposed proximate said drug fluid reservoir, and a pump for selectively pumping working fluid into and out of said working fluid reservoir to thereby selectively adjust the volume of said drug fluid reservoir for controlling the ingress and egress of drug fluid into and out of said drug fluid reservoir.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said hydraulic displacer comprises a working fluid supply reservoir in fluid communication with said working fluid reservoir, said pump operating to selectively transfer said working fluid between said working fluid supply reservoir and said working fluid reservoir so that as said working fluid reservoir expands, the volume of said drug fluid reservoir decreases to thereby selectively force said drug fluid from said interior chamber into said living body.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said working fluid reservoir includes bellows-like sidewalls which expand and contract when said working fluid is selectively pumped into and out of said working fluid reservoir to thereby selectively vary the volume of said drug fluid reservoir for selectively delivering said drug fluid from said interior chamber into said living body.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said working fluid reservoir includes smooth sidewalls and said hydraulic displacer includes a piston assembly capable of slidable movement within said working fluid reservoir when said working fluid is selectively pumped into and out of said working fluid reservoir to thereby selectively vary the volume of said drug fluid reservoir for selectively delivering said drug fluid from said interior chamber into said living body.