Fluid delivery device with conformable ullage and fill assembly

• US 6,007,518 A
• Filed: 09/08/1998
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pescadero Beach Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Science Incorporated
• Inventors: Kriesel, Matthew B, Kriesel, Marshall S., Feng, William W, Kazemzadeh, Farhad
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirsch, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US09/149,387
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 604/132, 604/131, 604/133, 128/DIG. 12
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/152 pressurised by contraction of elastic reservoirs containers for dispensing contents by contraction of an elastic bag provided therein, in general B65D83/0061
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31525 Dosing burettes, pipettes B01L3/02

Abstract

A fluid delivery apparatus which embodies a stored energy source such as distendable elastomeric membrane which cooperates with a base and a conformable ullage to define a fluid reservoir and one which includes a unique fill assembly for use in controllably filling the fluid reservoir. The novel fill assembly of the invention enables the fluid reservoir of the fluid delivery portion of the apparatus to be aseptically filled in the field with a wide variety of selected medicinal fluids.

Claims

1. A fluid delivery apparatus comprising:

(a) a fluid delivery assembly having an outlet for delivering fluid from the apparatus, said fluid delivery assembly including;

(i) a base;

(ii) means defining a conformable ullage overlaying said base for forming in conjunction therewith a reservoir having an outlet in communication with said outlet of said fluid delivery assembly;

(iii) a cover assembly connected to said base, one of said cover assembly and said base having a receiving chamber interconnected with said reservoir; and

(iv) a stored energy means for exerting forces on said means defining a conformable ullage, said stored energy means comprising at least one distendable membrane superimposed over said means defining a conformable ullage, said membrane being distendable by forces imparted thereon by said means defining a conformable ullage in response to fluids introduced into said reservoir, said forces establishing internal stresses within said distendable membrane, said stresses tending to return said distendable membrane toward a less distended configuration, said distendable membrane being generally conformable to the shape of said means defining a conformable ullage as said membrane is being distended thereby and also being generally conformable to the shape of said means defining a conformable ullage as said distendable membrane tends to return to said less distended configuration; and

(b) a fill assembly interconnected with said fluid delivery assembly for filling said reservoir.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said fill assembly comprises:

(a) a container assembly including;

(i) a container having a fluid chamber;

(ii) means associated with said fluid chamber for urging fluid to flow from said fluid chamber toward said reservoir;

(b) an adapter assembly receivable within said receiving chamber, said adapter assembly comprising a hollow housing having a first open end for telescopically receiving a part of said container of said container assembly and including a second end.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said container assembly further includes closure means for closing said container, said container means comprising a pierceable septum connected to said container.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which said cover assembly includes piercing cannula disposed within said receiving chamber, said piercing cannula being in communication with said reservoir.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which said hollow housing of said adapter assembly includes locking means for locking said hollow housing to said fluid delivery assembly.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which said fluid delivery assembly further comprises a barrier member disposed between said base and said means defining a conformable ullage.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said means defining a conformable ullage comprises a conformable mass.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said means defining a conformable ullage comprises a gel.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said gel is encapsulated between said barrier member and said distendable membrane.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 further including means for introducing said gel between said barrier member and said distendable membrane.

11. A fluid delivery apparatus comprising:

(a) a fluid delivery assembly having an outlet for delivering fluid from the apparatus, said fluid delivery assembly including;

(i) a base;

(ii) means defining a conformable ullage of varying shape overlaying said base for forming in conjunction therewith a reservoir having an outlet;

(iii) a barrier member disposed between said base and said means defining a conformable ullage;

(iv) a cover assembly connected to said base, one of said cover assembly and said base having a receiving chamber interconnected with said first end of said fluid passageway formed on said base;

(v) a stored energy means for exerting forces on said means defining a conformable ullage, said stored energy means comprising at least one distendable membrane superimposed over said means defining a conformable ullage, said membrane being distendable by forces imparted thereon by said means defining a conformable ullage in response to fluids introduced into said reservoir, said forces establishing internal stresses within said distenable membrane toward a less distended configuration; and

(b) a fill assembly interconnected with said fluid delivery assembly.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 in which said fill assembly comprises:

(a) a container assembly including;

(i) a container having a body portion, a fluid chamber, and first and second open ends;

(ii) closure means for sealably closing said first end of said container; and

(iii) means associated with said container for urging fluid therefrom; and

(b) an adapter assembly receivable within said receiving chamber, said adapter assembly comprising a hollow housing having a first open end for telescopically receiving a part of said body portion of said container assembly and including a second end.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said means for urging fluid flow from said container comprises a plunger telescopically movable within said container and in which said hollow housing further includes pusher means for engagement with said plunger of said container assembly to move said plunger within said container.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said fill assembly further includes a container cover assembly having a container cover provided with a first open end for telescopically receiving a part of said body portion of said container of said container assembly and a second end, said container cover being removable from said container to expose said closure means.

15. A fluid delivery apparatus comprising:

(a) a fluid delivery assembly having an outlet for delivering fluid from the apparatus, said fluid delivery assembly including;

(i) a base having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a fluid passageway formed therein, said fluid passageway being in communication with said outlet of the apparatus;

(ii) means defining a conformable ullage overlaying said base for forming in conjunction therewith a reservoir having a fluid port in communication with said passageway formed in said base;

(iii) a barrier member disposed between said upper surface of said base and said means defining a conformable ullage;

(iv) a cover assembly connected to said base, said cover assembly including a cover member and a housing connected to said cover member and comprising;

a. a wall defining an internal cavity within said cover member;

b. a receiving chamber provided in said cover member and spaced apart from said cavity;

c. a hollow cannula connected to said housing and extending into said receiving chamber; and

d. an inlet passageway formed in said housing for interconnecting said hollow cannula with said fluid passageway formed in said base;

(v) a stored energy means for exerting forces on said means defining a conformable ullage, said stored energy means comprising at least one distendable membrane superimposed over said means defining a conformable ullage, said membrane being distendable by forces imparted thereon by said means defining a conformable ullage in response to fluids introduced into said reservoir, said forces establishing internal stresses within said distendable membrane, said stresses tending to return said distendable membrane toward a less distended configuration; and

(b) a fill assembly interconnected with said fluid delivery assembly for filling said reservoir thereof via said inlet passageway of said cover assembly, said fill assembly comprising;

(i) a container assembly including;

a. a container having a body portion, a fluid chamber, and first and second open ends;

b. closure means for sealably closing said first end of said container said closure means being pierceable by said hollow cannula; and

c. means operably associated with said container to cause fluid within said fluid chamber to flow into said hollow cannula; and

(ii) an adapter assembly receivable within said chamber of said cover assembly, said adapter assembly comprising a hollow housing having a first open end for telescopically receiving a part of said body portion of said container of said container assembly and including a second end.