Fluid delivery apparatus with reservoir fill assembly

• US 6,086,561 A
• Filed: 02/12/1999
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pescadero Beach Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Science Incorporated
• Inventors: Arnold, Steven, Garrison, Jmaes M., Kriesel, Marshall S., Kazemzadeh, Farhad
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn Wood
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH TUAN TUONG
• Application Number:
  US09/250,036
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 604/85, 604/89, 604/131, 604/132, 604/133, 604/151, 604/153, 604/156, 604/185, 604/191, 604/890.1, 604/184
• US Class Current: 604/133
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/585 having magnification means, e.g. magnifying glasses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• 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 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16886 for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/07 Indicating devices, e.g. for remote indication indicating working conditions of vehicles G07C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/0026 by using deflection of baffle-plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/0066 by using differences of pressure in the fluid

Abstract

An apparatus for delivering fluids at a precisely controlled rate which includes a fluid dispensing component having a fluid reservoir for containing the fluids to be delivered and a reservoir fill component which can be removably interconnected with the fluid dispensing component. The reservoir fill assembly is uniquely designed to accept a vial component of conventional construction which is factory filled with the medicinal fluid to be delivered to the patient. The dispenser component embodies a highly novel fluid flow indicator that provides a readily discernible visual indication of fluid flow status through the device.

Claims

1. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:

(a) a fluid dispenser including;

(i) a base having a receiving chamber having a wall;

(ii) a stored energy means for forming, in conjunction with said base a fluid reservoir having an inlet in communication with said chamber and an outlet, said stored energy means comprising at least one distendable member superimposed over said base, said member being distendable as a result of pressure imparted by the fluids to be infused to establish internal stresses, said stresses tending to move said member toward a less distended configuration;

(iii) an outlet port in communication with said outlet of said fluid reservoir for dispensing fluids from the device; and

(b) a reservoir fill assembly interconnectable with said base of said fluid dispenser for filling said fluid reservoir thereof, said reservoir fill assembly comprising;

(i) a container assembly including a container leaving a fluid chamber and displacement means movable within said fluid chamber;

(ii) an adapter assembly comprising a hollow housing having an outlet in communication with said inlet of said fluid reservoir and also having a barrel portion having means for engaging said wall of said receiving chamber of said base of said fluid dispenser to connect said adapter assembly to said base, said container being telescopically receivable in said housing; and

(iii) pusher means for engagement with said displacement means of said container assembly to move said displacement means within said fluid chamber to urge fluid flow toward said outlet of said adapter assembly.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said pusher means comprises a pusher member disposed within said hollow housing of said adapter assembly.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said displacement means comprises a plunger member and a connector member, said connector member being interconnectable with said pusher means.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said chamber includes a pierceable septum and in which said adapter assembly includes a cannula for piercing said pierceable septum.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said displacement means comprises a plunger member and a connector member, said connector member having a pierceable wall, and in which said pusher means includes a fluid passageway and a cannula for piercing said pierceable wall.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said adapter assembly of said reservoir fill assembly accommodates a plurality of container assemblies.

7. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said fluid dispenser further includes fluid actuated indicator means for visually indicating fluid flow from said fluid reservoir, said indicator means comprising at least one thin film movable in response to fluid flowing from said fluid reservoir.

8. A device as defined in claim 7 in which said indicator means includes actuator means movable by fluid flowing from said reservoir between a first position wherein said actuator means is spaced from said thin film to a second position wherein said actuator means engages said thin film.

9. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:

(a) a fluid dispenser including;

(i) a base having, a receiving chamber having a wall;

(ii) a stored energy means for forming, in conjunction with said base a fluid reservoir having an inlet in communication with said chamber and an outlet, said stored energy means comprising at least one distendable member superimposed over said base, said member being distendable as a result of pressure imparted by the fluids to be infused to establish internal stresses, said stresses tending to move said member toward a less distended configuration; and

(iii) an outlet port in communication with said outlet of said fluid reservoir for dispensing fluids from the device;

(iv) fluid actuated indicator means for visually indicating fluid flow from said reservoir; and

(b) a reservoir fill assembly interconnectable with said base of said fluid dispenser for filling said fluid reservoir thereof, said reservoir fill assembly comprising;

(i) a container subassembly including a container having a fluid chamber and displacement means movable within said fluid chamber;

(ii) an adapter assembly comprising a hollow housing having an outlet in communication with said inlet of said fluid reservoir and also having a barrel portion having means for engaging said wall of said receiving chamber of said base of said fluid dispenser to connect said adapter assembly to said base, said container being telescopically receivable in said housing; and

(iii) pusher means for engagement with said displacement means of said container assembly to move said displacement means within said fluid chamber to urge fluid flow toward said outlet of said adapter assembly.

10. The device as defined in claim 9 in which said fluid dispenser includes fluid recovery means for recovering fluid from said fluid reservoir.

11. The device as defined in claim 9 in which said fluid dispenser further includes vent means for venting to atmosphere gases contained within said adapter assembly.

12. The device as defined in claim 11 in which said chamber includes a pierceable septum and in which said outlet of said adapter assembly comprises a cannula for piercing said pierceable septum.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said vent means comprises means for venting to atmosphere gases trapped within said cannula.

14. The device as defined in claim 12 in which said displacement means comprises a plunger member and a connector member, said connector member having a pierceable wall, and in which said pusher means includes a fluid passageway and a cannula for piercing said pierceable wall.

15. The device as defined in claim 14 in which fluid actuated indicator means comprises at least one thin film, said film being movable in response to fluid flowing from said fluid reservoir.

16. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:

(a) a fluid dispenser including;

(i) a base having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface having a dispenser connector comprising circumferentially spaced slots;

(ii) a stored energy means for forming, in conjunction with said base, a fluid reservoir having an inlet in communication with said dispenser connector and an outlet, said stored energy means comprising at least one prestressed, distendable elastomeric membrane superimposed over said base, said membrane being further distendable as a result of pressure imparted by the fluids to be infused to establish internal stresses, said stresses tending to move said member toward a less distended configuration; and

(iii) an outlet port in communication with said outlet of said fluid reservoir for dispensing fluids from the device; and

(b) a reservoir fill assembly interconnectable with said fluid dispenser for filling said fluid reservoir thereof, said reservoir fill assembly comprising;

(i) a container subassembly including a container having a body portion, a fluid chamber, and first and second ends and displacement means telescopically movable within said container from a first location proximate said second end to a second, spaced-apart location, said displacement means comprising a plunger and a connector;

(ii) an adapter subassembly having an outlet in communication with said inlet of said reservoir, said adapter subassembly comprising a hollow housing for telescopically receiving a part of said body portion of said container of said container subassembly and a second end, said hollow housing further including an adapter connector comprising circumferentially spaced tabs mateably interconnectable with said dispenser connector of said fluid dispenser for removably interconnecting said adapter subassembly with said fluid dispenser; and

(iii) pusher means disposed within said hollow housing for engagement with said displacement means of said container assembly to move said plunger within said container between said first and second locations to urge fluid to flow toward said outlet of said adapter subassembly, said pusher means being connected to said connector of said displacement means.

17. The device as defined in claim 16 in which said displacement means includes a pierceable wall and in which said pusher means includes a fluid passageway and a cannula for piercing said pierceable wall upon interconnection of said pusher means with said connector of said displacement means.

18. The device as defined in claim 16 further including infusion means connected to said outlet port of said fluid reservoir for infusing the medicinal fluid to the patient.

19. The device as defined in claim 18 in which said fluid dispenser further includes rate control means for controlling the rate of fluid flow toward said infusion.

20. The device as defined in claim 18 in which said fluid dispenser further includes fluid actuated indicator means disposed intermediate said fluid outlet of said reservoir, said fluid actuated indicator means comprising at least one thin film, said thin film being movable in response to fluid flow from said fluid reservoir.

21. The device as defined in claim 18 in which said adapter assembly includes fill flow control means for controlling flow from said container assembly toward said fluid reservoir of said fluid dispenser.

22. The device as defined in claim 21 in which said flow control means comprises a hollow cannula connected to said hollow housing of said adapter assembly.

23. The device as defined in claim 21 in which said flow control means comprises a valve disposed between said pusher means and said hollow cannula.

24. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:

(a) a fluid dispenser including;

(i) a base having, a receiving chamber provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced tab receiving openings;

(ii) a stored energy means for forming, in conjunction with said base a fluid reservoir having an inlet in communication with said connector and an outlet, said stored energy means comprising at least one distendable member superimposed over said base, said member being distendable as a result of pressure imparted by the fluids to be infused to establish internal stresses, said stresses tending to move said member toward a less distended configuration;

(iii) an outlet port in communication with said outlet of said fluid reservoir for dispensing fluids from the device; and

(b) a reservoir fill assembly interconnectable with said base of said fluid dispenser for filling said fluid reservoir thereof, said reservoir fill assembly comprising;

(i) a container subassembly including a container having a fluid chamber and displacement means movable within said fluid chamber;

(ii) an adapter assembly comprising a hollow housing having a barrel portion receivable within said receiving chamber of said base of said fluid dispenser to connect said adapter assembly to said base, said barrel portion having a plurality of circumferentially spaced tabs receivable within said tab receiving openings of said receiving chamber, said container being telescopically receivable in said housing; and

(iii) pusher means for engagement with said displacement means of said container assembly to move said displacement means within said fluid chamber.

25. The apparatus as defined in claim 24 in which said pusher means comprises a pusher member disposed within said hollow housing of said adapter subassembly.

26. The apparatus as defined in claim 24 in which said displacement means comprises a plunger member and a connector member, said connector member being interconnectable with said pusher means.

27. The apparatus as defined in claim 24 in which said displacement means includes flow control means for controlling fluid flow through said displacement means.

28. The apparatus as defined in claim 24 further including valving means disposed within said receiving chamber of said fluid dispenser for controlling fluid flow from said reservoir fill assembly toward said fluid dispenser.

29. The device as defined in claim 24 in which said adapter assembly of said filling means further includes flow control means for controlling fluid flow from said container assembly toward said fluid dispenser reservoir.

30. The device as defined in claim 24 in which said receiving chamber of said base of said fluid dispenser includes a pair of circumferentially spaced tab receiving slots having a pair of circumferentially spaced tabs receivable within said tab receiving slots.

31. The device as defined in claim 24 in which said adapter assembly has three circumferentially spaced tabs.

32. The device as defined in claim 24 in which said adapter assembly has four circumferentially spaced tabs.

33. The device as defined in claim 24 in which said adapter assembly has five circumferentially spaced tabs.

34. The device as defined in claim 24 in which said adapter assembly has six circumferentially spaced tabs.

35. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:

(a) a fluid dispenser including;

(i) a housing having a receiving chamber having a wall;

(ii) a stored energy means disposed within said housing for forming a fluid reservoir having an inlet in communication with said chamber and an outlet, said stored energy means comprising at least one distendable member, said member being distendable as a result of pressure imparted by the fluids to be infused to establish internal stresses, said stressed tending to move said member toward a less distended configuration;

(iii) an outlet port in communication with said outlet of said fluid reservoir for dispensing fluids from the device; and

(b) a reservoir fill assembly interconnectable with said housing for filling said fluid reservoir, said reservoir fill assembly comprising;

(i) a container assembly including a container having a fluid chamber and displacement means movable within said fluid chamber;

(ii) an adapter assembly comprising a hollow adapter housing having an outlet in communication with said inlet of said fluid reservoir and also having a barrel portion having means for engaging said wall of said receiving chamber of said housing to connect said adapter assembly to said housing; and

(iii) pusher means for engagement with said displacement means of said container assembly to move said displacement means within said fluid chamber to urge fluid flow toward said outlet of said adapter assembly.

36. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:

(a) a fluid dispenser including

(i) a housing having a receiving chamber having a wall and including a base;

(ii) a stored energy means for forming, in conjunction with said base a fluid reservoir having an inlet in communication with said chamber and an outlet, said stored energy means comprising at least one distendable member superimposed over said base, said member being distendable as a result of pressure imparted by the fluid to be infused to establish internal stresses, said stresses tending to move said member toward a less distended configuration; and

(iii) an outlet port in communication with said outlet of said fluid reservoir for dispensing fluids from the device;

(b) a reservoir fill assembly interconnectable with said housing for filling said fluid reservoir thereof, said reservoir fill assembly comprising;

(i) a container subassembly including a container having a fluid chamber and displacement means movable within said fluid chamber;

(ii) an adapter assembly comprising a hollow adapter housing having an outlet in communication with said inlet of said fluid reservoir and also having a barrel portion having means for engaging said wall of said receiving chamber of said housing of said fluid dispenser to connect said adapter assembly to said housing; and

(iii) pusher means for engagement with said displacement means of said container assembly to move said displacement means within said fluid chamber to urge fluid flow toward said outlet of said adapter assembly.

37. The device as defined in claim 36 in which said receiving chamber includes a pierceable septum and in which said outlet of said adapter assembly comprises a cannula for piercing said pierceable septum.

38. The device as defined in claim 36 in which said displacement means comprises a plunger member and a connector member, said connector member having a pierceable wall, and in which said pusher means includes a fluid passageway and a cannula for piercing said pierceable wall.

39. The device as defined in claim 36 further including fluid actuated indicator means for visually indicating fluid flow from said reservoir, said indicator means comprising fluid flowing from said fluid reservoir.