Fluid delivery apparatus with flow indicator and vial fill

• US 6,176,845 B1
• Filed: 10/02/1998
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pescadero Beach Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Science Incorporated
• Inventors: Garrison, James, Kuester, William F. III, Kriesel, Marshall S., Arnold, Steven M., Kazemzadeh, Farhad, Hogan, Rolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn Wood
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYNARD, JENNIFER J
• Application Number:
  US09/165,706
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 604/132, 604/83, 604/85, 604/88, 604/89, 604/90, 604/406, 604/30
• US Class Current: 604/132
• 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 5/141 with capillaries for restricting fluid flow
• 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 5/16877 Adjusting flow; Devices for setting a flow rate

Abstract

An apparatus for accurately infusing medicinal agents into an ambulatory patient at specific rates over extended periods of time. The apparatus is of a compact, low profile, laminate construction and includes an elastic distendable membrane, chamber having a fluid outlet. Disposed within the fluid chamber is a thin fluid permeable member which precisely controls the rate of fluid flow through the fluid outlet. The apparatus also includes a highly novel fluid flow indicator that provides a readily discernible visible indication of fluid flow through the apparatus. Additionally, the apparatus includes a fill assembly comprising a prefilled vial that can be used to fill the fluid reservoir of the device with a selected medicinal fluid.

Claims

1. A fluid delivery device for dispensing fluid, said device comprising:

(a) a housing including a fixedly located fluid passageway defining a flow path and having an inlet and an outlet;

(b) fluid reservoir disposed within said housing in fluid communication with said inlet of said fluid passageway;

(c) stored energy means cooperatively associated with said fluid reservoir for urging fluid to flow therefrom toward said outlet of said fluid passageway; and

(d) flow rate control means carried by said housing intermediate said fluid reservoir and said outlet for controlling of the rate of fluid flow toward said outlet of said fluid passageway via said flow path, said flow rate control means comprising a control member traversing said flow path and having first and second spaced apart flow restrictors selectively movable into alignment with said flow path by movement of said control member from a first position wherein said first flow restrictor is aligned with said flow path to a second position wherein said second flow restrictor is aligned with said flow path.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said control member comprises a generally planar member intersecting said flow path and in which flow restrictors comprise porous frits mounted on said control member.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said flow rate control means comprises a control knob rotatably carried by said housing, said control knob being connected to said control member so as to impart rotation thereto upon rotation of said control knob.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said housing includes a base and in which said stored energy means comprises a distendable member superimposed over said base, said member being distendable as a result of pressure imparted by the fluid to be dispensed to establish internal stresses, said stresses tending to move said member toward a less distended configuration.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 further including fill means carried by said base for filling said fluid reservoir with the fluid to be dispensed.

6. The device as defined in claim 1 further including a fluid actuated indicator means disposed intermediate said reservoir and said outlet of said fluid passageway for visually indicating fluid flow from said reservoir.

7. A fluid delivery device having an outlet comprising:

(a) a base having a fixedly located fluid flow passageway in communication with said outlet;

(b) stored energy means for forming in conjunction with said base a fluid reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet in communication with said fluid flow passageway, said stored energy means comprising a distendable member superimposed over said base, said member being distendable as a result of fluid introduced into said fluid reservoir to establish internal stresses within said member tending to return said member toward a less distended configuration to force fluids from said reservoir into said fluid flow passageway;

(c) fluid actuated indicator means in communication with said fluid flow passageway for visually indicating fluid flow from said reservoir;

(d) a support connected to said base; and

(e) adjustable flow rate control means in communication with said fluid flow passageway for controlling fluid flow from said outlet, said adjustable flow rate control means comprising a control member rotatably connected to said support deck and traversing said fluid passageway, said control member having a first and second spaced apart flow restrictors and being rotatable from a first position wherein said first flow restrictor is aligned with said fluid passageway to a second position wherein said second flow restrictor is aligned with said fluid passageway.

8. The device as defined in claim 7 further comprising fill means carried by said base for filling said fluid reservoir.

9. The device as defined in claim 7 in which said first and second flow restrictors comprise porous frits mounted on said control member.

10. The device as defined in claim 7 in which said adjustable flow rate control means further comprises a driving member mounted on said support for rotating said control member.

11. The device as defined in claim 10, in which said device further includes control knob operably connected to said driving member for a finger engaging, controllably rotating said driving member.

12. The device as defined in claim 10 further including rate control locking means for preventing rotation of said driving member.

13. The device as defined in claim 12 in which said rate control locking means comprises an operating member carried by said support and a physician key operably interconnected with said operating member.

14. The device as defined in claim 13 in which said rate control locking means comprises:

(a) a latch member having first and second ends and being pivotally connected to said support for movement between a first locking position wherein said first end thereof operably engages said drive wheel to a second unlocked position;

(b) a hollow housing connected to said support proximate said latch member;

(c) a latch operating member telescopically receivable within said hollow housing, said latch operating member having an inboard extremity in engagement with said second end of said latch member and outboard extremity, said latch operating member being movable between a first extended position and a second depressed position to move said latch member toward said first locking position; and

(d) a key operated means rotatably connected to said hollow housing for movement between a first locked position and a second position for locking said latch operating member in said second position when said key operating means is in said second position.

15. The device as defined in claim 14 in which said latch operating member has an elongated slot and in which said key operating means comprises a locking element having a key receiving head portion and a stem portion slidably receivable within said elongated slot when said key operating means is in said second position.

16. A fluid delivery apparatus having an outlet comprising:

(a) a base having a fluid flow passageway in communication with said outlet;

(b) stored energy means for forming in conjunction with said base a fluid reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet in communication with said fluid flow passageway, said stored energy means comprising a distendable member superimposed over said base, said member being distendable as a result of fluid introduced into said fluid reservoir to establish internal stresses within said member tending to return said member toward a less distended configuration to force fluids from said reservoir through said reservoir outlet;

(c) a support connected to said base, said support including a fluid passageway connected to said reservoir outlet for carrying fluid forced from said reservoir by said distendable member;

(d) an indicator assembly connected to said support and comprising a pair of thin films having edge portions and generally planar body portions disposed in an overlaying relationship, at least one of said thin films having indicating indicia viewable upon relative sliding movement between said body portions of said films; and

(e) actuator means connected to said support and communicating with said fluid passageway for yieldably deforming said edge portion of one of said first and second thin films to slidably move said planar body portions of first and second films relative to each other in response to fluid pressure being exerted on said actuator means by fluid within said fluid passageway; and

(f) adjustable fluid rate control means disposed between said reservoir outlet and said pair of thin films for controlling the rate of fluid flow from said reservoir outlet toward said pair of thin films, said adjustable flow rate control means comprising a control member rotatably connected to said support, said control member having a first and second spaced apart flow restrictors and being rotatable from a first position wherein said first flow restrictor is aligned with said fluid passageway to a second position wherein said second flow restrictor is aligned with said fluid passageway.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 in which each of said first and second thin films is provided with indicating indicia viewable upon relative sliding movement of said generally planar portions.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 further including a platform to which said edge portions of said first and second films are affixed, said platform having spaced-apart first and second apertures.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 in which said first and second flow restrictors comprise a first and second spaced apart, porous frits.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 in which said flow rate control means comprises a generally tubular shaped housing having an inlet in communication with said fluid passageway and in which said control member comprises a generally tubular shaped member rotatably connected to said housing.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 further including driving means connected to said control member for rotating said control member.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21 in which each of said first and second flow restrictors comprise first and second orifices.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 21 further including a cover connected to said base, said cover having an opening formed therein.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23 in which said driving means comprises:

(a) a finger engaging knob extending through said opening in said cover; and

(b) a driven means driven by said knob, said driven means being operably connected to said driving means.