Fluid delivery device having a water generating electrochemical/chemical pump and associated method

• US 6,491,684 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2001
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microlin LLC
• Original Assignee: DURECT Corporation, Microlin LLC
• Inventors: Joshi, Ashok V., Zecevic, Strahinja K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTAGENA, MELVIN A
• Application Number:
  US09/863,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20020175191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 222/263, 222/389, 604/141, 604/892.1
• US Class Current: 604/892.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14204 with gas-producing electrochemical cell
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14513 with secondary fluid driving or regulating the infusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14526 the piston being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0227 by an ejection plunger B67D7/0238 takes precedence

Abstract

A fluid delivery device generally including: an electrochemical pump, wherein the electrochemical pump is capable of generating water; an electrochemical pump product chamber, wherein the electrochemical pump product chamber is capable of retaining water generated from the electrochemical pump; a displaceable member positioned between the electrochemical pump product chamber and a reservoir, wherein the displaceable member is controllably displaced upon generation of water from the electrical pump; a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is capable of containing a fluid which is delivered upon displacement of the displaceable member; and a housing for containing the electrochemical pump, the electrochemical pump product chamber, the displaceable member, and the reservoir.

Claims

1. A fluid delivery device, comprising:

an electrochemical pump, wherein the electrochemical pump is capable of generating water;

an electrochemical pump product chamber, wherein the electrochemical pump product chamber is capable of retaining water generated from the electrochemical pump;

a displaceable member positioned between the electrochemical pump product chamber and a reservoir, wherein the displaceable member is controllably displaced upon generation of water from the electrochemical pump;

a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is capable of containing a fluid which is delivered upon displacement of the displaceable member; and

a housing for containing the electrochemical pump, the electrochemical pump product chamber, the displaceable member, and the reservoir.

2. The fluid delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochemical pump comprises a selectively permeable membrane, a wet salt layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, an ion exchange membrane, a DC power source, and an electric resistor.

3. The fluid delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the electrochemical pump further includes an activation switch, and a support member.

4. The fluid delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the selectively permeable membrane is generally permeable to H₂O molecules, but generally impermeable to O₂ molecules.

5. The fluid delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the first and second electrodes are porous gas diffusion electrodes.

6. The fluid delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the ion exchange membrane is a perfluorinated type membrane.

7. The fluid delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the DC power source is a button cell.

8. The fluid delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the displaceable member is selected from the group consisting of a piston, bladder, diaphragm, plunger, and mixtures thereof.

9. The fluid delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir contains a fluid selected from the group consisting of a medicament, lubricant, fragrant fluid, chemical agent, and mixtures thereof.

10. The fluid delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir includes one or more apertures.

11. A fluid delivery device, comprising:

an electrochemical pump, wherein the electrochemical pump is capable of generating water, and wherein the electrochemical pump includes a selectively permeable membrane, a wet salt layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, an ion exchange membrane, a DC power source, and an electric resistor;

an electrochemical pump product chamber, wherein the electrochemical pump product chamber is capable of retaining water generated from the electrochemical pump;

a displaceable member positioned between the electrochemical pump product chamber and a reservoir, wherein the displaceable member is controllably displaced upon generation of water from the electrochemical pump;

a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is capable of containing a fluid which is delivered upon displacement of the displaceable member; and

a housing for containing the electrochemical pump, the electrochemical pump product chamber, the displaceable member, and the reservoir.

12. The fluid delivery device according to claim 11, wherein the electrochemical pump further includes an activation switch, and a support member.

13. The fluid delivery device according to claim 11, wherein the selectively permeable membrane is generally permeable to H₂O molecules, but generally impermeable to O₂ molecules.

14. The fluid delivery device according to claim 11, wherein the first and second electrodes are porous gas diffusion electrodes.

15. The fluid delivery device according to claim 11, wherein the ion exchange membrane is a perfluorinated type membrane.

16. The fluid delivery device according to claim 11, wherein the DC power source is a button cell.

17. The fluid delivery device according to claim 11, wherein the displaceable member is selected from the group consisting of a piston, bladder, diaphragm, plunger, and mixtures thereof.

18. The fluid delivery device according to claim 11, wherein the reservoir contains a fluid selected from the group consisting of a medicament, lubricant, fragrant fluid, chemical agent, and mixtures thereof.

19. The fluid delivery device according to claim 11, wherein the reservoir includes one or more apertures.

20. A fluid delivery device, comprising:

an electrochemical pump, wherein the electrochemical pump is capable of generating water, and wherein the electrochemical pump includes;

a selectively permeable membrane positioned at an end of the fluid delivery device;

a wet salt layer which emanates contiguously from the selectively permeable membrane;

a first electrode which emanates contiguously from the wet salt layer;

an ion exchange membrane which emanates contiguously from the first electrode;

a second electrode which emanates contiguously from the ion exchange membrane;

a button cell which emanates contiguously from the second electrode; and

an electric resistor which is in electrical communication with the button cell;

an electrochemical pump product chamber, wherein the electrochemical pump product chamber is capable of retaining water generated from the electrochemical pump;

a displaceable member positioned between the electrochemical pump product chamber and a reservoir, wherein the displaceable member is controllably displaced upon generation of water from the electrical pump;

a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is capable of containing a fluid which is delivered upon displacement of the displaceable member; and

a housing for containing the electrochemical pump, the electrochemical pump product chamber, the displaceable member, and the reservoir.

21. The fluid delivery device according to claim 20, wherein the electrochemical pump further includes an activation switch, and a support member.

22. The fluid delivery device according to claim 20, wherein the selectively permeable membrane is generally permeable to H₂O molecules, but generally impermeable to O₂ molecules.

23. The fluid delivery device according to claim 20, wherein the first and second electrodes are porous gas diffusion electrodes.

24. The fluid delivery device according to claim 20, wherein the ion exchange membrane is a perfluorinated type membrane.

25. The fluid delivery device according to claim 20, wherein the button cell is a lithium, silver, or other metal, high-energy cell.

26. The fluid delivery device according to claim 20, wherein the displaceable member is selected from the group consisting of a piston, bladder, diaphragm, plunger, and mixtures thereof.

27. The fluid delivery device according to claim 20, wherein the reservoir contains a fluid selected from the group consisting of a medicament, lubricant, fragrant fluid, chemical agent, and mixtures thereof.

28. The fluid delivery device according to claim 20, wherein the reservoir includes one or more apertures.

29. A process for delivery a fluid, comprising the steps of:

providing a fluid delivery device having an electrochemical water-generating pump;

generating water from the electrochemical water generating pump;

thereby expanding a volume of an electrochemical pump product chamber;

generating pressure from the expanded electrochemical pump product chamber; and

displacing a displaceable member, and, in turn, controllably expelling fluid from the fluid delivery device.