Fluid delivery device with light activated energy source

• US 6,527,744 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pescadero Beach Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Science Incorporated
• Inventors: Thompson, Thomas N., Kriesel, Marshall S.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH TUAN TUONG
• Application Number:
  US09/607,519
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/342, 600/476, 600/478, 604/132, 604/65, 604/67, 604/151, 604/153, 604/185, 604/890.1, 604/891.1, 604/131, 128/DIG.12
• US Class Current: 604/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/36 related to heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/145 using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14586 pressurised by means of a flexible diaphragm

Abstract

A fluid delivery apparatus for infusing medicinal fluids into a patient which is of a compact, low profile, laminate construction. The apparatus embodies a novel light activated expanding polymer material which uniquely functions as an internal energy source for expelling the medicinal fluids from the device. The light polymer mass is activated by a novel light source in a manner to controllably expel fluid from the device. Further, the light actuated polymer can be specifically tailored to provide precise, predictable protocol delivery of the medicinal agent stored within the reservoir of the device. In one form of the invention, the fluid delivery apparatus is implantable within the patient'"'"'s body.

Claims

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

(a) a housing having a surface and including a base and a cover superimposed over said base;

(b) means for forming, in conjunction with said surface of said housing, a fluid reservoir containing a fluid and having an inlet and an outlet;

(c) a light stimulated, expandable means disposed within said housing in proximity to said reservoir, said expandable means comprising a semi-solid, which, upon being stimulated, will act upon said fluid within said reservoir to cause said fluid to flow outwardly of said outlet of said reservoir;

(d) stimulation means for stimulating said expandable means, said stimulation means comprising a source of light; and

(e) infusion means in communication with said outlet of said reservoir for infusing fluid from said fluid reservoir into the patient.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said expandable means is disposed within an expandable bellows disposed within said housing.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said infusion means comprises a hollow cannula connected to, but spaced apart from said housing.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said expandable means comprises a gel.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said stimulation means comprises a light sheet operably associated with said expandable means.

6. The device as defined in claim 1 further including fill means for filling said reservoir.

7. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said base and said cover are releasably interconnected.

8. The device as defined in claim 1 further including heater means disposed proximate said expandable means for heating said expandable means.

9. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said means for forming said reservoir comprises a distendable membrane and in which said device further includes a pusher member disposed within said housing for acting upon said distendable membrane upon expansion of said expandable means.

10. The device as defined in claim 9 in which said pusher member is generally dome shaped and is disposed within said housing.

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

(a) a housing having a surface and including a base and a cover superimposed over said base;

(b) distendable means for forming, in conjunction with said surface of said housing, a fluid reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, said distendable means comprising at least one distendable membrane at least a portion of which is movable within said housing from a first position to a second position;

(c) expandable means disposed within said housing in proximity to said distendable membrane, said expandable means comprising a semi-solid, which, upon being exposed to light, will cause said distendable membrane to move toward said second position to cause fluid within said reservoir to flow outwardly of said outlet of said reservoir;

(d) a source of light for stimulating said expandable means, said source of light comprising a light sheet;

(e) infusion means in communication with said outlet of said reservoir for infusing fluid from said fluid reservoir into the patient; and

(f) fill means for filling said reservoir.

12. The device as defined in claim 11 in which said infusion means comprises a hollow cannula.

13. The device as defined in claim 11 in which said expandable means comprises a gel.

14. The device as defined in claim 11 further including heater media for heating said expandable means, said heater means comprising a heater coil circumscribing said source of light.

15. The device as defined in claim 11 in which said cover includes a cavity and in which said distendable membrane is sealably connected to said cover and spans said cavity.

16. The device as defined in claim 15 further including pusher means disposed within said housing proximate said distendable membrane.

17. The device as defined in claim 16 in which said expandable means is disposed within an expandable bellows disposed within said housing.

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

(a) a housing having a surface and including a base and a cover superimposed over said base, said cover having a cavity defining an internal surface;

(b) distendable means for forming, in conjunction with said internal surface, a fluid reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, said distendable means comprising at least one distendable membrane at least a portion of which is movable within said housing from a first position spaced apart from said internal surface to a second position proximate said internal surface;

(c) fill means for filling said fluid reservoir;

(d) expandable means disposed within said housing, said expandable means comprising a gel which, upon being stimulated, will cause said distendable membrane to move toward said second position to cause fluid within said reservoir to flow outwardly of said outlet of said reservoir;

(e) stimulation means for stimulating said gel, said means comprising a light source; and

(f) infusion means in communication with said outlet of said reservoir for infusing fluid from said fluid reservoir into the patient.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 18 further including quick connect means for releasably connecting said infusion means to said housing.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 18 further including flow control means carried by said housing for controlling fluid flow toward said infusion means.

21. The apparatus as defined in claim 18 further including a heater coil disposed proximate said expandable means for controllably heating said expandable means.

22. The apparatus as defined in claim 18 in which said light source comprises a light sheet comprising a flexible electroluminescent film.

23. The apparatus as defined in claim 22 in which said light sheet further includes a light generating phosphor compound.

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

(a) a housing having a surface and including a base and a cover superimposed over said base;

(b) distendable means for forming, in conjunction with said surface of said housing, a fluid reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, said distendable means comprising at least one distendable membrane at least a portion of which is movable within said housing from a first position to a second position;

(c) expandable means disposed within said housing in proximity to said distendable membrane, said expandable means comprising a semi-solid, which, upon being stimulated by light, will act upon said distendable membrane to move said membrane toward said second position to cause fluid within said reservoir to flow outwardly of said outlet of said reservoir;

(d) stimulation means for stimulating said expandable means, said stimulation means comprising a light sheet including a flexible electroluminescent film; and

(e) infusion means in communication with said outlet of said reservoir for infusing fluid from said fluid reservoir into the patient.

25. The device as defined in claim 24 further including controller means operably associated with said stimulation means for controlling said stimulation means.

26. The device as defined in claim 25 in which said stimulation means further comprises a light generating polymer.

27. The device as defined in claim 26 in which said expandable means comprises a gel.

28. The device as defined in claim 27 further including a sensor carried by said patient for sensing a body condition, said sensor being operably associated with said controller means.

29. The device defined in claim 27 further including a glucose sensor carried by the patient for continuous monitoring of the blood glucose level of the patient, said glucose sensor being operably associated with said controller means.

30. An implantable device for implantation within a patient for infusing medicinal fluid into the patient at a controlled rate comprising:

(a) a housing having a surface and including a base and a cover superimposed over said base;

(b) means for forming in conjunction with said surface of said housing, a fluid reservoir containing a fluid and having an inlet and an outlet;

(c) a light stimulated, expandable means disposed within said housing in proximity to said reservoir, said expandable means comprising a semi-solid, which upon being stimulated, will act upon said fluid within said reservoir to cause said fluid to flow outwardly of said outlet of said reservoir; and

(d) stimulation means for stimulating said expandable means, said stimulation means comprising a source of light.

31. The device as defined in claim 30 in which said expandable means is disposed within an expandable bellows disposed within said housing.

32. The device as defined in claim 30 in which said means for forming said reservoir comprises an expandable bellows.

33. The device as defined in claim 30 in which said expandable means comprises a gel.

34. The device as defined in claim 30 in which said stimulation means comprises a light sheet operably associated with said expandable means.

35. The device as defined in claim 30 further including fill means for filling said reservoir.

36. The device as defined in claim 35 in which said fill means comprises a septum carried by said housing, said septum being pierceable by a cannula inserted into said septum.