Fluid delivery device with light activated energy source
First Claim
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.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A device for use in infusing medicinal fluid into a patient at a controlled rate comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An implantable device for implantation within a patient for infusing medicinal fluid into the patient at a controlled rate comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification