Infusion apparatus with constant force spring energy source
First Claim
1. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluids to a patient comprising:
- (a) an outer housing having first, second and third portions;
(b) an expandable housing disposed within said outer housing, said expandable housing having a fluid reservoir provided with an inlet for permitting fluid flow into said fluid reservoir and an outlet for permitting fluid flow from said fluid reservoir, said expandable housing comprising a bellows structure having an accordion-like side wall movable from a substantially collapsed configuration to a substantially expanded configuration by fluid flowing into said fluid reservoir;
(c) stored energy means disposed within said second portion of said outer housing for exerting a force upon said inner expandable housing to cause the fluid contained within said fluid reservoir to controllably flow through said outlet, said stored energy means comprising a constant force extension spring carried within said outer housing, said constant force extension spring being expandable by fluid flowing into said fluid reservoir and being retractable to cause fluid flow from said fluid reservoir;
(d) fill means carried by said outer housing for filling said reservoir with the fluid to be dispensed, said fill means comprising a vial carried within said third portion of said outer housing, said third portion of said outer housing including;
(i) a fluid passageway;
(ii) a first chamber for telescopically receiving said vial; and
(iii) an elongated support mounted within said first chamber, said elongated support having an elongated hollow needle, said hollow needle defining a flow passageway in communication with said fluid passageway;
(e) dispensing means carried by said outer housing for dispensing fluid to the patient; and
flow control means connected to said outer housing for controlling fluid flow between said reservoir and said dispensing means.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid dispenser for use in controllably dispensing fluid medicaments, such as antibiotics, oncolytics, hormones, steroids, blood clotting agents, analgesics, bio pharmaceuticals and like medicinal agents from a reservoir that has been filled from prefilled containers. The fluid dispenser includes a housing to which fill vials can be connected for filling the dispenser reservoir with the fluid, and a stored energy source provided in the form of a substantially constant-force spring that provides the force necessary to continuously and uniformly expel fluid from the device reservoir. The fluid dispenser also includes a fluid flow control assembly that precisely controls the flow of the medicament solution to the patient.
117 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluids to a patient comprising:
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(a) an outer housing having first, second and third portions; (b) an expandable housing disposed within said outer housing, said expandable housing having a fluid reservoir provided with an inlet for permitting fluid flow into said fluid reservoir and an outlet for permitting fluid flow from said fluid reservoir, said expandable housing comprising a bellows structure having an accordion-like side wall movable from a substantially collapsed configuration to a substantially expanded configuration by fluid flowing into said fluid reservoir; (c) stored energy means disposed within said second portion of said outer housing for exerting a force upon said inner expandable housing to cause the fluid contained within said fluid reservoir to controllably flow through said outlet, said stored energy means comprising a constant force extension spring carried within said outer housing, said constant force extension spring being expandable by fluid flowing into said fluid reservoir and being retractable to cause fluid flow from said fluid reservoir; (d) fill means carried by said outer housing for filling said reservoir with the fluid to be dispensed, said fill means comprising a vial carried within said third portion of said outer housing, said third portion of said outer housing including; (i) a fluid passageway; (ii) a first chamber for telescopically receiving said vial; and (iii) an elongated support mounted within said first chamber, said elongated support having an elongated hollow needle, said hollow needle defining a flow passageway in communication with said fluid passageway; (e) dispensing means carried by said outer housing for dispensing fluid to the patient; and flow control means connected to said outer housing for controlling fluid flow between said reservoir and said dispensing means.
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2. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluids to a patient comprising:
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(a) an outer housing having first, second and third portions; (b) an expandable housing disposed within said outer housing, said expandable housing having a fluid reservoir provided with an inlet for permitting fluid flow into said fluid reservoir and an outlet for permitting fluid flow from said fluid reservoir, said expandable housing comprising a bellows structure having an accordion-like side wall movable from a substantially collapsed configuration to a substantially expanded configuration by fluid flowing into said fluid reservoir; (c) stored energy means disposed within said second portion of said outer housing for exerting a force upon said inner expandable housing to cause the fluid contained within said fluid reservoir to controllably flow through said outlet, said stored energy means comprising a constant force extension spring carried within said outer housing, said constant force extension spring being expandable by fluid flowing into said fluid reservoir and being retractable to cause fluid flow from said fluid reservoir; (d) fill means carried by said outer housing for filling said reservoir with the fluid to be dispensed, said fill means comprising first and second vials carried within said third portion of said outer housing, said third portion of said outer housing including; (i) a fluid passageway; (ii) a first chamber for telescopically receiving said first fill vial; (iii) an elongated support mounted within said first chamber, said elongated support having an elongated hollow needle, said hollow needle defining a flow passageway in communication with said fluid passageway; (iv) a second chamber for telescopically receiving said second fill vial; and
an elongated support mounted within said second chamber, said elongated support having an elongated hollow needle, said hollow needle defining a flow passageway in communication with said fluid passageway;(e) dispensing means carried by said outer housing for dispensing fluid to the patient; and (f) flow control means connected to said outer housing for controlling fluid flow between said reservoir and said dispensing means.
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3. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluids to a patient comprising:
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(a) an outer housing having first, second and third portions; (b) an expandable housing disposed within said outer housing, said expandable housing having a fluid reservoir provided with an inlet for permitting fluid flow into said fluid reservoir and an outlet for permitting fluid flow from said fluid reservoir,said expandable housing comprising a bellows structure having an accordion-like side wall movable from a substantially collapsed configuration to a substantially expanded configuration by fluid flowing into said fluid reservoir; (c) stored energy means disposed within said second portion of said outer housing for exerting a force upon said inner expandable housing to cause the fluid contained within said fluid reservoir to controllably flow through said outlet, said stored energy means comprising a constant force extension spring carried within said outer housing, said constant force extension spring being expandable by fluid flowing into said fluid reservoir and being retractable to cause fluid flow from said fluid reservoir; (d) fill means carried by said outer housing for filling said reservoir with the fluid to be dispensed, said fill means comprising a vial carried within said third portion of said outer housing; (e) dispensing means carried by said outer housing for dispensing fluid to the patient; and flow control means connected to said outer housing for controlling fluid flow between said reservoir and said dispensing means, said flow control means comprising a flow control assembly including; (i) an outer casing disposed within said first portion of said outer housing, said outer casing having a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart fluid outlets in communication with said fluid reservoir; (ii) a flow control member mounted within said outer casing, said flow control member having a plurality of elongated flow control channels, each of said plurality of elongated flow control channels having an inlet and an outlet; and (iii) selector means rotatably connected to said second portion of said outer housing for rotating said flow control member. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification