Infusion assembly that simultaneously delivers therapeutic fluid to plural body sites

• US 7,722,574 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Staunton, Douglas A., Toman, Jason D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gilbert; Andrew M
• Application Number:
  US11/465,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20060282040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 604/151, 604/153, 604/131, 604236-237, 604/141, 604/505, 604/94.01, 604/284, 604/256, 604246-249, 604/31, 604/33, 137/510, 251/45
• US Class Current: 604/247
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/16 having provision for disinfection or sterilisation A61M39/143 takes precedence; methods or apparatus for disinfection or sterilisation A61L2/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14228 with linear peristaltic action, i.e. comprising at least three pressurising members or a helical member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1684 by detecting the amount of infusate remaining, e.g. signalling end of infusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28

Abstract

An infusion assembly for delivering therapeutic fluid to plural body sites is provided. The assembly includes a positive displacement pump that discharges the therapeutic fluid. The assembly also includes a flow regulator valve including a valve housing that defines a pressure chamber, an inlet bore that opens into the pressure chamber, and first and second outlet passageways. The first and second outlet passageways extend, respectively, from separate first and second outlet openings to a first catheter and a second catheter through which the therapeutic fluid is directed to the body sites. A controller cyclically regulates the operation of the pump so that, in a first phase of each cycle, the pump is actuated so as to cause a fluid pulse to be presented through the inlet bore of the valve housing to the diaphragm and in a second phase of each cycle, the pump is not actuated.

Claims

1. An infusion assembly for delivering therapeutic fluid to plural body sites, said assembly including:

a positive displacement pump that periodically discharges pulses of therapeutic fluid;

a flow regulator valve, said valve having;

a valve housing that defines;

a pressure chamber;

an inlet bore that opens into said pressure chamber; and

first and second outlet passageways that extend respectively from separate first and second outlet openings to a first catheter and a second catheter through which the fluid is directed to the body sites, said valve housing having a first planar sealing surface defined about said first and second outlet openings;

a flexible diaphragm disposed in said pressure chamber over said inlet opening and said outlet openings that moves between a closed position and an open position, said diaphragm including a flexible portion and a head portion fixed to said flexible portion and configured to move with said flexible portion when said diaphragm moves between the closed and open positions, said head portion having a second planar sealing surface positioned to, when in the closed position, seat against said first planar sealing surface directly over both said first outlet opening and said second outlet opening so as to simultaneously seal both said first outlet opening and said second outlet opening; and

a biasing member disposed against said diaphragm so as to normally hold said diaphragm in the closed position absent a fluid pulse from said inlet bore;

a conduit for supplying discharged fluid from said pump through said valve housing inlet bore into said valve housing pressure chamber, said diaphragm moving from the closed position toward the open position under pressure of the discharged fluid supplied from said conduit.

2. The infusion assembly of claim 1, further including a flow restrictor connected to each of said outlet passageways between said outlet opening and said catheter that extends from said outlet passageway.

3. The infusion assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said valve housing is shaped to have;

a planar interior surface that defines a base of said pressure chamber;

first and second bosses that extend upwardly from said base of said pressure chamber towards said diaphragm and terminate at said first planar sealing surface; and

each of said outlet openings is formed in a separate one of said bosses; and

said second planar sealing surface is positioned to, when in the closed position, abut said first and second bosses so as to seal said outlet openings closed.

4. The infusion assembly of claim 1, further including a controller for regulating the actuation of said pump, said controller configured to cyclically regulate the operation of said pump so that, in a first phase of each cycle, said pump is actuated so as to cause a fluid pulse to be presented through said inlet bore to said diaphragm and in a second phase of each cycle, said pump is not actuated.

5. The infusion assembly of claim 1, wherein said first planar sealing surface comprises a pair of sealing surfaces that are spaced from one another and are coplanar.

6. An infusion assembly for delivering therapeutic fluid to plural body sites, said assembly including:

a positive displacement pump that periodically discharges pulses of therapeutic fluid;

a flow regulator valve, said valve having;

a valve housing that defines;

a pressure chamber;

an inlet bore that opens into said pressure chamber; and

first and second outlet passageways that extend respectively from separate first and second outlet openings to a first catheter and a second catheter through which the fluid is directed to the body sites;

a flexible diaphragm disposed in said pressure chamber over said inlet opening and said outlet openings that moves between a closed position and an open position, said diaphragm positioned to, when in the closed position, simultaneously seat directly over both said first outlet opening and said second outlet opening so as to seal both said first outlet opening and said second outlet opening; and

a biasing member disposed against said diaphragm so as to normally hold said diaphragm in the closed position to prevent fluid flow between said outlet openings, said biasing member configured to, in response to pressure in said pressure chamber from the input of a fluid pulse from said pump, allow said diaphragm to move away from the closed position and, in response to a decrease of pressure in said pressure chamber as a consequence of the flow of fluid out of said outlet passageways, return said diaphragm to the closed position so as to pump fluid out through said outlet passageways;

a flow restrictor in communication with each of said outlet passageways, said flow restrictors regulating the flow of fluid out of said outlet passageways so as to regulate both the initial increase of pressure in said pressure chamber and the resultant extent to which said diaphragm moves to an open state and the subsequent decrease of pressure in said pressure chamber and the resultant rate at which said diaphragm returns to the closed position; and

a conduit for supplying discharged fluid from said pump through said inlet bore into said pressure chamber.

7. The infusion assembly of claim 6, further including a controller for regulating the actuation of said pump, said controller configured to cyclically regulate the operation of said pump so that, in a first phase of each cycle, said pump is actuated so as to cause a fluid pulse to be presented through said inlet bore to said diaphragm and in a second phase of each cycle, said pump is not actuated.

8. An infusion assembly for delivering therapeutic fluid to plural body sites, said assembly including:

a positive displacement pump that periodically discharges pulses of therapeutic fluid;

a flow regulator valve, said valve having;

a valve housing that defines;

a pressure chamber;

an inlet bore that opens into said pressure chamber; and

first and second outlet passageways that extend respectively from separate first and second outlet openings to a first catheter and a second catheter through which the fluid is directed to the body sites;

a flexible diaphragm disposed in said pressure chamber over said inlet opening and said outlet openings that moves between a closed position and an open position, said diaphragm positioned to, when in the closed position, simultaneously seat directly over both said first outlet opening and said second outlet opening so as to seal both said first outlet opening and said second outlet opening;

a biasing member disposed against said diaphragm so as to normally hold said diaphragm in the closed position to prevent fluid flow between said outlet openings, said biasing member configured to, in response to pressure in said pressure chamber from the input of a fluid pulse from said pump, allow said diaphragm to move away from the closed position and, in response to a decrease of pressure in said pressure chamber as a consequence of the flow of fluid out of said outlet passageways, return said diaphragm to the closed position so as to pump fluid out through said outlet passageways; and

a flow restrictor disposed in each of said outlet passageways in said valve housing, said flow restrictors regulating the flow of fluid out of said outlet passageways so as to regulate both the initial increase of pressure in said pressure chamber and the resultant extent to which said diaphragm moves to an open state and the subsequent decrease of pressure in said pressure chamber and the resultant rate at which said diaphragm returns to the closed position,

a conduit for supplying discharged fluid from said pump through said inlet bore into said pressure chamber.

9. The infusion assembly of claim 8, further including a controller for regulating the actuation of said pump, said controller configured to cyclically regulate the operation of said pump so that, in a first phase of each cycle, said pump is actuated so as to cause a fluid pulse to be presented through said inlet bore to said diaphragm and in a second phase of each cycle, said pump is not actuated.