Infusion device and actuator for same
First Claim
1. An infusion device apparatus for delivering a medication fluid, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
an inlet in the housing for receiving the fluid;
an outlet in the housing for discharging the fluid;
a piston channel within the housing through which the fluid flows from the inlet to the outlet; and
an actuator positioned within the housing and moveable between a retracted position and a forward position, the actuator defining a piston chamber for storing fluid received through the inlet when the actuator is in the retracted position, the actuator driving the fluid stored in the piston chamber toward the outlet when the actuator transitions from the retracted position to the forward position, the actuator comprising;
an armature; and
a piston having an overall length along an axial direction and having an inlet end and an outlet end, the piston coupled to the armature and axially moveable within the piston channel with the armature, the housing having defined therein a first fluid chamber above the piston channel, and the housing having defined therein a second fluid chamber below the piston channel, the first fluid chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and the inlet end of the piston located in the first fluid chamber, the second fluid chamber in fluid communication with the outlet and the outlet end of the piston being in fluid communication with the second fluid chamber, and the piston having a groove in an outer surface from its inlet end to its outlet end to form a flow path between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber for conducting fluid from the inlet to the outlet, wherein the groove is a helical groove around the piston.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for delivering a fluid includes a housing, an inlet in the housing for receiving the fluid, and an outlet in the housing for discharging the fluid. A piston channel is provided within the housing through which the fluid flows from the inlet to the outlet. An actuator is positioned within the housing and is moveable between a retracted position and a forward position, the actuator defining a piston chamber for storing fluid received through the inlet when the actuator is in the retracted position and for driving the fluid stored in the piston chamber toward the outlet when the actuator transitions from the retracted position to the forward position. The actuator includes an armature and a piston coupled to the armature and moveable within the piston channel. The piston is provided with a groove in an outer surface for conducting fluid from the inlet to the outlet.
27 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An infusion device apparatus for delivering a medication fluid, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing; an inlet in the housing for receiving the fluid; an outlet in the housing for discharging the fluid; a piston channel within the housing through which the fluid flows from the inlet to the outlet; and an actuator positioned within the housing and moveable between a retracted position and a forward position, the actuator defining a piston chamber for storing fluid received through the inlet when the actuator is in the retracted position, the actuator driving the fluid stored in the piston chamber toward the outlet when the actuator transitions from the retracted position to the forward position, the actuator comprising; an armature; and a piston having an overall length along an axial direction and having an inlet end and an outlet end, the piston coupled to the armature and axially moveable within the piston channel with the armature, the housing having defined therein a first fluid chamber above the piston channel, and the housing having defined therein a second fluid chamber below the piston channel, the first fluid chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and the inlet end of the piston located in the first fluid chamber, the second fluid chamber in fluid communication with the outlet and the outlet end of the piston being in fluid communication with the second fluid chamber, and the piston having a groove in an outer surface from its inlet end to its outlet end to form a flow path between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber for conducting fluid from the inlet to the outlet, wherein the groove is a helical groove around the piston. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An infusion device for delivering a fluid, the infusion device comprising:
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a housing; an inlet chamber, formed in the housing, for receiving the fluid; an outlet chamber, formed in the housing, for discharging the fluid; a piston channel formed within the housing and extending from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber, the inlet chamber located above the piston channel and the outlet chamber located below the piston channel; an actuator positioned within the housing and moveable between a retracted position and a forward position, the actuator comprising an armature located within the inlet chamber and further comprising a grooved piston coupled to the armature and axially moveable within the piston channel, the grooved piston having an inlet end, an outlet end, an outer surface, and a groove in the outer surface that forms a flow path for the fluid between the inlet end and the outlet end; and a valve assembly having a valve that seals the piston channel from the outlet chamber when the actuator is in the retracted position; wherein the valve, the grooved piston, and the piston channel together define a piston chamber when the actuator is in the retracted position, the piston chamber being configured to store the fluid received from the inlet chamber via the groove; wherein movement of the actuator from the retracted position to the forward position reduces volume of the piston chamber, and increases pressure within the piston chamber to open the valve such that the fluid stored in the piston chamber is discharged into the outlet chamber, the groove having a number of turns, a depth, a width, and a pitch that inhibits back leakage of the fluid from the piston chamber during the movement of the actuator from the retracted position to the forward position; and wherein movement of the actuator from the forward position to the retracted position causes the valve to close, and creates negative pressure which draws the fluid from the inlet chamber, through the groove, and into the piston chamber for a next discharging operation. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. An implantable infusion device for delivering a fluid protein drug to the body of a patient, the implantable infusion device comprising:
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a hermetically sealed and biocompatible housing; an inlet chamber, formed in the housing, for receiving the fluid protein drug; an outlet chamber, formed in the housing, for discharging the fluid protein drug; a piston channel formed within the housing and extending from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber, the inlet chamber located above the piston channel and the outlet chamber located below the piston channel; an actuator positioned within the housing and moveable between a retracted position and a forward position, the actuator comprising an armature located within the inlet chamber and further comprising a grooved piston coupled to the armature and axially moveable within the piston channel, the grooved piston having an inlet end, an outlet end, an outer surface, and a groove in the outer surface that forms a first flow path for the fluid protein drug between the inlet end and the outlet end; an annulus between the grooved piston and the piston channel, the annulus forming a second flow path for the fluid protein drug between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber; and a valve assembly located within the housing, the valve assembly having a valve that seals the piston channel, the first flow path, and the second flow path from the outlet chamber when the actuator is in the retracted position; wherein the valve, the grooved piston, and the piston channel together define a piston chamber when the actuator is in the retracted position, the piston chamber being configured to store fluid received from the inlet chamber via the groove and the annulus; wherein movement of the actuator from the retracted position to the forward position reduces volume of the piston chamber, and increases pressure within the piston chamber to open the valve such that the fluid stored in the piston chamber is discharged into the outlet chamber; and wherein movement of the actuator from the forward position to the retracted position causes the valve to close, and creates negative pressure which draws the fluid protein drug from the inlet chamber, through the groove, and into the piston chamber for a next discharging operation, the groove being configured and dimensioned to provide the first flow path in the presence of heavy protein deposits in the second flow path, the heavy protein deposits being caused by the fluid protein drug. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification