Drug delivery device and method
First Claim
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1. A drug delivery device for metered delivery of a liquid medicament to an outlet, the device comprising:
- (a) a pressurized reservoir configured for storing and supplying the liquid medicament at a pressure above atmospheric pressure;
(b) a flow path in fluid communication with said pressurized reservoir and the outlet, said flow path including;
(i) a first valve assuming a normally-closed flow-blocking state and selectively actuatable to an open state which permits fluid flow through said first valve,(ii) a flow restriction configured to limit fluid flow along said flow path, and(iii) a second valve assuming a normally-closed flow-blocking state and selectively actuatable to an open state which permits fluid flow through said second valve,such that, when both said first valve and second valve are in said open state, the liquid medicament flows from the pressurized reservoir along said flow path to the outlet at a rate limited primarily by said flow restriction;
(c) a pressure measurement arrangement deployed in pressure-sensing engagement with a first point and a second point along said flow path, at least part of said flow restriction being between said first and second points, one of said first and second points being intermediate to said first and second valves; and
(d) a controller electronically associated with said pressure measurement arrangement and said first and second valves, and configured to selectively open said first and second valves to deliver a defined quantity of the liquid medicament to the outlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A drug delivery device (10) includes a pressurized reservoir (14) in communication with a flow path to an outlet (12). The flow path includes two normally-closed valves (16, 18) and a flow restriction (18). A pressure measurement arrangement (22) measures a differential fluid pressure between two points (24, 26) along the flow path which span at least part of the flow restriction (18), one of the points being between the valves (16, 18). A controller (28) selectively opens the valves (16,18) to deliver a defined quantity of the liquid medicament to the outlet (12).
58 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A drug delivery device for metered delivery of a liquid medicament to an outlet, the device comprising:
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(a) a pressurized reservoir configured for storing and supplying the liquid medicament at a pressure above atmospheric pressure; (b) a flow path in fluid communication with said pressurized reservoir and the outlet, said flow path including; (i) a first valve assuming a normally-closed flow-blocking state and selectively actuatable to an open state which permits fluid flow through said first valve, (ii) a flow restriction configured to limit fluid flow along said flow path, and (iii) a second valve assuming a normally-closed flow-blocking state and selectively actuatable to an open state which permits fluid flow through said second valve, such that, when both said first valve and second valve are in said open state, the liquid medicament flows from the pressurized reservoir along said flow path to the outlet at a rate limited primarily by said flow restriction; (c) a pressure measurement arrangement deployed in pressure-sensing engagement with a first point and a second point along said flow path, at least part of said flow restriction being between said first and second points, one of said first and second points being intermediate to said first and second valves; and (d) a controller electronically associated with said pressure measurement arrangement and said first and second valves, and configured to selectively open said first and second valves to deliver a defined quantity of the liquid medicament to the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A drug delivery device for metered delivery of a liquid medicament to an outlet, the device comprising:
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(a) a pressurized reservoir configured for storing and supplying the liquid medicament at a pressure above atmospheric pressure; (b) a flow path in fluid communication with said pressurized reservoir and the outlet, said flow path including; (i) a first valve assuming a normally-closed flow-blocking state and selectively adjustable to provide a flow restriction configured to limit fluid flow along said flow path, and (ii) a second valve assuming a normally-closed flow-blocking state and selectively actuatable to an open state which permits fluid flow through said second valve, such that, when both said first valve and second valve are both opened, the liquid medicament flows from the pressurized reservoir along said flow path to the outlet at a rate limited primarily by said flow restriction of said first valve; (c) a pressure measurement arrangement deployed in pressure-sensing engagement with a first point and a second point along said flow path, said first valve being between said first and second points, said second point being intermediate to said first and second valves; and (d) a controller electronically associated with said pressure measurement arrangement and said first and second valves, and configured to selectively actuate said first and second valves to deliver a defined quantity of the liquid medicament to the outlet.
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17. In a drug delivery device having a pressurized source of a liquid medicament supplying a flow path including two valves and a flow restriction, a method for identifying malfunction of at least one of the valves, the method comprising:
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(a) closing both valves in such a manner as to ensure a pressure differential across at least one of the valves; and (b) monitoring for a change in liquid pressure between the valves, wherein said closing is performed in such a manner as to ensure a pressure differential across both of the valves, such that an increase in pressure between the two valves indicates leakage of a first of the valves and a decrease in pressure between the two valves indicates leakage of a second of the valves. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method for delivery of a liquid medicament to an outlet, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a drug delivery device including; (i) a pressurized reservoir storing and supplying the liquid medicament at a pressure above atmospheric pressure; (ii) a flow path in fluid communication with said pressurized reservoir and the outlet, said flow path including two valves and a flow restriction; (b) opening the two valves to allow flow from the reservoir through the flow restriction to the outlet; (c) while the drug is flowing, measuring a fluid pressure differential across at least part of the flow restriction and deriving from the pressure differential a rate of fluid flow; (d) closing at least one of the valves; and (e) monitoring a differential fluid pressure between two points in the flow path while at least one of the valves is closed so as to identify at least one state of malfunction. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A fluid drug delivery device comprising:
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(a) a cartridge including a fluid supply assembly, a fluid outlet, and a flow control arrangement including a flow control valve, said flow control arrangement controlling flow from said fluid supply assembly to said fluid outlet, said flow control valve being operated by displacement of at least one actuation surface provided by said cartridge, said actuation surface being isolated from contact with the fluid; (b) a portable base unit configured for receiving said cartridge in removable engagement with said base unit, said base unit including; (i) a processing unit, (ii) a piezoelectric actuator controlled by said processing unit, and (iii) a mechanical amplifier associated with said piezoelectric actuator and configured to produce an output displacement at an output surface, said output displacement having an amplitude greater than an output displacement of said piezoelectric actuator; and (c) an adjustment mechanism associated with one of said cartridge and said base unit, said adjustment mechanism being operative, after engagement of said cartridge with said base, to bring said output surface of said mechanical amplifier into contact with said actuation surface. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A fluid drug delivery device comprising:
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(a) a pressurized fluid reservoir configured for storing and supplying the fluid drug at a pressure above atmospheric pressure; (b) a flow regulating system associated with said fluid reservoir and configured to control flow from said fluid reservoir to a fluid outlet, said flow regulating system including a controller operative to detect at least one predefined malfunction condition; and (c) a reservoir pressure release mechanism associated with said controller so as to be actuated in response to said malfunction condition to depressurize said reservoir, thereby interrupting flow from said fluid reservoir to said outlet. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification