Medical pump with fixed stroke length

• US 8,162,874 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2010
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Whitehead, Nicholas R., Gray, John Michael, Haase, James M., Nelson Konen, Cynthia R., Hovind, Thomas W., Young, Dale A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Berdichevsky, Aarti B
• Application Number:
  US12/755,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20100280447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 604/67, 604/151, 604/890.1, 604/891.1
• US Class Current: 604/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16877 Adjusting flow; Devices for setting a flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A method comprises measuring a volume of fluid delivered per pump stroke for each of a plurality of substantially identical medical pumps. The substantially identical medical pumps each have a fixed stroke length. The method further comprises: storing indications of the measured volumes on one or more data storage mediums; and for each of the plurality of substantially identical medical pumps, generating a separate therapy control program based on the indication of the measured volume associated with that one of the plurality of substantially identical medical pumps.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

individually measuring a volume of fluid delivered per pump stroke for each medical pump in a series of medical pumps manufactured according to the same design and specifications, wherein the medical pumps in the series each have a fixed stroke length;

storing indications of the measured volumes for each medical pump in the series on one or more data storage mediums; and

for each medical pump in the series, generating a separate therapy control program based on the indication of the measured volume associated with that one of the medical pumps in the series to calibrate the separate therapy control program to the measured volume associated with that one of the medical pumps in the series.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling each medical pump to deliver a specified quantity of therapeutic fluid based on the therapy control program associated with that medical pump.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the specified quantity of therapeutic fluid is defined as a flow rate.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the specified quantity of therapeutic fluid is defined as a volume of therapeutic fluid.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical pumps are part of implantable medical devices (IMDs), and wherein storing indications of the measured volumes on one or more data storage mediums comprises storing each indication in a memory associated with the IMD corresponding to the medical pump associated with that indication.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the memory is part of an external programmer that communicates wirelessly with the IMD to control delivery of a therapeutic fluid by the medical pump.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the memory is part of the IMD.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each medical pump in the series comprises:

a magnetic cup forming a recess, wherein the magnetic cup includes a protrusion within the recess, wherein the cup forms a central aperture through the protrusion;

a one-way valve that controls fluid flow within the central aperture;

an electromagnetic coil within the recess and circumscribing the protrusion;

a piston within the central aperture;

a magnetic pole attached to the piston; and

a cover enclosing the magnetic pole between an interior surface of the cover and the electromagnetic coil,

wherein the cover includes one or more fixed protrusions on the interior surface of the cover, and wherein the protrusions set a stroke length of the piston.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, for each medical pump in the series, the cover includes a filter within an inlet flow path of the medical pump.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein each medical pump in the series further comprises a barrier plate between the magnetic cup and the pole, wherein the barrier plate fluidically separates an interior of the cup from the external surface of the barrier plate.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein each medical pump in the series further comprises:

a sleeve within the central aperture of the magnetic cup;

a band fixed to the magnetic cup and surrounding the recess;

a first seal between the sleeve and the barrier plate; and

a first seal between the band and the barrier plate.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein each medical pump in the series further comprises a bulkhead that forms a cup-mounting bay, wherein the cup is mounted within the cup-mounting bay.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, for each medical pump in the series, the bulkhead forms a filter-mounting bay and a fluid passageway that connects the filter-mounting bay to the cup-mounting bay, the medical pump assembly further comprising a filter mounted within the filter-mounting bay.