Implantable infusion devices including apparatus for confirming fluid flow and systems, apparatus and methods associated with same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of monitoring an infusion device that is implanted within a body and includes a reservoir for an infusible substance, a fluid transfer device, a catheter with an outlet, and a sensor device, which includes a pressure responsive element that is located within the catheter adjacent to the catheter outlet, that senses a characteristic that is representative of pressure, the method comprising the step of:
- measuring pressure at the sensor device, which includes a pressure responsive element that is located within the catheter adjacent to the catheter outlet, by wirelessly querying the sensor device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Implantable infusion apparatus, systems and methods that involve the use of a sensor that is associated with the catheter outlet.
50 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring an infusion device that is implanted within a body and includes a reservoir for an infusible substance, a fluid transfer device, a catheter with an outlet, and a sensor device, which includes a pressure responsive element that is located within the catheter adjacent to the catheter outlet, that senses a characteristic that is representative of pressure, the method comprising the step of:
measuring pressure at the sensor device, which includes a pressure responsive element that is located within the catheter adjacent to the catheter outlet, by wirelessly querying the sensor device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for use with an implanted infusion device, the implanted infusion device including a catheter, with a closed distal end and an outlet proximal of the closed distal end with no other outlets therebetween, and a sensor device, the sensor device being located within the catheter between the closed distal end and the catheter outlet and configured to measure a characteristic which is indicative of fluid flow through the catheter outlet, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing; a user interface carried by the housing; and means, associated with the housing, for wirelessly querying the sensor device that is located within the catheter between the closed distal end and the catheter outlet and receiving a signal indicative of the characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of monitoring an infusion device that is implanted within a body and includes a reservoir for an infusible substance, a fluid transfer device, a catheter with an outlet, and a pressure sensor, which includes a pressure responsive element that is located entirely within the catheter at or near the catheter outlet, the method comprising the steps of:
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directly wirelessly querying the pressure sensor, which includes a pressure responsive element that is located entirely within the catheter at or near to the catheter outlet, with a device that is external to the body; and powering the pressure sensor with the wireless query. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of monitoring an infusion device that is implanted within a body and includes a reservoir for an infusible substance, a fluid transfer device, a catheter with an outlet, and a pressure sensor, which includes a pressure responsive element that is located entirely within the catheter adjacent to the catheter outlet, the method comprising the step of:
directly wirelessly querying the pressure sensor, which includes a pressure responsive element that is located entirely within the catheter adjacent to the catheter outlet, with a device that is external to the body. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for use with an implanted infusion device, the implanted infusion device including a catheter, with a closed distal end and an outlet proximal of the closed distal end with no other outlets therebetween, and a sensor device, the sensor device being located between the closed distal end and the catheter outlet and configured to measure a characteristic which is indicative of fluid flow through the catheter outlet, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing; a user interface carried by the housing; means, associated with the housing, for directly wirelessly querying the sensor device between the closed distal end and the catheter outlet and receiving a signal indicative of the characteristic which is indicative of fluid flow through the catheter outlet; and means, associated with the housing, for determining whether fluid is flowing though the catheter outlet based on the signal indicative of the characteristic which is indicative of fluid flow through the catheter outlet. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification