Fluid delivery device with a diffusion membrane and electrochemical pump
First Claim
1. A fluid delivery device, comprising:
- an electrochemical pump for transporting water, the electrochemical pump comprising an electrochemical pump product chamber configured to retain water transported by the electrochemical pump, an active electrode, an auxiliary electrode configured for ionic communication with the active electrode, an ion-exchange membrane positioned between the active electrode and the auxiliary electrode, wherein the ion-exchange membrane is configured to transport water by osmosis and electro-osmosis between the active electrode and the auxiliary electrode into the electrochemical pump product chamber, wherein one of the electrodes is located in the first chamber portion of the electrochemical pump product chamber, and the other electrode is located on an opposite side of the ion-exchange membrane;
a reservoir configured to contain a fluid to be delivered;
a displaceable member positioned between the electrochemical pump product chamber and the reservoir, wherein the displaceable member is responsive to the electrochemical pump transporting water into the electrochemical pump product chamber; and
a diffuse membrane configured to generate increased pressure within the electrochemical pump product chamber, wherein the diffuse membrane is located within the electrochemical pump product chamber, wherein the diffuse membrane at least partially defines a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion within the electrochemical pump product chamber, and wherein the diffuse membrane comprises a substantially planar barrier with at least one hole therethrough having cross-sectional dimensions to prevent substantially all advection of water from the first chamber portion to the second chamber portion in the absence of electro-osmosis through the ion-exchange membrane.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid delivery device can be used to deliver fluid within a living body. The fluid delivery device includes an electrochemical pump, a reservoir, a displaceable member, and a diffuse membrane. The electrochemical pump transports water and includes an electrochemical pump product chamber to retain water transported by the electrochemical pump. The reservoir contains a fluid to be delivered. The displaceable member is positioned between the electrochemical pump product chamber and the reservoir. The displaceable member is responsive to the electrochemical pump transporting water into the electrochemical pump product chamber. The diffuse membrane generates increased pressure within the electrochemical pump product chamber.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A fluid delivery device, comprising:
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an electrochemical pump for transporting water, the electrochemical pump comprising an electrochemical pump product chamber configured to retain water transported by the electrochemical pump, an active electrode, an auxiliary electrode configured for ionic communication with the active electrode, an ion-exchange membrane positioned between the active electrode and the auxiliary electrode, wherein the ion-exchange membrane is configured to transport water by osmosis and electro-osmosis between the active electrode and the auxiliary electrode into the electrochemical pump product chamber, wherein one of the electrodes is located in the first chamber portion of the electrochemical pump product chamber, and the other electrode is located on an opposite side of the ion-exchange membrane; a reservoir configured to contain a fluid to be delivered; a displaceable member positioned between the electrochemical pump product chamber and the reservoir, wherein the displaceable member is responsive to the electrochemical pump transporting water into the electrochemical pump product chamber; and a diffuse membrane configured to generate increased pressure within the electrochemical pump product chamber, wherein the diffuse membrane is located within the electrochemical pump product chamber, wherein the diffuse membrane at least partially defines a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion within the electrochemical pump product chamber, and wherein the diffuse membrane comprises a substantially planar barrier with at least one hole therethrough having cross-sectional dimensions to prevent substantially all advection of water from the first chamber portion to the second chamber portion in the absence of electro-osmosis through the ion-exchange membrane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A fluid delivery device suitable for implantation within a living body, the fluid delivery device comprising:
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an electrochemical pump for transporting water, the electrochemical pump comprising an electrochemical pump product chamber configured to retain water transported by the electrochemical pump; a control circuit operably connected to the electrochemical pump, wherein a rate of water transport being responsive to electrical current flowing through the control circuit; an active electrode and an auxiliary electrode being in ionic communication with each other and operably connected to the control circuit; a reservoir configured to contain a fluid to be delivered; a displaceable member positioned between the electrochemical pump product chamber and the reservoir, wherein the displaceable member is responsive to the electrochemical pump transporting water into the electrochemical pump product chamber; an ion-exchange membrane positioned between the active electrode and the auxiliary electrode, wherein the ion-exchange membrane is configured to transport water by osmosis and electro-osmosis between the active electrode and the auxiliary electrode into the electrochemical pump product chamber; a diffuse membrane configured to generate increased pressure within the electrochemical pump product chamber, wherein the diffuse membrane comprises a substantially planar barrier with at least one hole therethrough having cross-sectional dimensions; a protective porous separator being permeable to H20 molecules or saline and positioned such that the active electrode or the ion-exchange membrane is indirectly exposed to body tissue or body fluids; and
,a housing containing the electrochemical pump, the displaceable member, the diffuse membrane, and the reservoir therein, wherein the auxiliary electrode is external to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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41. A method for delivering a fluid by a fluid delivery device suitable for implantation in a living body, the method comprising:
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transporting water through an ion-exchange membrane by osmosis and electro-osmosis using an electrochemical pump at a rate proportional to an output signal of a control circuit; expanding a volume of an electrochemical pump product chamber in response to transporting the water into the electrochemical pump product chamber; generating increased pressure within the expanded electrochemical pump product chamber using a diffuse membrane, wherein the diffuse membrane comprises a substantially planar barrier with at least one hole therethrough having cross-sectional dimensions; displacing a displaceable member in response to the pressure in the electrochemical pump product chamber; and controllably expelling fluid from the reservoir in response to displacement of the displaceable member. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A fluid delivery device, comprising:
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an electrochemical pump for transporting water, the electrochemical pump comprising; an electrochemical pump product chamber configured to retain water transported by the electrochemical pump; an active electrode; an auxiliary electrode configured for ionic communication with the active electrode; and an ion-exchange membrane positioned between the active electrode and the auxiliary electrode, wherein the ion-exchange membrane is configured to transport water by osmosis and electro-osmosis between the active electrode and the auxiliary electrode into the electrochemical pump product chamber, and wherein one of the electrodes is located in the first chamber portion of the electrochemical pump product chamber, and the other electrode is located on an opposite side of the ion-exchange membrane; a reservoir configured to contain a fluid to be delivered; a displaceable member positioned between the electrochemical pump product chamber and the reservoir, wherein the displaceable member is responsive to the electrochemical pump transporting water into the electrochemical pump product chamber; a diffuse membrane configured to generate increased pressure within the electrochemical pump product chamber, wherein the diffuse membrane is located within the electrochemical pump product chamber, and wherein the diffuse membrane at least partially defines a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion within the electrochemical pump product chamber; an auxiliary electrode compartment being impermeable to body fluid, the auxiliary electrode compartment containing saline and the auxiliary electrode; and a second displaceable member to define at least a portion of the auxiliary electrode compartment, wherein the second displaceable member is configured to retract in response to transfer of water from the auxiliary electrode compartment through the ion-conducting membrane to the electrochemical pump product chamber.
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47. A fluid delivery device, comprising:
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an electrochemical pump for transporting water, the electrochemical pump comprising; an electrochemical pump product chamber configured to retain water transported by the electrochemical pump; an active electrode; an auxiliary electrode configured for ionic communication with the active electrode; and an ion-exchange membrane positioned between the active electrode and the auxiliary electrode, wherein the ion-exchange membrane is configured to transport water by osmosis and electro-osmosis between the active electrode and the auxiliary electrode into the electrochemical pump product chamber, and wherein one of the electrodes is located in the first chamber portion of the electrochemical pump product chamber, and the other electrode is located on an opposite side of the ion-exchange membrane; a reservoir configured to contain a fluid to be delivered; a displaceable member positioned between the electrochemical pump product chamber and the reservoir, wherein the displaceable member is responsive to the electrochemical pump transporting water into the electrochemical pump product chamber; and a diffuse membrane configured to generate increased pressure within the electrochemical pump product chamber, wherein the diffuse membrane is located within the electrochemical pump product chamber, and wherein the diffuse membrane at least partially defines a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion within the electrochemical pump product chamber; and an auxiliary electrode compartment being impermeable to body fluid, the auxiliary electrode compartment containing saline and the auxiliary electrode, wherein the auxiliary electrode compartment is configured to collapse in response to transfer of water from the auxiliary electrode compartment through the ion-conducting membrane to the electrochemical pump product chamber.
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Specification