Systems and methods for infusion of fluids using stored potential energy and a variable flow resistor
First Claim
1. An infusion device comprising:
- a plunger situated within a vessel so as to define a chamber within which a volume of fluid can be accommodated between a downstream surface of the plunger and the vessel;
an outflow path through which the fluid in the chamber is dispensed upon displacement of the plunger anda variable flow resistor in fluid communication with the outflow path and being configured to increase exposure of a permeable area through which the fluid from the outflow path is dispensed as a force acting on the plunger decreases to maintain a substantially constant fluid flow rate from the vessel.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for infusion of fluids using stored potential energy and a variable flow resistor. In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an infusion device that includes a plunger situated within a vessel so as to define a chamber within which a volume of fluid can be accommodated between a downstream surface of the plunger and the vessel. The infusion device further includes an outflow path through which the fluid in the chamber can be dispensed upon displacement of the plunger by a force acting thereon. A variable flow resistor is situated within the outflow path and is configured to allow a substantially constant fluid flow rate from the vessel to be maintained as the force acting on the plunger decreases.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An infusion device comprising:
-
a plunger situated within a vessel so as to define a chamber within which a volume of fluid can be accommodated between a downstream surface of the plunger and the vessel; an outflow path through which the fluid in the chamber is dispensed upon displacement of the plunger and a variable flow resistor in fluid communication with the outflow path and being configured to increase exposure of a permeable area through which the fluid from the outflow path is dispensed as a force acting on the plunger decreases to maintain a substantially constant fluid flow rate from the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method for delivering fluid comprising:
-
providing within a chamber, defined between downstream surface of a plunger and a vessel within which the plunger is situated, a volume of fluid to be delivered; causing a force to act on the plunger to displace the plunger within the vessel, such that the fluid is dispensed from the chamber; and varying the resistance to flow within a path through which the fluid is being dispensed from the chamber by increasing exposure of a permeable area through which the flow is being dispensed as the force acting on the plunger decreases, to maintain a substantially constant rate of dispensing. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An infusion device comprising:
-
a plunger situated within a vessel so as to define a chamber within which a volume of fluid can be accommodated between a downstream surface of the plunger and the vessel; an outflow path through which the fluid in the chamber can be dispensed upon displacement of the plunger by a force acting thereon; and a variable flow resistor in fluid communication with the outflow, the resistor having an inlet cavity into which the fluid from the outflow path is received and an outflow cavity from which the fluid is dispensed out of the variable flow resistor, the resistor configured to vary a flow rate of the fluid between the inlet cavity and the outflow cavity to maintain a substantially constant pressure therein as the force acting on the plunger decreases, so that such pressure can act to deliver the fluid from the resistor at a substantially constant rate. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for delivering fluid comprising:
-
providing within a chamber, defined by a downstream surface of a plunger and a vessel in which the plunger is situated, a volume of fluid to be dispensed; causing a force to act on the plunger to displace the plunger within the vessel, such that the fluid is dispensed from the chamber; receiving the fluid dispensed from the chamber in an environment comprising an inlet cavity into which the fluid from the chamber is received and outflow cavity from which the fluid is dispensed, designed to maintain a substantially constant pressure therein that can act to dispense the fluid from the environment; and dispensing the fluid from the outflow cavity while maintaining a substantially constant pressure in the outflow cavity by varying the flow rate of the fluid between the inlet cavity and the outlet cavity by increasing the exposure of a permeable area through which the fluid from the outflow path is dispensed, the pressure acting to dispense the fluid from the outflow chamber at a constant flow rate to a patient as the force on the plunger declines.
-
-
17. An infusion device comprising:
-
a plunger situated within a vessel so as to define a chamber within which a volume of fluid can be accommodated between a downstream surface of the plunger and the vessel; an outflow path through which the fluid in the chamber can be dispensed upon displacement of the plunger by a force acting thereon; and a variable flow resistor in fluid communication with the outflow path and having an inlet cavity into which the fluid from the outflow path is received, an outflow cavity from which the fluid is dispensed out of the variable flow resistor, the resistor being configured to increase exposure of a permeable area through which the fluid from the inlet cavity is transferred into the outflow cavity as the force acting on the plunger decreases to deliver the fluid from the resistor at a substantially constant rate.
-
Specification