Drug-delivery pump with dynamic, adaptive control

• US 9,283,322 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2013
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MiniPumps, LLC
• Original Assignee: MiniPumps, LLC
• Inventors: Shih, Jason, Brennan, Jeffrey, Jiang, Fukang, Caffey, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhisma
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang, Jenna
• Application Number:
  US13/939,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20140074058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14204 with gas-producing electrochemical cell
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0693 Brain, cerebrum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14593 the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/148 flexible, e.g. independent bagsA61M5/155 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection

Abstract

In various embodiments, actuation of a drug-delivery pump is controlled based on a change in a condition of the pump.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a drug to a patient from drug-delivery pump comprising a drug reservoir, a cannula, and a pump actuator for forcing a liquid drug from the drug reservoir into the patient via the cannula at period time intervals, the method comprising:

establishing fluid communication between the drug reservoir and the patient;

measuring at least one quantitative electrical or flow pump operating parameter;

storing (i) a fixed dosage of the liquid drug to be delivered by the pump actuator through the cannula during each of a plurality of dosing intervals and (ii) a value of the at least one quantitative pump operating parameter measured during a previous dosing interval, the pump actuator being operative during the previous dosing interval to deliver the fixed dosage; and

controlling the pump actuator by computing actuator settings based at least in part on the stored fixed dosage and a change in a condition of the pump actuator specified by a quantitative difference between the stored value of the pump operating parameter and a current value of the pump operating parameter, and adjusting the pump actuator in accordance with the computed actuator settings to thereby compensate for the change in actuation time required for the drug-delivery pump to achieve a target flow rate of the liquid drug through the cannula or a time required for the flow of the liquid drug to decrease from the target flow rate to a flow rate of zero;

wherein the drug-delivery pump is an electrolysis-driven pump and the pump actuator comprises electrolysis electrodes driven by a current, and wherein the controlling the pump actuator comprises varying actuation current supplied to the electrolysis electrodes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the pump actuator comprises maintaining delivery of a substantially fixed dosage of the liquid at the periodic time intervals to the patient.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising storing conditions of the pump actuator at each time interval.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising measuring a flow rate of the liquid drug into the patient.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein controlling the pump actuator comprises analyzing at least one of the flow rate, stored conditions of the pump actuator from previous dosing interval, or real-time data from the pump actuator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the drug-delivery pump comprises varying an actuation duration of the electrolysis electrodes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the drug-delivery pump comprises driving the electrolysis electrodes with a constant current.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the drug-delivery pump comprises driving the electrolysis electrodes with a time-varying current waveform.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the pump actuator comprises maintaining delivery of a substantially fixed dosage of the liquid drug over time through continuous infusion to the patient.