Implantable infusion devices including apparatus for confirming fluid flow and systems, apparatus and methods associated with same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An implantable infusion device, comprising:
- a housing;
a fluid transfer device carried within the housing;
a power supply carried within the housing and operably connected to the fluid transfer device;
a catheter, including a outlet, operably connected to the fluid transfer device;
a plurality of spaced sensor devices, which are not powered by the power supply within the housing, associated with the catheter and each configured to measure a within-the-catheter characteristic that is indicative of fluid flow through the catheter; and
a controller, in communication with the plurality of spaced sensor devices, that identifies a location, relative to the plurality of spaced sensor devices, of a catheter blockage or leak based on the within-the-catheter characteristic measured by the plurality of spaced sensor devices.
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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.
23 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An implantable infusion device, comprising:
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a housing; a fluid transfer device carried within the housing; a power supply carried within the housing and operably connected to the fluid transfer device; a catheter, including a outlet, operably connected to the fluid transfer device; a plurality of spaced sensor devices, which are not powered by the power supply within the housing, associated with the catheter and each configured to measure a within-the-catheter characteristic that is indicative of fluid flow through the catheter; and a controller, in communication with the plurality of spaced sensor devices, that identifies a location, relative to the plurality of spaced sensor devices, of a catheter blockage or leak based on the within-the-catheter characteristic measured by the plurality of spaced sensor devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. 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, and a plurality of spaced sensor devices associated with the catheter that each sense a within-the-catheter characteristic that is representative of fluid flow, the method comprising the steps of:
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wirelessly querying at least two of the spaced sensor devices associated with the catheter that each sense the within-the-catheter characteristic that is representative of fluid flow; and identifying a location, relative to the at least two spaced sensors, of a catheter blockage or leak based on the result of the wireless query. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. 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 through which fluid from the fluid transfer device flows into the body, and a sensor device that is located within the catheter at the catheter outlet and is configured to measure a characteristic that is indicative of fluid flow through the catheter outlet, the method comprising the step of:
measuring the characteristic that is indicative of fluid flow through the catheter outlet through which fluid from the fluid transfer device flows into the body with the sensor device that is located within the catheter at the catheter outlet through which fluid from the fluid transfer device flows into the body. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. 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, 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, with a device that is external to the body; and powering the pressure sensor with the wireless query. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification