Method and apparatus for compensating for injection media viscosity in a pressurized drug injection system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of determining a flow rate of a fluid in a needleless injection system, wherein the system comprises:
- a console comprising control components for the injection system;
an injection chamber operatively connected to the console and comprising an injection cylinder and at least a first sensor,a plunger positioned for slideable movement within the injection cylinder; and
an injection shaft operatively connected to the injection chamber, the injection shaft comprising a distal end and at least one injection orifice at the distal end for delivering a first fluid and a second fluid at a pressure, velocity, and stream size that corresponds to its viscosity for passing through a tissue surface, penetrating into tissue below the tissue surface, and dispersing fluid particles within the tissue, the method comprising the steps of;
providing the first fluid to the injection chamber;
pressurizing the first fluid to a first pressure;
moving the plunger relative to the injection chamber and evacuating at least a portion of the first fluid from the injection chamber while detecting a first speed of the plunger with the first sensor;
providing the first speed of the plunger detected by the first sensor to the console;
calculating the flow rate of the first fluid; and
controlling pressure generated in the injection chamber by the console for fluid administration of at least one of the first and second fluids from the injection orifice at the distal end of the injection shaft at an injection speed that corresponds to a viscosity of at least one of the first and second fluids.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A needleless injection system is provided to deliver therapeutic fluids to an internal treatment site in a patient, where the system is pressurized and is capable of compensating for differences in injection media viscosity and mechanical system characteristics. In one aspect, a needleless therapeutic fluid injection system is provided that includes modular, interchangeable components. In particular, the system includes a console that generally includes the electronic and/or hydraulic control components for the system, an injection chamber, and a shaft or catheter tube.
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A method of determining a flow rate of a fluid in a needleless injection system, wherein the system comprises:
-
a console comprising control components for the injection system; an injection chamber operatively connected to the console and comprising an injection cylinder and at least a first sensor, a plunger positioned for slideable movement within the injection cylinder; and an injection shaft operatively connected to the injection chamber, the injection shaft comprising a distal end and at least one injection orifice at the distal end for delivering a first fluid and a second fluid at a pressure, velocity, and stream size that corresponds to its viscosity for passing through a tissue surface, penetrating into tissue below the tissue surface, and dispersing fluid particles within the tissue, the method comprising the steps of; providing the first fluid to the injection chamber; pressurizing the first fluid to a first pressure; moving the plunger relative to the injection chamber and evacuating at least a portion of the first fluid from the injection chamber while detecting a first speed of the plunger with the first sensor; providing the first speed of the plunger detected by the first sensor to the console; calculating the flow rate of the first fluid; and controlling pressure generated in the injection chamber by the console for fluid administration of at least one of the first and second fluids from the injection orifice at the distal end of the injection shaft at an injection speed that corresponds to a viscosity of at least one of the first and second fluids. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A needleless injection system comprising:
-
a console comprising control components for the system; an injection chamber removeably attached to the console and comprising at least a first speed sensor for detecting fluid speed; and a first injection shaft attached at a proximal end to the injection chamber for fluid communication with an injection cylinder of the injection chamber; wherein the console controls the pressure that is generated in the injection chamber for fluid administration at a distal end of the injection shaft; wherein the injection chamber further comprises a plunger that is moveable within the injection cylinder in response to pressure changes within the injection cylinder; and wherein pressure generated in the injection chamber is controllable by the console for administration of fluids from a distal end of the injection shaft at an injection speed that corresponds to viscosities of the respective fluids as determined by the console. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
-
Specification