Implantable pump with infinitely variable resistor
First Claim
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1. An implantable device for dispensing an active substance to a patient comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber, said housing having an outlet for delivering said active substance to a target site within said patient, said outlet in fluid communication with the chamber; and
means for varying a flow rate of said active substance between said chamber and said outlet.
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Abstract
A variable hydraulic resistor for use with implantable pumps is disclosed. The variable hydraulic resistor according to the present invention is particularly useful in varying the flow rate of a medication fluid from an otherwise constant flow implantable pump. An implantable pump is also disclosed, which does not require a complicated clinching system or the like, and which may include an undulating membrane and chamber design to reduce the height of the pump.
171 Citations
71 Claims
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1. An implantable device for dispensing an active substance to a patient comprising:
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a housing defining a chamber, said housing having an outlet for delivering said active substance to a target site within said patient, said outlet in fluid communication with the chamber; and
means for varying a flow rate of said active substance between said chamber and said outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An implantable device for dispensing an active substance to a patient comprising:
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a housing defining a chamber, said housing having an outlet for delivering said active substance to a target site within said patient, said outlet in fluid communication with the chamber;
a capillary in fluid communication between said chamber and said outlet, said capillary having an inner surface; and
a flow control element received within said capillary, said element having an outer surface opposing said inner surface of said capillary defining therebetween a passageway for the flow of said active substance therethrough, said outer surface of said element moveable relative to said inner surface of said capillary to alter the flow of said active substance therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A resistor for varying the flow rate of a fluid from a first point to a second point comprising:
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a capillary having an inner surface;
a flow control element received within said capillary, said element having an outer surface opposing said inner surface of said capillary defining therebetween a passage way for the flow of said fluid therethrough, said outer surface of said element moveable relative to said inner surface of said capillary to alter the flow of said fluid therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A method of varying the flow rate of an active substance being dispensed to a patient comprising:
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providing an implantable device including a capillary having an inner surface and a flow control element received within said capillary, said element having an outer surface opposing said inner surface of said capillary defining therebetween a passageway for the flow of said active substance therethrough to a target site within a patient; and
moving said element relative to said inner surface of said capillary to alter the flow rate of said active substance therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66)
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67. A method of converting an implantable pump from an infinitely variable pump to a fixed flow rate pump comprising:
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providing an implantable pump having a housing defining a chamber, an outlet, and a capillary in fluid communication between said chamber and said outlet, said capillary further including a flow control element received within said capillary for varying the flow rate of an active substance between said chamber and said outlet;
removing said flow control element from said capillary; and
placing a tubular element within said capillary, said tubular element being situated so that fluid from said chamber flows through said tubular element prior to exiting said outlet. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71)
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Specification