Power operated fluid infusion device

• US 3,886,938 A
• Filed: 10/23/1973
• Issued: 06/03/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anthony W. Szabo, Louis R. M. Del Guercio
• Original Assignee: Anthony W. Szabo, Louis R. M. Del Guercio
• Inventors: Szabo, Anthony W., Del Guercio, Louis R. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McGowan, J. C.
• Application Number:
  US05/408,264
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 128/218A,218F,215,234,214F,218R,DIG.1,DIG.12,214R 222/386
• US Class Current: 604/135
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14506 mechanically driven, e.g. spring or clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1454 spring-actuated, e.g. by a clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump

Abstract

A portable, power operated fluid infusion device is disclosed for automatically, intraveneously administering a drug to a patient. The device comprises a housing which contains a mechanically operated timing mechanism, a rack in engagement with a pinion rotated by the timing mechanism, and spiral springs for longitudinally urging the rack in a forward direction. Attached to the forward end of the housing in axial alignment therewith and with the rack is a syringe which has an internal axially movable piston that is coupled to and longitudinally moved by the rack. The springs assist the slowly rotating pinion to positively move the rack, and hence the piston, in a longitudinal direction thereby permitting a controlled amount of the drug to be automatically expelled from the syringe over an extended period of time.

Claims

1. Portable, automatic fluid infusion apparatus for administering a predetermined amount of fluid at a predetermined rate over an extended time period, the device comprising an elongate housing attachable to a user;

a syringe mounted at one end of said housing in axial alignment therewith said syringe comprising an elongated container having an orifice through one end thereof and a piston mounted for longitudinal movement within said container for forcing fluid through the said orifice;

a mechanical power means coupled to and in axial alignment with said piston for longitudinally moving said piston, said power means including rack means;

a mechanical timing mechanism mounted on said housing and coupled to said power means for permitting only a predetermined rate of longitudinal movement of said piston by said power means, thereby providing a predetermined flow of said fluid from said syringe, said mechanical timing mechanism including a main spring, an escapement mechanism, gearing mechanism connected to and rotated by said main spring, said escapement mechanism permitting a controlled rate of rotation of said gearing mechanism, a rotatable main shaft extending outwardly from said gearing mechanism and rotated thereby, said main shaft having a pinion mounted at the outwardly extending end thereof and in engagement with said rack means, and means for winding said main spring;

a first centering means transversely rigidly mounted on said rack means for bearing against opposite sides of said housing during the longitudinal movement of said rack means for maintaining the axial alignment of said rack means and said piston in a first, transverse plane;

a second centering means transversely, rigidly mounted on said rack means perpendicular to said first centering means for bearing against at least one further side of said housing, other than said opposite sides, during the longitudinal movement of said rack means for maintaining the axial alignment of said rack means and said piston in a second, transverse plane, said second transverse plane being perpendicular to said first transverse plane; and

a helical spring attached at a first end to the end of said housing at which said syringe is mounted and attached at the other end to said first centering means for longitudinally urging said rack means into engagement with said piston for the longitudinal movement thereof, said pinion of said mechanical timing mechanism restraining the longitudinal movement of said rack means to a predetermined rate determined by the rotational speed of said pinion, and thereby permitting a predetermined amount of fluid to be forced by said piston through said orifice during a predetermined time.