Implantable infusion device
First Claim
1. An implantable drug infusion device for delivering precisely regulated dosages of drugs into the body of a patient, comprisinga housing for the infusion device which is implantable within the body of the patient,a reservoir for containing a selected drug,cathether means for connecting said reservoir with a portion of the body to which the drug is to be delivered,first actuating means including power means and control means internally contained within said infusion device housing for causing flow of the selected drug from said reservoir through said catheter means at a first dosage rate, andsecond actuating means responsive to non-invasive extracorporeal control means for causing flow of the selected drug from said reservoir through said catheter means at a second dosage rate determined by the extracorporeal control means, said second actuating means including means contained within said housing for receiving power from the extracorporeal control means through intact skin.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An infusion system is disclosed for delivering precisely regulated and variable dosages of drugs. The device includes a reservoir for containing the drug, a catheter for delivering drug to the body, and actuating means responsive to a signal applied externally of the body for initiating delivery of a precisely regulated dosage. The actuating means include; a solenoid driven miniature pump which is controlled by an implanted controller and driven by an implanted power source. The implanted controller provides a basal dosage rate which itself may be variable or constant and which may be altered by telemetry signals delivered from outside the body. In addition, the internal device is operable by an external unit which may be set at a different rate from that which the internal or implanted controller is set and which, in addition, provides power for operating the implanted device. The reservoir is maintained at zero gauge or slightly negative gauge pressure to prevent loss of the contents of the reservoir into the body in which the device is implanted in the event of a failure. A tube communicating between the reservoir and the catheter is bent around on itself in such a way as to prevent bubbles from entering the tube. The implanted power and control electronics may be overridden to provide power from an extra corporeal unit and is also programmable from the extra corporeal unit to adjust dosage rates. A bellows is used to maintain a constant pressure within the reservoir, and suitable plates are utilized to produce a capacitive signal indicating the volume remaining of the contents of the reservoir.
853 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An implantable drug infusion device for delivering precisely regulated dosages of drugs into the body of a patient, comprising
a housing for the infusion device which is implantable within the body of the patient, a reservoir for containing a selected drug, cathether means for connecting said reservoir with a portion of the body to which the drug is to be delivered, first actuating means including power means and control means internally contained within said infusion device housing for causing flow of the selected drug from said reservoir through said catheter means at a first dosage rate, and second actuating means responsive to non-invasive extracorporeal control means for causing flow of the selected drug from said reservoir through said catheter means at a second dosage rate determined by the extracorporeal control means, said second actuating means including means contained within said housing for receiving power from the extracorporeal control means through intact skin.
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15. A drug infusion system for delivering precisely regulated dosages of drugs into the body of a patient, comprising
an implantable component including a housing which is implantable within the body of a patient, a reservoir for containing a selected drug, catheter means for connecting said reservoir with a portion of the body to which the drug is to be delivered, first actuating means including control means internally contained within said housing for causing flow of the selected drug from said reservoir through said catheter means at a first dosage rate, power receiving means, and second actuating means operable with power from said power receiving means for causing flow of the selected drug from said reservoir through said catheter means at a second dosage rate, and an extracorporeal component including control means adapted for communication with the second actuating means when the infusion device is implanted within the body of a patient for establishing the second selected rate of drug flow and further including means for supplying power to said power receiving means.
Specification