Patient controllable drug delivery system flow regulating means

• US 6,206,850 B1
• Filed: 11/16/1998
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christine O'Neil
• Original Assignee: Christine O'Neil, O'Neil, Alexander George Brian
• Inventors: OʼNeil, Alexander George Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Seidel, Richard K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THISSELL, JEREMY
• Application Number:
  US09/142,678
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 604/80, 604/81, 604/82, 604/83, 604/132, 604/133, 604/257, 604/246, 604/247, 604/407-409
• US Class Current: 604/80
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1405 Patient controlled analgesia [PCA]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1424 Manually operated pumps

Abstract

A patient controllable drug delivery system including a metering device (30) having an intermittent dose reservoir (34) and a plunger, a main reservoir (26), a fill line (32connecting the main reservoir (26) and the intermittent reservoir (34) via a metering device fill point (26) and a flow regulating means (10) between the metering device (30) and the patient line (36), the flow regulating means (10) comprising a means for receiving and dispensing a dose of drug (12) and a pressure set one way valve (16), the intermittent dose reservoir (34) and the patient line (36) being in restricted fluid communication, dispensation of the drug being effected by pressure applied by the receiving and dispensing means (12). Systems for the supply of a continuous dose in addition to the patient controllable delivered dose, and a secondary delivery system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A patient controllable drug delivery system capable of delivering a drug to a patient via a patient line, the system including:

(i) a main reservoir for holding the drug;

(ii) a metering device comprising an intermittent dose reservoir and a plunger biased towards a retracted position;

(iii) a fill-line located between the main reservoir and the intermittent dose reservoir which allows continuous fluid communication between the main reservoir and the intermittent dose reservoir via a metering device fill-point; and

(iv) a flow regulating means located in-line between the metering device and the patient line, wherein the flow regulating means comprises;

(a) a pressure set one-way valve; and

(b) a means for receiving and dispensing a dose of drug, said means having an inlet means and an outlet means through which a drug may pass;

characterised in that the one-way valve is located prior to the inlet, the valve is closed when the flow regulating means is dispensing a drug and open when receiving a drug.

2. A drug delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the flow regulating means comprises a cylinder, having a piston therein for moving the drug in the cylinder to an outlet at one end of the cylinder;

the piston and cylinder being relatively movable under the action of a spring which may be disposed internally or externally of the cylinder.

3. A drug delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the flow regulating means comprises a deformable reservoirs.

4. A drug delivery system according to claim 3 wherein the deformable reservoir is a length of elastomeric tubing.

5. A drug delivery system according to claim 3 wherein the deformable reservoir is an elastomeric balloon member.

6. A drug delivery system according to claim 3 further comprising a housing which at least partially surrounds the deformable reservoir and acts as a limiting means for restricting the deformation of the deformable reservoir.

7. A drug delivery system according to claim 6 wherein the housing is transparent and is capable of being dismantled to allow the deformable reservoir to be serviced or replaced as required.

8. A drug delivery system according to claim 1 further comprising a means for the continuous delivery of a drug to a patient.

9. A drug delivery system according to claim 8 wherein the means for continuous delivery of a drug to a patient is provided via a conduit which is in fluid communication between the main reservoir and the patient line.

10. A drug delivery system according to claim 9 wherein the conduit is flow control. tubing.

11. A drug delivery system according to claim 9 wherein a second flow regulating means is located in-line in the conduit.

12. A drug delivery system according to claim 11 wherein the conduit between the flow regulating means and the patient line is flow control tubing.

13. A drug delivery system according to claim 8 wherein the means for continuous delivery of a drug to a patient is provided via a secondary drug delivery system comprising a secondary reservoir which is in fluid communication with the patient line via a conduit.

14. A drug delivery system according to claim 13 wherein secondary reservoir is pressure driven.

15. A drug delivery system according to claim 13 wherein the conduit is flow control tubing.

16. A drug delivery system according to claim 13 wherein a second flow regulating means is located in-line in the conduit between the secondary reservoir and the patient line.

17. A drug delivery system according to claim 16 wherein the conduit between the flow regulating means and the patient line is flow control tubing.

18. A drug delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the patient line incorporates an air filter.

19. A drug delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the patient-line comprises flow control tubing.