Dosage control apparatus

• US 6,880,564 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Erickson, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US10/331,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20040055652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 137/1, 137/624.11, 137/614.21, 251/129.21, 251/129.1, 251/129.09, 251/129.15
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/22 Valves or arrangement of valves A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/225 with throttling valves or valves varying the pump inlet opening or the outlet opening
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/88062 Coaxial oppositely directed seats

Abstract

The invention is directed to a dose control apparatus. The apparatus has two armatures pressed against a valve seat by at least one spring. A coil induces a magnetic field that motivates the armatures against the force of the spring, thereby opening the valve. The armatures may move along a common axis in opposite directions. The apparatus may also include a core located between the armatures and a casing about the coil. The core and casing act to guide the magnetic field, reducing the power requirements for creating the field. Current may be periodically reversed in the coil to provide a degaussing field. In addition, a signal may be produced by the coil in the presence an externally applied magnetic field such as an MRI. An opposing magnetic field may be produced by the coil or the current provided to the coil may be adjusted.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling dose rates of one or more treatment solutions, the apparatus comprising:

a body surrounding an interior chamber, the body having a first and a second port, each of the two ports having an associated port opening in communication with the interior chamber and an associated assembly comprising;

a valve seat;

an armature having a head, the head associated with the valve seat; and

a spring engaging the armature with a spring force directed the head against the valve seat; and

at least one coil surrounding the body, the coil operable to induce a magnetic force in the armatures opposing the spring force, thereby opening the associated assembly, wherein said associated assembly is comprised of biocompatible materials.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the armatures associated with the two ports have a common movement axis and travel along the common movement axis in opposite directions.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spring associated with each of the two ports is a common spring.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an electric pulse is directed through the at least one coil, thereby inducing a magnetic field that motivates the armatures toward the open position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a series of electric pulses are directed through the at least one coil, thereby inducing a magnetic field that influences the armature to remain in the open position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, under an externally applied magnetic field, the at least one coil emits a signal associated with the externally applied magnetic field.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one coil receives a signal inducing a magnetic field opposing the externally applied magnetic field.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a casing about the at least one coil, the casing influencing the magnetic field induced by the at least one coil.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a dose control module operably connected to said at least one coil.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said dose control module comprises a position sensor.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said dose control module is housed in a module separate from said body.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

a patient control unit communicatively connected with said dose control module.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said dose control module comprises memory.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said memory stores at least one prescription.

15. An apparatus for controlling dose rates of one or more treatment solutions, the apparatus comprising:

a body surrounding an interior chamber, the body having a first and a second port, each of the two ports having an associated port opening in communication with the interior chamber and an associated assembly comprising;

a valve seat;

an armature having a head, the head associated with the valve seat; and

a spring engaging the armature with a spring force directed the head against the valve seat; and

at least one coil surrounding the body, the coil operable to induce a magnetic force in the armatures opposing the spring force, thereby opening the valve; and

further comprising a core located within the interior chamber and between the armatures.

16. An apparatus for controlling doses rates of one or more treatments solutions, the apparatus comprising:

a body surrounding an interior chamber, the body having a first and second port, each of the two ports having an associated port opening in communication with the interior chamber and an associated assembly comprising;

a valve seat;

an armature having a head, the head associated with the valve seat; and

a spring engaging the armature with a spring force directed the head against the valve seat;

at least one coil surrounding the body, the coil operable to induce a magnetic force in the armatures opposing the spring force, thereby opening the valve,

wherein the direction of current in the at least one coil is periodically reversed to inducing a degaussing field.

17. An apparatus for controlling dose rates of at least one treatment solution, the apparatus comprising:

a body surrounding an interior chamber, the body having two ports, each of the two ports having a port opening in communication with the interior chamber and an a associated assembly comprising;

a valve seat;

an armature having a head, the head associated with the valve seat; and

a spring engaging the armature with a spring force directed the head against the valve seat;

the armature of each of the two valves having a common movement axis and traveling along the common movement axis in opposite directions;

at least one coil surrounding the body, the coil inducing a magnetic force in the armature, the magnetic force opposing the spring force, thereby opening the valve;

a magnetically permeable core located within the interior chamber and between the armatures; and

a magnetically permeable casing located about the coil and body.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the spring associated with each of the two ports is a common spring.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein an electric pulse is directed through the at least one coil, thereby inducing a magnetic field that motivates the armatures toward the open position.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a series of electric pulses are directed through the at least one coil, thereby inducing a magnetic field that influences the armature to remain in the open position.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein, under an externally applied magnetic field, the at least one coil emits a signal associated with the externally applied magnetic field.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one coil receives a signal inducing a magnetic field opposing the externally applied magnetic field.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the direction of current in the at least one coil is periodically reversed to induce a degaussing field.

24. A method for controlling the flow of a fluid, the method comprising:

opposing two or more armatures within an interior chamber;

placing one or more springs between the armatures, wherein the one or more springs force the armatures against an armature'"'"'s associated valve seat;

inducing a magnetic field with at least one coil, the magnetic field motivating the armatures to move along a common axis in opposite directions against the force of the one or more springs providing a path for fluid flow; and

providing redundancy protection for control of said fluid flow.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said armatures are configured in series.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein said armatures are configured in parallel.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein said armatures are configured with restrictions to fluid flow.

28. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of:

providing a dose control module for controlling said step of inducing thereby controlling the flow of at least one fluid.

29. A method for controlling the flow of a fluid, the method comprising:

opposing two or more armatures within an interior chamber;

placing one or more

springs between the armatures, wherein the one or more springs force the armatures against an armature'"'"'s associated valve seat;

inducing a magnetic field with at least one coil, the magnetic field motivating the armatures to move along a common axis in opposite directions against the force of the one or more springs providing a path for fluid flow; and

further comprising;

reversing, periodically, the direction of current flow through the at least one coil to form a degaussing field.

30. A method for controlling the flow of a fluid, the method comprising:

opposing two or more armatures within an interior chamber;

placing one or more springs between the armatures, wherein the one or more springs force the armatures against an armature'"'"'s associated valve seat;

inducing a magnetic field with at least one coil, the magnetic field motivating the armatures to move along a common axis in opposite directions against the force of the one or more springs providing a path for fluid flow; and

further comprising;

measuring a response from the at least one coil to determine the presence of an externally applied magnetic field.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

inducing in the at least one coil a magnetic field opposing the externally applied magnetic field.