Fluid delivery and measurement systems and methods

• US 6,939,324 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zealand Pharma A/S
• Original Assignee: Biovail Laboratories Incorporated (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Levesque, Steven F., Lipson, David, Marshall, Peter F., Gonnelli, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US10/006,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20020169416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131, 604/141, 604/145, 604/153, 604/136, 604/138, 604/142, 604/147, 604/156, 604/157, 604/69, 604/70, 604/132, 604/93.01, 604/110, 604/134, 604/135, 604/139, 604/140, 604/148, 604/181, 604/268.04, 604/890.1, 604/187, 604/891.1, 604/209, 604/192, 604/197, 604/198, 604/217, 128/DIG.12, 128/13
• US Class Current: 604/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14204 with gas-producing electrochemical cell
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14252 with needle insertion means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14264 with means for compensating influence from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/276 preventing unwanted use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8231 using electrochemical gas generating device for the driving gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/145 using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14526 the piston being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14593 the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1483 using flexible bags externally pressurised by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/155 pressurised by gas introduced into the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066

Abstract

Fluid delivery and measurement systems and methods are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

(1) a housing having an interior and an exterior;

(2) a flexible member within the interior of the housing and mechanically coupled to the housing, the flexible member forming first and second chambers within the interior of the housing;

(3) a fluid reservoir within the first chamber of the housing; and

,

(4) a microprobe extending from the fluid reservoir, through the flexible member and into the second chamber of the housing, the microprobe being configured to move substantially freely in three mutually perpendicular directions.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a first end of the microprobe is in the fluid reservoir and a second end of the microprobe is capable of extending to the exterior of the housing.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the microprobe is mechanically coupled to the flexible member.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the microprobe comprises a needle.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the microprobe comprises a microneedle.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible member comprises a septum.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a pump in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the pump is configured to draw a fluid from the microprobe into the fluid reservoir.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the pump is configured to deliver a fluid from the fluid reservoir to the microprobe.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the pump comprises a gas generating source.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the pump comprises an electrochemical cell.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the pump comprises a gas generating source.

13. The device of claim 7, wherein the pump comprises an electrochemical cell.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a second device for delivering a fluid from the fluid reservoir to the exterior of the device via the microprobe.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a second device for delivering a fluid to the fluid reservoir from the exterior of the device via the microprobe.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the microprobe is capable of moving a distance in a first direction that is at least about two percent of a distance the microprobe is capable of moving in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the microprobe is capable of moving a distance in a third direction that is at least about two percent of the distance the microprobe is capable of moving in the second direction, the third direction being perpendicular to the first and second directions.