Reduced size implantable pump
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An implantable device for dispensing an active substance to a patient comprising:
- a housing having top and bottom portions defining an active substance chamber in fluid communication with an outlet for delivering said active substance to a target site within said patient, and a propellant chamber adjacent said active substance chamber, the top portion including a replenishment opening; and
,an undulating flexible membrane separating said active substance and propellant chambers, said undulating flexible membrane having a first position when said active substance chamber is empty and a second position when said active substance chamber contains an active substance,wherein said top portion has an undulating interior surface including a continuously curved central convex portion flanked by at least two continuously curved concave portions and said undulating flexible membrane has a continuously curved central concave portion flanked by at least two continuously curved convex portions in both the first and second positions, said undulating interior surface cooperating with said undulating flexible membrane in the first position, and wherein said replenishment opening is located within said central convex portion of said undulating interior surface so as to lower an overall height of said implantable device,wherein said undulating interior surface of said top portion and said concave and convex portions of said undulating flexible membrane include no flat portions.
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Abstract
A variable hydraulic resistor for use with implantable pumps is disclosed. The variable hydraulic resistor according to the present invention is particularly useful in varying the flow rate of a medication fluid from an otherwise constant flow implantable pump. An implantable pump is also disclosed, which does not require a complicated clinching system or the like, and which may include an undulating membrane and chamber design to reduce the height of the pump.
178 Citations
47 Claims
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1. An implantable device for dispensing an active substance to a patient comprising:
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a housing having top and bottom portions defining an active substance chamber in fluid communication with an outlet for delivering said active substance to a target site within said patient, and a propellant chamber adjacent said active substance chamber, the top portion including a replenishment opening; and
,an undulating flexible membrane separating said active substance and propellant chambers, said undulating flexible membrane having a first position when said active substance chamber is empty and a second position when said active substance chamber contains an active substance, wherein said top portion has an undulating interior surface including a continuously curved central convex portion flanked by at least two continuously curved concave portions and said undulating flexible membrane has a continuously curved central concave portion flanked by at least two continuously curved convex portions in both the first and second positions, said undulating interior surface cooperating with said undulating flexible membrane in the first position, and wherein said replenishment opening is located within said central convex portion of said undulating interior surface so as to lower an overall height of said implantable device, wherein said undulating interior surface of said top portion and said concave and convex portions of said undulating flexible membrane include no flat portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An implantable device for dispensing an active substance to a patient comprising:
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a housing defining an active substance chamber in fluid communication with an outlet for delivering said active substance to a target site within said patient, and a propellant chamber, said housing having a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion including a replenishment opening in communication with said chamber and located within a continuously curved central convex portion so as to lower an overall height of said implantable device; and
,an undulating flexible membrane separating said active substance and propellant chambers, having a first position when said active substance chamber is empty and a second position when said active substance chamber contains an active substance, said undulating flexible membrane including a continuously curved central concave portion in both the first and second positions that cooperates with the central convex portion of said top portion while in the first position, wherein the continuously curved central convex portion of said top portion and the continuously curved central concave of said undulating flexible membrane include no flat portions and the first portion and the second portion are constructed of polyetherehterketone and screwed together. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An implantable device for dispensing an active substance comprising:
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a housing including a top portion, a bottom portion and a locking portion, said housing defining a propellant chamber and an active substance chamber in fluid communication with an outlet, said top portion including a replenishment opening located within a continuously curved convex portion so as to lower an overall height of said implantable device; and a membrane retained between said top and bottom portions having a first position when said active substance chamber is empty and a second position when said active substance chamber contains an active substance, said membrane separating said active substance and propellant chambers and including a continuously curved concave portion in both the first and second positions that cooperates with the continuously curved convex portion of said top portion while in the first position, wherein the continuously curved convex portion of said top portion and the continuously curved concave portion of said membrane include no flat portions and said top and bottom portions are placed together and said locking portion is screwed into either or both of said top or bottom portions to retain said top and bottom portions together. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification