| Electrokinetic pump designs and drug delivery systems -> Monitor Keywords |
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Electrokinetic pump designs and drug delivery systemsRelated Patent Categories: Pumps, Motor Driven, Fluid Motor, Rectilinearly Reciprocating Cylinder And Piston-type Motor, Rectilinearly Reciprocating Cylinder And Piston-type Pump, Integral Pump And Motor Pistons, Double Acting Motor Piston,Electrokinetic pump designs and drug delivery systems description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070224055, Electrokinetic pump designs and drug delivery systems. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/739,390 filed Nov. 23, 2005, titled, "Electrokinetic Pump Designs and Drug Delivery Systems" which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application is related to the following co-pending patent applications: U.S. application Ser. No. (not yet assigned) filed herewith titled, "Electrokinetic Pump Designs and Drug Delivery Systems" (Attorney Docket number 10076-705.201); U.S. application Ser. No. 10/198,223, filed Jul. 17, 2002 titled, "Laminated Flow Devices"; U.S. application Ser. No. 10/273,723 filed Oct. 18, 2002 titled, "Electrokinetic Device Having Capacitive Electrodes"; U.S. application Ser. No. 10/322,083 filed Dec. 17, 2002 titled, "Electrokinetic Device Having Capacitive Electrodes" and U.S. application Ser. No. 11/112,867 filed Apr. 21, 2005 titled, "Electrokinetic Delivery Systems, Devices and Methods," each of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Pumps and pumping systems exist for the delivery of various fluids. A variety of pumps are used in a number of various different configurations and uses. Pumps are used for infusion of drugs or delivery of drugs into mammals, the sterility of the drugs is very important. In addition, contamination of the drug or delivery fluid from the pump system should be reduced or eliminated. Additionally, it remains an important aspect to minimize contact between the drug to be delivered and the internal components of the pump being used to deliver the drug. Filling or preparing the drug or fluid for delivery should not be time consuming. These and other difficulties are encountered using conventional filling and pumping systems. [0003] Related U.S. application Ser. No. 11/112,867 filed Apr. 21, 2005 titled, "Electrokinetic Delivery Systems, Devices and Methods," discloses a technique for filling a pump with fluid for delivery. This technique involves operating the pump system in reverse to draw the delivery fluid into the pump. Then, after filling the pump with the delivery fluid, the pump direction is reversed and the delivery fluid is delivered from the pump. Reversing pump direction may be a good solution for small amounts of fluid or for pump configurations that have a very high linear flow rate. However, the time requirements for loading large volumes of delivery fluid using this technique may be prohibitive for time conscious applications and problematic for later pump operation. [0004] What are needed are improved techniques for providing the delivery fluid into the pumping system. The pump filling procedures should be simple and require small amounts of time. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] One embodiment of the present invention provides a piston assembly having a piston housing filled with an electrolyte; a housing within the piston housing that divides the piston housing into a first portion and a second portion, the housing having apertures that provide fluid communication between the first portion and the second portion; a shaft connecting the housing to a piston head outside of the piston housing; and a porous material inside of the housing in contact with the electrolyte. [0006] In one aspect, the porous material is a porous dielectric material adapted for operation as part of an electrokinetic pump. In another aspect, there is a sealing element around the piston head or the housing. In yet another aspect, there is a second shaft connecting the housing to a handle outside of the piston housing. In another aspect there is a valve within the second shaft wherein actuation of the valve provides a flow path between the first portion and the second portion. In yet another aspect, the flow path from one side of the housing to the other side of the housing includes a bypass through the porous material contained in the housing. In another aspect, the valve is actuatable from a handle attached to the second shaft. In another aspect, the shaft extends through a wall in the piston housing. In another aspect, the sealing element around the material housing seals the housing to a wall of the piston housing. In another aspect, there is an electrode in the first portion and an electrode in the second portion. In one embodiment, the electrodes have a double layer capacitance of greater than 10.sup.-4 microfarad/cm.sup.2. [0007] In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a pump having a delivery chamber, a pump chamber and a wall separating the pump chamber from the delivery chamber; a piston assembly having a piston head in the delivery chamber, a housing in the pump chamber and a shaft connecting the piston head to the housing and passing through the wall separating the pump chamber from the delivery chamber; and a dielectric material in the housing. [0008] In one aspect, there is a pair of electrodes in the pump housing. In one aspect, there is one electrode is on each side of the housing. In one embodiment, the pair of electrodes are made from a material selected to electrokineticly move a fluid in the pump chamber. In one aspect, the delivery chamber and the pump chamber are in a single housing. In another aspect, the housing divides the pump chamber into a first portion and a second portion. In yet another aspect, there is provided apertures in the housing that provide fluid communication between the first portion and the second portion. In another aspect, there is an electrolyte in the pump chamber. In a further aspect, each electrode in the pair of electrodes has a double layer capacitance of more than 10.sup.-4 microfarad/cm.sup.2. In yet another aspect, there is a bypass valve in the shaft that provides a fluid pathway from one side of the housing to the other side of the housing. In one aspect, the bypass valve in the shaft that provides a fluid pathway from the first portion to the second portion. In another aspect, the delivery chamber is filled with a delivery fluid by relative movement between the pump chamber and the delivery chamber. In another aspect, application of an electric field across the electrodes moves the fluid in the pump chamber from one side of the housing to the other side of the housing. In one aspect, application of an electric field across the electrodes moves the piston head in the delivery chamber. In another aspect, application of an electric field across the electrodes moves the housing relative to the pump chamber. [0009] In another embodiment, there is provided a method for operating a fluid delivery system by inserting a piston assembly into a delivery chamber, the piston assembly having a pump housing, a piston head outside of the pump housing and attached to a shaft extending through a wall in the pump housing, a housing attached to the shaft and between electrodes in the pump housing; and filling the delivery chamber with a delivery fluid by withdrawing the piston head from within the delivery chamber. In one further aspect, the method fixes the position of the pump housing relative to the delivery chamber. In another aspect, there is provided the step of advancing the piston head in the delivery chamber by moving fluid in the pump chamber. In one aspect, moving fluid within the pump chamber comprises electrokineticly moving fluid through the housing. In another aspect, moving fluid within the pump chamber comprises providing an electric field between the electrodes. In yet another aspect, the filling step comprises withdrawing the pump assembly. [0010] In another embodiment, there is a method for operating a fluid delivery assembly having a pump chamber and a delivery chamber by withdrawing a shaft from within the fluid delivery assembly to simultaneously displace a moving pump element within the delivery chamber and bypass fluid around a housing in the pump chamber. [0011] In one aspect, withdrawing a shaft from the pump assembly introduces a delivery fluid into the delivery chamber and into contact with the moving pump element. In another aspect, advancing the moving pump element in the delivery chamber by applying an electrical field across electrodes in the pump chamber and on either side of the housing. Still another aspect provides electrokineticly moving fluid in the pump chamber to dispense fluid from the delivery chamber. In still another aspect includes actuating a bypass in the shaft during the withdrawing step. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE [0012] All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the claims that follow. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which: [0014] FIG. 1 is section view of an exemplary pump system. [0015] FIGS. 2A-2E illustrate details for the loading and delivery of fluid using the pumping system 900. [0016] FIGS. 3A-3E illustrate details for the loading and delivery of fluid using the pumping system 1000. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0017] FIG. 1 will be described to provide an understanding of the basic components and operation of a typical fluid delivery system. FIG. 1 illustrates a cross section view of a fluid delivery system 1. The fluid delivery system has a first chamber 30, a second chamber 32 and a third chamber 35. A flow through pump element 20 (such as electrokinetic pump, as shown in FIG. 1) separates the first chamber 30 from the second chamber 32. A moveable pump element 40 (such as a floating piston, as shown) separates the second chamber 32 from the third chamber 35. While in this illustrative embodiment the moveable element 40 is a floating piston, any device that provides a moveable barrier may be used as will be illustrated in the examples that follow. In this embodiment, the first, the second and the third chambers are within a single housing 15. Seals 42 are used to seal the moveable pump element 40 as it moves within the housing 15. An outlet 45 provides communication between the third chamber 35 and the exterior of housing 15. An outlet 55 provides communication between the second chamber 32 and the exterior of housing 15. In this embodiment, a valve 60 separates the second outlet 55 from the exterior of housing 15. [0018] As illustrated, a conduit 71 connects the outlet 55 to the opening 70. A valve 60 in the conduit 71 controls fluid flow from the outlet 55 to the opening 70. The valve 60 has a disc 62, stem 64, a spring 66 and a disc or seal 68. Seats 72, 74 in the housing are shaped to seal with, respectively, discs or seals 62, 68. Valve 60 is shown in the closed position where spring 66 holds discs 68, 62 in place against seats 72, 74. In this embodiment, conduit 71 and valve 60 are disposed in a wall of housing 15. Other configurations are possible such as a separate valve assembly that attaches directly to port 55 or a valve/conduit configuration that ports through the pump element 20 rather than around the pump element 20 as shown. Continue reading about Electrokinetic pump designs and drug delivery systems... Full patent description for Electrokinetic pump designs and drug delivery systems Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Electrokinetic pump designs and drug delivery systems patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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