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Fluid delivery deviceRelated Patent Categories: Pumps, Expansible Chamber Type, Plural Pumping ChambersFluid delivery device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070025869, Fluid delivery device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/699,703, filed Jul. 15, 2005, and titled "Implantable Drug Delivery Device," which is incorporated herein by specific reference. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0002] Understanding that drawings depict only certain preferred embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, the preferred embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: [0003] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a fluid delivery device. [0004] FIG. 2 is a plan view of another embodiment of a fluid delivery device having a master piston and a slave piston. [0005] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of still another embodiment of a fluid delivery device having three pistons with varying cross-sectional areas. [0006] FIG. 4 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of a fluid delivery device. [0007] FIG. 5 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of a fluid delivery device having remote fluid delivery components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0008] In the following description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of specific preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In some cases, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail in order to avoid obscuring aspects of the preferred embodiments. Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in a variety of alternative embodiments. [0009] Disclosed are embodiments of systems, methods, and apparatus for delivery a fluid. In some embodiments, the fluid may include a medicament and may be delivered in an implantable device to a part of the human body of a patient, such as into a part of the human body or onto a part of the human body. Some embodiments may also, or alternatively, provide for suction of a fluid, such as from a part of the body to a reservoir or other chamber. In a particular subset of embodiments, the force to drive the fluid may be provided by an electroosmotic pump or gas generation pump. In some embodiments, the fluid delivery rate may be adjusted by varying the resistance of the pump circuit. Some embodiments of the invention may also facilitate suction of a fluid concurrently with the delivery of a medicament or other beneficial fluid. Various embodiments of the invention may therefore be useful for medical treatments where pressure must be relieved and/or toxins must be removed from a site in a gradual fashion. Alternatively, the device could pull a medicament or other material from a receptacle for dispensing and/or allow dispensing of multiple drugs or fluids using a single engine driver. [0010] Further details of specific illustrative embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG 1 depicts a fluid delivery device 10. Device 10 includes a fluid power source 20, which is configured to drive a piston 30. Piston 30 is slidably received in fluid chamber 35. It is intended that the term "piston" is used herein will encompass any structure capable of being driven by a fluid power source, such as an electroosmotic engine, to thereby deliver a fluid in a chamber. Examples of other structures intended to be encompassed by this term include a plunger and the like. Each of these structures can also be considered examples of means for driving a fluid. Fluid chamber 35 may contain a fluid having a medicament or other beneficial chemical or material. Port 38 is in fluid communication with fluid chamber 35 and is connected with catheter 40. [0011] Fluid power source 40 may comprise, for example, an electroosmotic or osmotic engine, or a gas generation cell. In embodiments including an electroosmotic engine, that engine may include a first electrode, a second electrode, an ion exchange membrane positioned between the first and second electrodes, and a coupling between the first and second electrodes. The coupling between the electrodes may comprise a resistor or resistors. In some embodiments, the resistor(s) may be replaceable or adjustable so as to vary the rate at which the electroosmotic engine operates and thereby vary the power conveyed to the piston(s) by simply replacing the resistor with an alternative resistor with the desired properties, or otherwise adjusting the resistance between the electrodes. [0012] Various fluid power sources that may be adapted for use in connection with embodiments of the systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,014 titled "Storage Stable Electrolytic Gas Generator for Fluid Dispensing Applications," U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,499 titled "Storage-stable, Fluid Dispensing Device Using a Hydrogen Gas Generator" and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0205582 titled "Fluid Delivery Device Having an Electrochemical Pump with an Anionic Exchange Membrane and Associated Method." One or more embodiments could alternatively be driven by an osmotic type device as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,770 titled "Osmatic Dispensing Device for Releasing Beneficial Agent." Each of the foregoing references are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. In addition, each of the various fluid power sources disclosed in the above references, and those disclosed elsewhere in this disclosure, can be considered examples of means for providing a fluid pressure against a driving means. [0013] In FIG. 2, another embodiment of a fluid delivery device 100 is depicted. Fluid delivery device 100 also includes a fluid power source 110. Fluid power source may comprise any of the various devices or structures described above. In addition, fluid delivery device 100 includes a master piston 120 and a slave piston 130. It should be understood that, whereas a single slave piston is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2, other embodiments are contemplated in which additional slave pistons are provided. In fact, virtually any number of slave pistons may be provided, limited in number only by logistical and/or practical considerations. [0014] Slave piston 130 is coupled to master piston 120 to move in unison with master piston 120. In particular, coupling 125 is used to couple master piston 120 to slave piston 130. More specifically, coupling 125 connects piston rod 121 to piston rod 131. Fluid power source 110 is configured to drive the master piston 120, which may be used to deliver a fluid out of drive piston chamber 122, through port 123, and into catheter 140. As master piston 120 moves in response to the force provided by fluid power source 110, slave piston 130 also moves within slave piston chamber 132. Chambers 122 and 132 are also each sealed with a sealing gland--sealing glands 126 and 136, respectively, so as to allow the piston rod to exit the chambers as the pistons are forced upward (from the view of FIG. 2) while maintaining the chambers as sealed. Any of the chambers discussed herein can be considered examples of means for housing a fluid. Because chambers 122 and 132 are independently fluidly sealed, chamber 132 can deliver a second fluid concurrently with the delivery of the fluid delivered from chamber 122. For example, a second fluid stored in slave piston chamber 132 can be delivered through port 133 and into a second catheter 150. Of course, the fluids delivered from the two chambers may be identical or different, depending upon the application and desired outcome. [0015] Moreover, as the slave piston(s) are driven by the master piston, a partial vacuum or vacuums are created, which can be used for the purpose of providing a suction force through another delivery device or component, such as a catheter. If desired, a medicament or other beneficial fluid may be driven by the driving piston and/or suctioned by another piston(s) concurrently. Alternatively, a medicament or other beneficial fluid may be driven by the driving piston and/or an undesirable fluid may suctioned from a site by another piston(s) concurrently. For example, the suction force may be used to relieve pressure and/or remove toxins from a body site. [0016] To illustrate, fluid delivery device 100 includes a third catheter 160 positioned on the opposite side of chamber 132 relative to slave piston 130. With respect to chamber 132, device 100 is therefore configured to provide both a driving force to deliver a fluid out of chamber 132 through catheter 150, and a suction force to deliver another fluid into chamber 132 through catheter 160. The driving and suction forces in the embodiment of FIG. 2 are provided simultaneously by the fluid power source 110. Providing a suction feature as disclosed herein may be beneficial if, for example, a fluid needs to be removed from a portion of a patient's body over an extended period of time using, for example, an implanted device. In other embodiments, one or more of the slave piston chambers may have one or more vents used instead of a suction catheter(s). Such vents will allow fluids to be delivered from the slave piston chambers without generating a partial vacuum. [0017] In some embodiments of the invention, different beneficial fluids may also be delivered at different rates as desired. More specifically, the rate of delivery may vary proportionally to one other by providing pistons and chambers with varying cross-sectional area. Each of the various fluids to be delivered may therefore be associated with a different-sized piston in accordance with the desired delivery rate for each particular fluid. As mentioned above, each of the various pistons may be driven from the same driver--i.e., a single fluid power source connected to a single master piston. [0018] An example of an embodiment providing pistons with varying cross-sectional areas is depicted in FIG. 3. Fluid delivery device 200 includes three separate chambers, each of which corresponds with a separate piston. As can be seen from the figure, drive piston chamber 232 has a cross-sectional area in between that of slave piston chambers 222 and 242. The rate of fluid delivery from each of the chambers will therefore be greatest for chamber 242 through catheter 260, less for chamber 232 through catheter 250, and least for chamber 222 through catheter 240. Although not shown in the referenced figure, it should be understood that the drive piston within drive piston chamber 232 may be driven by a fluid power source, such as an electroosmotic pump, as previously disclosed. [0019] It should also be understood that a wide variety of combinations and embodiments will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in art after having had the benefit of the disclosure provided herein. For example, with reference now to FIG. 4, still another embodiment of a fluid delivery device 300 is shown. Fluid delivery device 300 is again powered by a fluid power source 310. Fluid power source 310 is positioned and configured to drive master piston 320, which is positioned within chamber 322. Master piston 320 is connected with piston rod 321. Two slave pistons--slave piston 330 and slave piston 340--are coupled with master piston 320. Slave piston 330 is positioned within chamber 332 and slave piston 340 is positioned within chamber 342. Piston rods 331 and 341 are each coupled to a coupling bar 336 which is in turn, coupled to piston rod 321 to thereby couple master piston 320 with each of the respective slave pistons. Coupling bar 336, and coupling 125 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, are both examples of means for coupling a first driving means to a second driving means. As can be seen from the referenced figure, unlike the embodiments of the previous figures, fluid delivery device 300 operates by using the master piston 320 to push slave pistons 330 and 340 downstream of the master piston, rather than to pull them alongside the master piston, as in previously disclosed embodiments. [0020] Like previous embodiments, each of the piston chambers in fluid delivery device 300 is configured to hold an deliver a fluid into a catheter. Specifically, catheter 350 is in fluid communication with chamber 322 and is configured to receive a fluid delivered from chamber 322. Likewise, catheters 360 and 370 are in fluid communication with, and are configured to receive a fluid delivered from, chambers 332 and 342, respectively. Each of the chambers are also independently fluidly sealed. In particular, piston rods 321, 331, and 341 are able to pass through their respective chambers--chambers 322, 332, and 342--due to sealing glands 326, 336, and 346, respectively. [0021] As can be seen from FIG. 4, chamber 342 (and piston 340) has a greater cross-sectional area than that of chamber 332 (and piston 330). The fluid delivered from chamber 342 will therefore be delivered at a greater rate than that of the fluid from chamber 332. The delivery rates may be further adjusted without constructing a new device by, for example, adjusting the flow of electrons through a circuit associated with the fluid power source. As previously mentioned, one way of adjusting the flow of electrons through a circuit associated with the fluid power source would be to adjust the resistance between two electrodes in an electroosmotic pump. Continue reading about Fluid delivery device... Full patent description for Fluid delivery device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Fluid delivery device 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. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Fluid delivery device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Electroactive polymer-based pump Next Patent Application: Eccentric pump, and use thereof Industry Class: Pumps ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Fluid delivery device patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.82861 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
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