Implantable infusion pump

Abstract

An implantable infusion pump to deliver stored infusate to a desired fluid delivery site. The pump includes a collapsible fluid chamber. The pump can include a multi-stage filtration system to filter micro-emboli as well as larger particles that are inadvertently introduced into the pump system. An external member can receive the pump and provide a medium to include additional, interactive components, e.g., a bolus port, as well as provide a versatile suture structure to enable the pump to be properly secured within an implantation site. To improve volumetric efficiency, the pump can further incorporate an outlet flow passage within a movable wall of the fluid chamber.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A filter system for an infusion pump implantable in a living body to filter emboli from an infusate, the filter system comprising: 
 a micro-filter stage to filter sub-micron emboli from an infusate; and    a particulate filter stage to filter particles greater than  1  micron from the infusate,    wherein the particulate filter stage is arranged relative to the micro-filter stage so as to operatively receive infusate filtered by the micro-filter.    
     
     
         2 . A filter system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the particulate filter stage is adapted to filter particles having a size of 5 microns and greater.  
     
     
         3 . A filter system for an infusion pump for delivering an infusate to a living body, the filter system comprising: 
 a first filter stage to filter the infusate; and    a second filter stage to filter the infusate,    wherein the first filter stage is disposed in an infusate flow path of said infusion pump upstream from said second filter stage, and wherein said first filter stage provides a smaller filter pore size than that provided by said second filter stage.    
     
     
         4 . The filter system of  claim 3 , wherein said first filter stage comprises a micro-filter stage and said second filter stage comprises a particulate filter stage.  
     
     
         5 . The filter system of  claim 4 , wherein said first filter stage comprises an organic polymer filter element and said second filter stage comprises a metal filter element.  
     
     
         6 . The filter system of  claim 3 , wherein said first filter stage provides filtering of particles less than 1 micron.  
     
     
         7 . The filter system of  claim 6 , wherein said first filter stage provides filtering of particles approximately 0.2 micron and greater.  
     
     
         8 . The filter system of  claim 3 , wherein said first filter stage comprises a microbial filter.  
     
     
         9 . The filter system of  claim 3 , wherein said first filter stage comprises an emboli filter.  
     
     
         10 . The filter system of  claim 3 , wherein said first filter stage comprises a tubular filter element configuration.  
     
     
         11 . The filter system of  claim 3 , wherein said second filter stage provides filtering of particles approximately 5 microns and greater.  
     
     
         12 . The filter system of  claim 3 , wherein said second filter stage comprises a particulate filter adapted to filter particles shed by said first filter stage.  
     
     
         13 . An elastomer member for implantation within a living body, the member comprising: 
 a first portion to receive an implantable infusion device;    a second portion to receive a bolus port; and    an enlarged skirt, extending substantially around a perimeter of the member, adapted to receive and retain a suture to secure the member at an implantation site.    
     
     
         14 . A member in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein at least the skirt includes a reinforcement material to assist in retaining a received suture.  
     
     
         15 . A member in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the reinforcement material extends substantially around the perimeter of the member.  
     
     
         16 . A member in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the second portion includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet.  
     
     
         17 . A member in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the fluid inlet is connectable to an output of the implantable infusion device received within the first portion.  
     
     
         18 . A member in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the second portion includes a path connecting the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and the path enables fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet when the second portion receives a bolus port.  
     
     
         19 . A member to receive an implantable infusion device, which includes a fluid output, for implantation in a living body, the member comprising: 
 a first mating surface to receive a housing of an implantable infusion device; and    a second mating surface to receive a bolus port.    
     
     
         20 . A member in accordance with  claim 19 , further comprising a suture-receiving member, which extends substantially about a perimeter of the member, wherein the suture-receiving member is fabricated from a reinforced elastomer.  
     
     
         21 . A member in accordance with  claim 19 , further comprising an inlet passage, which intersects the second mating surface, and an outlet passage, which also intersects the second mating surface.  
     
     
         22 . A member in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the second mating surface includes a path connecting the inlet passage and the outlet passage, and the path enables fluid communication between the inlet passage and the outlet passage when the second mating surface supports a bolus port.  
     
     
         23 . A member in accordance with  claim 19 , further comprising an outlet passage which intersects the second mating surface.  
     
     
         24 . A member in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein said second mating surface is configured so as to prevent infusate from a fluid chamber of the implantable infusion device from flowing through the bolus port.  
     
     
         25 . A member in accordance with  claim 19 , further comprising a portion for interfacing with a delivery catheter.  
     
     
         26 . A member in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein said interface portion encapsulates a portion of said delivery catheter.  
     
     
         27 . An elastomer member for implantation within a living body, the member comprising: 
 a first portion to engage an implantable infusion device for attachment thereto;    a second portion to receive a suture to secure the implantable infusion device at an implantation site, said second portion comprising said elastomer to prevent the in-growth of tissue at an area of said suture.    
     
     
         28 . The member of  claim 27 , wherein said elastomer comprises silicon rubber.  
     
     
         29 . The member of  claim 27 , wherein said member comprises a reinforcing material.  
     
     
         30 . The member of  claim 29 , wherein said reinforcing material is encapsulated therein.  
     
     
         31 . The member of  claim 27 , wherein said member is integral with a bolus port receptacle.  
     
     
         32 . The member of  claim 31 , wherein said bolus port receptacle is formed at least in part of said elastomer.  
     
     
         33 . The member of  claim 31 , wherein said bolus port receptacle is disposed in an output path of said implantable infusion device.  
     
     
         34 . The member of  claim 31 , wherein said bolus port receptacle is configured so as to prevent infusate from a fluid chamber of the implantable infusion device from flowing through a bolus port.  
     
     
         35 . The member of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 a third portion to engage a delivery catheter.    
     
     
         36 . The member of  claim 35 , wherein said third portion encapsulates at least a portion of said delivery catheter.