Fluid delivery device

Abstract

A compact fluid dispenser for use in controllably dispensing fluid medicaments, such as antibiotics, oncolytics, hormones, steroids, blood clotting agents, analgesics, and like medicinal agents from prefilled containers at a uniform rate. The dispenser uniquely includes a stored energy source that is provided in the form of a compressible-expandable elastomeric member of novel construction that provides the force necessary to continuously and uniformly expel fluid from the device reservoir. The device further includes a fluid flow control assembly that precisely controls the flow of the medicament solution to the patient.

1 . A dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluids to a patient comprising: 
 (a) an outer housing;    (b) an inner, expandable housing disposed within said outer housing, said inner expandable housing having a fluid reservoir provided with an inlet for permitting fluid flow into said fluid reservoir and an outlet for permitting fluid flow from said fluid reservoir;    (c) stored energy means disposed within said outer housing for acting upon said inner expandable housing to cause the fluid contained within said fluid reservoir to controllably flow through said outlet, said stored energy means comprising a compressively deformable, cellular member carried within said outer housing, said cellular member being expandable to cause fluid flow from said fluid reservoir;    (d) fill means carried by said outer housing for filling said reservoir with the fluid to be dispensed;    (e) flow control means connected to said outer housing for controlling fluid flow from said reservoir; and    (f) dispensing means operably associated with said flow control means for dispensing fluid to the patient.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 1  in which said cellular member comprises a flexible polymeric foam member.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 1  in which said cellular member comprises a metalized foam.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 1  in which said inner expandable housing comprises a bellows structure having an accordion-like side wall movable from a substantially collapsed configuration to a substantially expanded configuration by fluid flowing into said fluid reservoir.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 1  further including flow control means connected to said first portion of said outer housing for controlling fluid flow between said reservoir and said dispensing means, said flow control means comprising a flow control member rotatable within said reservoir and having a plurality of elongated flow control channels.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 1  in which said fill means comprises a first fill vial receivable within said outer housing.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 6  in which said outer housing includes: 
 (a) a fluid passageway;    (b) a first chamber for telescopically receiving said first fill vial; and    (c) an elongated support mounted within said first chamber, said elongated support having an elongated hollow needle, said hollow needle defining a flow passageway in communication with said fluid passageway.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 7  in which said first fill vial has a first open end, a closed second end and includes 
 (a) a fluid reservoir disposed between said first and second ends; and    (b) a pierceable plunger disposed within said fluid reservoir for movement between first and second positions.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 8  in which said fill means comprises a second fill vial receivable within said outer housing and in which said outer housing includes: 
 (a) a second chamber for telescopically receiving said second fill vial; and    (b) an elongated support mounted within said second chamber, said elongated support having an elongated hollow needle, said hollow needle defining a flow passageway in communication with said fluid passageway.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 9  in which said second fill vial has a first open end, a closed second end and includes; 
 (a) a fluid reservoir disposed between said first and second ends of said second fill vial; and    (b) a pierceable plunger disposed within said fluid reservoir of said second fill vial for movement between first and second positions.    
   
   
       11 . A dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluids to a patient comprising: 
 (a) an outer housing having a first, second and third portions;    (b) an inner, expandable housing disposed within said outer housing, said inner expandable housing having a fluid reservoir provided with an inlet for permitting fluid flow into said fluid reservoir;    (c) stored energy means disposed within said second portion of said outer housing for acting upon said inner expandable housing to cause the fluid contained within said fluid reservoir to controllably flow outwardly toward the patient, said stored energy means comprising a compressively deformable, substantially continuous, semisolid member carried within said second portion of said outer housing, said elastomeric member being expandable to cause fluid flow from said fluid reservoir;    (d) fill means carried by said outer housing for filling said reservoir with the fluid to be dispensed;    (e) flow control means connected to said first portion of said outer housing for controlling fluid flow from said reservoir, said flow control means comprising a flow control assembly including: 
 (i) an ullage defining member having a first portion disposed within said inner, expandable housing and a second portion having a fluid passageway in communication with said outlet of said fluid reservoir;  
 (ii) a fluid flow control member rotatably mounted within said first portion of said ullage defining member, said flow control member having a plurality of elongated fluid flow control channels, each of said plurality of elongated fluid flow control channels having an inlet and all outlet; and  
 (iii) selector means rotatably connected to said second portion of said ullage defining member for rotating said fluid flow control member to selectively align an outlet of one of said elongated fluid flow control channels with said with fluid passageway in said second portion of said ullage defining member; and  
 (iv) dispensing means for dispensing fluid to the patient, said dispensing means being connected to said second portion of said ullage defining member, and being in communication with said fluid passageway of said second portion of said ullage defining member.  
   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 11  in which said flow control assembly further comprises: 
 (a) an outer casing circumscribing said flow control member; and    (b) distribution means formed in said flow control member for distributing fluid from said fluid reservoir to each of said plurality of elongated flow control channels.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , in which said flow control member is provided with an inlet passageway in communication with said fluid reservoir and in which said fluid flow control assembly further includes filter means carried by said fluid flow control member for filtering fluid flowing toward said distribution means.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 13  in which said distribution means comprises a plurality of radially extending flow passageways formed in said fluid flow control member.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 13  in which said selector means comprises a selector knob connected to said fluid flow control member, said selector knob having finger gripping means for imparting rotation to said selector knob to align said outlet of a selected one of said elongated fluid flow control channels with said outlet of said fluid passageway in said second portion of said ullage defining member.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , further including volume indicator means carried by said outer housing for indicating the volume of fluid remaining in said fluid reservoir.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 13  further including disabling means carried by said outer housing for preventing fluid flow toward said dispensing means.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 13  in which said housing includes a cavity in communication with said inlet of said fluid reservoir and in which said fill means comprises a pierceable septum disposed within said cavity.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 18  in which said fill means comprises a first fill vial receivable within said third portion of said outer housing.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 19  in which said fill means comprises a second fill vial receivable within said third portion of said outer housing.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 20  in which said third portion of said outer housing includes: 
 (a) a fluid passageway in communication with said inlet of said fluid reservoir;    (b) a first chamber for telescopically receiving said first fill vial;    (c) an elongated support mounted within said first chamber, said elongated support having an elongated hollow needle, said hollow needle defining a flow passageway in communication with said fluid passageway;    (d) a second chamber for telescopically receiving said second fill vial; and    (e) an elongated support mounted within said second chamber, said elongated support having an elongated hollow needle, said hollow needle defining a flow passageway in communication with said fluid passageway.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 21  in which each of said first and second fill vials has a first open end, a closed second end and each includes; 
 (a) a fluid reservoir disposed between said first and second ends; and    (b) a pierceable plunger disposed within said fluid reservoir for movement between first and second positions.    
   
   
       23 . A dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluids to a patient comprising: 
 (a) an outer housing having a first, second and third portions;    (b) an inner, expandable housing disposed within said outer housing, said inner expandable housing having a fluid reservoir provided with an inlet for permitting fluid flow into said fluid reservoir;    (c) stored energy means disposed within said second portion of said outer housing for acting upon said inner expandable housing to cause the fluid contained within said fluid reservoir to controllably flow outwardly toward the patient, said stored energy means comprising a compressively deformable, elastomeric member carried within said second portion of said outer housing said, said elastomeric member being expandable to cause fluid flow from said fluid reservoir;    (d) fill means carried by said outer housing for filling said reservoir with the fluid to be dispensed;    (e) flow control means connected to said first portion of said outer housing for controlling fluid flow from said reservoir, said flow control means comprising a flow control assembly including: 
 (i) an ullage defining member having a first portion disposed within said inner, expandable housing and a second portion having a fluid passageway in communication with said outlet of said fluid reservoir;  
 (ii) a flow control member rotatably mounted within said first portion of said ullage defining member, said flow control member having a plurality of elongated micro fluidic flow control channels, each of said plurality of elongated micro fluidic flow control channels having an inlet and an outlet;  
 (iii) an outer casing circumscribing said flow control member;  
 (iv) distribution means formed in said flow control member for distributing fluid from said fluid reservoir to each of said plurality of elongated micro fluidic flow control channels, said distribution means comprising a plurality of radially extending flow passageways formed in said flow control member;  
 (v) selector means rotatably connected to said second portion of said ullage defining member for rotating said flow control member to selective align an outlet of one of said elongated flow control channels with said fluid passageway of said second portion of said ullage defining member, said selector means comprising a selector knob connected to said flow control member, said selector knob having finger gripping means for imparting rotation to said selector knob to align said outlet of a selected one of said elongated micro fluidic flow control channels with said outlet of said fluid passageway in said second portion of said ullage defining member;  
 (vi) dispensing means for dispensing fluid to the patient, said dispensing means being connected to said second portion of said ullage defining member, and being in communication with said fluid passageway of said second portion of said ullage defining member; and  
   (f) volume indicator means for indicating the volume of fluid remaining in said fluid reservoir.    
   
   
       24 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 23  further including disabling means carried by said outer housing for preventing fluid flow toward said dispensing means.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 23  in which said outer housing includes a cavity in communication with said inlet of said fluid reservoir and in which said fill means comprises a pierceable septum disposed within said cavity.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 23  further including locking means carried by said outer housing for blocking rotation of said selector knob.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 23  in which said fill means comprises a cartridge fill vial receivable within said third portion of said outer housing.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 26  in which said third portion of said outer housing includes; 
 (a) a removable vial cover;    (b) a fluid passageway in communication with said inlet of said fluid reservoir;    (c) a chamber for telescopically receiving said cartridge fill vial; and    (d) an elongated support mounted within said removable vial cover.    
   
   
       29 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 28  in which said cartridge fill vial has first and second ends and includes: 
 (a) a pierceable septum closing one of said first and second ends;    (b) a fluid reservoir disposed between said first and second ends; and    (c) a plunger disposed within said fluid reservoir for movement between first and second positions.    
   
   
       30 . A dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluids to a patient comprising: 
 (a) an outer housing having a first, second and third portions;    (b) an inner, expandable housing disposed within said outer housing, said inner expandable housing having a fluid reservoir provided with an inlet for permitting fluid flow into said fluid reservoir and an outlet for permitting fluid flow from said fluid reservoir, said inner expandable housing comprising a flexible bellows structure having an accordion-like side wall movable from a substantially collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration by fluid flowing into said fluid reservoir;    (c) stored energy means disposed within said second portion of said outer housing for acting upon said inner expandable housing to cause the fluid contained within said fluid reservoir to controllably flow through said outlet, said stored energy means comprising a compressively deformable, spring member carried within said second portion of said outer housing, said spring member being expandable to cause fluid flow from said fluid reservoir;    (d) fill means carried by said third portion of said outer housing for filling said reservoir with the fluid to be dispensed;    (e) flow control means carried by said outer housing for controlling fluid flow from said reservoir; and    (f) dispensing means operably associated with said flow control means for dispensing fluid to the patient.    
   
   
       31 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 30  in which said spring member comprises a metal spring.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 30  in which said spring member comprises a plastic spring.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 30  in which said spring member comprises a wave spring.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 30  in which said side wall of said bellows structure is coated with a drug compatible coating.  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 30  in which said coating on said side wall of said bellows structure comprises a plasma containing fluorine molecules.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 30  in which said flow control means comprises a flow control assembly, including at least one component having a plurality of embedded capillaries.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 30  in which said flow control assembly includes a plurality of components having embedded capillaries.  
   
   
       38 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 37  in which said embedded capillaries comprise a micro fluidic flow channels.  
   
   
       39 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 38  in which said microfluidic flow channels are coated.