Fluid delivery apparatus with bellows reservoir

Abstract

A compact fluid dispenser for use in controllably dispensing fluid medicaments, such as, antibiotics, analgesics, and like medicinal agents from the device reservoir which is provided in the form of a novel bellows type assembly. The fluid dispenser includes a unique stored energy mechanism which takes the form of a constant force spring member of novel design that provides the force necessary to continuously and substantially uniformly expel fluid from the device reservoir. The device also includes novel adjustable flow rate control assembly that is disposed intermediate the fluid reservoir outlet and the outlet port of the device for precisely controlling the rate of fluid flow from the outlet port toward the patient.

1 . A dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluids to a patient comprising: 
 (a) a housing having a fluid reservoir for containing fluid to be dispensed to the patient, said reservoir comprising a bellows structure having an expandable and compressible, accordion-like, annular-shaped sidewall expandable from a first contracted configuration to a second expanded configuration, said housing being provided with an inlet for permitting fluid flow into said fluid reservoir and an outlet for permitting fluid flow from said fluid reservoir;    (b) pusher means disposed within said housing for movement between a first position and a second position to cause said annular-shaped sidewall to move toward a contracted configuration and to cause said fluid contained within said fluid reservoir to flow toward said outlet of said housing;    (c) stored energy means disposed within said outer housing for acting upon said pusher means to cause said fluid pusher means to move toward said second position, said stored energy means comprising a constant force spring;    (d) fill means carried by said housing for filling said reservoir with the fluid to be dispensed;    (e) flow control means carried by said housing for controlling fluid flow from said reservoir to the patient, said flow control means comprising a selector member rotatably mounted within said housing, said selector member having a plurality of fluid passageways formed therein; and    (f) dispensing means connected to said housing.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 1  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.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 1  in which said fill means comprises a fill vial receivable within said housing.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further including volume indicator means carried by said housing for indicating the volume of fluid within said reservoir.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further including disabling means carried by said housing for preventing fluid flow toward the patient.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 1  in which said flow control means further includes a flow rate control member mounted within said housing, said flow control member having a plurality of elongated fluidic flow control channels in communication with said plurality of fluid passageways formed in said selector member.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 1  further including stop means for preventing rotation of said selector member.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 1  in which said flow control means further comprises a second selector member rotatably mounted within said housing, said second flow selector member having a plurality of fluid passageways formed therein.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 8  in which said flow control means further includes a flow rate control member mounted within said housing, said flow control member having a plurality of elongated fluidic flow control channels in communication with said plurality of fluid passageways formed in said second selector member.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 9  in which said plurality of elongated fluidic flow control channels of said flow rate control member have a depth of approximately 10-100 um.  
   
   
       11 . A dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluids to a patient comprising: 
 (a) a housing having a fluid reservoir for containing fluid to be dispensed to the patient, said reservoir comprising a bellows structure having an expandable and compressible, accordion-like, annular-shaped sidewall expandable from a first contracted configuration to a second expanded configuration, said housing being provided with an inlet for permitting fluid flow into said fluid reservoir and an outlet for permitting fluid flow from said fluid reservoir;    (b) fluid displacement means disposed within said housing for movement between a first position and a second position to cause said fluid contained within said fluid reservoir to flow toward said outlet;    (c) stored energy means disposed within said outer housing for acting upon said fluid displacement means to cause said fluid displacement means to move toward said second position, said stored energy means comprising a constant force spring;    (d) fill means carried by said housing for filling said reservoir with the fluid to be dispensed;    (e) flow control means carried by said housing for controlling fluid flow from said reservoir to the patient, said flow control means comprising: 
 (i) a selector member rotatably mounted within said housing, said flow control member having a plurality of fluid passageways formed therein; and  
 (ii) a flow rate control member mounted within said housing, said flow control member having a plurality of elongated fluidic flow control channels in communication with said plurality of fluid passageways formed in said selector member; and  
   (f) dispensing means connected to said housing and in communication with said plurality of fluid passageways formed in said selector member.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 11  further including stop means for preventing rotation of said selector member.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 11  in which said housing includes a vial receiving chamber and in which said fill means comprises a fill vial receivable within said vial receiving chamber.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 11  in which said plurality of elongated fluidic flow control channels of said flow rate control member have a depth of approximately 10-100 um.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 11  and which said flow rate control member is constructed from a medical grade polymer and in which said fluid flow control channels are made by injection molding techniques.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 11  and which said plurality of the elongated fluidic flow control channels will deliver fluid at a flow rate of between about 0.25 and about 5.0 milliliters per hour.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 11  in which said flow control means further comprises a second selector member rotatably mounted within said housing, said second flow selector member having a plurality of fluid passageways formed therein in communication with said elongated fluidic flow control channels of said flow rate control member.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 11  further including disabling means carried by said housing for irrevocably disabling the device and rendering it inert.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 18  in which said disabling means comprises a disabling shaft that is telescopically movable within a passageway formed within said housing.  
   
   
       20 . A dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluids to a patient comprising: 
 (a) a housing having a fluid reservoir for containing fluid to be dispensed to the patient, said reservoir comprising a bellows structure having an expandable and compressible, accordion-like, annular-shaped sidewall expandable from a first contracted configuration to a second expanded configuration, said housing being provided with an inlet for permitting fluid flow into said fluid reservoir and an outlet for permitting fluid flow from said reservoir;    (b) fluid displacement means disposed within said housing for movement between a first position and a second position to cause said fluid contained within said fluid reservoir to flow toward said outlet;    (c) stored energy means disposed within said outer housing for acting upon said fluid displacement means to cause said fluid displacement means to move toward said second position, said stored energy means comprising a constant force spring;    (d) fill means carried by said housing for filling said reservoir with the fluid to be dispensed, said fill means comprising a first fill vial;    (e) flow control means carried by said housing for controlling fluid flow from said reservoir to the patient, said flow control means comprising: 
 (i) first and second selector members rotatably mounted within said housing, each of said flow control members having a plurality of fluid passageways formed therein; and  
 (ii) a flow rate control member mounted within said housing, cash of said flow control member having a plurality of elongated fluidic flow control micro channels in communication with said plurality of fluid passageways formed in said first selector member and a plurality of elongated fluidic flow macro channels in communication with said fluid passageways formed in said second selects member; and  
   (f) dispensing means connected to said housing and in communication with said plurality of fluid.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 20  in which said housing includes; 
 (a) a removable vial cover;    (b) a fluid passageway in communication with said inlet of said fluid reservoir;    (c) a first chamber for telescopically receiving said fill vial, said first chamber being in communication with said fluid passageway; and    (d) a first elongated support mounted within said removable vial cover.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 21  in which said fill means further includes a second fill vial and in which said housing includes: 
 (a) a second chamber for telescopically receiving said second fill vial, said second chamber being in communication with said fluid passageway; and    (b) a second elongated support mounted within said removable vial cover.    
   
   
       23 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 22  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 plunger disposed within said fluid reservoir for movement between first and second positions.    
   
   
       24 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 23  in which said housing includes a cavity in communication with said inlet of said fluid reservoir and in which said fill means further comprises a pierceable septum disposed within said cavity.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 24  further including locking means carried by said housing for blocking rotation of said selector knob.  
   
   
       26 . A dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluids to a patient comprising: 
 (a) a housing having a removable vial cover and a fluid reservoir for containing fluid to be dispensed to the patient, said reservoir comprising a bellows structure having an expandable and compressible, accordion-like, annular-shaped sidewall expandable from a first contracted configuration to a second expanded configuration, said housing being provided with an inlet for permitting fluid flow into said fluid reservoir and an outlet for permitting fluid flow from said fluid reservoir;    (b) fluid displacement means disposed within said housing for movement between a first position and a second position to cause said fluid contained within said fluid reservoir to flow toward said outlet;    (c) stored energy means disposed within said outer housing for acting upon said fluid displacement means to cause said fluid displacement means to move toward said second position, said stored energy means comprising a constant force spring;    (d) fill means carried by said housing for filling said reservoir with the fluid to be dispensed, said fill means comprising a first fill vial;    (e) flow control means carried by said housing for controlling fluid flow from said reservoir to the patient, said flow control means comprising a flow rate control member mounted within said housing, said flow control member having a plurality of elongated fluidic flow control channels; and    (f) dispensing means connected to said housing and in communication with said plurality of elongated fluidic flow control channels.    
   
   
       27 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 26  in which said housing includes a cavity in communication with said inlet of said fluid reservoir and in which said fill means further comprises a pierceable septum disposed within said cavity.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 27  in which said 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, said first chamber being in communication with said fluid passageway; and    (c) a first elongated support mounted within said removable vial cover.    
   
   
       29 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 28  in which said fill means further comprises a second fill vial and in which said housing includes: 
 (a) a second chamber for telescopically receiving said second fill vial, said second chamber being in communication with said fluid passageway; and    (b) a second elongated support mounted within said removable vial cover.    
   
   
       30 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 31  in which one of said first and second fill vials has an outer wall and includes: 
 (a) a first open end sealed by a plunger;    (b) a second end sealed by a pierceable septum;    (c) a fluid reservoir disposed between said plunger and said second end;    (d) a raised outer wall portion formed in said outer wall intermediate said first and second ends;    (e) a barrier stopper disposed within said fluid reservoir for movement between first and second positions; and    (f) a medicament containing chamber for containing a medicament disposed between said barrier stopper and said pierceable septum.    
   
   
       31 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 30  in which said medicament comprises a lypholized drug.