Device for delivering antidotes

Abstract

A device capable of delivering precise amounts of one or more antidotes to treat a victim exposed to biological and chemical agents (biochem agents), and also preferably sensing the presence of biochem agents. The delivery device includes a plurality of reservoirs containing antidotes, a manifold to which the reservoirs are fluidically and removably coupled, an outlet on the manifold, a device for selectively releasing at least one of the antidotes from the reservoirs into the manifold, a device for sensing flow of the at least one released antidote, and a device for stopping flow of the at least one released antidote in response to specified amounts of the at least one released antidote having passed through the flow sensing device.

1 . A device for containing and delivering a plurality of antidotes, the device comprising:
 a plurality of reservoirs containing the antidotes;   a manifold to which the reservoirs are fluidically and removably coupled;   an outlet on the manifold;   means for selectively releasing at least one of the antidotes from the reservoirs into the manifold;   means for sensing flow of the at least one released antidote; and   means for stopping flow of the at least one released antidote in response to specified amounts of the at least one released antidote having passed through the flow sensing means.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the releasing means is operable to simultaneously release more than one antidote from the reservoirs. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the flow sensing means comprises separate flow sensors individually associated with the reservoirs, and each of the flow sensors senses flow of a corresponding one of the antidotes from a corresponding one of the reservoirs. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 2 , further comprising means for mixing the more than one antidote. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoirs are cartridges releasably mounted to the manifold. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for delivering the at least one released antidote from the outlet of the manifold and into the body of a person. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow sensing means also measures the density of the at least one released antidote. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow sensing means comprises:
 a tube comprising a freestanding tube portion through which the at least one released antidote flows;   means for vibrating the freestanding tube portion of the tube at a resonant frequency thereof that varies with the density of the at least one released antidote flowing therethrough, the Coriolis effect causing the freestanding tube portion to twist while being vibrated at resonance, the freestanding tube portion exhibiting a degree of twist that varies with the mass flow rate of the at least one released antidote flowing therethrough; and   means for sensing movement of the freestanding tube portion of the tube, the movement-sensing means producing a first output signal based on the resonant frequency of the freestanding tube portion and a second output signal based on the degree of twist of the freestanding tube portion.   
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , the device further comprising means for measuring elapsed time during which the at least one released antidote has flowed through the flow sensing means. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein flow stopping means is operable to stop the flow of the at least one released antidote into the manifold in response to either of the first and second output signals from the movement-sensing means. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 means for detecting the presence of a biochem agent in a fluidic sample; and   means for electrically connecting the detecting means to the releasing means.   
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the fluidic sample is air, water, blood or urine. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the detecting means comprises:
 a freestanding tube portion through which the fluidic sample flows, the freestanding tube portion comprising an internal passage containing a substance selective to the agent so that matter accumulates within the freestanding tube portion;   means for vibrating the freestanding tube portion at a resonant frequency thereof that varies with a combined density of the freestanding tube portion and contents of the internal passage; and   means for sensing movement of the freestanding tube portion and producing an output signal based on the resonant frequency of the freestanding tube portion, the output signal being indicative of accumulation of the matter and thereby presence of the agent in the fluidic sample.   
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the detecting means is operable to identify which of the antidotes is capable of counteracting the biochem agent. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is sufficiently small and light-weight to be carried by a person. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for sending a signal indicating the location of the device. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for broadcasting an alert signal to a remote location if delivery of the at least released one antidote is commenced. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for monitoring biological functions of a person, identifying biological information based on the biological functions, and sending the biological information to a remote location.