Differential Pressure Fluid Delivery System

Abstract

A system for delivering a medicinal fluid to a patient includes a variable volume pressure delivery chamber, a variable volume medication chamber, an optional medication reservoir, a movable delivery element, a fixed reference volume chamber, a pressure source, and a control sub-system. The variable volume pressure delivery chamber is configured to store pressure controllably. The variable volume medication chamber is fluidically isolated from the pressure delivery chamber and is configured to store medicinal fluid. The movable delivery element is disposed between the medication chamber and the pressure delivery chamber. The pressure source is coupled to the pressure delivery chamber. The control system is configured to selectively cause the pressure source to deliver pressure to the pressure delivery chamber causing the movable delivery element to apply pressure to the medicinal fluid in the medication chamber thereby causing the medicinal fluid to exit the medication chamber at an outlet along the fluid communication path to the patient.

1 . A system for delivering a medicinal fluid to a patient comprising:
 a variable volume pressure delivery chamber configured to store pressure controllably;   a variable volume medication chamber fluidically isolated from the pressure delivery chamber configured to store medicinal fluid and having an outlet forming a fluid communication path to the patient;   a movable delivery element disposed between the medication chamber and the pressure delivery chamber;   a pressure source coupled to the pressure delivery chamber; and   a control sub-system configured to selectively deliver pressure from the pressure source to the pressure delivery chamber causing the movable delivery element to apply pressure to the medicinal fluid in the medication chamber thereby causing the medicinal fluid to exit the medication chamber at the outlet along the fluid communication path to the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the movable delivery element is at least partially movable within at least a portion of the medication chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the movable delivery element is at least partially deformable. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a volume of the pressure delivery chamber varies based on an amount of pressure delivered by the pressure source or an amount of pressure within the medication chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the medication chamber comprises at least a portion of a syringe. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a valve manifold disposed between the pressure source and the pressure delivery chamber for selectively delivering pressure from the pressure source to the pressure delivery chamber in response to receiving a signal from the control sub-system. 
 
     
     
         7 . The system of claim , wherein the movable delivery element comprises a gasket, a syringe plunger, an elastomeric element, a bellows element, a membrane, or a balloon. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a position sensor coupled or adjacent to the medication chamber which is in communication with the control sub-system, the position sensor generating data indicative of a volume of medicinal fluid within the medication chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the control sub-system calculates a flow rate and/or volume of the medicinal fluid exiting the outlet of the medication chamber based on the data generated by the position sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a flow sensor coupled or adjacent to the medication chamber which is in communication with the control sub-system, the flow sensor generating data indicative of a rate of flow of medicinal fluid exiting the medication chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the control sub-system calculates a flow rate and/or volume of the medicinal fluid exiting the outlet of the medication chamber based on the data generated by the flow sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a mass sensor coupled or adjacent to the medication chamber which is in communication with the control sub-system, the mass sensor generating data indicative of a mass of medicinal fluid within the medication chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the control sub-system calculates a flow rate and/or volume of the medicinal fluid exiting the outlet of the medication chamber based on the data generated by the mass sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a medication chamber pressure sensor coupled or adjacent to the medication chamber which is in communication with the control sub-system, the medication chamber pressure sensor generating data indicative of a volume of medicinal fluid within the medication chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control sub-system calculates a flow rate and/or volume of the medicinal fluid exiting the outlet of the medication chamber based on the data generated by the medication chamber pressure sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a pressure delivery chamber pressure sensor coupled to or adjacent to the pressure delivery chamber which is in communication with the control sub-system and which generates a first pressure value characterizing a level of pressure within the pressure delivery chamber; and 
 a reference pressure chamber pressure sensor coupled to or adjacent to a reference pressure chamber which is in communication with the control sub-system and which generates a second pressure value characterizing a level of pressure within the reference pressure chamber; 
 wherein the control sub-system calculates an amount of medical fluid amount within the medication chamber based on a differential pressure measurement using the first pressure values and the second pressure value. 
 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the control sub-subsystem further calculates occlusions within the fluid communication path using the first pressure values and the second pressure values. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a pressure delivery chamber pressure sensor coupled to or adjacent to the pressure delivery chamber which is in communication with the control sub-system and which generates a first pressure value characterizing a level of pressure within the pressure delivery chamber; and 
 a medication chamber pressure sensor coupled to or adjacent to the medication chamber which is in communication with the control sub-system and which generates a second pressure value characterizing a level of pressure within the medication chamber; 
 wherein the control sub-system calculates an amount of medical fluid amount within the medication chamber based on a differential pressure measurement using the first pressure values and the second pressure value. 
 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure source is an electromechanical air pump. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the pressure source is a piezoelectric air pump. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a medication reservoir coupled to the medication chamber holding additional medicinal fluid; 
 wherein the control sub-system is configured to automatically extract the additional medicinal fluid from the medication reservoir to the medication chamber. 
 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a bubble detection sensor coupled to or adjacent to the medication chamber which is in communication with the control sub-system which is configured to identify bubbles within the medicinal fluid. 
 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  further comprising:
 a bubble elimination system coupled to or adjacent to the medication chamber which is in communication with the control sub-system which is configured to selectively remove bubbles within the medicinal fluid identified by the bubble detection sensor. 
 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an occlusion detection sensor coupled to or adjacent to the medication chamber which is in communication with the control sub-system configured to identify an occlusion within the fluid communication path. 
 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a user interface comprising a display and at least one input element configured to alter a parameter associated with delivery of the medicinal fluid to the patient. 
 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a housing encapsulating each of the pressure delivery chamber, the medication chamber, the movable delivery element, the pressure source, and the control sub-system. 
 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a communications interface configured to bi-directionally exchange data over a communications network with a remote computing device associated with delivery of the medicinal fluid. 
 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the medication chamber further comprises a detachable medication container configured to hold medication and interact with the movable delivery element. 
     
     
         29 . A method for delivering a medicinal fluid to a patient using a system as in any of the previous claims, the method comprising:
 monitoring pressure within the pressure delivery chamber; and   selectively activating a pressure source coupled to the pressure delivery chamber to increase or decrease a level of pressure within the pressure delivery chamber based on the monitoring;   wherein pressure in the pressure delivery chamber causes the movable delivery element between the pressure delivery chamber and the medication chamber to apply pressure to the medication chamber thereby causing medicinal fluid to be delivered along a fluid communication path to the patient.   
     
     
         30 . A method for delivering a medicinal fluid to a patient using a fluid delivery system having a pressure delivery chamber, a medication chamber, and a reference chamber, the method comprising:
 first monitoring pressure within the pressure delivery chamber;   second monitoring pressure within a reference chamber having a known pressure level; and   selectively activating a pressure source coupled to the pressure delivery chamber to increase or decrease a level of pressure within the pressure delivery chamber based on the first monitoring and the second monitoring;   wherein pressure in the pressure delivery chamber causes a movable delivery element between the pressure delivery chamber and the medication chamber to apply pressure to the medication chamber thereby causing medicinal fluid to be delivered along a fluid communication path to the patient.   
     
     
         31 . A method for delivering a medicinal fluid to a patient using a fluid delivery system having a pressure delivery chamber and a medication chamber, the method comprising:
 first monitoring pressure within the pressure delivery chamber;   second monitoring pressure within the medication chamber; and   selectively activating a pressure source coupled to the pressure delivery chamber to increase or decrease a level of pressure within the pressure delivery chamber based on the first monitoring and the second monitoring;   wherein pressure in the pressure delivery chamber causes a movable delivery element between the pressure delivery chamber and the medication chamber to apply pressure to the medication chamber thereby causing medicinal fluid to be delivered along a fluid communication path to the patient.   
     
     
         32 . An apparatus comprising:
 first pressure monitoring means within a pressure delivery chamber;   second pressure monitoring means within a fixed volume reference chamber having a known pressure level; and   means for selectively activating a pressure source coupled to the pressure delivery chamber to increase or decrease a level of pressure within the pressure delivery chamber;   wherein pressure in the pressure delivery chamber causes a movable delivery element between the pressure delivery chamber and the medication chamber to apply pressure a medication chamber thereby causing medicinal fluid to be delivered along a fluid communication path to a patient.