Liquid infusion unit

Claim 2

A liquid storing and dispensing assembly comprising: a main housing; a liquid flow passage in said main housing having inlet and outlet means, said outlet means communicating exteriorly of said housing; flow control means in said housing between said inlet and outlet means for precisely controlling liquid flow through said passage; a cartridge removably engaged with said housing the exterior of said cartridge cooperating with the exterior of said main housing such that the assemblage has a contiguous exterior surface, said cartridge including a repository for a quantity of liquid to be dispensed; and said inlet means cooperating with said cartridge to establish communication between said repository and said passage when said cartridge in engaged with said housing.

Claim 3

Assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said flow control means comprises: a deformable tube, a plurality of parallel, linear elongate fibers coextensively disposed in said tube, and compressing means disposed about the tube and deforming, to variable degrees, the tube.

Claim 4

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said assembly has a concave lower surface and a convex upper surface, the curvature of the upper surface being greater than that of the lower surface such that said upper and lower surfaces meet along first and second opposite sides.

Claim 5

Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said cartridge comprises an elongated generally rectangular shell, one elongated wall of which is convex and forms a part of said upper surface of said housing.

Claim 6

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said cartridge includes valve means at one end thereof connected with said repository for enabling delivery of fluid to the exterior of said cartridge, said valve means being normally closed, and wherein said inlet means cooperates with said valve means to open the same when said cartridge is engaged with said housing.

Claim 7

A fluid storage and dispensing assembly comprising, in combination: a generally rectangular support base; first and second hollow, elongated housing assemblies on said support base in spaced relationship with each other; a removable cartridge disposed on said support base in the space between said first and second housing assemblies; an expansible bladder in said cartridge for holding fluid under pressure; a fluid flow passage in said first housing assembly having inlet means communicating with said bladder, and outlet means; and fluid flow control means in said first housing assembly for controlling the rate of discharge of fluid from said bladder through said passage to said outlet means.

Claim 8

A fluid storage and dispensing assembly comprising, in combination: a generally rectangular support base; first and second hollow, elongated housing assemblies on said support base in spaced relationship with each other; a removable cartridge disposed on said support base in the space between said first and second housing assemblies; an expansible bladder in said cartridge for holding fluid under pressure; a fluid flow passage in said first housing assembly having inlet means communicating with said bladder, and outlet means; and fluid flow control means in said first housing assembly for controlling the rate of discharge of fluid from said bladder through said passage to said outlet means.

Claim 9

Apparatus as recited in claim 6 further including flow indicaTor means in said first housing assembly, said indicator responsive to fluid flow downstream of said flow control means and having a first state when fluid is being dispensed and a second state when fluid flow ceases.

Claim 10

Apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said flow indicator means comprises: a chamber connected in said flow passage between said fluid control means and said outlet means, said chamber defining an opening in a wall thereof; a diaphragm sealed over said opening; and signal means responsive to flexure of said diaphragm to indicate the flow state of fluid in said passage.

Claim 11

Apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said signal means comprises an L-shaped lever pivotally mounted at the elbow thereof in said first housing assembly, and means biasing a first arm of said lever into engagement with said diaphragm.

Claim 12

Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said first housing assembly defines an opening in an exterior wall thereof, and wherein a second arm of said lever is movable between a first position away from said opening when in said first state, and a second position immediately behind said opening when in said second state.

Claim 13

Apparatus for metered flow of fluid from a selfcontained supply, comprising: a housing having fluid outlet means; a repository of fluid under pressure in said housing; a fluid passage contained within said housing connecting said repository with said outlet means; flow metering means in said passage for accurately maintaining an established rate of fluid flow from said repository to said outlet means, said flow metering means including control means contained within said housing for receiving a tool for adjusting the rate of fluid flow through said metering means; and said housing defining an opening in a wall thereof to allow insertion of said tool into operative engagement with said control means so as to enable adjustment of said metering means said opening being of such size as to allow a patient to adjust said metering means with said tool but not otherwise.

Claim 14

Apparatus for metered flow of fluid from a selfcontained supply, comprising: a housing having fluid outlet means; a repository of fluid under pressure in said housing; a fluid passage contained within said housing connecting said repository with said outlet means; flow metering means in said passage for accurately maintaining an established rate of fluid flow from said repository to said outlet means, said flow metering means including control means contained within said housing for receiving a tool for adjusting the rate of fluid flow through said metering means; and said housing defining an opening in a wall thereof to allow insertion of said tool into operative engagement with said control means so as to enable adjustment of said metering means said opening being of such size as to allow a patient to adjust said metering means with said tool but not otherwise.

Claim 15

Apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said flow metering means comprises: a flexible tube, a mass disposed within said tube and filling a portion of the space defined therein, and means about said tube to apply a compressive force thereagainst.

Claim 16

Apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said force applying means includes a force applying wedge mounted in said housing for movement towards and away from said flexible tube; and wherein said control means includes a control wedge cooperating with said force applying wedge and movable in a direction generally parallel to the axial direction of said tube.

Claim 17

Apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said control wedge carries a rack gear.

Claim 18

Apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said control wedge further carries a pointing arm; and wherein a flow rate scale is imprinted on said housing, said pointing arm cooperating with said flow rate scale to indicate the fluid flow rate established by said control means.

Claim 19

Apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said flow metering means further comprises: a by-pass tube connected in said flow passage in parallel with said flexible tube, means closing said by-pass tube to the flow of fluid therethrough, said means being movable to an open position by a second tool inserted through a second opening in the wall of said housing; said by-pass tube having a flow rate capacity greater than said flexible tube whereby rapid bleeding of air from the apparatus may be accomplished and by which rapid dispensing of liquid may be effected.

Claim 20

A fluid storage and dispensing assembly comprising; in combination: a hollow housing defining inlet and outlet port means and containing a liquid flow passageway extending between said inlet and outlet port means, said passageway including flow control means for precisely metering fluid flow therethrough; fluid dispensing means connected to said outlet port means for dispensing fLuid exteriorly of the assembly; a cartridge removably engaged with said housing and containing a fluid repository, said cartridge having connector means for cooperative engagement with said inlet port means of said housing to enable fluid contained within said repository to be dispensed through said passageway; said housing including guide means for aligning said connector means of said cartridge with said inlet port means for interconnection thereof; and means on said cartridge and said housing to hold said cartridge in operative engagement with said housing such that fluid communication between said connector means and said inlet port means is positively established, said cartridge holding means comprising a pin protruding from a wall of said cartridge and a locking bar pivotally attached to said housing, said locking bar defining a surface adapted to slidably engage said pin for urging said cartridge into a locked position on the housing as the locking bar is pivotally moved and for holding said cartridge securely in place.

Claim 21

A fluid storage and dispensing assembly comprising; in combination: a hollow housing defining inlet and outlet port means and containing a liquid flow passageway extending between said inlet and outlet port means, said passageway including flow control means for precisely metering fluid flow therethrough; fluid dispensing means connected to said outlet port means for dispensing fLuid exteriorly of the assembly; a cartridge removably engaged with said housing and containing a fluid repository, said cartridge having connector means for cooperative engagement with said inlet port means of said housing to enable fluid contained within said repository to be dispensed through said passageway; said housing including guide means for aligning said connector means of said cartridge with said inlet port means for interconnection thereof; and means on said cartridge and said housing to hold said cartridge in operative engagement with said housing such that fluid communication between said connector means and said inlet port means is positively established, said cartridge holding means comprising a pin protruding from a wall of said cartridge and a locking bar pivotally attached to said housing, said locking bar defining a surface adapted to slidably engage said pin for urging said cartridge into a locked position on the housing as the locking bar is pivotally moved and for holding said cartridge securely in place.

Claim 24

Apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said support means has a pointing arm and wherein said shell has a volume scale imprinted thereon, said pointing arm and said scale cooperating to indicate the volume of fluid contained within said bladder.

Claim 25

Apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said bladder includes a valve member at the end connected with said opening in said shell, said valve member being urged to a closed position by fluid under pressure in said bladder.

Claim 26

Apparatus as recited in claim 20 wherein said bladder includes filter means at the end connected with said support means for passing air but not liquid out of said bladder whereby said bladder may be completely filled with liquid and voided of air by forcing such liquid into said bladder through said valve end.

Claim 29

The device as recited in claim 22 wherein said main housing has an exterior wall generally conforming to the curvature of an extremity of the patient and includes means for attaching the housing to such extremity.

Claim 30

The device as recited in claim 22 wherein the liquid drug is a drug for intravascular, subcutaneous or intramuscular infusion, and the means for administering the drug to a patient comprises means for such infusion.

Claim 31

An infusion unit for the continuous delivery of a controlled reproducible flow of a liquid drug to a patient, comprising, in combination: a housing defining inlet and outlet port means and containing a liquid flow passageway extending between said inlet and outlet port means, said passageway including flow control means for precisely metering fluid flow therethrough, and a liquid drug supply cartridge removably engaged with said housing at said inlet port means and comprising: a. an elongated, hollow shell having an opening at one end selectively cooperating with said inlet port means for the transfer of liquid drug to said passageway, b. radial support means disposed in said shell and slidably engaged with the interior walls of said shell, and c. an expandable bladder of generally cylindrical geometry supported at each end between the opening in said shell and said support means whereby said bladder may be distended with a quantity of liquid drug and subsequently deflated with minimal frictional contact with interior walls of said shell, said support means sliding axially within said shell to accommodate variations in the axial dimension of said bladder; and means connected with said outlet port means for infusion of the metered amounts of liquid drug from said cartridge to the patient.

Claim 32

An infusion unit for the continuous delivery of a controlled reproducible flow of a liquid drug to a patient, comprising, in combination: a housing defining inlet and outlet port means and containing a liquid flow passageway extending between said inlet and outlet port means, said passageway including flow control means for precisely metering fluid flow therethrough, and a liquid drug supply cartridge removably engaged with said housing at said inlet port means and comprising: a. an elongated, hollow shell having an opening at one end selectively cooperating with said inlet port means for the transfer of liquid drug to said passageway, b. radial support means disposed in said shell and slidably engaged with the interior walls of said shell, and c. an expandable bladder of generally cylindrical geometry supported at each end between the opening in said shell and said support means whereby said bladder may be distended with a quantity of liquid drug and subsequently deflated with minimal frictional contact with interior walls of said shell, said support means sliding axially within said shell to accommodate variations in the axial dimension of said bladder; and means connected with said outlet port means for infusion of the metered amounts of liquid drug from said cartridge to the patient.

Claim 33

A liquid drug supply cartridge for use in an assembly for the continuous delivery of a controlled reproducible flow of such liquid drug to a patient, having a housing defining inlet and outlet port means and containing a liquid flow passageway extending between said inlet and outlet port means, said passageway including flow control means for precisely metering fluid flow therethrough, means connected with said outlet port means for administering the liquid drug to the patient, said cartridge removably engageable with said housing at said inlet port means and comprising: a. an elongated, hollow shell having an opening at one end adapted for fluid transfer coupling with said inlet port means of said housing, b. radial support means disposed in said shell and slidably engaged with the interior walls of said shell, and c. an expandable bladder of generally cylindrical geometry supported at each end between the opening in said shell and said support means whereby said bladder may be distended with a quantity of liquid drug and subsequently deflated with minimal frictional contact with interior walls of said shell to dispense such drug, said support means sliding axially within said shell to accommodate variations in the axial dimension of said bladder.

Claim 34

A liquid drug supply cartridge for use in an assembly for the continuous delivery of a controlled reproducible flow of such liquid drug to a patient, having a housing defining inlet and outlet port means and containing a liquid flow passageway extending between said inlet and outlet port means, said passageway including flow control means for precisely metering fluid flow therethrough, means connected with said outlet port means for administering the liquid drug to the patient, said cartridge removably engageable with said housing at said inlet port means and comprising: a. an elongated, hollow shell having an opening at one end adapted for fluid transfer coupling with said inlet port means of said housing, b. radial support means disposed in said shell and slidably engaged with the interior walls of said shell, and c. an expandable bladder of generally cylindrical geometry supported at each end between the opening in said shell and said support means whereby said bladder may be distended with a quantity of liquid drug and subsequently deflated with minimal frictional contact with interior walls of said shell to dispense such drug, said support means sliding axially within said shell to accommodate variations in the axial dimension of said bladder.

Claim 35

An infusion unit for the continuous delivery of a controlled reproducible flow of a liquid drug to a patient comprising, in combination: a main housing adapted to be carried by the patient; means for attaching said housing to a body portion of the patient; a liquid flow passage in said main housing having inlet and outlet means, said outlet means communicating exteriorly of the housing; flow control means in said housing between said inlet and outlet means for precisely and reproducibly regulating and permitting to pass small controlled amounts of liquid through said passage, said flow control means including (a) a deformable tube, (b) a plurality of parallel, linear elongate fibers coextensively disposed in said tube, and (c) compressing means disposed about the tube and deforming, to variable degrees, the tube; a cartridge removably engaged with saId housing to form an assemblage having a contiguous exterior surface, said cartridge including a repository for a quantity of the liquid drug under pressure and comprising (a) an elongated, hollow shell having an opening at one end selectively cooperating with said inlet means for the transfer of liquid drug to said passage, (b) support means slidably disposed in said shell, and (c) an expandible bladder of generally cylindrical geometry supported at each end between the opening in said shell and said support means whereby said bladder may be distended with a quantity of liquid drug and subsequently deflated with minimal frictional contact with interior walls of said shell, said support means sliding within said shell to accomodate variations in the axial dimension of said bladder; said inlet means cooperating with said cartridge to establish communication between said bladder and said passage when said cartridge is engaged with said housing; and means connected with said outlet means for administering the small controlled amounts of liquid drug by infusion to the patient.

Claim 36

An infusion unit for the continuous delivery of a controlled reproducible flow of a liquid drug to a patient comprising, in combination: a main housing adapted to be carried by the patient; means for attaching said housing to a body portion of the patient; a liquid flow passage in said main housing having inlet and outlet means, said outlet means communicating exteriorly of the housing; flow control means in said housing between said inlet and outlet means for precisely and reproducibly regulating and permitting to pass small controlled amounts of liquid through said passage, said flow control means including (a) a deformable tube, (b) a plurality of parallel, linear elongate fibers coextensively disposed in said tube, and (c) compressing means disposed about the tube and deforming, to variable degrees, the tube; a cartridge removably engaged with saId housing to form an assemblage having a contiguous exterior surface, said cartridge including a repository for a quantity of the liquid drug under pressure and comprising (a) an elongated, hollow shell having an opening at one end selectively cooperating with said inlet means for the transfer of liquid drug to said passage, (b) support means slidably disposed in said shell, and (c) an expandible bladder of generally cylindrical geometry supported at each end between the opening in said shell and said support means whereby said bladder may be distended with a quantity of liquid drug and subsequently deflated with minimal frictional contact with interior walls of said shell, said support means sliding within said shell to accomodate variations in the axial dimension of said bladder; said inlet means cooperating with said cartridge to establish communication between said bladder and said passage when said cartridge is engaged with said housing; and means connected with said outlet means for administering the small controlled amounts of liquid drug by infusion to the patient.