Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus comprising: a housing having a housing chamber, an outer deformable body having a reserve chamber, said outer deformable body mounted within said housing chamber, an inner deformable body having a dispensing chamber, said inner deformable body mounted within said reserve chamber; a dispensing valve, a catheter in communication with a valve discharge of said dispensing valve; flow means for discharging a fluidic drug from said dispensing chamber at a dispensing mass flowrate which exceeds a refilling mass flowrate of said fluidic drug passing from said reserve chamber to said dispensing chamber when said dispensing valve is in an open position, and for preventing said fluidic drug from discharging from said dispensing chamber and allowing said fluidic drug to flow from said reserve chamber to said dispensing chamber until said dispensing chamber is at least partially filled when said dispensing valve is in a closed position; and force means for normally urging said outer deformable body in a manner that tends to reduce a volume of said reserve chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus comprising: a housing having a housing chamber, an outer deformable body having a reserve chamber, said outer deformable body mounted within said housing chamber, an inner deformable body having a dispensing chamber, said inner deformable body mounted within said reserve chamber; a dispensing valve, a catheter in communication with a valve discharge of said dispensing valve; flow means for discharging a fluidic drug from said dispensing chamber at a dispensing mass flowrate which exceeds a refilling mass flowrate of said fluidic drug passing from said reserve chamber to said dispensing chamber when said dispensing valve is in an open position, and for preventing said fluidic drug from discharging from said dispensing chamber and allowing said fluidic drug to flow from said reserve chamber to said dispensing chamber until said dispensing chamber is at least partially filled when said dispensing valve is in a closed position; and force means for normally urging said outer deformable body in a manner that tends to reduce a volume of said reserve chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said housing is hermetically sealed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outer deformable body comprises a bellows.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inner deformable body comprises a bellows.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising fill means for filling said reserve chamber with said fluidic drug with the drug delivery apparatus implanted within a patient.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said fill means comprises a filling septum mounted with respect to said housing and having a septum surface exposed to said reserve chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an actuator mechanically coupled to said dispensing valve for actuating said dispensing valve between said open position and said closed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flow means comprises a flow restriction device having an inlet in communication with said dispensing chamber and an outlet in communication with a valve inlet of said dispensing valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said flow restriction device comprises an extended length of conduit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said flow restriction device comprises a nozzle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said flow restriction device comprises an orifice plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said flow restriction device comprises a one-way valve arranged to allow said fluidic drug to flow from said dispensing chamber to said valve inlet of said dispensing valve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flow means comprises a flow restriction device having an inlet in communication with said reserve chamber and an outlet in communication with said dispensing chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said flow restriction device comprises an extended length of conduit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said flow restriction device comprises a nozzle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said flow restriction device comprises an orifice plate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said flow restriction device comprises a one-way valve arranged to allow said fluidic drug to flow from said reserve chamber to said dispensing chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flow means comprises a first flow restriction device having a first inlet in communication with said dispensing chamber and a first outlet in communication with a valve inlet of said dispensing valve, and a second flow restriction device having a second inlet in communication with said reserve chamber and a second outlet in communication with said dispensing chamber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flow means is designed so that said dispensing mass flowrate is in a range of about 10 times to about 150 times said refilling mass flowrate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said force means comprises said outer deformable body having a compressive bias force which urges said outer deformable body in a direction that reduces said volume of said reserve chamber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said outer deformable body comprises a bellows.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said force means comprises said housing chamber at least partially filled with a propellant.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said force means comprises said housing chamber at least partially filled with a compressible fluid.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said force means comprises a spring having one end attached with respect to said outer deformable body and an opposite end attached with respect to said housing.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
An implantable drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a pressure of said fluidic drug within said dispensing chamber is increased as said outer deformable body is urged in said manner.