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Publication Number
US-12752050-B2
Publication Date
2026-10-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
Infusion pumps including a plurality of reservoirs arranged either serially and/or in parallel with one another are described. In some embodiments, flow channels with a desired arrangement of flow resistances, bypass flow paths, pressure sensors, and/or meniscus control structures may be included in the infusion pump to provide a desired flow of one or more therapeutic compounds into and/or out from an infusion pump.
Core Innovation
The disclosed infusion pump features a plurality of serially connected reservoirs containing therapeutic fluid, where the interconnecting channels have flow resistance that increases in the downstream direction. A three-reservoir arrangement provides successively greater flow resistance in the channels extending toward the outlet. The downstream reservoir fluidly connects to the outlet for delivery of the therapeutic fluid to a subject.
The established resistance gradient incorporates channels having decreasing cross-sectional area to equalize filling across parallel flow paths and reduce bubble entrapment. In certain embodiments, two parallel branches of serial reservoirs connect to a common inlet and outlet. The fluid flow through the serially connected reservoirs delivers therapeutic fluid through channels governed by their cross-sectional geometry.
Claims Coverage
The claim coverage includes three inventive features directed to infusion pumps and a method of operating an infusion pump.
Serial reservoirs with increasing downstream flow resistance
An infusion pump comprising a plurality of serially connected reservoirs of therapeutic fluid, wherein the flow resistance of the channels interconnecting adjacent reservoirs increases in a downstream direction based on the configuration of each channel, and the last reservoir is fluidly connected to the pump outlet for delivery to a subject.
Three reservoirs with successively greater channel resistance
An infusion pump comprising first, second, and third reservoirs and channels extending between the first and second reservoirs, the second and third reservoirs, and the third reservoir and outlet. The third channel has greater flow resistance than the second channel, and the second channel has greater flow resistance than the first channel due to a difference in at least one of the cross-sectional area, cross-sectional shape, or length of the respective channels.
Fluid flow through channels with different resistances
A method of operating an infusion pump that flows therapeutic fluid from a first reservoir to a serially connected second reservoir through a first channel, then from the second reservoir to the outlet through a second channel with greater flow resistance. Each channel's flow resistance is determined by its cross-sectional geometry.
The independent claims cover serial-reservoir pump configurations and an operating method wherein channel flow resistance increases toward the outlet.
Stated Advantages
The resistance gradient can help equalize filling among parallel flow paths.
The resistance gradient can reduce bubble entrapment.
Documented Applications
Delivery of therapeutic fluid from the last reservoir of an infusion pump to a subject through the pump outlet.
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