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Publication Number
US-9393370-B2
Publication Date
2016-07-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
A self-contained apparatus and corresponding methods are provided for delivering viscous fluids in a controlled manner, such as delivering a viscous fluid in a surgical setting. The self-contained apparatus can include a motion following pressure regulator that allows for linear control of a regulated pressure. The regulated pressure can be used for dispensing a viscous fluid from a syringe that is coupled to the self-contained apparatus. The pressure regulator regulates a pressure derived from a pressurized fluid reservoir located at least partially within a housing of the apparatus. This allows the viscous fluid to be delivered using pressure to provide a driving force greater than a force easily delivered manually, while still allowing a surgeon to retain fine control over the rate of viscous fluid delivery.
Core Innovation
An apparatus for injecting a fluid includes a housing and a reservoir of pressurized fluid. The apparatus further includes a continuously variable pressure controller contained within the housing, where the continuously variable pressure controller is in fluid communication with the reservoir when the reservoir is in an open state. An actuator is mechanically coupled to the pressure controller and is movable within a range along an axis of motion, and the mechanical coupling corresponds to continuously varying a pressure regulated by the pressure controller based on displacement of the actuator within at least a portion of the range along the axis of motion.
The pressure regulated by the pressure controller is continuously varied for increases and continuously varied for decreases using displacement of the actuator along the axis of motion. In the described configuration, regulated pressure is produced by passing the pressurized fluid through at least one pressure regulation stage, and the continuously variable pressure controller is mechanically linked to the actuator to control regulated pressure.
In the described relationship, the regulated pressure is linearly and continuously dependent on an amount of movement of the actuator along the axis of motion for at least a portion of a range for increases in the regulated pressure. For injecting a viscous fluid, the method includes opening a reservoir containing a pressurized fluid having a first pressure, producing a regulated pressure lower than the first pressure using the continuously variable pressure controller, and passing the pressurized fluid at the regulated pressure into a first volume of a dispensing device in fluid communication with a surface of a piston.
The piston is then displaced within the dispensing device to inject a viscous fluid contained in a second volume. The apparatus further includes a housing coupler and a housing sealing element as interface and sealing elements for the housing.
Claims Coverage
The partial content identifies two independent claims: an apparatus claim and a method claim. Across these independent claims, the inventive features focus on a continuously variable pressure controller mechanically coupled to an actuator to continuously vary regulated pressure for both pressure increases and decreases, with a linear and continuous dependence on actuator displacement for at least a portion of the motion range, and on using that regulated pressure to displace a piston to inject a viscous fluid.
Continuously variable pressure controller coupled to actuator for increases and decreases
An apparatus comprising a continuously variable pressure controller contained within the housing that is in fluid communication with the reservoir when the reservoir is in an open state, and an actuator mechanically coupled to the pressure controller, the actuator movable within a range along an axis of motion so that displacement of the actuator continuously varies a pressure regulated by the pressure controller for increases and continuously varies the pressure regulated by the pressure controller for decreases.
Linearly and continuously dependent regulated pressure on actuator movement
A method including passing pressurized fluid through a continuously variable pressure controller contained within the housing, mechanically coupled to a moving actuator along an axis of motion to control the regulated pressure, where the regulated pressure is linearly and continuously dependent on an amount of movement of the actuator along the axis of motion for at least a portion of a range for the axis of motion for increases in the regulated pressure.
Across the independent apparatus and method claims, the core claim coverage is the use of a continuously variable pressure controller within the housing that is mechanically coupled to an actuator movable along an axis of motion, producing regulated pressure that is continuously varied based on actuator displacement for increases and decreases, and in the method exhibits a linear and continuous dependence on actuator movement for at least a portion of the motion range prior to injection via piston displacement.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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