Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-28
2001-05-29
Mendez, Manuel (Department: 3763)
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
C128SDIG001, C604S891100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238367
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an implantable drug delivery device having a transducer, and more particularly, relates to an improved connection between a transducer and an electronic module which controls operation of an implantable drug delivery device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Implantable drug infusion devices are well known in the art. These devices typically include a medication reservoir within a generally cylindrical housing or bulkhead. Some form of fluid flow control is also provided to control or regulate the flow of fluid medication from the reservoir to the outlet of the device for delivery of the medication to the desired location in a body, usually through a catheter. These devices are used to provide patients with a prolonged dosage or infusion of a drug or other therapeutic agent.
Active drug infusion devices feature a pump or a metering system to deliver the drug into the patient's system. An example of such a drug infusion pump currently available is the Medtronic SynchroMed programmable pump. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,147 (Duggan), U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,069 (Robinson), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,459 (Robinson), assigned to Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., disclose body-implantable electronic drug administration devices comprising a peristaltic (roller) pump for metering a measured amount of drug in response to an electronic pulse generated by control circuitry associated within the device. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
A prior art implantable device
2
is shown in FIG.
1
and includes a bulkhead
4
housing a peristaltic pump
6
, a motor
8
, and batteries
10
,
12
. A bulkhead, when used herein, refers to the central structure or chassis for an implantable drug infusion device. An electronic module
14
controls operation of pump
6
and motor
8
. A fill port
18
is used to inject drug into a drug reservoir (not shown), and a catheter port
20
is used to transport the drug from the reservoir via the pump to a patient's anatomy. The bulkhead is covered by a shield
24
. A transducer
26
is secured to an underside of shield
24
, and provides an audible output when excited by an electrical signal. Transducer
26
is connected by wire
28
to output terminal
9
of electronic module
14
.
The prior art delivery devices, however, are limiting in that the wire which connects the transducer to the output terminal of the electronic module is first soldered to the transducer and then resistance welded to the output terminal. As the device is assembled, the wire must be carefully tucked into place before the shield can be positioned on the bulkhead. The wire used is typically platinum, which is very expensive. Thus, connecting transducers to an electronic module in prior art devices is both difficult and expensive.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an implantable drug infusion device which reduces or wholly overcomes some or all of the difficulties inherent in prior known devices. Particular objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, those who are knowledgeable or experienced in this field of technology, in view of the following disclosure of the invention and detailed description of preferred embodiments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an implantable drug infusion device which features an electrically conductive biasing member positioned between a shield and a electronic module of the device to simplify the assembly of the device.
In accordance with a first aspect, an implantable drug infusion device includes a bulkhead, and a shield for the bulkhead. A transducer is secured to and in electrical contact with the shield. An electronic module is located in the housing for controlling operation of a pump assembly. A biasing member is in electrical contact with the electronic module and the transducer such that current transmitted from the electronic module to the transducer through the biasing member actuates the transducer.
In accordance with another aspect, an implantable drug infusion device includes a bulkhead and a shield for covering the bulkhead. An electronic module is located in the bulkhead for controlling operation of a pump assembly. An electrically conductive pin is formed on the electronic module. A transducer is secured to and in electrical contact with the shield. A first end of a coil spring is secured to the pin. A second end of the coil spring extends substantially axially away from the coil spring and contacts the transducer such that current transmitted from the electronic module to the transducer through the coil spring actuates the transducer.
In accordance with yet another aspect, an implantable drug infusion device includes a bulkhead having a race. A pump tube has an inlet and an outlet and is positioned within the race. A motor assembly is positioned within the bulkhead. A pumphead assembly is positioned within the bulkhead, and the motor assembly drives the pumphead assembly. A battery is positioned within the bulkhead and provides a power source to the motor assembly. An electronic module is positioned within the bulkhead and has a pin connector thereon. A shield covers the bulkhead, and a transducer is secured to and in electrical contact with shield. An electrically conductive coil spring is press-fit at a first end thereof to the pin connector. A second end of the coil spring has a pigtail formed thereon, with the pigtail contacting the transducer when the shield is on the bulkhead in an assembled condition such that current transmitted from the electronic module to the transducer through the coil spring actuates the transducer.
From the foregoing disclosure, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, those who are knowledgeable or experienced in this area of technology, that the present invention provides a significant advance over the prior art. Preferred embodiments of the implantable infusion device of the present invention can make it significantly easier to connect a transducer to an electronic module, and reduce the costs associated with connecting the transducer. These and additional features and advantages of the invention disclosed here will be further understood from the following detailed disclosure of preferred embodiments.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4692147 (1987-09-01), Duggan
patent: 5840069 (1998-11-01), Robinson
patent: 6036459 (2000-03-01), Robinson
“Piezoelectric Acoustic Generators,” AVX-Kyocera Co. product sheet.
Christiansen Chris C.
Olsen James M.
Banner & Witcoff , Ltd.
Medtronic Inc.
Mendez Manuel
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