Patent ID: 7320676
Filing Date: 2008-01-22
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. An implantable medical device for delivering a liquid therapeutic substance to a delivery site in a patient comprising: a reservoir holding a supply of said fluid therapeutic substance; a catheter having a proximal end, a delivery region and a lumen extending from said proximal end to said delivery region, said proximal end of said catheter being operatively coupled to said reservoir, said delivery region of said catheter being adapted to be placed proximate said delivery site in said patient, said therapeutic substance adapted to be delivered through said lumen to said patient; a sensing device operatively coupled with said lumen of said catheter being capable of detecting a pressure of said therapeutic substance in said lumen; a controller operatively coupled to said sensing device, said controller being capable of taking an action is response to said pressure in said lumen; wherein said therapeutic substance comprises a fluid; wherein said therapeutic substance comprises a liquid; wherein said sensing device is further capable of detecting a reference pressure outside of said lumen and wherein said controller is capable of taking action in response to relative pressures between said pressure in said lumen and said reference pressure outside of said lumen; wherein said location outside of said lumen is in proximity to said delivery region of said catheter; and wherein said lumen is a first lumen and wherein said catheter has a second lumen and wherein said location outside of said first lumen is in said second lumen.