IMPLANTABLE DRUG INFUSION DEVICE HAVING A SAFETY VALVE

Abstract: An implantable drug infusion device (1) which features a safety valve (3). The safety valve (3) is normally in the closed state and only opens upon electrical activation. The valve (3) is designed so as to be constructed in an extremely small size and further to be made of corrosion resistant materials. The valve may be used in either a passive or an active drug infusion system. Also disclosed is an efficient circuit to drive, i.e. open and close, the safety valve. Further disclosed is a timing scheme for opening and closing the safety valve for use in an active drug infusion device.

Description: 1 IMPLANTABLE DRUG INFUSION DEVICE HAVING A SAFETY VALVE RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is related to one or more of the following each of which are filed on this same day each incorporated herein by reference and each assigned to the assignee of the present application: - United States patent application entitled "System For Locating Implantable Medical Device" of Markus Haller and Koen Weijand (Our File: P-7521); - United States patent application entitled "Implantable Drug Infusion Device Having A Flow Regulator" of Markus Haller, Phillipe Renaud and Christian Amacker (Our File: P-7322 (Including P-7353)); and - United States patent application entitled "Implantable Drug Infusion Device Having An Improved Valve" of Markus Haller, T. S. J. Lammerink and Niels Olij (Our File: P-7356). FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of implantable drug infusion devices and more particularly to an implantable drug infusion device having a safety valve. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Implantable drug infusion devices are used to provide patients with a constant and long term dosage or infusion of a drug or any other therapeutic agent. Essentially such device may be categorized as either active or passive. Active drug or programmable infusion devices feature a pump or a metering system to deliver the drug into the patient's system. An example of such an active drug infusion device currently available is the Medtronic SynchroMed programmable pump. Such pumps typically include a drug reservoir, a peristaltic pump to pump out the drug from the reservoir, and a catheter port to transport the pumped out drug from the reservoir via the pump to a patient's anatomy. Such devices also typically include a battery to power the pump as well as an electronic module to control the flow rate of the pump. The Medtronic SynchroMed pump further includes an antenna to permit the remote programming of the pump. Passive drug infusion devices, in contrast, do not feature a pump, but rather rely upon a pressurized drug reservoir to deliver the drug. Thus such devices tend to be both smaller as well as cheaper as compared to active devices. An example of such a device includes the Medtronic IsoMed™. This device delivers the drug into the patient through the force provided by a pressurized reservoir. In particular, this reservoir is pressurized with a drug to between 20-40 psi through a syringe capable of deliviering the fluid between 35-55 psi. Regardless of whether the device is an active or passive drug infusion device, the overriding concern for all drug infusion devices is to ensure patient safety. This includes, among many other things, that only the exact intended amount of drug is delivered to the patient. Thus, one drawback to active devices which feature pumps that are not normally closed, such as those seen in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,277,556; 5,224,843 and 5,219,278, is that if the device malfunctions or changes occur in the fluid pathway, then more drug than intended may reach the patient. Similar risks are inherent in passive devices which, should the flow regulator fail or the pressure reservoir be over pressurized, may lead to more drug than intended to reach the patient. Thus there is a need for a drug infusion system which features a safety valve which will provide an additional margin of safety to the patient. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an implantable drug infusion device which features a safety valve. The safety valve is normally in the closed state and only opens upon electrical activation. The valve is designed so as to be constructed in an extremely small size and further to be made of corrosion resistant materials. The valve may be used in either a passive or an active drug infusion system. Also disclosed is an efficient circuit to drive, open and close, the safety valve. Further disclosed is a timing scheme for opening and closing the safety valve for use in an active device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention. FIG. 2 A is a side view of the safety valve used in the present invention. FIG. 2B shows a safety valve in an open position and thereby permitting fluid to flow. FIGS. 3A and 3B disclose an alternative embodiment of the safety valve used in the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a driver circuit used to control the piezo membrane of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 A and 2B which recollects the stored energy on the piezo when the voltage on the piezo is turned to zero. FIG. 5 is a timing diagram of the operation of the driver circuit shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 depicts an alternative driver circuit for the piezo membrane of FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a timing diagram of the circuit shown in FIG. 6. The FIGS, are not necessarily to scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention. As seen, such a system 1 comprises a reservoir 2, safety valve 3, pump 4, electronic controls 10, battery 11, telemetry assembly 12 and outlet catheter 5. Outlet catheter may be of any model desired and suited to the patient's requirements. Safety valve 3 is coupled to the reservoir and also to pump 4. Pump may be of any suitable design, including a roller- type pump as found in the SynchroMed™ or a micro-machined pump, for example. Pump 4 is coupled, in turn to outlet catheter 5, such that fluid form reservoir 2 may be pumped through safety valve and out to outlet catheter. Pump is controlled by electronic controls 10. These controls include, among other devices, an efficient circuit to drive the membranes used in safety valve 3. The device may be refilled through injection port 5 through the use of a needle 6 as is well known. This refill procedure may be furtehr enhanced through the use of the system as described in the above referenced United States patent application entitled "System For Locating Implantable Medical Device" of Markus Haller and Koen Weijand (Our File: P- 7521). Surrounding all components of the implantable pump other than the outlet catheter is a hermetic closure 13 as is well known in the art. The device may further feature, if desired, a flow regulator, such as that shown in the above referenced United States patent application entitled "Implantable Drug Infusion Device Having A Flow Regulator" of Markus Haller, Phillipe Renaud and Christian Amacker (Our File: P-7322 (Including P-7353)). FIG. 2 A is a side view of the safety valve used in the present invention. As seen, safety valve 3 is constructed with a first membrane 20 in tension and a second membrane 21. Membranes are preferably constructed from piezo electric material such as silicon, but may also be constructed using other types of materials, including piezo resistive or piezo capacitive. As seen, membrane 20 includes seal 22. Seal 22 may be constructed of any desired material, such as for example, silicon or polyimide. Membrane 20 is disposed from shoulders 23 and 24 and is typically biased in a downward or closed manner, i.e., such that seal 22 engages the tip surface of substrate 25, thus occluding passage 30. Mounted to the bottom surface of substrate is membrane 31. As seen, membrane 31 is mated to membrane 21. Membrane 31 is constructed of silicon. As further seen, membrane 31 further features a nipple portion 32 having an end cap portion 33. End cap engages against seal 22 and assists in occluding fluid passage 30. Membrane 31 is mounted so as to be biased in an upward direction, i.e., such that end cap 33 is disposed against seal 22. FIG. 2B shows a safety valve in an open position and thereby permitting fluid to flow. As discussed above, safety valve is controlled by piezo electric membranes. As seen in this view, the piezo electric membrane 21 has been energized such that the bias is removed and the membrane bends downwardly, away from seal 22. In this manner the membrane removes the blockage to passageway 30 and thus permits fluid to flow from the area above substrate 25 through passageway 30 and thus out passageway 35. Of course, because membrane 21 is typically biased in the upwards direction, upon the removal of energy to membrane 21, the membrane moves back into the position such that end cap 33 engages against seal 22. FIGS. 3A and 3B disclose an alternative embodiment of the safety valve used in the present invention. In particular, this embodiment features shape memory alloy membranes as opposed to piezo electric membranes disclosed above. This embodiment features a superior membrane 40 and an inferior membrane 41. Membrane 40 is biased in an upward direction while membrane 41 is biased in a downward direction. The respective biasing strengths of these membranes controls membrane 40 to normally close the valve when no energy is provided to membrane 41. Upon energizing the membrane 41, however, the shape memory alloy undergoes a reorganization of the crystalline structure. As constructed, this removes the bias to membrane 41. Membrane 40 will, in turn, overcome the bias provided by membrane 41 and thus move the seal assembly 42 upwardly and away from seal footing 43 mounted on substrate 44 thereby creating a fluid passage from cavity 45 to passageway 50. As seen, membrane 40 is mounted across shoulder elements 50 and 51 and includes center portion 52. Shoulder and center portion are preferably constructed of glass. As further seen, membrane 41 is disposed on the downward surface of shoulder and center portion and further mounted to bases 53 and 54. Bases as well as seal assembly 42 are also constructed from glass. This entire assembly is further mounted to substrate 44 through contacts 60 and 61. Contacts 60 and 61 are preferably constructed from silicone. Substrate 44 is preferably constructed of glass while footing 43 is constructed of silicone. Membranes are preferably constructed from Nitinol, although other shape memory alloys may also be used. Moreover, the areas of substrate and membranes in contact with any drug or fluid are further preferably coated with diamond or diamond-like carbon so as to inhibit any interactions between the drug or fluid and the materials. Such coatings may be selected according to the particular drug or fluid to be infused, and may include also tantalum or titanium, for example. Essentially, the operation of this embodiment may be seen in compared FIGS. 3A and 3B. At rest, or when no energy is provided to membranes, the particular bias to membranes causes seal assembly 42 to snugly engage against footing 43. Once energy is provided to the membranes, the energy or electric current causes the material to heat up and thereby ending the phased transformation, i.e., the crystalline structure is reorganized. Thus seal assembly 42 is caused to disengage against footing 43 and thereby opens a fluid pathway from cavity 45 into passageway 50. Of course, although in this embodiment a double membrane design is shown, other embodiments may feature a single, biased membrane as well as three or more membranes, depending upon the exact fluid pathway required. On difficulty with all battery powered implantable devices is that they must operate with as little energy drain as possible. One problem associated with past usage of piezo membranes is that past driver circuits typically dissipated the charge built up after a voltage was applied across the membrane. This, of course, wasted energy, and particularly such built-up charge. Another feature of the present invention is the use of a driver circuit which minimizes the energy used. In particular, the present invention further features a driver circuit which recollects the stored energy on the piezo when the voltage on the piezo is turned to zero. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a driver circuit used to control the piezo membrane of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 A and 2B which recollects the stored energy on the piezo when the voltage on the piezo is turned to zero. FIG. 5 is a timing diagram of the operation of the driver circuit shown in FIG. 4. Each of these FIGS, will now be described together. As seen, the circuit consists of a 3V power supply, four N-MOS switches with low ohms resistance, 1 P-MOS switch, a storage capacitor and inductor and a piezo membrane. Ml and M2 are high voltage devices while M3-M5 are low voltage devices. At its initial condition, all switches are closed except M5. In step 1 (with reference also to FIG. 5,) M3 and M4 are opened and M5 is closed to thereby charge capacitor C2 through inductor LI. In step 2, M2 is opened and M3 is closed to thereby connecting inductor LI to piezo. The current in LI is maintained and a voltage is developed on the drain of M2, as best illustrated by 7 line 99 in FIG. 5, and a voltage is thereby developed across piezo. Once voltage in piezo (or LI) reaches a maximum level step 3 begins. As seen in this step Ml is opened and M2 is closed thereby shorting LI and maintaining the charge on piezo. Charge actuates the piezo and may be maintained on the piezo for as long as actuation is desired. In steps 4, 5 and 6 the process is reversed. In step 4, M2 is opened, Ml is closed thereby discharging the piezo voltage through the inductor. In step 5 M3 is opened and M2 is closed and the current through LI is flowed through C2 thereby discharging C2. Finally in step 6, M5 is opened and M3 and M4 are closed, thereby returning to initial conditions. In such a manner the piezo may be driven through a minimal amount of energy. As seen the amount of energy delivered to piezo is determined by the amount of energy delivered to LI, which may be determined by the time which elapses between step 1 and step 2. Of course, if Cl is not completely charged full, then operation is slightly changed, and in step 2 M5 opened, M4 opened and M3 closed. Thereafter the operation remains as described although in step 5 M5 is closed. Additional functionality to monitor voltages or current or both and determine the proper timing for closing the switches is not shown, but would be performed in block 10 of FIG. 1, labeled control system. FIG. 6 depicts an alternative driver circuit for the piezo membrane of FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a timing diagram of the circuit shown in FIG. 6. Each of these FIGS, will now be described together. As seen, this circuit consists of a 3V power supply, a storage capacitor - Cl, a piezo model capacitor - C2, an inductor - LI, and four N- MOS switches - M1-M4. The pulses SI -S3 are 10V square wave pulses created by the pulse generation circuit. The first step in creating the piezo drive pulse is to charge the storage capacitor, Cl, to the voltage level of the power supply by closing switches Ml and M3/M4. After Cl is fully charged to the supply voltage, the inductor, LI, is charged with current by discharging the stored energy in Cl . This is done by simultaneously opening Ml while closing M2 and keeping M3/M4 closed. Then M2 is reopened while M3/M4 remains closed to charge the piezo, C2, with the stored current. The voltage on C2 rises to 150V and all switches are opened while the pulse remains high. 8 After the high pulse on the piezo is finished, M3/M4 is closed to drain the energy from the piezo into the inductor LI . After the piezo is drained switch M2 is closed, while M3/M4 remains closed, to charge C2 with the energy stored in the inductor L 1. The cycle begins again with another rising edge on Ml . The following timing diagram displays the timing sequence for closing of switches Ml, M2, .and M3/M4 where time units are in seconds. Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, this is done for purposes of illustration and is not intended to be limiting with regard to the scope of the invention. It is contemplated various substitutions, alterations and/or modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Such modifications may include substituting elements or components which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same result for those described herein.

Claims: What is claimed is: 1. An implantable drug infusion device comprising: a hermetic enclosure; a fluid reservoir positioned within the hermetic enclosure, the fluid reservoir having means for maintaining the fluid therein within a first pressure and a second pressure; means for delivering a fluid into a patient's body; a pump, the pump communicating with the reservoir and the means for delivering a fluid into a patient's body, the pump causing fluid to move from the reservoir into the me-ans for delivering a fluid into a patient's body; and a safety valve moveable between a first non-energized position, in which the movement of fluid from the reservoir into the means for delivering a fluid into a patient's body is prevented, to a second energized position, in which the movement of fluid from the reservoir into the means for delivering a fluid into a patient's body is permitted 2. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 1 further comprising the safety valve is in the normally first non-energized position 3. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 1 further comprising a the surfaces of the valve in contact with the fluid have a coating of diamond or diamond-like carbon whereby interactions between the fluid and the materials are inhibited. 4. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 1 further comprising the safety valve further comprises a first membrane in tension and a second membrane, the first and second membranes disposed in parallel, the first membrane has a seal, such that the seal obstructs the movement of fluid from the reservoir into 10 the means for delivering a fluid into a patient's body is prevented when the valve is in the first non-energized position. 5. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 4 further comprising the membranes are constructed from piezo electric material. 6. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 5 further comprising the membranes are constructed from silicon. 7. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 1 further comprising a superior membrane and an inferior membrane, superior membrane is biased in a first direction while inferior membrane biased in a second direction. 8 . An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 7 further comprising first and second membranes are constructed from a shape memory alloy. 9 . An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 8 further comprising the superior and inferior membranes mounted are across shoulder element and featuring a center portion therebetween. 10. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 9 further comprising shoulder and center portion are constructed of glass. 11. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 10 further comprising the inferior membrane disposed on a first surface of shoulder. 12. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 1 further comprising means for delivering electrical energy to the membranes and thereby energize the valve. 11 13 . An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 12further comprising means for recollecting the energy delivered to the membranes when the valve is moved from the second energized position to the first non-energized position. 14. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 13 further comprising the membranes are constructed of a piezo electric material. 15. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 13 further comprising the membranes are constructed of a shape memory alloy. 16. An implantable drug infusion device comprising: a hermetic enclosure; a fluid reservoir positioned within the hermetic enclosure, the fluid reservoir having means for maintaining the fluid therein within a first pressure and a second pressure the pressure causing fluid to move from the reservoir into the means for delivering a fluid into a patient's body; means for delivering a fluid into a patient's body; and a safety valve moveable between a first non-energized position, in which the movement of fluid from the reservoir into the means for delivering a fluid into a patient's body is prevented, to a second energized position, in which the movement of fluid from the reservoir into the means for delivering a fluid into a patient's body is permitted 17. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 16 further comprising the safety valve is in the normally first non-energized position. 18. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 16 further comprising a the surfaces of the valve in contact with the fluid have a coating of diamond or diamond-like carbon whereby interactions between the fluid and the materials are inhibited. 12 19. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 16 further comprising the safety valve further comprises a first membrane in tension and a second membrane, the first and second membranes disposed in parallel, the first membrane has a seal, such that the seal obstructs the movement of fluid from the reservoir into the means for delivering a fluid into a patient's body is prevented when the valve is in the first non-energized position. 20. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 19 further comprising the membranes are constructed from piezo electric material. 21. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 20 further comprising the membranes are constructed from silicon. 22. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 16 further comprising a superior membrane and an inferior membrane, superior membrane is biased in a first direction while inferior membrane biased in a second direction. 23 . An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 22 further comprising first and second membranes are constructed from a shape memory alloy. 24. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 23 further comprising the superior -and inferior membranes mounted are across shoulder element and featuring a center portion therebetween. 25 . An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 24 further comprising shoulder and center portion are constructed of glass. 26. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 25 further comprising the inferior membrane disposed on a first surface of shoulder. 13 27. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 16 further comprising means for delivering electrical energy to the valve and thereby energize the valve causing it to move from the first position to the second position. 28. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 27 further comprising means for recollecting the energy delivered to the valve when the valve is moved from the second energized position to the first non-energized position. 29. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 28 further comprising the valve comprises a piezo electric material. 30. An implantable drug infusion device according to claim 28 further comprising the membranes comprises of a shape memory alloy.

Inventors: HALLER MARKUS, WEIJAND KOEN J, HALLER, MARKUS, WEIJAND, KOEN, J.
Applicants: MEDTRONIC INC, MEDTRONIC, INC.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A61M5
IPC codes: A61M5, A61M39