Patent ID: 7470253

Claim:
A dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluids to a patient comprising: (a) a housing having a fluid reservoir for containing fluid to be dispensed to the patient, said housing being provided with an inlet for permitting fluid flow into said fluid reservoir and an outlet for permitting fluid flow from said fluid reservoir; (b) fluid displacement means disposed within said housing for movement between a first position and a second position to cause said fluid contained within said fluid reservoir to flow toward said outlet; (c) stored energy means disposed within said outer housing for acting upon said fluid displacement means to cause said fluid displacement means to move toward said second position, said stored energy means comprising a constant force spring, said constant force spring being carried within a spring support mounted within said housing and comprising a high strength, long deflection device movable from a retracted configuration to an expanded configuration; (d) fill means carried by said housing for filling said reservoir with the fluid to be dispensed and for causing said constant force spring to move from said retracted configuration to said expanded configuration; (e) flow control means carried by said housing for controlling fluid flow from said reservoir to the patient, said flow control means comprising a selector member rotatably mounted within said housing, said selector member having a plurality of fluid passageways formed therein; and (f) dispensing means connected to said housing and in communication with said plurality of fluid passageways formed in said control member for dispensing fluid to the patient.