TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to implantable medical devices and, more particularly, to implantable fluid delivery devices.

BACKGROUND

A variety of medical devices are used for chronic, i.e., long-term, delivery of fluid therapy to patients suffering from a variety of conditions, such as chronic pain, tremor, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, urinary or fecal incontinence, sexual dysfunction, obesity, spasticity, or gastroparesis. For example, pumps or other fluid delivery devices can be used for chronic delivery of therapeutic fluids, such as drugs to patients. These devices are intended to provide a patient with a therapeutic output to alleviate or assist with a variety of conditions. Typically, such devices are implanted in a patient and provide a therapeutic output under specified conditions on a recurring basis.

One type of implantable fluid delivery device is a drug infusion device that can deliver a drug or other therapeutic fluid to a patient at a selected site. A drug infusion device may be partially or completely implanted at a location in the body of a patient and deliver a fluid medication through a catheter to a selected delivery site in the body. Drug infusion devices, such as implantable drug pumps, commonly include a reservoir for holding a supply of the therapeutic fluid, such as a drug, for delivery to a site in the patient. The fluid reservoir can be self-sealing and accessible through one or more ports. A pump is fluidly coupled to the reservoir for delivering the therapeutic fluid to the patient. A catheter provides a pathway for delivering the therapeutic fluid from the pump to a delivery site in the patient.

SUMMARY

In general, the disclosure describes techniques for managing fluid delivery with multiple fluid reservoirs. The fluid delivery device includes at least two different therapeutic fluid reservoirs connected to a single inlet port. A fluid delivery needle can be inserted into the inlet port to selectively access both of the at least two different therapeutic fluid reservoirs. In some examples, the inlet port includes a sensor configured to detect entry of the fluid delivery needle. The sensor may confirm that the user has accessed the inlet port. The sensor may also confirm that the user has accessed the correct fluid reservoir via the inlet port. In additional examples, the fluid delivery device may include various valve configurations for withdrawing therapeutic fluid from at least two different reservoirs for delivery through a fluid delivery pump.

In one example, this disclosure describes a therapeutic fluid delivery system that includes a first reservoir configured to house a first therapeutic fluid, a second reservoir configured to house a second therapeutic fluid, and an inlet port configured to receive a fluid delivery needle. The first therapeutic fluid and second therapeutic fluid may be the same therapeutic fluid or different therapeutic fluids. The inlet port is configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and the first reservoir, and the inlet port is further configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and the second reservoir. In some examples, the inlet port includes a first septum and a second septum. Further, the inlet port is configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and the first reservoir when the fluid delivery needle penetrates the first septum and fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and the second reservoir when the fluid delivery needle penetrates the second septum.

In another example, a method includes inserting a fluid delivery needle into an inlet port of a fluid delivery device. The inlet port is configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and a first reservoir configured to house a first therapeutic fluid, and the inlet port is further configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and a second reservoir configured to house a second therapeutic fluid.

In another example, a computer-readable storage medium contains instructions that cause a programmable processor to cause a sensor to detect a characteristic that varies as a fluid delivery needle penetrates at least one of a first septum and second septum in an inlet port of a fluid delivery device. The instructions also cause the programmable processor to determine when the fluid delivery needle penetrates the at least one of the first septum and second septum based on the detected characteristic. In the example, the inlet port is configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and a first reservoir configured to house a first therapeutic fluid, and the inlet port is further configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and a second reservoir configured to house a second therapeutic fluid.

In another example, a fluid delivery system includes means for delivering fluid to a fluid delivery device. The fluid delivery device includes a first reservoir configured to house a first therapeutic fluid and a second reservoir configured to house a second therapeutic fluid. The fluid delivery system also includes means for receiving the means for delivering fluid, where the first reservoir and the second reservoir are in fluid communication with the means for receiving.

The details of one or more examples of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

