Minipumps, LLC

California Institute of Technology

University of Southern California

City of Hope

Axelrod, Blake

Jiangang, Du

Pang, Changlin

Jelisavcic, Nenad

Caffey, Sean

Tai, Yu-chong

Kavazov, Julian D.

Shih, Jason

Humayun, Mark

Dunn, Andrew

Jiang, Fukang

Jason Shih

Yu-Chong Tai

Sean Caffey

Mark Salman Humayun

Fukang Jiang

Changlin Pang

Raymond Peck

Jun Xie

Andrew Dunn

Mark S Humayun

Jeffrey David Brennan

Po-Ying Li

Gregory Harbers

Andrew Urazaki

Po-Jui Chen

Damien Craig Rodger

Ellis Fan-chuin Meng

Rajat N Agrawal

Ronalee Lo

Changgeng Liu

Kenrick Kuwahara

Bin Wang

Ellis Meng

Julian D Kavazov

Jeffrey O Brennan

William Andrew Brandt

Pedrum Minaie

Blake Waters Axelrod

Atoosa Lotfi

Didier Sagan

Terry D Lee

Brandon Curley

Michelle L Journey

Po-jui Chen

Nenad Jelisavcic

Yunan Miao

Brett Daniel Schleicher

Jiangang Du

Greg Harbers

Rick Purvis

Octavio Cruz-Uribe

Evan Tsang

Michelle Journey

Richard Purvis

Miho Matsuoka

Andres Rodriguez

Tun Min Soe

Du Jiangang

In various embodiments, a drug pump includes a housing and, within the housing, an expandable drug reservoir at least part of which is exposed to a pressurized propellant. The propellant exerts a substantially constant pressure on the drug reservoir. A flow restrictor significantly limits outflow from the pump, and preferably has both a small diameter and a long path length, which acts to control the outflow from the drug reservoir. As a result, the pump produces a substantially constant outflow.

Implantable continuous-flow pumps

A surgical sizer for creating a tissue pocket for an implantable medical device may include a replica of the device and a (preferably ergonomic) handle portion, optionally with marking features that facilitate marking the tissue for precise implant placement and alignment.

Instruments and methods for surgical sizing and marking

Modular microfluidic channel structures for conducting liquid from a reservoir include a sensor for monitoring a parameter (such as flow rate or pressure) relating to liquid flowing therethrough. The microfluidic channel generally comprises a thermally insulating substrate made of one or more materials such as, e.g., glass, fused silica, parylene, and/or silicone.

Flow sensors with modular microfluidic channels and methods of manufacture

Embodiments of the present invention involve a refill apparatus comprising at least one pump, a plurality of reservoirs, a plurality of reservoir fluid channels each associated with one of the reservoirs, a plurality of valves, each having a cracking pressure, for fluidically sealing the reservoir fluid channels and the outlet fluid channel, an outlet fluid channel fluidically connected to the reservoir fluid channels, and a needle having a lumen in fluid communication with the outlet fluid channel. A parameter such as a pressure level is monitored, and one or more pumps and various ones of the valves are actuated in accordance with a protocol comprising a sequence of steps whereby fluidic pathways are opened between different ones of the reservoirs and the needle in a washing and filling sequence, each of the steps being associated with an expected pressure level.

Drug refill applicator system and method of use

In various embodiments, approaches to calibrating an implantable drug-delivery device feature a drug reservoir, an expandable electrolysis chamber, and an integrated strain gauge using a refill apparatus having one or more pumps, one or more refill reservoirs, an outlet fluid channel fluidically connected to the refill reservoir(s), and a needle having a lumen in fluid communication with the outlet fluid channel include inserting a needle into a refill port of the implantable drug-delivery device, monitoring a pressure change within the device, monitoring a pressure level of one or more components of the implantable drug-delivery device, and calibrating the monitored pressure level of the component(s) of the implantable drug-delivery device to the monitored pressure level of the outlet fluid channel.

Pressure sensing in implantable drug pumps

A system for refilling the drug reservoir of an implanted drug pump device may facilitate wireless data exchange between the refill system and the implanted device, e.g., to verify proper drug selection prior to commencement of the refill process. Via the wireless link, the drug pump device and refill system can exchange data such as, for example, refill information (including, e.g., a type of drug), a drug pump device history, a drug dosage log, and/or a drug-delivery protocol. Further, the refill system can facilitate reprogramming the implanted device wirelessly.

Implantable drug pumps and refill devices therefor

Tubular polymeric structures are formed by creating a convex mold conforming to a fluid pathway design, depositing a coating of polymer over the mold, and in situ removing the mold without drawing it against the polymer.

Flexible manufacture of polymeric tubing

In various embodiments, a tool is employed in filling a drug-delivery device. The tool may include, for example, a needle that is admitted through a fill port of the drug-delivery device.

Implantable drug-delivery devices, and apparatus and methods for filling the devices

An implantable device has an outer shell that includes an aperture through the housing of the device and, spanning the aperture, a membrane structure permeable to gas but not to liquid. In this way, excess gas may be vented from the device. The membrane and aperture are designed to discourage or even prevent tissue ingrowth.

Vented implantable drug-delivery device and related methods

Implanted drug pump devices can be refilled via a fill port in the drug reservoir that includes a self-resealable septum.

Embodiments of method of manufacturing an implantable pump, including providing an upper layer comprising a dome structure for housing a drug chamber and a cannula in fluid communication with the drug chamber, providing a middle deflection layer adjacent the drug chamber, providing a bottom layer comprising electrolysis electrodes, and bonding the upper layer, middle deflection layer, and bottom layer to form the pump.

Drug-delivery pumps and methods of manufacture

Embodiments of an implantable device for delivering a therapeutic agent to a patient include a reservoir configured to contain a liquid comprising the therapeutic agent, and a cannula in fluid communication with the reservoir. The cannula is shaped to facilitate insertion thereof into a patient's eyeball.

MEMS device and method for delivery of therapeutic agents

In various embodiments, an implantable pump includes a cannula. The pump (e.g., the cannula thereof) may include, for example, flow sensors, pressure sensors, filters, and/or other components.

Implantable pumps and cannulas therefor

A removable material is deposited or otherwise applied to a flat substrate surface in a pattern corresponding to desired corrugations in a membrane, e.g., a deflection diaphragm. The applied material serves as a scaffold for a polymeric material, which is applied thereover, and following cure or hardening, the polymeric material is removed to form a finished corrugated membrane.

Method of making a corrugated deflection diaphragm

Implantable drug-delivery pump

Growing community of inventors

Yorba Linda, CA, United States of America

Jason Shih