Multi-dose infusion pump providing minimal flow between doses

Abstract

A multi-dose infusion pump employs a piston sliding within the internal chamber of a pump housing to dispense liquid from a port. The peripheral surface of the piston has a sequence of steps in a radial pattern spaced at intervals along the longitudinal axis of the chamber. A cap is rotatably mounted to the pump housing and includes a stop that limits forward movement of the piston by engaging a selected one of the steps on the piston at each rotational position of the cap. This causes a series of predetermined quantities of liquid to be dispensed as the cap is rotated to align the stop with each step in sequence. A spring between the cap and piston urges the piston forward in the chamber to dispense liquid from the port. The peripheral surface of the piston can also be equipped with a series of guide surfaces that allow the piston to be initially retracted toward the cap without engaging the steps while the cap is in an initial rotational position, and then guide the stop along the steps in a predetermined order as the cap is rotated through a progression of rotational positions. The forward face of the piston can also be provided with a member (e.g., a resilient diaphragm) that is compressed by fluid pressure as the piston moves forward, and then gradually returns to its initial position after forward motion of the piston stops, thereby continuing to dispense a small quantity of liquid for a period of time between doses.