Contactless Key Access Valve for Implantable Pump Pathways

Solution Overview

Problem

Implantable medical pumps and ports face challenges in preventing accidental medicament injection and unauthorized access, particularly during refill procedures, which can lead to overdose or misuse of medications with abuse potential.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a contactless key system that uses magnetic elements to selectively open and close access valves in implantable medical pumps and ports, ensuring secure and controlled access to medicament reservoirs, with features like magnetic sensing and feedback mechanisms for proper alignment and operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple access ports are provided for different functions (reservoir refill and bolus administration), then functional versatility is improved, but the risk of accidental medicament injection and unauthorized access increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional versatilityVSAvoidaccidental injection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the access control system into separate segments: each access port has its own dedicated access valve (first access valve for reservoir refill, second access valve for bolus administration). This segmentation ensures that actions at one port cannot affect the other, preventing accidental injection while maintaining functional versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces access valves as intermediary components between the access ports and the fluid pathways. These valves act as mediators that control and regulate access to different fluid pathways, preventing direct and potentially harmful access while allowing controlled functional access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If access ports are made easily accessible for frequent refilling, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of unauthorized access and misuse increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefilling accessibilityVSAvoidsecurity against unauthorized access

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces access valves as intermediary components between the access ports and the fluid pathways. These valves act as mediators that control and regulate access to different fluid pathways, preventing direct and potentially harmful access while allowing controlled functional access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different access control mechanisms to different access ports based on their specific functional requirements. The first access port has a first access valve configured for controlled reservoir refill, while the second access port has a second access valve for bolus administration. This localized differentiation of access control quality maintains security while enabling appropriate ease of operation for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If a single access port is used for multiple functions, then device complexity is reduced, but the risk of medicament misdelivery and overdose increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of access portsVSAvoidmedicament delivery accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the access control system into separate segments: each access port has its own dedicated access valve (first access valve for reservoir refill, second access valve for bolus administration). This segmentation ensures that actions at one port cannot affect the other, preventing accidental injection while maintaining functional versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces access valves as intermediary components between the access ports and the fluid pathways. These valves act as mediators that control and regulate access to different fluid pathways, preventing direct and potentially harmful access while allowing controlled functional access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enhances safety by preventing accidental medicament injection and unauthorized access, providing secure and controlled access to medicament reservoirs, thereby reducing the risk of overdose and misuse while allowing for secure and efficient refilling and operation of implantable medical devices.

Implementation Method 1

at least one contactless key configured to impart a magnetic field upon a portion of the implantable medical pump to manipulate the access valve between a closed position isolating the medicament reservoir from the access port, and an open position fluidly coupling the medicament reservoir to the access port

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS20240399054A1Means to switch between multiple fluid pathways via a single access point in an implanted fluid system

Publication Date: 2024.12.05 MEDTRONIC INC

AI summary

An implantable medical device configured to selectively permit access to a medicament reservoir or fluid pathway by way of at least one contactless key, including an implantable medical device having a medicament reservoir fluidly coupled to an access port via a first conduit and a second conduit via an access valve, and at least one contactless key configured to impart a magnetic field upon a portion of the implantable medical pump to manipulate the access valve among a first position fluidly coupling the medicament reservoir to the access port via the first conduit, and a second position fluidly coupling the medicament reservoir to the access port via the second conduit, and a third position isolating the medicament reservoir from the access port.