U.S. patent application number 11/598077 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-05 for fluid transportation device.
This patent application is currently assigned to SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Nao Hashimoto, Kazuo Kawasumi, Susumu Kobayashi, Mamoru Miyasaka, Hajime Miyazaki, Eiji Mochizuki, Toshio Mori.
Application Number | 20070154336 11/598077 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38224610 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070154336 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miyazaki; Hajime ; et
al. |
July 5, 2007 |
Fluid transportation device
Abstract
A fluid transportation device includes: an outer case having a
sealed space; a tube having elasticity; a fluid transport mechanism
having fingers that occlude the tube and a cam that successively
presses the plurality of fingers; a driving force transmission
mechanism disposed so as to be overlapped with the fluid transport
mechanism, and transmitting a driving force to the fluid transport
mechanism; a reservoir disposed at a position so as not to overlap
the fluid transport mechanism and the driving force transmission
mechanism; a port through which the fluid is injected into the
reservoir; and an electric power supply supplying electric power to
the driving force transmission mechanism. In this fluid
transportation device, at least the fluid transport mechanism, the
driving force transmission mechanism, and the electric power supply
are housed in the sealed space of the outer case.
Inventors: |
Miyazaki; Hajime;
(Matsumoto-shi, JP) ; Miyasaka; Mamoru;
(Shiojiri-shi, JP) ; Kawasumi; Kazuo; (Chino-city,
JP) ; Mochizuki; Eiji; (Suwa-shi, JP) ;
Kobayashi; Susumu; (Suwa-gun, JP) ; Mori; Toshio;
(Chino-shi, JP) ; Hashimoto; Nao; (Rittou-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 19928
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320
US
|
Assignee: |
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
TOKYO
JP
MISUZU INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
SUWA-SHI
JP
|
Family ID: |
38224610 |
Appl. No.: |
11/598077 |
Filed: |
November 13, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/474 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 5/14276 20130101;
A61M 5/14232 20130101; A61M 5/14228 20130101; A61M 39/0208
20130101; F04B 43/082 20130101; F04B 23/025 20130101; A61M
2005/14506 20130101; A61M 5/1424 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/474 |
International
Class: |
F04B 43/08 20060101
F04B043/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 17, 2005 |
JP |
P2005-332450 |
Feb 8, 2006 |
JP |
P2006-30580 |
Mar 15, 2006 |
JP |
P2006-70685 |
Nov 9, 2006 |
JP |
P2006-304456 |
Claims
1. A fluid transportation device comprising: an outer case
constituted from an upper cover and a lower cover, having a sealed
space; a tube having elasticity; a fluid transport mechanism,
having a plurality of fingers that occlude the tube and a cam that
successively presses the plurality of fingers from an inlet portion
to an outlet portion, making a fluid flow continuously by squeezing
the tube; a driving force transmission mechanism disposed so as to
be overlapped with the fluid transport mechanism, transmitting a
driving force to the fluid transport mechanism; a reservoir
disposed at a position at which it does not overlap with the fluid
transport mechanism and the driving force transmission mechanism,
being in communication with the inlet portion of the tube, and
containing the fluid; a port injecting the fluid into the
reservoir; and an electric power supply supplying electric power to
the driving force transmission mechanism, wherein at least the
fluid transport mechanism, the driving force transmission
mechanism, and the electric power supply are housed in the sealed
space of the outer case.
2. The fluid transportation device according to claim 1, wherein
the reservoir is housed in the sealed space of the outer case.
3. The fluid transportation device according to claim 1, wherein
the reservoir is held at an outer side of the outer case and
inclines with respect to a surface of the outer case.
4. The fluid transportation device according to claim 1, further
comprising: a reservoir frame disposed on the outer side of the
outer case, wherein the reservoir is detachably mounted via the
reservoir frame.
5. The fluid transportation device according to claim 1, wherein
the driving force transmission mechanism includes: a step motor;
and a watch movement, which in turn includes a wheel train having
an hour wheel that protrudes in the direction of the fluid
transport mechanism, and the cam is insertingly attached to an
axial portion of the hour wheel.
6. The fluid transportation device according to claim 1, wherein
the port is disposed so as to penetrate through the upper
cover.
7. The fluid transportation device according to claim 1, further
comprising: a fluid flow inlet provided at the reservoir and being
in communication with the tube; and a fluid injection inlet, being
in communication with the port, wherein the fluid flow inlet and
the fluid injection inlet are disposed at separated positions so
that the fluid flows in the interior of the reservoir.
8. The fluid transportation device according to claim 1, wherein
the reservoir is formed of a deformable pouch.
9. The fluid transportation device according to claim 1, further
comprising: a fluid injection plug provided on the port and being
formed of a material with elasticity, wherein when a
syringe-needle-like injection needle is inserted into the fluid
injection plug to inject a fluid into the interior of the reservoir
and the injection needle is thereafter extracted, the portion at
which the injection needle was inserted becomes sealed by the
elasticity of the fluid injection plug itself.
10. A fluid transportation device used for implantation under skin,
the fluid transportation device comprising: an outer case having a
skin side surface and a rear surface, the skin side surface facing
the skin when the fluid transportation device is implanted under
the skin; a port disposed at the skin side surface, having an
injection opening which is exposed to the exterior of the outer
case and enables injection of a fluid from the exterior; a
reservoir storing the fluid injected from the port; a fluid
conducting portion communicated with the reservoir, to allow the
fluid to be conducted; a micropump feeding the fluid to the
exterior via the fluid conducting portion; and a battery supplying
power to the micropump.
11. The fluid transportation device according to claim 10, wherein
the reservoir and the micropump are separately disposed each other
in plan view, and the port is disposed between the reservoir and
the micropump in plan view.
12. The fluid transportation device according to claim 10, wherein
the port has a protrusion formed to protrude from the outer case,
and the injection opening is formed in the protrusion.
13. The fluid transportation device according to claim 10, wherein
the battery is disposed so as to be overlapped with the reservoir
in plan view and is disposed opposite the port across the reservoir
in cross-sectional view.
14. The fluid transportation device according to claim 10, wherein
the port is disposed at a position so as not to overlap the battery
in plan view.
15. The fluid transportation device according to claim 10, further
comprising: an IC controlling operations of the micropump; a
circuit substrate on which the IC is packaged; and a signal
supplying port disposed so as to be exposed from the outer case to
enable a control program for controlling the operations of the
micropump to be supplied to the IC.
16. The fluid transportation device according to claim 10, further
comprising: an attachment portion formed on the outer case in order
to attach to a subject.
17. The fluid transportation device according to claim 10, wherein
the outer case has inclined surfaces at least at a portion of outer
walls extending from the skin side surface to the rear surface.
18. The fluid transportation device according to claim 17, wherein
the outer case has vertical hold surfaces on outer walls extending
from the skin side surface to the rear surface.
19. The fluid transportation device according to claim 17, wherein
the outer case includes: a first-narrow-side outer wall formed
along a narrow-width direction at a first end of a wide-width
direction; and a second-narrow-side outer wall formed along the
narrow-width direction at a second end of the wide-width direction,
and the inclined surfaces are formed incliningly so that the
first-narrow-side outer wall and the second-narrow-side outer wall
converge from the rear surface toward the skin side surface of the
outer case.
20. The fluid transportation device according to claim 17, wherein
the outer case includes: a first-wide-side outer wall formed along
a wide-width direction at a first end of a narrow-width direction;
and a second-wide-side outer wall formed along the wide-width
direction at a second end of the narrow-width direction, and the
inclined surfaces are formed incliningly so that the
first-wide-side outer wall and the second-wide-side outer wall
converge from the rear surface toward the skin side surface of the
outer case.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent
Application No. 2005-332450, filed on Nov. 17, 2005, Japanese
Patent Application No. 2006-030580, filed on Feb. 8, 2006, Japanese
Patent Application No. 2006-070685, filed on Mar. 15, 2006, and
Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-304456, filed on Nov. 9, 2006,
the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates to a fluid transportation
device, in which a tube is pressed to make a fluid flow.
[0004] Specifically, this invention relates to a structure of a
fluid transportation device, in which a driving force transmission
mechanism for watch movement is used as a fluid transport
mechanism, the fluid transport mechanism and the driving force
transmission mechanism are overlapped, these mechanisms and a
reservoir are positioned in a planarly shifted configuration, and
the mechanisms are sealingly housed inside a casing.
[0005] The present invention also relates to a structure of a fluid
transportation device that is implanted under the skin of an
experimental animal, etc., and feeds a drug solution into the body
of the experimental animal, etc.
[0006] 2. Related Art
[0007] Compact fluid transportation devices (pumps) that can be
carried close to the human body have been known since before.
[0008] Japanese Patent No. 3177742 discloses a fluid transportation
device that includes a pump module, having a coupling element, and
a motor module.
[0009] With this fluid transportation device, the motor module has
an output gear mechanism, provided with a power takeoff unit
coupled to the coupling element, a step motor that drives the
output gear mechanism, a control circuit, and a battery.
[0010] The pump module and the motor module can be assembled and
disassembled to and from each other.
[0011] The coupling element is constituted from a gear, and the
power takeoff unit is constituted from a pinion.
[0012] Previously, efficacies of drug solutions have been tested
and verified using mice, guinea pigs, and other small animals, and
various drug solution feeders (fluid transportation devices) that
feed a drug solution to a small animal have been proposed for this
purpose.
[0013] Among these, a drug solution feeder of a type in which a
harness is fitted onto a mouse as an experimental animal, a
catheter, supported by the harness, is inserted though the skin of
the experimental animal, and a drug solution is then fed
continuously, has been proposed as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined
Utility Model Application, First Publication No. H5-74511.
[0014] Meanwhile, a drug solution feeder (fluid transportation
device) of a type that is implanted inside a body of an
experimental animal has been proposed as described in an animal
experiment equipment catalog of Bio Research Center Co., Ltd.
(subcutaneously implanted access port for small animals).
[0015] With this type of drug solution feeder, a specialized needle
is inserted from the exterior of the experimental animal into the
drug solution feeder inside the body of the experimental animal,
and upon injecting a drug solution via the needle, the drug
solution is injected into the body of the experimental animal via a
catheter.
[0016] In addition to the above, an artificial pancreas device that
is implanted inside a human body to supply insulin to a patient is
known as has been proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patent
Application, First Publication No. 2001-286555.
[0017] As disclosed in FIG. 1 of this Patent Application, this
artificial pancreas device includes a rechargeable battery as an
electric power supply, an insulin reservoir that stores insulin, a
micropump that delivers the insulin into an abdominal cavity, etc.,
and is implanted in a patient.
[0018] With this artificial pancreas device, for example, insulin
in an amount for one month is supplied to the reservoir via
transcutaneous puncture once every month.
[0019] Japanese Patent No. 3177742 provides a structure that
enables coupling and decoupling of a pump module and a motor
module, and this coupling and decoupling operation can be performed
by a physician or a nurse.
[0020] However, with a structure that enables such operation, it is
difficult to ensure waterproofness between the pump module and the
motor module, and thus implantation inside a living body is not
satisfactory.
[0021] The motor module and the pump module are coupled together by
engaging the pinion, provided at the motor module side, with the
gear, provided at the pump module side.
[0022] In assembling by engaging the pinion and the gear in this
manner, because the pinion and the gear are normally not matched in
phase, the workability is significantly poor.
[0023] It is also predicted that the pinion and the gear become
flawed easily, and this may obstruct driving in the case of low
torque driving using a step motor for a watch.
[0024] Also, a reservoir, which contains a drug solution, and a
main pump unit are disposed separately and connected by a tube, and
when, for example, the main pump unit is implanted inside a living
body, the interior and exterior of the living body communicate via
the tube, and infection, etc., may occur readily at this
communicating portion.
[0025] Furthermore, to perform driving upon addition of the drug
solution, the reservoir must be exchanged, and this may cause
interruption of continuous injection of the drug solution.
[0026] With the drug solution feeder of Japanese Unexamined Utility
Model Application, First Publication No. H5-74511, because a drug
solution feeding unit is disposed at the exterior of the
experimental animal, the drug solution feeding unit tends to move
away from the experimental animal when the experimental animal
moves around and there is thus the danger that the catheter will
become removed from the experimental animal.
[0027] Also, because the catheter is inserted into the experimental
animal, there is a high possibility of the occurrence of
inflammation of the skin at the inserted portion, etc.
[0028] With the above-described drug solution feeder for the
subcutaneously implanted access port for small animals, because a
micropump that feeds a drug solution from the drug solution feeder
into a body of an experimental animal is not provided, feeding of a
drug solution into a body of an experimental animal is basically
dependent on the ability to feed the drug solution from the
specialized needle at the exterior.
[0029] A drug solution therefore cannot be fed continuously and
quantitatively to an experimental animal.
[0030] With the above-described artificial pancreas device of
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No.
2001-286555, the device that feeds insulin is implanted in a body
of a patient, and because the catheter is remains inside the
abdominal cavity, it can be assumed that the artificial pancreas
itself is implanted near the abdominal cavity.
[0031] Because this device is thus not required to be as compact
and thin as a device of a type that is implanted subcutaneously, it
is considered that the device is a comparatively large or thick
artificial pancreas.
[0032] Also, no specific disclosure is made in relation to how the
rechargeable battery, insulin reservoir, micropump, catheter, etc.,
are positioned inside the artificial pancreas.
[0033] Also, the above documents do not provide any considerations
in regard to the external shape for reducing, as much as possible,
discomfort to an animal when subcutaneously implanting a device
into the animal.
SUMMARY
[0034] An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide
a fluid transportation device, in which compactness and thinness
are realized and which enables additional injection of a fluid into
a reservoir at an arbitrary timing, enables microscopic amounts of
the fluid to be made to flow continuously and sustainedly, and is
highly safe.
[0035] An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide
a fluid transportation device, which, in use upon subcutaneous
implantation in an animal, etc., enables a drug solution (fluid) to
be fed continuously and with stability.
[0036] An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide
a fluid transportation device, with which a drug solution (fluid)
can be supplied from the exterior to a reservoir reliably.
[0037] An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide
a fluid transportation device having an external shape that
reduces, as much as possible, discomfort to an animal, etc., in a
process of subcutaneously implanting (and after implanting) the
device into the animal, etc.
[0038] A first aspect of the invention provides a fluid
transportation device, including: an outer case constituted of an
upper cover and a lower cover, having a sealed space; a tube having
elasticity; a fluid transport mechanism, having a plurality of
fingers that occlude the tube and a cam that successively presses
the plurality of fingers from an inlet portion to an outlet
portion, making a fluid flow continuously by squeezing the tube; a
driving force transmission mechanism disposed so as to be
overlapped with the fluid transport mechanism, and transmitting a
driving force to the fluid transport mechanism; a reservoir
disposed at a position so as not to overlap the fluid transport
mechanism and the driving force transmission mechanism, being in
communication with the inlet portion of the tube, and containing
the fluid; a port thought which the fluid is injected into the
reservoir; and an electric power supply supplying electric power to
the driving force transmission mechanism. In this fluid
transportation device, at least the fluid transport mechanism, the
driving force transmission mechanism, and the electric power supply
are housed in the sealed space of the outer case.
[0039] Here, for example, a button-type compact battery, used in a
watch, etc., may be employed as the electric power supply.
[0040] With this invention, because all components of at least the
fluid transport mechanism, the driving force transmission
mechanism, the battery, the port, etc., are sealingly housed inside
the outer case, water, dust, etc., do not enter inside the outer
case and use in a living body, in a fluid, or in an environment
with much dust is enabled.
[0041] Because the fluid transportation device of the first aspect
of the invention does not have a tube or other component that
protrudes to the exterior of a living body, when, for example, the
device is implanted inside a living body, the device does not cause
infection at a portion connecting the interior of the living body
to the exterior and can thus be used safely.
[0042] Because the fluid transportation device has the port through
which a fluid can be injected into the reservoir, even when the
device is being driven, additional injection of the fluid at an
arbitrary timing is enabled and continuous flow of the fluid can be
sustained without having to stop driving to perform additional
injection of the fluid.
[0043] By positioning the fluid transport mechanism, the driving
force transmission mechanism, the battery, the reservoir, and the
port in the above-described manner, compactness and thinness can be
realized.
[0044] It is preferable that, in the fluid transportation device of
the first aspect of the invention, the reservoir be housed in the
sealed space of the outer case.
[0045] With this invention, because the reservoir is also sealingly
housed inside the outer case, water, dust, etc., do not enter
inside the outer case and components, including the reservoir, can
be protected from the external environment.
[0046] It is preferable that, in the fluid transportation device of
the first aspect of the invention, the reservoir be held at an
outer side of the outer case and incline with respect to a surface
of the outer case.
[0047] With this invention, because the reservoir is mounted onto
the outer side of the outer case, even when condensation occurs on
a surface of the reservoir, influences on the driving force
transmission mechanism and the battery can be avoided, rust
formation and circuit problems can be suppressed, and durability
can be improved.
[0048] Furthermore, because the reservoir is held incliningly on
the surface of the outer case, when, for example, the fluid
transportation device is implanted under the skin, stretching of
the skin by an end portion of the reservoir can be avoided and
discomfort after implantation can be alleviated.
[0049] It is preferable that the fluid transportation device of the
first aspect of the invention, further include: a reservoir frame
disposed on the outer side of the outer case. In this fluid
transportation device, the reservoir is detachably mounted via the
reservoir frame.
[0050] With this invention, because the reservoir is detachably
mounted via the reservoir frame, the reservoir can be held reliably
at a predetermined position of the outer case and workability
during exchange, etc., can be improved.
[0051] Furthermore, when the fluid transportation device is
implanted subcutaneously, a lower side of the reservoir is
protected from the living body by the hard reservoir frame, and an
upper side of the reservoir, by being made open, is enabled to be
deformed readily.
[0052] It is preferable that, in the fluid transportation device of
the first aspect of the invention, the driving force transmission
mechanism include: a step motor; and a watch movement, which in
turn includes a wheel train having an hour wheel that protrudes in
the direction of the fluid transport mechanism, and the cam be
insertingly attached to an axial portion of the hour wheel.
[0053] Here, a plurality of gears that transmit the rotation of the
step motor to the cam is referred to collectively as the "wheel
train."
[0054] Because the driving force transmission mechanism is
constituted from a watch movement, the driving force transmission
mechanism is made compact and thin, and the fluid transportation
device can thereby be made compact and thin.
[0055] Employment of a mass-produced watch movement that includes
the hour wheel, to which the cam is insertingly attached,
contributes to cost reduction.
[0056] It is preferable that, in the fluid transportation device of
the first aspect of the invention, the port be disposed so as to
penetrate through the upper cover.
[0057] With this arrangement, because there are no members above
the port that obstruct an injection operation of injecting a fluid
into the reservoir from the port, the injection operation can be
performed readily.
[0058] It is preferable that the fluid transportation device of the
first aspect of the invention, further include: a fluid flow inlet
provided at the reservoir and being in communication with the tube;
and a fluid injection inlet, being in communication with the port.
In this fluid transportation device, the fluid flow inlet and the
fluid injection inlet are disposed at separated positions so that
the fluid flows in the interior of the reservoir.
[0059] The fluid in the reservoir flows from the fluid injection
inlet, in communication with the port, to the fluid flow inlet, in
communication with the tube.
[0060] Thus, by separatingly disposing the fluid injection inlet at
an upstream side and the fluid flow inlet at a downstream side, the
occurrence of vortex flow and pulsating flow of the fluid can be
suppressed and a stable, continuous flow at a predetermined flow
rate can be maintained.
[0061] It is preferable that, in the fluid transportation device of
the first aspect of the invention, the reservoir be formed of a
deformable pouch.
[0062] Because the reservoir is housed in the sealed space of the
outer case, which is constituted from the upper cover and the lower
cover, when the fluid is made to flow and is discharged by the
fluid transport mechanism, the pressure inside the reservoir
drops.
[0063] Thus, by forming the reservoir of a deformable pouch so that
the volume of the reservoir decreases in accompaniment with the
lowering of the internal pressure, the pressure inside the
reservoir can be kept substantially constant.
[0064] When the tube is occluded by the fmgers and thereafter
released, the fluid flows into the released tube, and stable flow
of the fluid can be maintained.
[0065] It is preferable that the fluid transportation device of the
first aspect of the invention, further include: the planar shape of
the outer case, constituted from the upper cover and the lower
cover, is elliptical and the outer periphery of the outer case is
formed in a smooth, streamlined shape.
[0066] By making the fluid transportation device have such an outer
shape, the biocompatibility of the outer case to living tissue is
improved, and thus, when the fluid transportation device is
implanted inside a living body, injury to living tissue by the
outer case and discomfort due to implantation can be
suppressed.
[0067] It is preferable that, in the fluid transportation device of
the first aspect of the invention, a fluid outlet end of the tube
be extended along the outer peripheral shape of the upper
cover.
[0068] Though details shall be described below by way of
embodiments, the fluid outlet end of the tube is protruded to the
exterior of the outer case, and by the outlet end of the tube being
extended along the outer periphery that is formed in the smooth,
streamlined shape, the biocompatibility of the tube to living
tissue is improved, and injury to living tissue by the tube and
discomfort due to implantation can be suppressed.
[0069] It is preferable that the fluid transportation device of the
first aspect of the invention, further include: a fluid injection
plug provided on the port and being formed of a material with
elasticity. In this fluid transportation device, when a
syringe-needle-like injection needle is inserted into the fluid
injection plug to inject a fluid into the interior of the reservoir
and the injection needle is thereafter extracted, the portion at
which the injection needle was inserted becomes sealed by the
elasticity of the fluid injection plug itself.
[0070] Thus, when the injection needle is inserted into the fluid
injection plug and the injection needle is extracted after
injection of the fluid into the fluid container, the portion at
which the injection needle was inserted is closed by the elastic
force of the fluid injection plug itself to prevent outflow of
fluid from the port.
[0071] Such a port can be realized by a simple structure without a
valve, etc., and enables the fluid injection operation to be
performed repeatedly.
[0072] A second aspect of the invention provides a fluid
transportation device used for implantation under skin, the fluid
transportation device includes: an outer case having a skin side
surface and a rear surface, the skin side surface facing the skin
when the fluid transportation device is implanted under the skin; a
port disposed at the skin side surface, having an injection opening
which is exposed to the exterior of the outer case and enables
injection of a fluid from the exterior; a reservoir storing the
fluid injected from the port; a fluid conducting portion
communicated with the reservoir, to allow the fluid to be
conducted; a micropump feeding the fluid to the exterior via the
fluid conducting portion; and a battery supplying power to the
micropump.
[0073] With the above-described arrangement, the fluid
transportation device of the second aspect of the invention
includes the outer case, the port, the reservoir, the fluid
conducting portion, the micropump, and the battery as described
above, thereby enabling the realization of a fluid transport system
that is complete as a so-called self-contained system.
[0074] The fluid transportation device can thus be implanted as it
is in a body of an experimental animal, etc., (including a human
body, and being used in the same meaning elsewhere in this
Specification) and does not require a portion connecting to the
exterior of the animal as in the fluid transportation device
disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3177742.
[0075] The fluid transportation device of the second aspect of the
invention thus does not cause inflammation in an experimental
animal, etc.
[0076] In addition, because the fluid transportation device of the
second aspect of the invention is of a so-called self-contained
type, a drug solution or other fluid can be fed by just the fluid
transportation device itself, and feeding conditions of the drug
solution, etc., can be controlled readily as appropriate by
controlling the operation of the micropump, etc.
[0077] Moreover, the fluid transportation device of the second
aspect of the invention is used for implantation under the skin of
an experimental animal, etc., and because the port is disposed to
face the skin side of the animal, etc., upon implantation of the
fluid transportation device under the skin, injection of a drug
solution, etc., into the port is facilitated.
[0078] That is, when a need to supply the drug solution, etc.,
arises, because the port is disposed to face the skin side of the
animal, etc., the location of the port can be found readily and the
drug solution, etc., can be injected readily into the port.
[0079] Cases, in which the abovementioned need to supply the drug
solution, etc., arises, include cases where the drug solution,
etc., is to be supplied immediately after implantation under the
skin of the experimental animal, cases where the drug solution,
etc., decreases with the progress of an experiment, etc.
[0080] "Drug solution" refers to a drug solution for development of
a new medical drug, a nutrient solution for supplying nutrition to
a small animal, etc., or other liquid that provides a medical
effect.
[0081] It is preferable that, in the fluid transportation device of
the second aspect of the invention, the reservoir and the micropump
be separately disposed each other in plan view, and the port be
disposed between the reservoir and the micropump in plan view.
[0082] The above arrangement provides the above-described actions
and effects.
[0083] Furthermore, with this invention, because the reservoir and
the micropump are disposed away from each other in plan view and
practically do not overlap mutually in plan view, the device as a
whole is made thin.
[0084] The reservoir is required to store as much drug solution or
other fluid as possible, and the micropump is required to feed the
drug solution, etc., efficiently and powerfully.
[0085] Thus, within the fluid transportation device, these two
components are comparatively large in capacity/volume.
[0086] Thus, if the reservoir and the micropump are not in a
separated positional relationship but overlap with each other in
plan view (as viewed from a planar direction), the fluid
transportation device as a whole becomes thick in cross-sectional
view (in a direction perpendicular to the plan view, that is, in
the thickness direction).
[0087] When such a fluid transportation device is implanted under a
skin of an experimental animal, the skin is pulled unnecessarily or
the device applies pressure and inflicts discomfort or injury.
[0088] In contrast, with this invention, because the device as a
whole is made thin, the device does not readily inflict such
discomfort.
[0089] Thus, even upon implantation under the skin of an
experimental animal, etc., unnecessary pulling of the skin,
application of pressure or other form of discomfort to the
experimental animal, etc., and inflicting of injury are
lessened.
[0090] The device can thus be used in a state that is substantially
close to being normal for the experimental animal, etc.
[0091] Also, because the reservoir and the micropump, in each of
which securing of a comparatively large volume/capacity is desired,
practically do not overlap in plan view, the respective dimensions
in the cross-sectional view direction (thickness dimensions) do not
interfere mutually and the greatest possible thickness dimensions
can be secured.
[0092] The reservoir can thus be made to contain a large amount of
a drug solution, etc., and the micropump can be made to feed the
drug solution, etc., efficiently and powerfully.
[0093] Moreover, because the port is disposed between the reservoir
and the micropump in the abovementioned plan view, the thinness of
the device as a whole is not compromised.
[0094] Furthermore, as described above, the port is arranged to be
inserted from the exterior by a syringe-needle-like liquid injector
for supplying a drug solution, etc., and thus, an external force is
applied in the inserting process, an external force in the opposite
direction is applied in a process of extracting the liquid
injector, and pressure is thus applied to the fluid transportation
device as a whole in each of these processes.
[0095] With this invention, because the port is disposed between
the reservoir and the micropump, which have large surface areas,
the location of the liquid injection port is substantially near the
center of the fluid transportation device as a whole in plan
view.
[0096] Thus, even when the pressure in the process of inserting the
syringe-needle-like liquid injector into the port or the pressure
in the extraction process is applied, the pressure is received by
the fluid transportation device as a whole and the likelihood of
the fluid transportation device becoming tilted as a whole is
reduced.
[0097] The operation of inserting in the liquid injector, the
operation of extracting the liquid injector, and the liquid
injecting operation can thus be performed smoothly.
[0098] Also, because the device as a whole does not become tilted,
a localized pressure is not applied to an experimental animal,
etc., and thus a localized pain is not inflicted.
[0099] The burden on the experimental animal, etc., can thus be
alleviated, and an experiment, etc., can be continued
satisfactorily.
[0100] It is preferable that, in the fluid transportation device of
the second aspect of the invention, the port have a protrusion
formed to protrude from the outer case, and the injection opening
be formed in the protrusion.
[0101] The above arrangement provides the above-described actions
and effects.
[0102] Furthermore, with this invention, because the port has the
protrusion, which is formed to protrude from the outer case, the
following unique actions and effects are provided.
[0103] That is, even when the fluid transportation device is
implanted under the skin of an experimental animal, etc., the
location of the port can be recognized readily from the
exterior.
[0104] That is, with this invention, because the port is provided
with the protrusion as described above and this protrusion
protrudes from the outer case, the epidermis of the experimental
animal, etc., bulges locally.
[0105] In other words, because the fluid transportation device is
implanted in the unique location of under the skin of the
experimental animal, that is, because the skin (epidermis) is
comparatively thin and the device is implanted underneath it, the
epidermis readily bulges due to the protrusion.
[0106] An experimenter, etc., (including any party attempting to
inject a drug solution or other fluid and being used in the same
meaning elsewhere in this Specification) can thus readily recognize
the location of the port.
[0107] The experimenter, etc., can thus readily insert a liquid
injector into the center of the bulged portion of the epidermis and
supply a drug solution, etc., into the reservoir.
[0108] It is preferable that, in the fluid transportation device of
the second aspect of the invention, the battery be disposed so as
to be overlapped with the reservoir in plan view and be disposed
opposite the port across the reservoir in cross-sectional view.
With the above arrangement, the battery is disposed so as to
overlap with the reservoir in plan view and is disposed opposite
the port across the reservoir in cross-sectional view.
[0109] Thus, in comparison to a case where the reservoir and the
battery, each of which requires a large area in plan view, are
disposed away from each other in plan view, the area in plan view
is made small and a compact drug solution feeder is provided.
[0110] Also, because the port is disposed close to the reservoir in
the cross-sectional view direction (thickness direction), a flow
path, by which a drug solution, etc., is fed from the port to the
reservoir, is shortened and the drug solution, etc., is fed to the
reservoir more reliably.
[0111] Also, because the flow path is shortened as described above,
saving of space can be realized in the fluid transportation
device.
[0112] It is preferable that, in the fluid transportation device of
the second aspect of the invention, the port be disposed at a
position so as not to overlap the battery in plan view.
[0113] With the above arrangement, because the port is disposed at
a position so as not to overlap the battery in plan view, a bottom
portion of the port can be formed without the port being obstructed
by the comparatively thick battery in the cross-sectional view
direction.
[0114] A conducting path from the port to the reservoir can thus be
disposed at an optimum height.
[0115] Also, because a deep guiding opening can be secured for the
inserting of a liquid injector into the port from the exterior, the
liquid injector that is inserted in is supported by the guiding
opening and the operation of supplying a drug solution, etc., is
stabilized.
[0116] In addition, the thickness dimension in the cross-sectional
view direction of the battery can be made large and thus a battery
with a large capacity as mentioned above can be employed.
[0117] It is preferable that the fluid transportation device of the
second aspect of the invention further include: an IC controlling
operations of the micropump; a circuit substrate on which the IC is
packaged; and a signal supplying port disposed so as to be exposed
from the outer case to enable a control program for controlling the
operations of the micropump to be supplied to the IC.
[0118] With the above arrangement, firstly, control of the
operation of the micropump by the IC is realized.
[0119] This IC may be configured as a logic circuit or as a
microcomputer.
[0120] Appropriate control, especially of operations of a rotation
drive unit of the micropump is thus enabled.
[0121] Setting of a drive starting time and a drive ending time of
the fluid transportation device is thus facilitated, and because
appropriate control of a feeding amount of a drug solution, etc.,
during an animal experiment, etc., is enabled, and the animal
experiment, etc., can be carried out effectively.
[0122] Furthermore, with the above arrangement, because the signal
supplying port is provided and is disposed so as to be exposed from
the outer case, drive conditions of the micropump can be set at any
time after completion of assembly of the fluid transportation
device.
[0123] The driving program can thus be stored before implanting the
fluid transportation device in an experimental animal, etc.
[0124] Also, even during an animal experiment, etc., the program
can be changed and input according to experimental conditions,
etc., via a signal line connected to the signal supplying port and
led outside the body of the experimental animal, etc.
[0125] It is preferable that the fluid transportation device of the
second aspect of the invention further include: an attachment
portion formed on the outer case in order to attach to a
subject.
[0126] With the above arrangement, by passing a thread through the
attachment portion, entwining the thread by winding, etc., and
sewing the thread onto the animal, etc., the fluid transportation
device can be attached to the animal, etc., readily.
[0127] Because the attachment portion is disposed at a height such
as that illustrated (disposed away from a rear surface of the outer
case and toward a skin side surface), in fixing the fluid
transportation device onto the experimental animal, etc., by sewing
with thread, the sewn portion of the experimental animal, etc., can
be brought close to the plan view position of the attachment
portion, thereby enabling the fluid transportation device to be
attached upon drawing it close to the portion immediately below it
and thus be attached in a non-suspended manner.
[0128] A third aspect of the invention provides a drug solution
feeder (fluid transportation device) to be implanted under the skin
of an animal, etc., the drug solution feeder includes: an outer
case; a liquid injection port (port), having an injection opening,
which is exposed to the exterior of the outer case and enables
injection of a drug solution (fluid) from the exterior; a
reservoir, storing the drug solution injected from the liquid
injection port; a drug solution conducting portion, being in
communication with the reservoir and conducting the drug solution;
a micropump, feeding the drug solution to the exterior via the drug
solution conducting portion; and a battery, supplying electrical
power to the micropump, wherein the liquid injection port is
disposed so as to face the skin side of the animal when the drug
solution feeder is implanted under the skin, and the reservoir, the
micropump, and the battery are disposed at mutually separated
positions in plan view.
[0129] The above arrangement provides the above-described actions
and effects.
[0130] Furthermore, with this invention, because the reservoir, the
micropump, and the battery are disposed at mutually separated
positions in plan view and practically do not overlap mutually in
plan view, the device as a whole is made thin.
[0131] Because the reservoir is required to store as much drug
solution as possible, the micropump is required to feed the drug
solution efficiently and powerfully, and a large battery capacity
is required to be secured at the battery to drive the micropump
powerfully or sustain a long drive time, each of these components
takes up a comparatively large capacity/volume in the drug solution
feeder.
[0132] Thus, if at least any combination of the reservoir,
micropump, and battery is an overlapping combination in plan view,
the drug solution feeder becomes thick as a whole.
[0133] When such a fluid transportation device is implanted under
the skin of an experimental animal, the device pulls the skin
unnecessarily, applies pressure, or inflicts injury.
[0134] In contrast, with this invention, because the device as a
whole is made thin, the device does not pull the skin
unnecessarily, apply pressure, or inflict injury, is unlikely to
inflict discomfort on the experimental animal, etc., and can thus
be used in a state that is substantially close to being normal for
the experimental animal, etc.
[0135] In addition, because the reservoir, the micropump, and the
battery, in each of which a comparatively large capacity is
desirably secured, practically do not overlap in plan view, the
respective dimensions in the cross-sectional view direction
(thickness dimensions) do not interfere mutually and the greatest
possible thickness dimensions can thus be secured respectively.
[0136] The reservoir can thus be made to contain a large amount of
a drug solution, the micropump can be made to feed the drug
solution efficiently and powerfully, and the battery can be made to
drive the micropump powerfully or sustain a long driving time.
[0137] It is preferable that, in the drug solution feeder of the
third aspect of the invention, the liquid injection port (port) be
disposed at substantially the center in a narrow width direction in
which the drug solution feeder is narrow in plan view.
[0138] With this arrangement, because the liquid injection port is
disposed at substantially the center in the narrow width direction
in which the drug solution feeder is narrow in plan view, the drug
solution feeder is prevented from tilting in the narrow width
direction when a liquid injector is inserted into the liquid
injection port from the exterior or when the liquid injector is
extracted.
[0139] Thus, as mentioned above, even when the pressure in the
process of inserting the liquid injector into the liquid injection
port or the pressure in the process of extracting the liquid
injector is applied, the drug solution feeder receives the pressure
as a whole and the drug solution feeder is thus less likely to
become tilted as a whole.
[0140] The liquid injector can thus be inserted and extracted
satisfactorily and a smooth liquid injection operation can be
performed.
[0141] Also, because the device as a whole does not become tilted,
a localized pressure is not applied to an experimental animal,
etc., and thus a localized pain is not inflicted.
[0142] The burden on the experimental animal, etc., can thus be
alleviated, and the experiment can be continued satisfactorily.
[0143] When the liquid injection port is disposed so as to satisfy
both the condition of being disposed at substantially the center in
the narrow width direction in which the drug solution feeder is
narrow in plan view and the condition of being disposed between the
reservoir and the micropump in plan view as in the above-described
invention, the above-described actions and effects are amplified
further.
[0144] The narrow width direction in which the drug solution feeder
is narrow in plan view refers to the direction of the smaller, that
is, the narrower width dimension of the drug solution feeder in
plan view.
[0145] From another perspective, the narrow width direction refers
to the direction that is substantially orthogonal in plan view to a
straight line joining a central portion or the center of gravity of
the reservoir and a central portion or the center of gravity of the
micropump.
[0146] Thus, when the plan view shape of the drug solution feeder
is a planar shape, in which a width dimension in a wide width
direction (longitudinal direction) and a width dimension in a
narrow width direction (lateral direction) exist, for example, a
substantially rectangular shape, an oval shape, or an elliptical
shape, etc., the direction of the straight line joining the central
portion or the center of gravity of the reservoir and the central
portion or the center of gravity of the micropump in plan view is
generally the longitudinal direction.
[0147] The direction that is substantially orthogonal to this
longitudinal direction is the narrow width direction (lateral
direction).
[0148] In a case where the plan view shape of the drug solution
feeder is substantially circular or is an irregular shape, with
which the longitudinal direction and the narrow width direction
(lateral direction) cannot be discerned, the abovementioned narrow
width direction refers to the direction that is substantially
orthogonal in plan view to a straight line joining the central
portion or the center of gravity of the reservoir and the central
portion or the center of gravity of the micropump as mentioned
above.
[0149] It is preferable that, in the drug solution feeder of the
third aspect of the invention, the liquid injection port (port)
have a liquid injector insertable member, disposed at an inner side
of the injection opening and formed of an elastic material through
which the liquid injector can be inserted, and a drug solution
feeding portion, from which the drug solution injected from the
liquid injector inserted through the liquid injector insertable
member is fed to the reservoir.
[0150] With the above arrangement, because the liquid injection
port has the liquid injector insertable member, which is disposed
at the inner side of the injection opening and is formed of an
elastic material through which the liquid injector can be inserted,
and the liquid injector insertable member serves as a plug in a
state in which the drug solution feeder is implanted under the skin
of an experimental animal, body fluids of the animal and other
liquids and gases are prevented from entering into the interior of
the drug solution feeder.
[0151] Contamination of the drug solution by body fluid, gases,
etc., can thus be prevented.
[0152] Also, because the liquid injector insertable member is
formed of an elastic material, the liquid injector can be inserted
into the liquid injector insertable member from the exterior for
liquid injection.
[0153] The drug solution is thereby supplied from the liquid
injection port to the reservoir.
[0154] As described above, by the liquid injector insertable member
being formed of an elastic material, contamination of the drug
solution is prevented, and since inserting through of the liquid
injector is enabled, replenishment of the drug solution is
enabled.
[0155] It is preferable that, in the drug solution feeder of the
third aspect of the invention, the reservoir have a drug solution
injection portion, in communication with the liquid injection port
(port), at a side wall at one end, a drug solution discharge
portion, in communication with the drug solution conducting portion
(fluid conducting portion), at a side wall at the other end, and a
drug solution storage portion, formed intermediate to the drug
solution injection portion and the drug solution discharge
portion.
[0156] With the above arrangement, because the reservoir has the
drug solution injection portion and the drug solution discharge
portion disposed at respective ends of its side wall (a wall in a
transverse direction that is not an upper wall or a lower wall in
an up/down direction) and not in a thickness direction
(cross-sectional view direction, height direction), the reservoir
is not made as thick as when the drug solution injection portion
and the drug solution discharge portion are provided so as to
protrude in the thickness direction.
[0157] The drug solution feeder is thus made thin.
[0158] Also, in the reservoir, the drug solution is injected from
the drug solution injection portion, disposed at the one end and in
communication with the liquid injection port, and the drug solution
is discharged from the drug solution discharge portion, disposed at
the other end and in communication with the drug solution
conducting portion.
[0159] Because the drug solution injected from the drug solution
injection portion is stored in the intermediate drug solution
storage portion and then discharged from the drug solution
discharge portion, the flow of the drug solution is made
continuous, air inside the reservoir is vented readily, and the
drug solution flows smoothly without stagnating.
[0160] It is preferable that, in the drug solution feeder of the
third aspect of the invention, the drug solution conducting portion
(fluid conducting portion) be constituted from a tube with
elasticity.
[0161] With the above arrangement, because the drug solution
conducting portion is constituted from a tube with elasticity, the
drug solution flow path subsequent to the reservoir can be moved in
position and deformed to some degree in shape.
[0162] Also, even when there are some dimensional errors in the
respective members inside the drug solution feeder, because the
elastic tube has elasticity, the position and shape thereof can be
corrected readily.
[0163] Thus, even if there is variation in dimensions in related
members, a good drug solution flow path can be secured.
[0164] Furthermore, because the flow path is a tube, the
cross-section of the flow path can be made circular, and because a
cross-section of high efficiency is obtained in this case, a large
amount of the drug solution can be efficiently fed.
[0165] It is preferable that, in the drug solution feeder of the
third aspect of the invention, the micropump have a rotation drive
unit, a cam unit, which is rotated by the rotation drive unit, and
a plurality of pressing pins, which are made to press the tube
successively in radial directions by the cam unit, and the drug
solution is discharged to the exterior by the pressing pins
pressing the tube successively.
[0166] With the above arrangement, in the micropump, the pressing
pins are made to press the tube successively by the cam unit that
is rotated by the rotation drive unit.
[0167] The tube can thus be pressed by a mechanical driving force
of the rotation drive unit, the cam unit, and the pressing
pins.
[0168] The operation is thus reliable and because a comparatively
strong force can be obtained, the drug solution inside the tube can
be fed out reliably and powerfully.
[0169] Also, because the pressing pins press the tube in radial
directions with respect to the center of rotation of the cam unit,
the operation of the pressing pins is stable and the tube can be
pressed with stability.
[0170] It is preferable that, in the drug solution feeder of the
third aspect of the invention, the tube have a reservoir connecting
portion, in communication with the reservoir, at one end, a drug
solution discharge portion, from which the drug solution is
discharged to the exterior, at the other end, and an arcuate tube
portion, formed intermediate to the reservoir connecting portion
and the drug solution discharge portion and disposed at an outer
peripheral side with respect to the cam unit and the pressing pins
in plan view.
[0171] With the above arrangement, because the tube is formed as an
arcuate tube portion intermediate to the reservoir connecting
portion and the drug solution discharge portion, and this arcuate
tube portion constitutes a portion of the micropump, the tube
serves both the role of the drug solution conducting portion and
the micropump, thereby improving the efficiency.
[0172] Moreover, because the tube is formed to be arcuate at this
portion, a required length of the arcuate tube portion is secured
and a required plurality of pressing pins are disposed.
[0173] Moreover, because the cam unit and the pressing pins are
disposed at the center side of the arc of the arcuate tube portion,
the arc center region can be used effectively and saving of space
can be realized with the micropump.
[0174] Also, even when the pressing pins protrude and press the
tube, the tube can return the pressing pins to the original
positions by its elasticity, and in this case, a returning spring
member is made unnecessary and the number of parts can be
reduced.
[0175] When the pressing pins return, the tube returns to its
original cross-sectional shape due to its elasticity, thus
providing the effect of securing of the flow path diameter.
[0176] It is preferable that, in the drug solution feeder of the
third aspect of the invention, the battery be overlapped with the
rotation drive unit of the micropump in plan view and be disposed
opposite the tube across the rotation driving unit in
cross-sectional view.
[0177] With the above arrangement, the battery has no direct,
mechanical relationship with the tube.
[0178] Though the battery is disposed near the rotation drive unit
of the micropump in plan view, because it is positioned opposite
the tube in cross-sectional view, the battery does not obstruct the
micropump arrangement constituted of the tube and the rotation
drive unit.
[0179] The structure of the tube and the rotation drive unit can
thus be configured optimally.
[0180] It is preferable that, in the drug solution feeder of the
third aspect of the invention, the upper cover of the outer case be
formed of a transparent material, and at least the reservoir, the
micropump, and the tube can be visually recognized from the upper
cover.
[0181] With the above arrangement, because the upper cover is
formed of a transparent material and at least the reservoir, the
micropump, and the tube can be visually recognized from the upper
cover, an assembly or operation anomaly of the reservoir, the
micropump, or the tube can be discovered from the exterior even
after assembly of the drug solution feeder.
[0182] When an abovementioned anomaly is found, a remedy can be
implemented before implantation in an animal, etc.
[0183] It is preferable that, in the fluid transportation device of
these aspects of the invention, the outer case have inclined
surfaces at least at a portion of outer walls extending from the
skin side surface to the rear surface.
[0184] With the above arrangement, by inclined surfaces being
formed on outer walls of the outer case, the biocompatibility of
the outer case with respect to living tissue is improved at the
portions at which the inclined surfaces are formed, thus enabling
injury to the living tissue and discomfort due to implantation to
be suppressed when the fluid transportation device is implanted in
a living body.
[0185] It is preferable that, in the fluid transportation device of
these aspects of the invention, the outer case have vertical hold
surfaces on outer walls extending from the skin side surface to the
rear surface.
[0186] With this arrangement, by holding the vertical hold surfaces
via the skin after implantation of the fluid transportation device
under the skin, the fluid transportation device can be fixed
readily, and workability in a case where the device needs to be
fixed during injection of a fluid, etc., can be improved.
[0187] It is preferable that, in the fluid transportation device of
these aspects of the invention, the outer case include: a
first-narrow-side outer wall formed along a narrow-width direction
at a first end of a wide-width direction; and a second-narrow-side
outer wall formed along the narrow-width direction at a second end
of the wide-width direction, and the inclined surfaces be formed
incliningly so that the first-narrow-side outer wall and the
second-narrow-side outer wall converge from the rear surface toward
the skin side surface of the outer case.
[0188] With the above arrangement, when, in a case where the
inclined surfaces are formed, the drug solution feeder is implanted
under the skin of an animal, the skin of the animal is pulled
according to the volume and height of the drug solution feeder, and
in the worst case, the skin is injured.
[0189] Because by forming the inclined surfaces in a manner such
that the pull is lessened as much as possible and a localized shear
force is not applied to the skin, the width of the side closer to
the skin is formed narrowly in particular, and the above-described
infliction of injury on the skin can be prevented as much as
possible.
[0190] The angles of inclination of the inclined surfaces are in a
range of 5 degrees to 60 degrees and preferably in a range of 15
degrees to 30 degrees.
[0191] The angles of inclination of the inclined surfaces may be
the same or may differ respectively.
[0192] It is preferable that, in the fluid transportation device of
these aspects of the invention, the outer case include: a
first-wide-side outer wall formed along a wide-width direction at a
first end of a narrow-width direction; and a second-wide-side outer
wall formed along the wide-width direction at a second end of the
narrow-width direction, and the inclined surfaces be formed
incliningly so that the first-wide-side outer wall and the
second-wide-side outer wall converge from the rear surface toward
the skin side surface of the outer case.
[0193] With the above arrangement, by the inclined surfaces being
formed in the above-described manner on the outer case, when the
fluid transportation device is implanted in a body of an animal,
etc., the pulling of the skin of the animal, etc., according to the
volume and the height of the fluid transportation device is
lessened as much as possible in the narrow width direction as well,
and because the width of the side closer to the skin is formed
narrowly in particular, the above-described infliction of injury on
the skin can be prevented as much as possible.
[0194] It is preferable that, in the fluid transportation device of
these aspects of the invention, the outer case have at least one of
either the skin side surface being formed on a protruding surface
along the wide width direction or the rear surface of the skin side
surface being formed on a recessed surface along the wide width
direction.
[0195] With the above arrangement, by the skin side surface being
formed on the protruding shape or the rear surface being formed on
the recessed shape, the outer case is formed to have an upper
surface shape or a lower surface shape that becomes substantially
aligned with a subcutaneous shape of an animal, etc., when the
fluid transportation device is implanted inside a body of the
animal, etc., and thus compatibility to the skin, etc., is improved
and inflicting of an excessive pull or injury on the animal, etc.,
can be prevented.
[0196] Here, if the skin side surface is formed in the protruding
shape and the rear surface is formed in the recessed shape at the
same time, the device is aligned readily along a shape of an inner
surface of the skin, the subcutaneous shape, etc., of the animal,
etc., that contact each skin side surface or each rear surface of
the fluid transportation device, and the above-described actions
and effects can thus be exhibited more effectively.
[0197] It is preferable that, in the fluid transportation device of
these aspects of the invention, the outer case have at least one of
either the skin side surface being formed on a protruding surface
along the narrow width direction or the rear surface of the skin
side surface being formed on a recessed surface along the narrow
width direction.
[0198] With above arrangement, by the outer case being formed to
have the protruding surface or the recessed surface or both the
protruding surface and the recessed surface as described above, the
outer case is formed to have the skin side surface shape or the
rear surface shape that becomes substantially aligned with the
subcutaneous shape of the animal, etc., even in the narrow width
direction when the fluid transportation device is implanted into a
body of the animal, etc., as described above and thus compatibility
to the skin, etc., is improved and inflicting of an excessive pull
or injury on the animal, etc., can be prevented.
[0199] As described above, by this invention, a fluid
transportation device that can supply a drug solution or other
fluid with stability and alleviate the burden placed on an animal,
etc., can be provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0200] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a basic arrangement of a
fluid transportation device according to a first embodiment of this
invention.
[0201] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the basic arrangement of the fluid
transportation device according to the first embodiment of this
invention.
[0202] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a watch movement that is employed
as a driving force transmission mechanism in the first embodiment
of this invention.
[0203] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of sectional structures of
a wheel train of the driving force transmission mechanism and a
fluid transport mechanism in the first embodiment of this
invention.
[0204] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a structure related to
injection and outflow of a fluid in the first embodiment of this
invention.
[0205] FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating actions of the fluid
transportation device according to the first embodiment of this
invention.
[0206] FIG. 7 is a plan view of an arrangement of a fluid
transportation device according to a second embodiment of this
invention.
[0207] FIGS. 8A and 8B are side views of the fluid transportation
device according to the second embodiment of this invention, with
FIG. 8A being a narrow width side view as viewed from a narrow
width side and FIG. 8B being a wide width side view as viewed from
a wide width side.
[0208] FIGS. 9A to 9C show a reservoir frane in the second
embodiment of this invention, with FIG. 9A being a plan view, FIG.
9B being a front view, and FIG. 9C being a side view.
[0209] FIGS. 10A to 10D are external views of an outer appearance
of a drug solution feeder according to a third embodiment of this
invention, with FIG. 10A being a lower side view as viewed from a
lower side surface of the drug solution feeder, FIG. 10B being an
upper side view as viewed from an upper side surface of the same,
FIG. 10C being a right side view as viewed from the right side in
FIG. 10A, and FIG. 10D being a left side view as viewed from the
left side in FIG. 10A.
[0210] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a right side portion in FIG.
10A of the drug solution feeder according to the third embodiment
of this invention.
[0211] FIG. 12 is a plan view of the drug solution feeder according
to the third embodiment of this invention as viewed from the upper
side of the paper surface of FIG. 10A.
[0212] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of
the drug solution feeder according to the third embodiment of this
invention taken along positions A1-A1 in FIG. 12.
[0213] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of
the drug solution feeder according to the third embodiment of this
invention taken along positions B-B in FIG. 12.
[0214] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of a
micropump unit of the drug solution feeder according to the third
embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 12.
[0215] FIG. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a liquid
injection port of the drug solution feeder according to the third
embodiment of this invention.
[0216] FIG. 17 is a plan view of a drug solution feeder according
to a fourth embodiment of this invention.
[0217] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of
the drug solution feeder according to the fourth embodiment of this
invention taken along positions C-C in FIG. 17.
[0218] FIG. 19 is a plan view of principal portions of a drug
solution feeder according to a fifth embodiment of this
invention.
[0219] FIGS. 20A to 20D are external views of an outer appearance
of a drug solution feeder according to a sixth embodiment of this
invention, with FIG. 20A being a lower side view as viewed from a
lower side surface of the drug solution feeder, FIG. 20B being an
upper side view as viewed from an upper side surface of the same,
FIG. 20C being a right side view as viewed from the right side in
FIG. 20A, and FIG. 20D being a left side view as viewed from the
left side in FIG. 20A.
[0220] FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of a right side portion in FIG.
20A of the drug solution feeder according to the sixth embodiment
of this invention.
[0221] FIG. 22 is a plan view of the drug solution feeder according
to the sixth embodiment of this invention as viewed from the upper
side of the paper surface of FIG. 20A.
[0222] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of
the drug solution feeder according to the sixth embodiment of this
invention taken along positions A2-A2 in FIG. 22.
[0223] FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of
the drug solution feeder according to the sixth embodiment of this
invention taken along positions B1-B1 in FIG. 22.
[0224] FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of a
micropump unit of the drug solution feeder according to the sixth
embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 22.
[0225] FIG. 26 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a liquid
injection port of the drug solution feeder according to the sixth
embodiment of this invention.
[0226] FIG. 27 is a plan view of a drug solution feeder according
to a seventh embodiment of this invention.
[0227] FIG. 28 is a principal cross-sectional view of the drug
solution feeder according to the seventh embodiment of this
invention taken along positions C1-C1 of FIG. 27.
[0228] FIG. 29 is a plan view of principal portions of a drug
solution feeder according to an eighth embodiment of this
invention.
[0229] FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of a
drug solution feeder according to a ninth embodiment of this
invention.
[0230] FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of a
drug solution feeder according to a tenth embodiment of this
invention.
[0231] FIGS. 32A to 32D are external views of an outer appearance
of a drug solution feeder according to an eleventh embodiment of
this invention, with FIG. 32A being a lower side view as viewed
from a lower side surface of the drug solution feeder, FIG. 32B
being an upper side view as viewed from an upper side surface of
the same, FIG. 32C being a right side view as viewed from the right
side in FIG. 32A, and FIG. 32D being a left side view as viewed
from the left side in FIG. 32A.
[0232] FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of a
Modification Example 1 of a liquid injection port unit in this
invention.
[0233] FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of a
Modification Example 2 of a liquid injection port unit in this
invention.
[0234] FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of a
Modification Example 3 of a liquid injection port unit in this
invention.
[0235] FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of a
Modification Example 7 of a vicinity of a reservoir unit in this
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0236] Embodiments of this invention shall now be described based
on the drawings.
First Embodiment
[0237] FIGS. 1 to 6 show a fluid transportation device according to
a first embodiment of this invention.
[0238] FIG. 1 shows an arrangement in a thickness direction, FIG. 2
shows the arrangement in a plan view direction, FIG. 3 is a plan
view of a watch movement that is employed as a driving force
transmission mechanism, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of
portions of the driving force transmission mechanism and a fluid
transport mechanism, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a
structure related to injection and outflow of a fluid, and FIG. 6
is a plan view of the fluid transport mechanism.
[0239] With the present embodiment, a fluid transportation device
that is implanted in a living body of a human being, animal, etc.,
and uses a drug solution as a fluid shall be described as an
example.
[0240] Gel-like fluids and gases are included in the definition of
"fluid."
[0241] FIGS. 1 and 2 are respectively a cross-sectional view and a
plan view of the basic arrangement of a fluid transportation device
1 according to the first embodiment of this invention.
[0242] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fluid transportation device 1
according to this embodiment includes a driving force transmission
mechanism 3, a fluid transport mechanism 2, a reservoir 60, and a
bulb 80 (referred to hereinafter as the "bulb" in regard to the
first embodiment).
[0243] Here, the fluid transport mechanism 2 is disposed on an
upper surface of the driving force transmission mechanism 3.
[0244] The reservoir 60 is disposed at a position at which it does
not overlap in plan view with the driving force transmission
mechanism 3 and the fluid transport mechanism 2.
[0245] The bulb 80 that functions as a port is disposed in a planar
space between the driving force transmission mechanism 3 and the
reservoir 60.
[0246] Furthermore, at a rear surface side (surface at the side
opposite the fluid transport mechanism 2) of the driving force
transmission mechanism 3 is disposed a circuit substrate 5, on
which an unillustrated control circuit for drive control of the
driving force transmission mechanism 3 is mounted.
[0247] A battery 4, which serves as a power supply, is disposed
under the reservoir 60.
[0248] With the exception of an outlet portion 53 of a tube 50, the
fluid transport mechanism 2, the driving force transmission
mechanism 3, the reservoir 60, the bulb 80, the battery 4, and the
circuit substrate 5 are housed inside a sealed space of an outer
case formed by an upper cover 13 and a lower cover 16.
[0249] The driving force transmission mechanism 3 employs a watch
movement and makes use ofjust a step motor and a wheel train of a
compact movement with a barrel-like outer planar shape.
[0250] A detailed structure of the driving force transmission
mechanism 3 shall be provided later with reference to FIGS. 3 and
4.
[0251] An hour wheel at a final stage of the wheel train, disposed
at the center of the driving force transmission mechanism 3, is a
cam drive wheel 76.
[0252] A cylindrical axial portion 76a of the cam drive wheel 76 is
protruded in the direction of the fluid transport mechanism 2.
[0253] Cams are fitted onto this axial portion 76a (see FIG.
2).
[0254] The cams are a first cam 20, which is axially fixed to the
axial portion 76a, and a second cam 30, which is axially supported
by the axial portion 76a.
[0255] In regard to the second cam 30, by the rotation of the first
cam 20, the first cam 20 and the second cam 30 function as if these
were a single cam.
[0256] The fluid transport mechanism 2 includes the first cam 20,
the second cam 30, the tube 50, and seven fingers 40 to 46.
[0257] The fingers 40 to 46 are interposed between the tube 50 and
the first cam 20 and between the tube 50 and the second cam 30.
[0258] The tube 50 has elasticity and, in the present embodiment,
is formed of a silicone-based rubber with biocompatibility.
[0259] The tube 50 is fitted in a tube guide groove 121 of a tube
frame 12, which is a frame of the fluid transport mechanism 2.
[0260] The tube guide groove 121 has tube guide walls 122 disposed
concentrically about a rotation center P of the cam drive wheel
76.
[0261] The fingers 40 to 46 extend radially from the rotation
center P at equal intervals and are interposed between the tube 50
and the first cam 20 and the second cam 30.
[0262] Each of the fingers 40 to 46 is fitted in a finger guide
groove 126 (see FIG. 4), formed in the tube frame 12.
[0263] The fingers 40 to 46 are fitted in a manner enabling
movement in axial directions inside the finger guide grooves 126
and are pressed by the first cam 20 and the second cam 30 to
occlude the tube 50.
[0264] Actions of the fluid transport mechanism 2 shall be
described later with reference to FIG. 4 and 6.
[0265] One end of the tube 50 is the outlet portion 53, from which
the drug solution flows out and which extends to the exterior of
the fluid transportation device 1.
[0266] The other end of the tube 50 is a fluid inlet portion 52,
which is in communication with the reservoir 60, and communicates
with the reservoir 60 via a connecting pipe 55.
[0267] The reservoir 60 is formed of a thin pouch that can swell
when filled with the drug solution and become reduced in volume
when the drug solution flows out.
[0268] The reservoir 60 has a substantially semicircular planar
shape, and one end of a portion corresponding to a chord of the
substantially semicircular shape is a fluid discharge outlet 63,
which is connected to the connecting pipe 55.
[0269] The other end is a fluid injection inlet 62, which is
connected to an injection pipe 83 that is protruded from the bulb
80.
[0270] A drug solution flow path is thus formed of the bulb 80, the
reservoir 60, and the tube 50.
[0271] The above-described driving force transmission mechanism 3
is held by a movement frame 15.
[0272] The fluid transport mechanism 2 is held by the tube frame
12.
[0273] The reservoir 60 is held in a space formed by the tube frame
12 and the movement frame 15.
[0274] The tube frame 12 and the movement frame 15 are clamped by
the upper cover 13 and the lower cover 16.
[0275] Fixed shafts 95 are fixed to the movement frame 15.
[0276] Opposite ends of the fixed shafts 95 penetrate through the
tube frame 12, the upper cover 13, and the lower cover 16.
[0277] Fixing screws 90 and 91 are screwed onto the opposite ends
of the fixed shafts 95 to fix the tube frame 12, the movement frame
15, the upper cover 13, and the lower cover 16 in close
contact.
[0278] A planar configuration of the fixing screws 90 (95) is shown
in FIG. 2.
[0279] The outlet portion 53 is fixed by an adhesive, etc., to a
location near an outer periphery of the tube frame 12.
[0280] The connecting pipe 55 is also fixed by an adhesive, etc.,
to the tube frame 12.
[0281] The outlet portion 53 and the connecting pipe 55 form a
hermetically sealed structure between the tube frame 12 and the
upper cover 13 that prevents the entry of body fluids, etc., into
the interior from opposite ends of the tube 50.
[0282] On the circuit substrate 5 are packaged a crystal oscillator
(not shown) that serves as a timing element, an IC 6 that serves as
a control circuit, and a lead substrate (not shown) that supplies
electrical power from the battery 4 to the IC 6.
[0283] A wiring pattern that transmits a drive signal to the step
motor of the driving force transmission mechanism 3 is also formed
on the circuit substrate 5.
[0284] The wiring pattern is connected to terminals 101a and 101b
(see FIG. 3) of the step motor.
[0285] A button type compact battery for a watch is employed as the
battery 4, which is disposed at a position where it overlaps with a
portion of the reservoir 60 and supplies electrical power to the IC
6 via the lead substrate.
[0286] The driving force transmission mechanism 3 and the circuit
substrate 5 are fixed by screwing onto the movement frame 15 by
means of a fixed shaft 96, fixed to the movement frame 15, a fixing
screw 91, and a fixed shaft 92.
[0287] The upper cover 13 and the lower cover 16 are both
elliptical in planar shape with the cross-sectional shapes of the
respective outer peripheral portions being rounded gradually and
take on a substantially streamlined form when assembled.
[0288] Improvement of biocompatibility to living tissue when the
fluid transportation device 1 is implanted inside a living body is
taken into consideration in this shape.
[0289] Each of the upper cover 13, the lower cover 16, the tube
frame 12, and the movement frame 15 have excellent biocompatibility
and have a rigidity that is required for a normal state of use.
[0290] The arrangement of the driving force transmission mechanism
3 shall now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and
4.
[0291] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the watch movement that is employed
as the driving force transmission mechanism 3, and FIG. 4 shows the
sectional structure of the wheel train of the watch movement and
the fluid transport mechanism 2.
[0292] In FIG. 3, the driving force transmission mechanism 3 has
the wheel train axially supported between a first frame 11
(corresponding to a main plate in a watch) and a second frame 14
(corresponding to a train wheel bridge in a watch).
[0293] The step motor, constituted from a coil block 101, stator
102, and a step rotor 70, is also provided.
[0294] Because the arrangement of the step motor is well known,
description thereof shall be omitted.
[0295] The structure of the wheel train shall now be described.
[0296] In FIGS. 3 and 4, the step rotor 70 of the step motor has a
permanent magnet 70a and is rotated by attractive and repulsive
forces of the stator 102.
[0297] The rotation of the step rotor 70 is transmitted to the cam
driving wheel 76 via successive engagement of a first transmission
wheel 71, a second transmission wheel 72, a third transmission
wheel 73, and a fourth transmission wheel 74.
[0298] Here, the second transmission wheel 72 corresponds to being
a second wheel that is fitted with a second hand of a watch, the
fourth transmission wheel 74 corresponds to being a minute wheel
that is fitted with a minute hand of a watch, and the cam drive
wheel 76 corresponds to being an hour wheel that is fitted with an
hour hand of a watch.
[0299] The transmission wheels from the first transmission wheel 71
to the cam drive wheel 76 are referred to collectively as the wheel
train.
[0300] The step rotor 70, the first transmission wheel 71, the
third transmission wheel 73, and the fourth transmission wheel 74
are rotatably supported axially by the first frame (main plate) 11
and the second frame (train wheel bridge) 14.
[0301] A transmission wheel shaft 75 is fixed to the first frame
11, and a cylindrical portion of this shaft protrudes upward (in
the direction in which the first cam 20 and the second cam 30 are
disposed).
[0302] A cylindrical portion of the fourth transmission wheel 74 is
inserted in a penetrating hole opened in the transmission wheel
shaft 75, and an axial portion of the second transmission wheel 72
is inserted through a penetrating hole opened in the fourth
transmission wheel 74.
[0303] Thus, normally, the cam drive wheel 76 makes one turn in 12
hours, and in the present embodiment, the step rotor 70 is
accelerated by 45 times.
[0304] The second transmission wheel 72 has one supporting axis
axially supported by the second frame 14 and has the other axis
portion axially supported by the penetrating hole opened in the
fourth transmission wheel 74.
[0305] The rotation of the fourth transmission wheel 74 is
transmitted to the cam drive wheel 76 via a fifth transmission
wheel 79 (see FIG. 3).
[0306] The cam drive wheel 76 is axially supported by an outer
periphery of a cylindrical portion of the transmission wheel shaft
75 being inserted through a penetrating hole opened in the center
of the cam drive wheel 76.
[0307] The axial portion 76a of the cam drive wheel 76 protrudes in
the direction in which the first cam 20 and the second cam 30 are
disposed.
[0308] An upper portion of the axial portion of the cam drive wheel
76 is axially supported by a cam drive wheel supporting bearing 78
that is fixed to the upper cover 13.
[0309] A hole that axially supports the cam drive wheel supporting
bearing 78 is formed in the upper cover 13, and this hole does not
penetrate through the upper cover 13 and an end of the cam drive
wheel supporting bearing 78 is sealed by the upper cover 13.
[0310] The cam drive wheel 76 is rotated at a predetermined
rotation speed by the transmission wheels that transmit the
rotation of the step rotor 70.
[0311] Because the cam drive wheel 76 is axially supported by the
transmission wheel shaft 75 and the cam drive wheel supporting
bearing 78, the distance between the supporting portions is made
long, the tilting amount of the cam drive wheel 76 is suppressed,
and a side pressure that is applied to the axial portion of the cam
drive wheel 76 as a result of load torques of the first cam 20 and
the second cam 30, to be described below, is lessened.
[0312] A cross-sectional structure of the fluid transport mechanism
2 shall now be described with reference to FIG. 4.
[0313] The fluid transport mechanism 2 is disposed on an upper
surface of the first frame 11 so as to be overlapped with the
driving force transmission mechanism 3.
[0314] The second cam 30 and the first cam 20 are fitted in that
order from the lower side onto the protruding axial portion 76a of
the cam drive wheel 76.
[0315] Here, the second cam 30 is axially supported in a loosely
fitted manner by the cam drive wheel 76, and the first cam 20 is
axially fixed so as to rotate integrally with the cam drive wheel
76.
[0316] The tube frame 12 is disposed at the periphery of the first
cam 20 and the second cam 30.
[0317] The tube frame 12 is clamped between the upper cover 13 and
the first frame 11.
[0318] The upper cover 13, the tube frame 12, and the first frame
11 are screwed overlappingly together by unillustrated fixing
screws and the respective connecting surfaces are put in close
contact.
[0319] A structure near the bulb 80, the reservoir 60, and the
outlet portion 53 of the tube 50 shall now be described with
reference to the drawings.
[0320] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the structure related to
fluid injection and outflow portions.
[0321] In FIG. 5, the bulb 80 has a bulb body 81, having an
L-shaped flow portion, and a fluid injection plug 82, having
elasticity and being press-fitted in the bulb body 81.
[0322] The injection pipe 83 is protruded from the bulb body 81 and
is connected to the reservoir 60.
[0323] The fluid injection plug 82 is provided with a slit 82b (see
also FIG. 2).
[0324] A method of injecting the drug solution into the reservoir
60 shall now be described.
[0325] Injection of the drug solution into the reservoir 60 is
performed by inserting an unillustrated, syringe-needle-like
injection needle into the slit 82b of the fluid injection plug 82
and injecting the drug solution into the reservoir 60.
[0326] By the slit 82b being provided, the injection needle can be
inserted readily.
[0327] When the injection needle is extracted after injection of
the drug solution, the fluid injection plug 82 is closed by the
elastic force of the fluid injection plug 82 itself and outflow of
fluid from the bulb 80 can thereby be prevented.
[0328] Such a bulb 80 enables realization of a simple structure
that does not use a valve, etc., and enables the drug solution
injection operation to be performed repeatedly.
[0329] As shown in FIG. 2, when the drug solution is injected from
the bulb 80, it moves in the direction of arrow F1 and then towards
the fluid discharge outlet 63.
[0330] Here, because the fluid discharge outlet 63 and the fluid
injection inlet 62 are separated, the occurrence of vortex flow and
pulsating flow of the drug solution inside the reservoir 60 can be
suppressed.
[0331] The drug solution then moves smoothly in the direction
indicated by arrow F2 and into a fluid flowing portion 51 of the
tube 50 from the connecting pipe 55.
[0332] An injection needle guiding portion 82a is opened in an
upper surface of the fluid injection plug 82 in consideration of
guiding the inserting of the injection needle and enabling a
substantially central portion of the slit 82b to be pierced.
[0333] Close to the outlet portion 53, the tube 50 curves downward
toward a center in the thickness direction of the fluid
transportation device 1 and along the outer peripheral shape of the
upper cover 13.
[0334] The shape of this downwardly curved portion is formed by a
tube lead-out portion 132 of the upper cover 13 and a tube lead-out
portion 152 of the movement frame 15.
[0335] The outlet portion 53 of the tube 50 is formed in this
manner in consideration that if the fluid transportation device 1
according to this invention implanted in a living body with the
tube 50 remaining in a shape that extends outward beyond the outer
shape of the device, the compatibility of the tube 50 with living
tissue may be compromised.
[0336] Actions of the fluid transportation device 1 according to
the embodiment shall now be described with reference to the
drawings.
[0337] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the actions of
the fluid transportation device 1.
[0338] FIG. 4 shall also be referred to the description.
[0339] First, the shapes and functions of the first cam 20 and the
second cam 30 shall be described with reference to FIG. 6.
[0340] Protruding finger pressing portions 21a to 21c are formed at
three locations of the outer periphery of the first cam 20, and a
protruding finger pressing portion 32 is formed at one location of
the second cam 30.
[0341] These tube pressing portions are respectively formed at
equal intervals along concentric circles of equal distance from the
rotation center P.
[0342] The finger pressing portions 21a to 21c and 32 are set to
dimensions enabling the fingers 40 to 46 to occlude the tube
50.
[0343] Inclined surface portions 22 and 31 are formed in
continuation to these finger pressing portions, and these inclined
surface portions are provided to gradually press the fingers 40 to
46 from a state of releasing the tube 50 to a state of occluding
the tube 50.
[0344] Connecting portions 23 and 36 are formed at positions at
which the fingers 40 to 46 release the tube 50 and are respectively
formed on concentric circles of equal distance from the rotation
center P.
[0345] Furthermore, the ends of the finger pressing portions 21a,
21b, 21c, and 32 are connected to the connecting portions 23 and 36
by straight lines directed toward a rotation center P (expressed by
reference symbols 24 and 35 in FIG. 6).
[0346] Though the second cam 30 is axially supported in a loosely
fitted relationship by the cam drive wheel 76, it is rotated by the
first cam 20, which is axially fixed to the cam drive wheel 76, in
the same direction (direction of arrow R).
[0347] That is, in the state in which a first cam engaging portion
38 is engaged with a second cam engaging portion 26 of the first
cam 20, the rotation force of the first cam 20 is transmitted from
the second cam engaging portion 26 to the first cam engaging
portion 38, and the second cam 30 thus rotates along with the first
cam 20.
[0348] The shapes of the fingers 40 to 46 shall now be described
with reference to FIG. 4.
[0349] Because the fingers 40 to 46 have the same shape, the finger
44 shall be described as a representative example.
[0350] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid transport
mechanism 2 taken along positions A-A of FIG. 6.
[0351] The finger 44 has one end 44b of an axial portion 44 rounded
to a semicircular shape, and has a collar portion 44c formed at the
other end.
[0352] The end 44b is the portion in contact with the first cam 20
and the second cam 30 and the collar portion 44c is the tube
pressing portion.
[0353] The fingers 40 to 46 are fitted in a manner enabling
reciprocating movement in axial directions inside the finger
guiding grooves 126 formed in the tube frame 12.
[0354] A fluid flowing action of the fluid transportation device 1
shall now be described with reference to FIG. 6.
[0355] FIG. 6 shows one state of the fluid transportation device
1.
[0356] In this state, the finger pressing portion 32 of the second
cam 30 is pressing the finger 44, and the finger 44 is occluding
the tube 50 (see also FIG. 4).
[0357] The fingers 45 and 46 contact the inclined surface portion
31, with the finger 45 being in a state of a slightly less tube
pressing amount than the finger 44 and the finger 46 being in a
state of an even less pressing amount.
[0358] The fingers 41 to 43 are in a region of the connecting
portion 36 of the second cam 30 and release the tube 50.
[0359] The finger 40 is at a position at which it is beginning to
contact the inclined surface portion 22 of the first cam 20 and is
in a state of beginning to press the tube 50.
[0360] In this state, the drug solution from the reservoir 60
enters into the fluid flowing portion 51 of the tube 50 in the
region of the fingers 40 to 43.
[0361] When the first cam 20 and the second cam 30 are rotated
further in the direction of the arrow R, the finger pressing
portion 32 of the second cam successively presses the fingers 45
and 46.
[0362] The finger pressing portion 21c of the first cam 20
successively presses the fingers from the finger 40 to the finger
46.
[0363] The finger that is released from the finger pressing portion
32 or the finger pressing portion 21c releases the tube 50.
[0364] The fingers 40 to 46 thus repeat occlusion and release
according to a peristaltic movement of the fluid from the upstream
side to the downstream side, and the drug solution is thereby made
to flow from the reservoir 60 towards the outlet portion 53.
[0365] In the present specification, the structure that generates
such a fluid flowing action is referred to as a "micropump."
[0366] The tube 50 is held by the tube guide groove 121, formed in
the tube frame 12, and a tube guide groove of the upper cover
13.
[0367] In the ranges in which the fingers 40 to 46 are disposed,
recessed portions 125 and 131, which enable movement of the collar
portions of the fingers, are formed respectively.
[0368] The space required for occluding and deforming the tube 50
is thereby formed.
[0369] In FIG. 4, a state in which the tube 50 is occluded is
indicated by solid lines, and a released state is indicated by
alternate long and two short dashed lines.
[0370] Because the respective finger pressing portions of the first
cam 20 and the second cam 30 are the same in pitch and shape and
the respective fingers are disposed at equal intervals, that is,
because the shapes of the finger pressing portions and the inclined
surface portions are set to be substantially fixed, the load torque
that is applied to the cam driving wheel 76 (the load torque during
one turn of the cam driving wheel 76 (the first cam 20 and the
second cam 30)) is low in fluctuation.
[0371] As a specific example of the fluid transportation device 10
according to this invention, when the outer diameter of the tube 50
is 1.1 mm, the diameter of the fluid flowing portion 51 is 0.6 mm,
and the rotation speed of the first cam 20 and the second cam 30 is
4 turns/hour, a continuous microscopic flow of the drug solution of
15 .mu.l /hour is realized.
[0372] As the size of the fluid transportation device 1, a compact
size of 18 mm width, 32 mm length, and 8.5 mm thickness is
realized.
[0373] Thus, with the above-described first embodiment, because the
components, such as the fluid transport mechanism 2, the driving
force transmission mechanism 3, the battery 4, the bulb 80, the
reservoir 60, etc., are sealingly housed in the casing (outer
case), constituted from the upper cover 13 and the lower cover 16,
when the fluid transportation device 1 is implanted in a living
body, body fluids, blood, etc., do not enter inside the casing and
affect the fluid transport mechanism 2 and the driving force
transmission mechanism 3 and stable driving inside the living body
can be sustained.
[0374] Also, by appropriately positioning the fluid transport
mechanism 2, the driving force transmission mechanism 3, the
battery 4, the reservoir 60, and the bulb 80 as described above,
the fluid transportation device 1 can be made compact and thin and
can be implanted inside a living body.
[0375] Because the fluid transportation device 1, including the
tube 50, does not have components that protrude outside a living
body, infection does not occur at a portion connecting the interior
of the living body with the exterior and safe use is thus
enabled.
[0376] Because the bulb 80 for injecting a fluid into the reservoir
60 is provided, and additional injection of the drug solution at an
arbitrary timing is enabled even while the fluid transportation
device 1 is being driven, continuous flow of the drug solution can
be sustained without stopping driving in order to perform
additional injection of the drug solution.
[0377] Also, because the driving force transmission mechanism 3 is
constituted from a watch movement, compact size and thinness are
realized and making the fluid transportation device 1 thin and
compact can thereby be realized.
[0378] Because the watch movement, which is mass produced and
includes the cam drive wheel 76, fitted with the first cam 20 and
the second cam 30, is employed, a contribution to cost reduction is
also made.
[0379] Because the bulb 80 is disposed so as to penetrate through
the upper cover 13 in the planar space formed between the driving
force transmission mechanism 3 and the fluid transport mechanism 2
and there are no members above the bulb 80 that obstruct injection
operation, the injection operation of injecting the drug solution
from the bulb 80 into the reservoir 60 can be performed
readily.
[0380] Furthermore, in the state in which the fluid transportation
device 1 is implanted inside a living body, the drug solution can
be injected into the reservoir 60 from above the skin and because
the fluid transportation device thus does not have to be taken out
for additional injection of the drug solution, the burden on the
living body can be lessened.
[0381] The drug solution inside the reservoir 60 flows from the
fluid injection inlet 62, in communication with the bulb 80, toward
the fluid inlet portion 52, in communication with the tube 50.
[0382] By thus disposing the fluid injection outlet 62 and the
fluid inlet portion 52 separately at the upstream side and the
downstream side, respectively, the occurrence of vortex flow and
pulsating flow of the drug solution inside the reservoir 60 can be
suppressed and a stable, continuous flow of a predetermined flow
rate can be maintained.
[0383] Furthermore, because the reservoir 60 is formed of a
deformable pouch and the reservoir 60 thus deforms so as to
decrease in volume in accompaniment with the lowering of the
internal pressure due to flow of the drug solution, the pressure
inside the reservoir 60 can be kept substantially constant.
[0384] Thus, when the tube 50 is occluded by the fingers 40 to 46
and thereafter released, the drug solution is filled into the fluid
flowing portion 51 in the released region and a stable flow of
fluid can thus be maintained.
[0385] Because the planar shape of the casing (outer case),
constituted from the upper cover 13 and the lower cover 16, is
elliptical, because the outer periphery is formed to a gradual,
streamlined shape, and because, even though the fluid outlet end of
the tube 50 is protruded outside the casing, the fluid outlet end
is extended along the outer peripheral shape of the casing, the
biocompatibility of the casing and the tube 50 to living tissue is
improved and injury to living tissue due to the casing and
discomfort due to implantation can be suppressed when the fluid
transportation device 1 is implanted in a living body.
[0386] Furthermore, an injection needle can readily be inserted
into the slit 82b of the fluid injection plug 82 that is
press-fitted in the bulb 80.
[0387] When the injection needle is extracted after injection of
the fluid into the reservoir 60, the slit is closed by the elastic
force of the fluid injection plug 82 itself, and the outflow of
fluid from the bulb can be prevented.
[0388] Such a bulb can be realized from a simple structure that
does not use a valve, etc., and also provides the effect of
enabling the fluid injection operation to be performed
repeatedly.
Second Embodiment
[0389] FIGS. 7 to 9 show a fluid transportation device according to
a second embodiment of this invention.
[0390] FIG. 7 shows an arrangement in a planar direction.
[0391] FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams of arrangements in a thickness
direction, with FIG. 8A being a diagram as viewed from a narrow
width side and FIG. 8B being a diagram as viewed from a wide width
side.
[0392] FIGS. 9A to 9C are diagrams of a reservoir frame, with FIG.
9A being a plan view, FIG. 9B being a front view, and FIG. 9C being
a side view.
[0393] The present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment
in that a fluid transportation device, which is implanted in a
living body of a human being, animal, etc., and uses a drug
solution as a fluid, is described as an example, although gel-like
fluids as well as gases are also included in the meaning of
"fluid."
[0394] The main points of difference of a fluid transportation
device 160 according to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and
8 with respect to the fluid transportation device 1 according to
the first embodiment are that a reservoir 170 is mounted onto an
outer side of an outer case 161, the reservoir 170 is mounted
incliningly onto the outer case, and the reservoir 170 is mounted
onto the outer case via a reservoir frame 180.
[0395] In addition to this, a first cam 163, a second cam 164, a
tube 165, a fluid transport mechanism (micropump) 162, constituted
from seven fingers 166, and a liquid injection port (port) 167,
having a fluid injection plug 168, are the same as those of the
first embodiment and descriptions thereof shall be omitted.
[0396] Furthermore, a driving force transmission mechanism, circuit
board,-battery, etc., which are unillustrated, are also the same as
those of the first embodiment and descriptions thereof shall be
omitted.
[0397] The outer case 161 has attachment portions 192 for
attachment onto a subject under the skin, etc.
[0398] These attachment portions 192 are used, for example, for
sewing onto the subject by a thread, etc., and are used in the same
manner as in embodiments to be described later.
[0399] As illustrated, the reservoir 170 is formed of a thin pouch
that swells when filled with the drug solution and can be reduced
in volume when the drug solution flows out.
[0400] As the reservoir 170, one having a circular shape in plan
view, being large in thickness at a central portion, and becoming
lessened in thickness toward a peripheral edge is used.
[0401] However, the shape of the reservoir 170 is not limited to
that illustrated and, for example, a shape that is flat at a lower
surface, etc., may be used instead.
[0402] The reservoir 170 is held by the outer case 161 via the
reservoir frame 180 and has a fluid injection inlet 171, which is
connected to a liquid injection port 167, and a fluid discharge
outlet 172, which is connected to the tube 165.
[0403] The reservoir 170, outside the outer case 161, and the tube
165, inside the outer case 161, are connected via a connecting
member 173, and the outer case 161 and the connecting member 173
are sealed together to secure sealing of the interior of the outer
case 161.
[0404] As shown in FIG. 8B, with the outer case 161, the position
at which the reservoir 170 is mounted is set lower than the
position of the liquid injection port 167 by a step 161a, provided
at a position substantially coincident to the liquid injection port
167 as viewed in a wide width direction.
[0405] Also, an inclined portion 169, which becomes lower in height
toward an end at an angle X, is formed in continuation to the step
161a.
[0406] Though the illustrated angle X is set to 17 degrees, this
angle is not restricted thereto and can be set as suited.
[0407] In this inclined portion 169 is formed an opening 190, to be
described below.
[0408] The reservoir 170 is held via the reservoir frame 180 so as
to be set along the inclination of the inclined portion 169, and as
shown in FIGS. 8A and 8A, the reservoir 170 itself is also in a
state of being inclined at the angle X.
[0409] By thus inclining the reservoir 170, the end portion of the
fluid transportation device 160 can, upon implantation under the
skin of an animal, etc., be prevented from pulling the skin.
[0410] It is thus sufficient that the inclination angle of the
reservoir 170, that is, the angle X of the inclined portion, be an
angle that can suppress the pulling of the skin and this angle can
be set to an angle in a range, for example, from 10 degrees to 30
degrees that is favorable according to the implantation
circumstances.
[0411] Also, the inclination is not limited to an inclination in a
straight line as illustrated and may be curved instead.
[0412] As shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, the reservoir frame 180 has a
substantially cylindrical shape with a curved bottom portion 180a
and has a notch 180b and a notch 180c formed by notching of
portions of a wall portion.
[0413] As shown in FIG. 7, the notch 180b is used for passing
through the tubular fluid injection inlet 171, extending from the
reservoir 170, and the notch 180c is likewise used to pass through
the tubular fluid discharge outlet 172, extending from the
reservoir 170.
[0414] Though the reservoir frame 180 is formed of resin, a metal,
or other hard material, it is not limited thereto in
particular.
[0415] The reservoir 170 and the reservoir frame 180 are integrated
by a lower surface 170a and the bottom portion 180a being fixed by
an adhesive, etc.
[0416] The means for fixing is not limited to an adhesive.
[0417] Also, the reservoir 170 and the reservoir frame 180 do not
have to be arranged as separate components and then integrated as
illustrated.
[0418] For example, if, by the same material, a lower surface side
can be formed to be hard and an upper surface side can be formed to
be soft, an integral structure may be formed.
[0419] In this case, the hard portion at the lower surface side
corresponds to being the reservoir frame 180, and the soft portion
at the upper surface side corresponds to being the reservoir
170.
[0420] The bottom portion 180a of the reservoir frame 180 is formed
according to the shape of the lower surface 170a of the reservoir
170 and is formed, for example, to be of the same curvature as the
lower surface 170a.
[0421] The bottom portion 180a of the reservoir frame 180 is formed
with the center of the bottom portion 180a being shifted so that
when the reservoir 170 is fixed, the reservoir 170 inclines at an
angle X1.
[0422] Though this angle X1 is set according to the above-described
inclined portion X of the outer case 160, it is not limited
thereto.
[0423] Because the bottom portion 180a is formed according to the
shape of the lower surface 170a of the reservoir 170, when, for
example, the lower surface 170a is flat, the bottom portion 180a is
also formed to be flat.
[0424] The reservoir frame 180 is also provided with a pair of
hooks 181 at opposite positions of the outer peripheral surface as
shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C.
[0425] Each hook 181 is formed so as to protrude outward from an
upper end of the reservoir frame 180 and be curved downward.
[0426] Each hook 181 has, at its lower end portion, a hook portion
183, which is protruded substantially horizontally outward, and a
guide surface 182, which extends downward and inclines inward from
an outer tip of the hook portion 183.
[0427] A lower end portion (including the hook portion 183 and the
guide surface 182) of each hook 181 is thus held across a gap from
the outer peripheral surface of the reservoir frame 181.
[0428] Each hook 181 is also formed integrally to the reservoir
frame 180 and is provided with elasticity so that the lower end
portion, including the hook portion 183, can be bent toward the
inner side.
[0429] Meanwhile, the outer case 161 is provided with an opening
190 for fitting the reservoir 180 onto the inclined portion 169 as
shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
[0430] The opening 190 is formed to have an inner diameter that
enables fitting in of the reservoir frame 180.
[0431] At lower portions of an inner wall of the opening 190 are
formed a pair of steps 191 for latching the hook portions 183 of
the hooks 181 when the reservoir frame 180 is fitted.
[0432] The outer case 161 is formed so that its height decreases
gradually at the opening 190 portion.
[0433] With the fluid transportation device 160 arranged as
described above, the operations of discharging a fluid, contained
in the reservoir 170, to the exterior and the procedure of
replenishing the fluid in the reservoir 170 are the same as those
of the fluid transportation device 1 of the first embodiment.
[0434] A method of assembling, especially in the vicinity of the
reservoir 170 shall now be described for the second embodiment.
[0435] First, the reservoir 170, which is integrated to the
reservoir frame 180, is prepared.
[0436] The fluid injection inlet 171 of the reservoir 170 is then
connected to the liquid injection port 167 and the liquid discharge
outlet 172 of the reservoir 170 is connected to the tube 165
(connecting member 173).
[0437] In accompaniment with this connection operation, the
reservoir frame 180 is fitted into the opening 190.
[0438] In this process, the hooks 181 are put into a state in which
the lower end portions thereof are bent inward by the guide
surfaces 182 being guided inward by the upper end of the opening
190.
[0439] The hooks 181 protrude downward with the lower end portions
being kept bent inward, and when each hook portion 183 reaches the
corresponding step 191, the hook portion returns to the original
state due to its own elasticity.
[0440] A state in which the hook portions 183 are latched onto the
steps is thus attained and the reservoir 170 is thus held by the
outer case 161 via the reservoir frame 180.
[0441] To remove the reservoir 170 for exchange, etc., the
above-described procedure is carried out in reverse.
[0442] After assembly, a silicone coat is applied to the surface of
the reservoir 170 and the surface of the product as a whole (the
fluid transportation device 160 as a whole) to further secure
innocuousness.
[0443] Thus, with the second embodiment, because the reservoir 170
is mounted on the outer side of the outer case 161, even when
condensation occurs on a surface of the reservoir 170, effects on
the driving force transmission mechanism and the battery can be
avoided, rust formation and circuit problems can be suppressed, and
durability can be improved.
[0444] Furthermore, because the reservoir 170 is held incliningly
on the surface of the outer case 161, when, for example the fluid
transportation device 160 is implanted under the skin, stretching
of the skin by an end portion of the reservoir 170 can be avoided
and discomfort after implantation can be alleviated.
[0445] Also, because the reservoir 170 is mounted in a detachable
state via the reservoir frame 180, the reservoir 170 can be held
reliably at a predetermined position of the outer case 161 and the
operability for exchange, etc., can be improved.
[0446] Furthermore, in the case where the fluid transportation
device 160 is implanted under the skin, the lower side of the
reservoir 170 is protected by the hard reservoir frame 180, and by
the upper side being open, the reservoir 170 can be deformed
readily.
[0447] The second embodiment illustrates an example in which the
reservoir 170 is held at the outer side of the outer case 161, and
this invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to
9.
[0448] For example, an embodiment is also possible in which the
reservoir 170 is directly mounted onto an outer surface of the
outer case 161 without using the reservoir frame 180.
[0449] In this case, the reservoir 170 is fixed onto the surface of
the outer case 161 by an adhesive, etc.
[0450] The invention is also not limited to inclining the reservoir
170 as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8A.
[0451] That is, the upper surface of the outer case 161 may be made
flat and not provided with the inclined portion 169, and the
reservoir 170 may be held in a state of being set along the flat
surface.
[0452] Also, in place of providing the liquid injection port 167 on
the outer case 161, the liquid injection port 167 may be formed on
a portion of the reservoir frame 180 or may be provided at a
portion of the upper surface of the reservoir 170, that is for
example, a central portion of the upper surface of the reservoir
170 or a portion separated from the fluid discharge outlet 172,
etc.
[0453] Also, the means for detachably attaching the reservoir frame
180 to the outer case 161 is not limited to the use of hooks 181
and steps 191 and, for example, screwing means, etc., may be used
to fix the reservoir frame 180 onto the outer case 161.
Third Embodiment
[0454] As the third embodiment of this invention, a drug solution
feeder (fluid transportation device) for implantation under the
skin of an experimental animal shall be described.
[0455] Here, a drug solution is used as the fluid, and the
implantation subject is an experimental animal.
[0456] "Experimental animal" refers to a small animal, such as a
mouse, rat, guinea pig, etc., on which an animal experiment
concerning the drug solution can be performed.
[0457] "Drug solution" refers, for example, to a medical liquid or
nutrient liquid or to any liquid for performing an animal
experiment for development of such liquids or performing a medical
treatment on an animal.
[0458] FIGS. 10A to 10D are external views of the drug solution
feeder for implantation under the skin of an experimental
animal.
[0459] FIG. 10A is a lower side view as viewed from a lower side of
the drug solution feeder and is a side view as viewed from the
nearer side of the paper surface of FIG. 12, FIG. 10B is an upper
side view as viewed from an upper side of the drug solution feeder
and is a side view as viewed from the back side of the paper
surface of FIG. 12, FIG. 10C is a right side view as viewed from
the right side of the drug solution feeder, and FIG. 10D is a left
side view as viewed from the left side of the drug solution
feeder.
[0460] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a right side portion in FIG.
10A of the drug solution feeder according to this invention, and is
a side view of a thread retainer, by which the drug solution feeder
is sewn by thread onto an experimental animal upon implantation in
the experimental animal.
[0461] FIG. 12 is a plan view of the drug solution feeder and is a
plan view as viewed from the upper side of the paper surface of
FIG. 10A.
[0462] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions
taken along positions A1-A1 in FIG. 12.
[0463] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions
taken along positions B-B in FIG. 12.
[0464] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of a
micropump unit shown in FIG. 12.
[0465] FIG. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a liquid
injection port.
[0466] First, the outer appearance of the drug solution feeder 201
shall be described.
[0467] As shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D, the drug solution feeder 201
for implantation under the skin of an experimental animal has a
substantially box-like outer appearance.
[0468] The breadth dimension in the longitudinal direction is
approximately 34 mm, the depth dimension in the narrow width
direction (lateral direction) is approximately 18 mm, and the
height dimension is approximately 8.5 mm.
[0469] As an outer case of the drug solution feeder, an upper cover
202, a lower cover 203, an upper base frame (corresponding to the
tube frame 12 of the first embodiment) 204, and a lower base frame
(corresponding to the movement frame 15 of the first embodiment)
205 are fixed to each other.
[0470] The surface of the upper cover 202 is a skin side surface
that faces the skin side when the drug solution feeder is implanted
under the skin (the skin side surface that corresponds to the skin
side), and the surface of the lower cover 203 is a rear surface of
the skin side surface.
[0471] The materials of the upper cover 202, the lower cover 203,
the upper base frame 204, the lower base frame 205, and other
members that contact an experimental animal must be innocuous to
the experimental animal.
[0472] Because these members are also functional members, high
strength and high hardness are also required.
[0473] The materials of the upper cover 202, the lower cover 203,
the upper base frame 204, the lower base frame 205, etc., of the
outer case are thus, for example, synthetic resins, such as
polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, etc., which are
innocuous to an experimental animal, yet are high in strength and
hardness, and are preferably lightweight.
[0474] After assembly, a silicone coating process is preferably
applied to further secure the innocuousness.
[0475] The abovementioned materials may also be selected from the
standpoint of securing biocompatibility.
[0476] The upper cover 202 is formed of a transparent material to
readily enable discernment of whether the internal structure, the
assembly state of parts, and the operation state are normal or
abnormal.
[0477] The other outer case members of the lower cover 203, the
upper base frame 204, and the lower base frame 205 are formed of a
non-transparent, colored resin.
[0478] The upper cover 202, the lower cover 203, the upper base
frame 204, and the lower base frame 205 have functions of housing
and holding internalized members and are members that hold a
reservoir 209 that expands and contracts, for example, upon
supplying or discharging of a drug solution.
[0479] Because the reservoir 209 expands and contracts as described
above, it slides, for example, to some degree with respect to the
upper cover 202, the lower cover 203, the upper base frame 204, and
the lower base frame 205.
[0480] As shall be described below, an arcuate tube portion 211a of
a tube 211 is successively pressed by a plurality of pressing pins
218.
[0481] This pressing force thus acts on the upper cover 202 and the
upper base frame 204 that hold the pressed arcuate tube portion
211a at the side walls.
[0482] Also, in accompaniment with the expansion and contraction of
the arcuate tube portion 211a, the arcuate tube portion 211a slides
to some degree with respect to these side walls.
[0483] The members provided with the flnctions of housing and
holding the internalized members, that is for example, the upper
cover 202, the lower cover 203, the upper base frame 204, and the
lower base frame 205 are thus required to be high in strength and
low in frictional coefficient.
[0484] The upper cover 202, the lower cover 203, the upper base
frame 204, the lower base frame 205, and other members having the
functions of housing and holding the internalized members may thus
be filled with a filler that contributes to lowering friction.
[0485] As shall be described later, in FIG. 15, an arcuate tube
portion supporting wall 224a constitutes a tube housing portion 224
that houses the arcuate tube portion 211a of the micropump 212.
[0486] The arcuate tube portion supporting wall 224a is formed by
the upper cover 202 and the upper base frame 204.
[0487] Here, the pressing pins 218 successively press the arcuate
tube portion 21 la and this pressing force is received by the
arcuate tube portion supporting wall 224a.
[0488] The upper cover 202 and the upper base frame 204 that
constitute the arcuate tube portion supporting wall 224a may thus
be filled with a filler that contributes to high strength and low
friction.
[0489] The arcuate tube portion supporting wall 224a is thereby
prevented from deforming even when the arcuate tube portion 211a is
pressed by the pressing pins 218, and a stable drug solution
feeding micropump that does not deteriorate with time can be
provided.
[0490] The outer shape of the drug solution feeder 201 is as
follows.
[0491] As shown in FIG. 10A, both left and right side faces in the
longitudinal direction of the drug solution feeder 201 are inclined
surfaces, by which the longitudinal direction dimension of the drug
solution feeder 201 becomes narrow towards the upper side.
[0492] In FIG. 10A, the left and right side faces are respectively
constituted from a longitudinal left side inclined surface 201d at
the left end and a longitudinal right side inclined surface 201e at
the right end.
[0493] When the drug solution feeder 201 is implanted under the
skin of an experimental animal, the skin of the experimental animal
becomes pulled according to the volume and height of the drug
solution feeder 201 at both the left and right side faces of the
drug solution feeder 201 and in the worst case, the skin becomes
injured.
[0494] Thus, with the present embodiment, the inclined surfaces
201d and 201e are formed so that the above-described pull is
lessened as much as possible and so that a localized shear force is
not applied to the skin.
[0495] Inclination angles .quadrature.1 and .quadrature.2 of the
inclined surfaces 201d and 201e are preferably in the range of 5
degrees to 60 degrees and more preferably in the range of 15
degrees to 30 degrees.
[0496] The inclination angles .quadrature.1 and .quadrature.2 of
the inclined surfaces 201d and 201e may be the same or may
differ.
[0497] Though inclined surfaces such as those described above do
not have to be provided at side surfaces in the narrow width
direction of the drug solution feeder 201 shown in FIGS. 10C and
10D, the side surfaces may be arranged as inclined surfaces by
which the width is narrowed toward the upper side.
[0498] For example, a lateral left inclined surface 201f at the
left end of the narrow width direction and a lateral right inclined
surface 201g at the right end of the narrow width direction may be
formed as shown in FIG. 10C.
[0499] Respective inclination angles .quadrature.1 and
.quadrature.2 of the inclined surfaces 201f and 201g are preferably
in the range of 5 degrees to 45 degrees and more preferably in the
range of 10 degrees to 30 degrees.
[0500] The inclination angles .quadrature.1 and .quadrature.2 may
be the same or may differ.
[0501] Though from the standpoint of reducing the pulling of the
skin of an experimental animal, these inclination angles are more
preferably the larger the angles, from the standpoint of internal
space in the drug solution feeder 201, efficient positioning of the
internalized members, and ease of holding of the drug solution
feeder 201 by a hand during initial drug solution injection(the
smaller angles being more preferable), and thus these angles should
be determined upon comprehensive judgment from both
standpoints.
[0502] In a side view (in a state of viewing from a side surface
direction), upper, lower, left, and right comer portions are formed
in arcuate forms in consideration of preventing injury to
subcutaneous portions of an experimental animal.
[0503] As shown in FIG. 10A, left and right comer portions in the
longitudinal direction of the lower cover 203 are formed as arcs of
large radii, and as shown in FIG. 10C, left and right comer
portions in the narrow width direction of the lower cover 203 are
formed as arcs of large radii.
[0504] Likewise, as shown in FIG. 10A, left and right comer
portions in the longitudinal direction of the upper cover 202 are
formed as arcs of large radii, and as shown in FIG. 10C, left and
right comer portions in the narrow width direction of the upper
cover 202 are formed as arcs of large radii.
[0505] The arcuate portions in the longitudinal direction are
formed as arcuate forms of larger radii than the arcuate portions
in the narrow width direction, and the arcuate portions of the
lower cover 203 are respectively formed as arcuate forms of larger
radii than the arcuate portions of the upper cover 202.
[0506] The magnitudes of these radii may be in an opposite
relationship from the above, or the arcuate forms may all be
substantially the same in radius.
[0507] As shown in FIGS. 8, 10C, and 10D, thread retainers 207,
which are attachment portions for passing thread through to fix the
drug solution feeder 201 by sewing of the thread onto an
experimental animal (implantation subject) under the skin of the
experimental animal, are formed protrudingly at a plurality of
locations.
[0508] Each thread retainer 207 has a hole 207a for passing the
thread through.
[0509] The thread retainers 207 are formed protrudingly on side
surfaces of the lower cover 203 and a lower surface of each thread
retainer 207 is positioned at a predetermined height h1 from the
bottom surface of the lower cover 203.
[0510] This predetermined height h1 is positioned preferably at
1/10 to 1/2 and more preferably at 1/5 to 1/3 of the thickness of
the drug solution feeder 201, that is, the thickness H from the
upper/front surface of the upper cover 202 to the lower surface of
the lower cover 203.
[0511] By the thread retainers 207 being at the height h1, in
fixing the drug solution feeder 201 by sewing onto an experimental
animal, the sewn portion of the experimental animal can be brought
to a plan view position close to the thread retainers 207 and the
drug solution feeder 201 can thus be drawn close to a portion
immediately below it so that it is attached in a less suspended
manner.
[0512] The thread retainers 207 may be formed so as to protrude
from side surfaces of the lower base frame 205 instead.
[0513] In this case, the thread retainers 207 may be positioned at
positions at which the predetermined height hl is secured or may be
formed to protrude in plan view directions from the lower surface
of the lower cover 203, that is, the bottom surface of the drug
solution feeder 201.
[0514] The plan view positions at which the thread retainers 207
are formed are left and right side surface locations of the drug
solution feeder 201 as shown in FIG. 12.
[0515] That is, the thread retainers 207 are formed at a total of
three locations, i.e. the two locations at the right side surface
of a location near the portion at which a tube 211 protrudes to the
exterior and a location at the upper side of this location, and one
location near the center of the left side surface.
[0516] If the formation locations at the right side surface of the
thread retainers 207 are positions at opposite sides across the
position of protrusion of the tube 211, the protruding portion of
the tube 211 that protrudes from the side surface of the drug
solution feeder 201 can be fixed and made less likely to move, and
the drug solution can be supplied continuously and with stability
to an experimental animal without having to move a catheter for
drug solution supply to the experimental animal.
[0517] The formation locations in plan view of the thread retainers
207 are preferably at inner sides of a quadrilateral circumscribing
the outermost ends of the outer case as shown in FIG. 12.
[0518] The quadrilateral circumscribing the outer case is
designated as follows in FIG. 12.
[0519] That is, the quadrilateral is drawn by an upper end
longitudinal direction tangent el that constitutes the maximum
width of the outer case in the longitudinal direction of the drug
solution feeder 201, a lower end longitudinal direction tangent e2
that constitutes the maximum width of the outer case in the same
longitudinal direction, a right end narrow width direction tangent
e3 that constitutes the maximum width of the outer case in the
narrow width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction,
and a left end narrow width direction tangent e4 that constitutes
the maximum width of the outer case in the same narrow width
direction (lateral direction).
[0520] The thread retainers 207 are positioned inside the
quadrilateral surrounded by the tangents el, e2, e3, and e4 in plan
view.
[0521] By the thread retainers 207 thus being positioned within the
above-described quadrilateral in plan view, the thread retainers
207 are prevented from protruding outward from the side surfaces of
the outer case unnecessarily and the thread retainers 207 are
prevented from being pressed against an experimental animal
unnecessarily and inflicting injury or discomfort on the
experimental animal.
[0522] In particular, because the thread retainers 207 tend to be
formed as protrusions that tend to press against the experimental
animal locally and thereby inflict injury readily, keeping the
thread retainers 207 within the above-described quadrilateral is an
effective means for preventing such problems.
[0523] Also, as shown in FIG. 10A, a tube 211b protrudes to the
exterior from a side surface.
[0524] Though the thread retainers 207 are provided as the
attachment portions in the present embodiment, this invention is
not limited thereto.
[0525] For example, in place of sewing by thread onto an
implantation subject, fixing by staples or an adhesive may be
performed, and in such a case, the attachment portions are formed
in shapes suitable for fixing by the staples or the adhesive.
[0526] FIG. 12 is a plan diagram in plan view of the drug solution
feeder 201 (a view of the drug solution feeder 201 as viewed from
the upper side of the paper surface of FIG. 10A).
[0527] The planar layout shall be described in outline, mainly
using this plan diagram.
[0528] That is, the overall layout of the drug solution feeder 201
shall be described.
[0529] As shown in FIG. 12, the drug solution feeder 201 has, in
its interior portion, a liquid injection port 208 (referred to
hereinafter as the "liquid injection port" in regard to the present
embodiment), a reservoir 209, a battery 210 (silver oxide battery),
a tube 211 (drug solution conducting portion), the micropump 212,
an integrated circuit (IC) 225 (see FIG. 13), and a circuit
substrate 226 (see FIG. 13).
[0530] The liquid injection port 208 is positioned at an upper
portion of substantially the center of the drug solution feeder 201
and is a portion at which the drug solution is injected into the
drug solution injector 201 from the exterior.
[0531] The reservoir 209 is positioned adjacently to the left of
the liquid injection port 208, is in communication with the liquid
injection port 208, and stores the drug solution in its
interior.
[0532] The battery 210 is partially overlapped in plan view with
the reservoir 209, is positioned at the lower right of the
reservoir 209, and has a flat, circular shape.
[0533] The tube 211 is positioned at substantially the right side
of the drug solution injector as a whole, is in communication with
the reservoir 209, and has elasticity for conducting the drug
solution.
[0534] The micropump 212 is arranged substantially near the center
of the tube 211.
[0535] The integrated circuit 225 has a drive circuit for the
micropump 212 and a drive control circuit that controls this drive
circuit.
[0536] The circuit substrate 226 has packaged thereon the
integrated circuit 225 and other electronic elements as necessary
and the respective electronic parts are made so as to be conductive
to each other.
[0537] The liquid injection port 208 is positioned at substantially
the center in the longitudinal direction (left/right direction in
FIG. 12) of the drug solution injector 201.
[0538] The liquid injection port 208 is also positioned at an upper
position in the narrow width direction (lateral direction) (up/down
direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction in FIG.
12).
[0539] The liquid injection port 208 is positioned between the
reservoir 209 and the micropump 212 and at a position at which it
does not overlap in plan view with the battery 210.
[0540] The micropump 212 has a rotation drive unit 214, a cam unit
217, the plurality of pressing pins 218, and the arcuate tube
portion 211a.
[0541] The cam unit 217 has a first cam 215 and a second cam 216
that are rotated by the rotation drive unit 214.
[0542] The plurality of pressing pins 218 are positioned radially
at outer sides of the cam unit 217 and are moved to protrude
outward successively by the cam unit 217.
[0543] The tube portion 211a is formed in an arcuate form at a
substantially central portion of the tube 211.
[0544] Though the rotation drive unit 214 of the micropump 212 is
partially overlapped with the battery 210 at the left side, it is
not overlapped with the reservoir 209.
[0545] The cam unit 217 and the pressing pins 218 of the micropump
212 do not overlap in plan view with the liquid injection port 208,
the reservoir 209, the battery 210, and the tube 211.
[0546] The right end portion of the tube 211 is the exposed tube
portion 211b that protrudes to the exterior of the drug solution
feeder 201.
[0547] A catheter (not shown) is attached to the tip of the right
end portion of the tube 211 and the drug solution is injected into
a body of an experimental animal via the catheter.
[0548] The above-described internalized components are supported in
the planar direction and the sectional direction by the upper cover
202, the lower cover 203, the upper base frame 204, and the lower
base frame 205, which constitute the outer case, being fixed by a
plurality of outer case fixing screws 213.
[0549] The outer case fixing screws 213 are screwed in from both
above the upper cover 202 and below the lower cover 203 and toward
guiding fittings 219 at four locations along the outer periphery of
the drug solution feeder 201 as shown in FIG. 12.
[0550] The positions in planar directions of the upper cover 202,
the lower cover 203, the upper base frame 204, and the lower base
frame 205 are set by guide holes of these components being inserted
in the guiding fittings 219.
[0551] The upper cover 202, the lower cover 203, the upper base
frame 204, and the lower base frame 205 are positioned and fixed in
the sectional direction (thickness direction) by the fastening of
the upper and lower outer case fixing screws 213.
[0552] The overall layout in summary is as described above.
[0553] The general cross-sectional structure of the drug solution
feeder 201 and detailed structures and materials of principal
portions shall now be described based on FIGS. 11 to 16.
[0554] First, as mentioned above, the upper cover 202, the lower
cover 203, the upper base frame 204, and the lower base frame 205
are positioned and fixed in the sectional direction by the screwing
in of the outer case fixing screws 213 from both the upper and
lower sides in the cross-sectional direction.
[0555] The outer case may be constituted from just the upper cover
202 and the lower cover 203.
[0556] In this case, the upper base frame 204 and the lower base
frame 205 are not exposed to outer peripheral side surfaces but are
positioned at inner sides of side surface walls formed by the upper
cover 202 and the lower cover 203.
[0557] The liquid injection port 208 is arranged as follows.
[0558] The liquid injection port 208 is positioned on the upper
surface side of the upper cover 202.
[0559] The liquid injection port 208 is also positioned to face the
skin side of the experimental animal when the drug solution feeder
201 is implanted under the skin.
[0560] A cylindrical liquid injection port protrusion 208a of
substantially circular form is protrudingly formed on the upper
surface of the upper cover 202 and is provided at the inner side
with an injection opening 208b that guides a liquid injector
inserted from the exterior.
[0561] The liquid injector is a syringe-needle-like injector and
supplies the drug solution to the reservoir 209.
[0562] The liquid injection port protrusion 208a is formed
integrally to the upper cover 202 and is made of the same material
as the upper cover 202.
[0563] The liquid injection port protrusion 208a has the following
dimensions.
[0564] In FIG. 16, an outer diameter d1 of the tip (upper end) of
the liquid injection port protrusion 208a is approximately 6.0 mm,
and a height h2, from the upper surface of the upper cover 202 to
the tip of the liquid injection port protrusion 208a, is
approximately 1.5 mm.
[0565] From the tip of the liquid injection port 208a to the upper
surface of the upper cover 202, a tapered inclined surface 208c is
formed so as to broaden toward a base portion.
[0566] The inclined surface 208c has an inclination angle
.quadrature. of approximately 30 degrees and its tip corner portion
is curved so as not to inflict injury on the experimental
animal.
[0567] An inner diameter d2 of the injection opening 208b formed at
the inner side of the inclined surface 208c is approximately 4.0
mm.
[0568] An outer diameter d3 of a liquid injection port packing 221
disposed below is 3.0 mm.
[0569] A diameter d4 of a space 220a disposed further below is 2.3
mm.
[0570] By the liquid injection port protrusion 208a of the liquid
injection port 208 protruding from the upper surface of the upper
cover 202, the location of the liquid injection port 208 is made
readily recognizable from the exterior upon implantation under the
skin of the experimental animal.
[0571] That is, when after the drug solution feeder 201 is
implanted under the skin of the experimental animal, the drug
solution is gradually fed into the body of the experimental animal
by the operation of the micropump 212 and the remaining amount of
the drug solution stored in the reservoir 209 eventually becomes
low, and an experimenter of the animal experiment replenishes the
drug solution in the reservoir 209 by inserting the liquid injector
into the liquid injection port packing 221 of the liquid injection
port 208 from the exterior of the animal.
[0572] In this process, the experimenter must accurately recognize
the location of the injection opening 208b of the liquid injection
port 208 from the exterior of the experimental animal.
[0573] Because with the liquid injection port 208 of the present
embodiment, the liquid injection port protrusion 208a protrudes
from the upper surface of the upper cover 202 as described above
and the epidermis of the experimental animal is thereby bulged
locally, the experimenter can readily recognize the location of the
liquid injection port 208.
[0574] The experimenter can thus insert the liquid injector into
the liquid injection port packing 221 by inserting the liquid
injector into the center of the bulging epidermis portion and
thereby replenish the drug solution into the reservoir 208.
[0575] In the case where the epidermis of the experimental animal
is bulged locally by the protruding of the liquid injection port
protrusion 208a from the upper surface of the upper cover 202 as
described above, the respective dimensions of the liquid injection
port protrusion 208a are preferably set in the following ranges to
enable the experimenter to recognize the location of the liquid
injection port 208.
[0576] That is, the outer diameter dl of the tip (upper end) of the
liquid injection port protrusion 208a in FIG. 16 is preferably 4.0
mm to 8.0 mm and more preferably 5.0 mm to 7.0 mm.
[0577] The height h2 from the upper surface of the upper cover 202
to the tip of the liquid injection port protrusion 208a is
preferably 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm and more preferably 1.0 mm to 2.0
mm.
[0578] The inclination angle .quadrature. is preferably 5 degrees
to 60 degrees and more preferably 15 degrees to 45 degrees.
[0579] The inner diameter d2 of the injection opening 208b, formed
at the inner side, is preferably 2.0 mm to 6.0 mm and more
preferably 3.0 mm to 5.0 mm.
[0580] At a lower portion of the injection opening 208b is
positioned a liquid injection port frame 220, which, from the
standpoint of strength and chemical resistance against the drug
solution, is formed of polypropylene, ABS resin, or other synthetic
resin.
[0581] A central portion of the liquid injection port frame 220 is
opened, and in this opening, the liquid injection port packing 221,
which is formed of silicone or other synthetic rubber having
elasticity, is held by being joined to a surface of contact with
the liquid injection port frame 220 by an adhesive that enables a
waterproof property to be secured.
[0582] The liquid injection port packing 221 must have elasticity
to enable the liquid injector that is inserted from the exterior to
be inserted in readily and extracted readily.
[0583] The liquid injection port packing 221 must also have
elasticity to enable the hole after extraction to become closed to
reliably prevent leakage of the drug solution and entry of body
fluids of the experimental animal into the interior of the
feeder.
[0584] Thus, with the liquid injection port packing 221, the
diameter dimension and the thickness dimension must be selected
carefully along with the appropriate elasticity described
above.
[0585] From the standpoint of innocuousness and biocompatibility to
the experimental animal and chemical resistance against the drug
solution, silicone is favorable as the material of the liquid
injection port packing 221.
[0586] In the drug injection port frame 220, the space 220a is
formed at an inner portion below the liquid injection port packing
221, and in continuation to this is formed a pipe-like connecting
cylinder portion 220b that protrudes towards a side wall of the
reservoir 209.
[0587] At a central portion of the connecting cylinder portion 220b
is formed a communicating path 220c that is in communication with
the space 220a.
[0588] The reservoir 209 is arranged as a pouch that can store the
drug solution in its interior and is formed of a thin, deformable
synthetic resin of a thickness of approximately 0.2 mm.
[0589] When the drug solution is discharged by the micropump 212
and the drug solution is discharged from the interior of the
reservoir 209, the reservoir 209 contracts, and when the drug
solution is injected from the liquid injection port 208, the
reservoir 209 expands.
[0590] The plan view shape and side view shape of the reservoir 209
in its maximum, expanded state are as illustrated in the respective
drawings.
[0591] As the material of the reservoir 209, a material having
chemical resistance against the drug solution, elasticity, high
strength, and excellent gas barrier property (property of not being
permeable to gases) is preferable, and among such materials, a
synthetic resin is preferable.
[0592] A material having excellent gas barrier property is required
to prevent entry of air and other gases from the exterior into the
drug solution in the reservoir 209 and thereby prevent the mixing
of hazardous substances into the drug solution as well as to
prevent the lowering of the pump function of the micropump 212 due
to presence of gas bubbles resulting from the entry of gas from the
exterior.
[0593] Chemical resistance, elasticity, high strength, excellent
gas barrier property, and a hardness of approximately 25 degrees to
40 degrees in rubber hardness are required, and as a synthetic
resin that meets these requirements, an olefin-based, vinyl
chloride-based, or silicone-based synthetic resin is
preferable.
[0594] As shown in FIG. 12, the shape of the reservoir 209 in plan
view is generally a semicircular shape.
[0595] However, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a lower portion
corresponding to a region that overlaps in plan view with the
battery 210 is formed to be thin in thickness in cross-sectional
view to avoid contact with the battery 210.
[0596] In FIG. 12, a liquid injection port connecting portion 209a
is formed at a right side of an upper portion of the reservoir
209.
[0597] The liquid injection port connecting portion 209a has a
shape that protrudes toward the liquid injection port 208 side and
is joined to the connecting pipe portion 220b of the liquid
injection port 208.
[0598] A connecting pipe connecting portion 209b is formed at a
right side of a lower portion of the reservoir 209.
[0599] The connecting pipe connecting portion 209b protrudes to the
right for connection to a connecting pipe 222 that is connected to
the tube 211.
[0600] A drug solution storage portion 209c is disposed
intermediate to the liquid injection port connecting portion 209a
and the connecting pipe connecting portion 209b.
[0601] As a structure for joining the liquid injection port
connecting portion 209a and the connecting cylinder portion 220b of
the liquid injection port frame 220, ajoining structure using an
adhesive or a heat sealing joining structure, with which joining is
accomplished by performing heating after press fitting, is
employed.
[0602] Likewise, for joining of the connecting pipe connecting
portion 209b and the connecting pipe 222, ajoining structure using
an adhesive or ajoining structure, with which heat sealing is
performed after press fitting, is employed.
[0603] As the material of the connecting pipe 222, a metal, such as
stainless steel, etc., or a synthetic resin, such as polypropylene,
vinyl chloride, etc., is favorably employed from the standpoint of
having chemical resistance against the drug solution, high
strength, and gas barrier property.
[0604] With the connecting pipe 222, steps of slightly large outer
diameter are formed at the end at the reservoir 209 side and the
other end at the tube 211 side to facilitate joining to the
connecting pipe connecting portion 209b and a connecting pipe
attachment portion 211c of the tube 211.
[0605] A drug solution conducting path, through which the drug
solution can pass, is formed at a central portion of the connecting
pipe 222.
[0606] As the material of the tube 211, a material having chemical
resistance against the drug solution, elasticity, high strength,
and excellent gas barrier property (property of not being permeable
to gases) is preferable, and among such materials, a synthetic
resin is preferable.
[0607] A material having excellent gas barrier property is required
to prevent entry of air and other gases from the exterior into the
drug solution in the tube and thereby prevent the mixing of
hazardous substances into the drug solution as well as to prevent
the lowering of the pump function of the micropump 212 due to
presence of gas bubbles resulting from the entry of gas from the
exterior.
[0608] The tube 211 is also a component member of the micropump
212.
[0609] To prevent the breakage of the tube 211 even when it is
pressed by the pressing pins 218 as shall be described later, a
rubber hardness (Shore A) of approximately 25 degrees to 40 degrees
is necessary as the hardness of the tube 211.
[0610] As a synthetic resin having chemical resistance, elasticity,
high strength, excellent gas barrier property, and an appropriate
hardness, an olefin-based, vinyl chloride-based, or silicone-based
synthetic resin is preferable.
[0611] Thus, the same material as that of the reservoir 209 may be
selected as the material of the tube 211.
[0612] The tube 211, the material of which has been selected from
such materials, is formed to have an outer diameter of 1.1 mm and
an inner diameter of 0.6 mm.
[0613] The thickness of the tube 211 is thus approximately 0.25
mm.
[0614] The outer diameter, inner diameter, and thickness of the
tube 211 may be changed as appropriate according to the
circumstances of use.
[0615] As shown in FIG. 12, the shape of the tube 211 in plan view
is a substantially semicircular arc, and at a substantially central
portion thereof is formed the arcuate tube portion 211a, and the
exposed tube portion 211b is formed at the right side.
[0616] At the left side of the tube 211 towards the reservoir 209
is formed the connecting pipe attachment portion 211c that is
connected to the connecting pipe 222.
[0617] In cross-sectional view, the tube 211 is disposed above the
rotation drive unit 214 of the micropump 212 and at substantially
the same height as the cam unit 217 and the pressing pins 218 as
shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.
[0618] Furthermore, on the upper cover 202 and the upper base frame
204, an arcuate tube housing portion 224, of substantially the same
radius as the outer shape of the arcuate tube portion 211a of the
tube 211, is formed at a portion to the outer side of the arcuate
tube portion 211a in plan view.
[0619] The outer wall of the tube housing portion 224 is arranged
as the arcuate tube portion supporting wall 224a that supports the
outer wall of the arcuate tube portion 21 la.
[0620] As shown in FIG. 15, the arcuate tube portion supporting
wall 224a is arranged as a straight wall in the up/down
direction.
[0621] Thus, when the arcuate tube portion 211a is pushed outward
(toward the arcuate tube portion supporting wall 224a) by the
pressing pins 218, because the arcuate tube portion supporting wall
224a prevents the outward movement of the arcuate tube portion
211a, the drug solution conducting path in the interior of the
arcuate tube portion 211 a can be sealed substantially.
[0622] Because the pressing pins 218 are thus made by the cam unit
217 to successively press the arcuate tube portion 211a as shown in
FIG. 12, the drug solution in the tube 211 is discharged toward the
exposed tube portion 211b side.
[0623] The tube housing portion 224 may be formed on just one of
either the upper cover 202 or the upper base frame 204.
[0624] In this case, the arcuate tube portion supporting wall 224a
is also formed by just one of either the upper cover 202 or the
upper base frame 204.
[0625] Because a step is thus not formed at ajoint portion of the
arcuate tube portion supporting wall 224a, the arcuate tube portion
211a can be pressed more sealingly by the pressing force of the
pressing pins 218.
[0626] The exposed tube portion 211b at the right end of the tube
211 protrudes to the exterior from a tube exposing opening 223
provided in right side walls of the upper cover 202 and the upper
base frame 204.
[0627] A catheter that injects the drug solution into a blood
vessel or a predetermined portion in the body of the experimental
animal is attached to a tip of the tube exposing opening 223 that
protrudes to the exterior.
[0628] The portion exposed to the exterior from the tube exposing
opening 223 does not have to be a tube.
[0629] In this case, for example, an end portion of the tube 211
and a catheter (not shown) are connected in the interior of the
tube exposing opening 223 and the tip of the catheter is protruded
to the exterior from the tube exposing opening 223.
[0630] The drug solution is thereby supplied to the blood vessel of
the experimental animal at the tip side of the catheter.
[0631] The connecting pipe attachment portion 211c is fitted onto
an outer portion of the connecting pipe 222 and fixed by adhesion
or heat crimping.
[0632] The arcuate tube portion 211a is formed in an arcuate shape
in plan view and is disposed so as to surround the plurality of
pressing pins 218 and the cam portion 217 that are disposed at a
central portion of the arc in plan view.
[0633] The micropump 212 shall now be described.
[0634] The micropump 212 has the arcuate tube portion 211a, the
plurality of pressing pins 218, the cam unit 217, and the rotation
drive unit 214 that rotatingly drives the cam unit 217.
[0635] The pressing pins 218 are formed of a metal or a hard
synthetic resin.
[0636] The pressing pins 218 are disposed on a pressing pin guiding
member (not shown).
[0637] The pressing pins 218 are thereby enabled to undergo a
rectilinear motion of protruding in radial directions from a
rotation center O of the cam unit 217 and returning to the original
positions at the rotation center O side.
[0638] The pressing pins 218 are pushed and protruded outward in
the radial directions by the cam unit 217 and are thereby made to
press the arcuate tube portion 211a against the outer wall of the
tube housing portion 224.
[0639] The cam unit 217 has the first cam 215 and the second cam
216, and the first cam 215 and the second cam 216 can rotate in one
direction (clockwise in FIG. 12) about the rotation center O.
[0640] The first cam 215 and the second cam 216 are formed of a
polyacetal resin or other engineering plastic of high mechanical
strength or a metal with excellent strength and wear
resistance.
[0641] Especially in the case where a synthetic resin is used, the
abovementioned filler is preferably mixed in.
[0642] As mentioned above, with a synthetic resin in which the
filler is mixed, a high hardness is provided, the strength is
increased, a low frictional coefficient is exhibited, and wear is
less likely to occur.
[0643] The first cam 215 and the second cam 216 receive a large
reaction force because the respective cam surfaces contact and
press the pressing pins 218 in the radial directions to squeeze the
arcuate tube portion 211a.
[0644] Because high hardness, high strength, and low frictional
coefficient are thus required of the first cam 215 and the second
cam 216, the use of synthetic resin with filler mixed in is
preferable.
[0645] Each of the first cam 215 and the second cam 216 has
protrusions and recesses at two locations in plan view, and the
protrusions at the two locations are formed at planar positions
rotated by approximately 180 degrees with respect to each
other.
[0646] A gradual slope portion is formed from each protrusion to a
corresponding recess.
[0647] As shown in FIG. 12, in plan view, the first cam 215 and the
second cam 216 have the four protrusions disposed so as to be
positioned at equal intervals along the entire circumference.
[0648] That is, the protrusions of the first cam 215 and the second
cam 216 are disposed at positions that are rotated by substantially
90 degrees from each other during driving of the micropump 212,
that is, in the driving state of the micropump 212, which is the
normal usage state after the drug solution feeder 201 has been
implanted under the skin of an experimental animal.
[0649] In FIG. 12, the protrusion of the first cam 215 is pressing
two pressing pins 218 outward and wide portions at the tips of the
pressing pins 218 are thereby made to press the arcuate tube
portion 211a.
[0650] A central end surface of the (single) pressing pin 218,
positioned adjacent to the right of the abovementioned two pressing
pins 218, is contacting the slope portion of the first cam 215.
[0651] The three pressing pins 218, positioned adjacent to the left
of the abovementioned two pressing pins 218, is contacting the
recess of the first cam 215.
[0652] The single pressing pin 218 at the leftmost side is
contacting an abovementioned slope portion of the second cam
216.
[0653] This and the three pressing pins 218 positioned adjacent to
the left are hardly pressing the arcuate tube portion 211a.
[0654] The respective pressing pins 218 are pressed back in the
direction of the rotation center O by the elastic force of the
arcuate tube portion 211a.
[0655] During assembly of the drug solution feeder 201, the
micropump 212 is stopped, and the first cam 215 is assembled at a
position rotated by approximately 50 degrees in the clockwise
direction (right direction) from the position of the first cam 215
shown in FIG. 12.
[0656] The second cam 216 is assembled at a position rotated
slightly in the counterclockwise direction (left direction) from
the position of the second cam 216 in FIG. 2.
[0657] Because the two protrusions of the cam 215 and the two
protrusions of the cam 216 are set at positions at which the
protrusions are closer to each other than when the protrusions are
at the positions of FIG. 12 and the recesses of the respective cams
215 and 216 are set at positions at which the recesses face the
pressing pins 218, neither of the cams press any of the pressing
pins 218.
[0658] Because the drug solution feeder 201 is shipped in this
state, until the drug solution feeder 201 is implanted in an
experimental animal and the micropump 212 begins the rotation
drive, none of the pressing pins 218 apply a pressing force to the
arcuate tube portion 211a.
[0659] Setting and deformation of the arcuate tube portion 211a due
to continuous pressing is thereby prevented to enable the elastic
force to be secured over a long term.
[0660] When the drug solution feeder 201 is thereafter implanted in
an experimental animal and the micropump 212 begins the rotation
drive, the rotation drive axes of the rotation drive unit 214 that
are engaged with the first cam 215 and the second cam 216 rotate
and rotatingly drive the first cam 215 and the second cam 216.
[0661] Here, when the first cam 215 rotates and contacts the
pressing pin 218 at the left end of FIG. 12, the first cam 215
slips with respect to its rotation drive axis and stays at this
position until a protrusion of the second cam 216 rotates to this
position.
[0662] Then, when the second cam 216 rotates, the protrusion of the
second cam 216 contacts the left end of the first cam 215.
[0663] By this contact, the first cam 215 is pressed by the second
cam 216 and rotates together in the clockwise direction.
[0664] The positions of the cams 215 and 216 in the respective
rotation directions are thus put in the state shown in FIG. 12, and
the respective protrusions of the first cam 215 and the second cam
216 are set at positions of equal intervals of substantially 90
degrees each.
[0665] Thereafter, the cams are driven rotatingly in this planar
positional relationship and the respective protrusions and slope
portions press the pressing pins 218 outward in the radial
directions as described above.
[0666] The pressing pins 218 thus successively press the arcuate
tube portion 211a of the tube 211 outward.
[0667] The drug solution inside the tube 211 is thereby discharged
to the exterior (right side in the plan view of FIG. 12).
[0668] The height positions in cross-sectional view of the first
cam 215 and the second cam 216 are set to substantially the same
height as the pressing pins 218 as shown in FIG. 15.
[0669] Here, in a single rotation of the first cam 215 and the
second cam 216, when the respective recesses face the pressing pins
218, the first cam 215 and the second cam 216 do not press the
pressing pins 218.
[0670] Setting and deformation of the arcuate tube portion 211a due
to continuous pressing is thereby prevented to enable the elastic
force to be secured over a long term.
[0671] The elastic force of the arcuate tube portion 211a does not
have to be used as the elastic force that pushes the pressing pins
218 back toward the rotation center O side, and spring members may
be used instead to apply this elastic force.
[0672] For example, coil springs or plate springs may be disposed
between the pressing pins 218 and pressing pin guiding members (not
shown).
[0673] The members that rotatingly drive the first cam 215 and the
second cam 216 are the respective rotation drive axes that protrude
from the rotation drive unit 214.
[0674] These rotation drive axes are engagingly mounted
respectively to central holes of the first cam 215 and the second
cam 216.
[0675] The respective rotation drive axes rotate about the same
rotation center O and one of the rotation drive axes is inserted at
the outer side of the other rotation drive axis.
[0676] As shown in FIG. 15, the respective rotation drive axes
protrude upward from the rotation drive unit 214 toward the side of
the first cam 215 and the second cam 216 above.
[0677] Each rotation drive axis is driven to rotate by a wheel
train having various gears and pinion gear trains.
[0678] The rotation drive source of these wheel trains is a
stepping motor, with which a rotor, having a bipolar permanent
magnet mounted to a rotation axis, rotates at an angle of 180
degrees per step inside an opening of a stator.
[0679] In the rotation drive unit 214, the structures, used in a
watch, of a step motor, a wheel train, a center wheel shaft at a
terminal end of the wheel train, a cannon pinion frictionally
engaged with the center wheel shaft, and an hour wheel that rotates
couplingly with the cannon pinion can be employed substantially as
they are.
[0680] The step motor is driven by a DC voltage of approximately
1.5 V.
[0681] Reference symbol 225 in FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 indicate an
IC.
[0682] Reference symbol 226 indicates a circuit substrate.
[0683] The IC 225 is packaged on the circuit substrate 226, and a
wiring pattern for electrical connection of respective electronic
parts and electronic elements is formed on the surface of the
circuit substrate 226.
[0684] As shown in FIG. 14, this circuit substrate 226 is packaged
by being screwed onto the lower base frame 205 by means of circuit
substrate fixing screws 227.
[0685] As shown in FIG. 15, external signal input ports 228 are
provided at two locations on the lower surface of the lower cover
203.
[0686] As preferable locations in plan view, the external signal
input ports 228 may be positioned at any locations at which there
is some space from the inner surface of the lower cover 203 in
cross-sectional view and which overlap in plan view with the
circuit substrate 226.
[0687] More preferable positioning locations are locations in the
region in plan view in which the liquid injection ports 208 and the
rotation drive unit 214 are disposed and in regions peripheral to
this region.
[0688] On the other hand, locations in the region in plan view in
which the reservoir 209 and the battery 210 are disposed and in
regions peripheral to this region are not preferable as the
positioning locations.
[0689] The reason is because the reservoir 209 and the battery 210
are formed near the lower surface of the lower cover 203 in
cross-sectional view.
[0690] The external signal input ports 228 are formed at inner
sides of depressions formed in the lower cover 203.
[0691] Input pins 229, formed of electrically conducting material,
are fixed to the lower cover 203.
[0692] When an external input terminal is pressed against an input
pin 229, because the vicinity of the depressed portion of the lower
cover at which the input pin 229 is fixed deforms elastically, the
input pin 229 contacts the wiring pattern formed on the lower
surface of the circuit substrate 226.
[0693] Program data and control signals are thereby input from the
external input terminal via the input pins 229 and the wiring
pattern of the circuit substrate 226 into the IC.
[0694] By the use of these input pins 229, drive characteristics
and drive programs of the micropump 212 are input into the built-in
IC in advance.
[0695] The input data include, for example, the time of start of
discharge of the drug solution, the time of end of discharge of the
same, the discharge speed of the same, the discharge amount per
unit time, etc.
[0696] Though these data are preferably input before the animal
experiment, the abovementioned drive characteristics may also be
changed during the animal experiment.
[0697] To perform such an input change, connection cables,
connected to the input pins 229, must be protruded out to the
exterior of the experimental animal.
[0698] Sterilization processes to be performed during assembly
shall now be described.
[0699] First, a sterilization process is applied to members that
form the path through which the drug solution passes.
[0700] Here, the drug solution passage path forming members may
refer, in one case, to a liquid injection unit that is formed by
assembling the members together or may refer, in another case, to
the respective, individual members.
[0701] In terms of workability, the sterilization process is
preferably applied after assembling the members together to form
the liquid injection unit.
[0702] First, the case of applying the sterilization process after
assembling the members together to form the liquid injection unit
shall be described.
[0703] The liquid injection unit is a unit that is formed by
assembling together the liquid injection port frame 220 and the
liquid injection port packing 221 of the liquid injection port 208,
the reservoir 209, the connecting pipe 222, and the tube 211.
[0704] This liquid injection unit is sterilized by the application
of a gas sterilization process using ethylene oxide gas.
[0705] The gas sterilization process using ethylene oxide gas shall
now be described.
[0706] First, an ethylene oxide gas injector (or ethylene oxide gas
feeder) is inserted into the liquid injection port packing 221 that
is the entrance of the liquid injection unit.
[0707] An ethylene oxide gas injector (or ethylene oxide gas
feeder) is also inserted into (connected to) the tip of the exposed
tube portion 211b of the tube 211, which is the exit of the liquid
injection unit.
[0708] By both the ethylene oxide gas injector inserted into the
liquid injection port packing 221 and the ethylene oxide gas
injector connected to the tip of the exposed tube portion 211b,
ethylene oxide gas is injected from both the liquid injection port
packing 221 side and the exposed tube portion 211b tip side.
[0709] The drug solution passage path inside the liquid injection
unit is thereby filled with ethylene oxide gas.
[0710] The interior of the liquid injection unit is thereby
sterilized.
[0711] After the elapse of a predetermined time after filling with
the ethylene oxide gas as described above or after the elapse of a
predetermined time after injection of the ethylene oxide gas, the
ethylene oxide gas is discharged out of the liquid injection
unit.
[0712] This discharge may be performed from one of either the
liquid injection port packing 221 side or the exposed tube portion
211b tip side or from both sides.
[0713] The discharge of the gas may be performed by means of a
suction pump or the gas may be naturally discharged.
[0714] After confirming the discharge of the gas, the tip of the
exposed tube portion 211b is sealed by heat crimping.
[0715] The sterilization process of the drug solution passage path
of the liquid injection unit is thereby ended.
[0716] The heat-crimped tip of the exposed tube portion 211b is
opened at an appropriate timing close to implantation into an
experimental animal and is connected to a catheter.
[0717] The ethylene oxide gas injection and discharge procedure is
not limited to the above-described procedure.
[0718] For example, ethylene oxide gas may be injected by inserting
the ethylene oxide gas injector into the liquid injection port
packing 221, the ethylene oxide gas may be discharged as described
above from the tip of the exposed tube portion 211b, and after
confirmation of the discharge, the tip of the exposed tube portion
211b may be sealed by heat crimping.
[0719] A sterilization process is then applied to the drug solution
feeder 201 as a whole, and this sterilization process shall now be
described.
[0720] First, the liquid injection unit and the internalized
members are assembled onto the upper cover 202, the upper base
frame 204, and the lower base frame 205.
[0721] By then fastening all of the outer case fixing screws 213,
the interior is sealed, and the drug solution feeder 201 is
completed.
[0722] Gas sterilization by ethylene oxide gas is then applied to
the entire drug solution feeder 201 in this state.
[0723] The internalized members are, for example, the battery 210,
the IC 225, the circuit substrate 226, the micropump 212 (the
rotation drive unit 214, the pressing pins 218, etc.), etc.
[0724] Sterilization is thus performed twice.
[0725] That is, the above-described gas sterilization process is
applied upon assembly to the liquid injection unit and the
above-described gas sterilization process is applied upon
completion of the drug solution feeder 201.
[0726] Here, the drug solution passage path is constituted from a
narrow passage and a small pouch and is thus difficult to
sterilize.
[0727] Thus, for the first sterilization process, an optimal
process method (gas type, gas pressure, gas injection time, etc.)
is selected to enable sterilization to be performed satisfactorily
even under circumstances in which sterilization is difficult.
[0728] Meanwhile, by applying the sterilization process after
completion of the drug solution feeder 201, sterilization can be
applied in a gas environment in which the materials of the outer
case members and the internalized members will not be damaged.
[0729] As the first sterilization process applied to the liquid
injection unit, a method besides the above-described gas
sterilization process may be applied and, for example, a
high-pressure steam sterilization process or a radiation
sterilization process may be applied.
[0730] The high-pressure steam sterilization process is performed
by passing high-pressure steam of approximately 130.degree. C.
through the drug solution passage path of the liquid injection
unit.
[0731] That is, as in the method described above, a high-pressure
steam injector (or high-pressure steam feeder) is inserted into the
liquid injection port packing 221 that is the entrance of the
liquid injection unit, a high-pressure steam injector (or
high-pressure steam feeder) is also inserted into (connected to)
the tip of the exposed tube portion 211b of the tube 211, which is
the exit of the liquid injection unit, the high-pressure steam is
fed from both the liquid injection port packing 221 side and the
exposed tube portion 211b tip side, and as with the above-described
discharge of the ethylene oxide gas, the high-pressure steam is
discharged from the liquid injection unit.
[0732] As with the above-described discharge of the ethylene oxide
gas, any of various methods may be used to discharge the
high-pressure steam.
[0733] After confirming the discharge of the high-pressure steam,
the tip of the exposed tube portion 211b is sealed by heat
crimping.
[0734] The sterilization process of the drug solution passage path
of the liquid injection unit is thereby ended.
[0735] The heat-crimped tip of the exposed tube portion 211b is
opened at an appropriate timing close to implantation into an
experimental animal and is connected to a catheter.
[0736] The high-pressure steam injection and discharge procedure is
not limited to the above-described procedure.
[0737] For example, high-pressure steam may be injected by
inserting the high-pressure steam injector into the liquid
injection port packing 221 and be discharged as described above
from the tip of the exposed tube portion 211b, and after
confirmation of the discharge, the tip of the exposed tube portion
211b may be sealed by heat crimping.
[0738] The steam temperature is not limited to the abovementioned
130.degree. C. and is preferably 120.degree. C. to 150.degree.
C.
[0739] Even when it is difficult to fill or extract ethylene oxide
gas due to the drug solution passage path being constituted from a
narrow passage and a small pouch, steam of high pressure and high
temperature can be passed through readily in the above-described
high-pressure sterilization process performed on the liquid
injection port frame 220 and the liquid injection port packing 221
of the liquid injection unit 208, the reservoir 209, the tube 211,
the connecting pipe 222, etc.
[0740] The high-pressure steam sterilization process is not applied
to the other internalized members, the cover members, and the base
frame members.
[0741] This is because plastic materials are used as the materials
of these internalized members, cover members, and base frame
members, and these plastic materials cannot withstand the high
temperature and high pressure.
[0742] Likewise, damage to the battery, which is a functional part,
and the IC and other electronic parts and internalized members by
application of high temperature and high pressure is prevented.
[0743] The second sterilization process applied to the entire drug
solution feeder 201 after the high-pressure steam sterilization
process is the same gas sterilization process described above.
[0744] The first sterilization process may be applied to the
respective members prior to assembly to the liquid injection unit
in a fully automatic manner without intervention of human hands in
an aseptic room under aseptic conditions and the liquid injection
unit may thereafter be assembled under aseptic conditions.
[0745] In this assembly process, waterproofing is preferably
applied to the interior of the drug solution feeder 201 to prevent
entry of body fluids of an experimental animal.
[0746] Thus, members having portions that are exposed to the
exterior are bonded to each other by application of an adhesive
with a waterproof function.
[0747] The adhesive, which, for example, is an ultraviolet curing
adhesive, is coated onto outer peripheral contacting surfaces of
the upper cover 202 and the upper base frame 204, outer peripheral
contacting surfaces of the upper base frame 204 and the lower base
frame 205, the contacting surfaces of the lower base frame 205 and
the lower cover 203, the inner wall surface of the injection
opening 208b of the liquid injection port 208 and the upper outer
peripheral wall surface of the liquid injection port frame 220, the
inner wall surface of the liquid injection port frame 220 and the
outer peripheral wall surface of the liquid injection port packing
221, the outer peripheral surface of the exposed tube portion 211b
at the right end of the tube 211, and the inner peripheral wall
surface of the tube exposing opening 223 formed in the right walls
of the upper cover 202 and the upper base frame 204.
[0748] These are fastened by screwing by the outer case fixing
screws 213.
[0749] When the entire surface of the drug solution feeder 201 is
illuminated by ultraviolet rays immediately thereafter, the
ultraviolet curing adhesive becomes cured and a waterproof property
is secured.
[0750] The waterproof property is improved by forming a silicone
coat (thin film) on the outer, exposed surfaces of the outer case
members (the upper cover 202, the lower cover 203, the upper base
frame 204, and the lower base frame 205 in the above case) of the
drug solution feeder 201.
[0751] The silicone coat may be formed on exposed outer surfaces of
the assembled, completed product of the drug solution feeder.
[0752] Or the silicone coat may be formed on the respective parts
of the outer case members (the upper cover 202, the lower cover
203, the upper base frame 204, and the lower base frame 205 in the
above case) and the drug solution feeder may be assembled
thereafter.
[0753] A method of use of the drug solution feeder 201 shall now be
described.
[0754] After assembly of the feeder 201, the drive control program
(for control of the drive method, drive conditions, etc.,
corresponding to the driving timing of the first cam 215 and the
second cam 216, the drive speeds of the cams, the driving forces,
etc.) of the rotation drive unit 214 of the micropump 212 is
supplied to the IC via the input pins 229 of the external signal
input ports 228.
[0755] Specifically, the drive control program is a program that
corresponds to the drive signals of the drive start timing, drive
pulse width, drive pulse output cycle, drive voltage, etc., that
are provided to the driver of the stepping motor (not shown)
incorporated in the rotation drive unit 214.
[0756] The drive control program may instead be stored in the IC in
advance.
[0757] An injector is then inserted into the liquid injection port
packing 221 of the liquid injection port 208 and initial feeding of
the drug solution into the reservoir 209 is performed.
[0758] The feeder is thereafter implanted under the skin of an
experimental animal.
[0759] The drug solution feeder 201 is attached by cutting open the
skin of the experimental animal that has been anesthetized in
advance, setting the drug solution feeder 201 under the skin with
the lower cover 203 faced downward, and sewing the threads passed
through the holes 207a of the thread retainers 207 onto the
experimental animal.
[0760] Because the holes 207a of the thread retainer 207 are
provided at plural locations along the periphery, the drug solution
feeder 201 can be attached with stability.
[0761] The drug solution feeder 201 is then set so that the drug
solution can be fed into the body, that is for example, a blood
vessel of the experimental animal via a catheter attached to the
tip of the tube 211 that protrudes from a side wall of the drug
solution feeder 201.
[0762] Upon completion of the above preparations, the skin portion
of the experimental animal is sewn together and the animal
experiment is started.
[0763] The amount of drug solution fed (amount discharged into the
experimental animal) by the micropump 212 is approximately 0.1 to
15 microliters per hour, and this can be set as suited in
advance.
[0764] The IC may also be programmed in advance so as to vary the
discharge amount according to the time elapsed during the animal
experiment.
[0765] As the experimental animal moves around and some days
elapse, the amount of drug solution stored in the reservoir 209
decreases.
[0766] When this decrease is recognized from the elapse of a
priorly set number of days or by detection of the remaining drug
solution amount in the reservoir 209 by a detecting means, an
experimenter inserts a liquid injector into the liquid injection
port packing 221 of the liquid injection port 208 and performs
additional feeding of the drug solution into the reservoir 209.
[0767] In this process, because the experimenter can readily
recognize visually the location of the surface of the experimental
animal that is partially bulged by the liquid injection port 208,
the drug solution can be replenished into the reservoir 209 by
inserting an injector into the center of this bulged location.
Fourth Embodiment
[0768] A fourth embodiment shall now be described with reference to
FIGS. 17 and 18.
[0769] Whereas in the third embodiment, the reservoir 209 and the
battery 210 are partially overlapped in plan view, in the fourth
embodiment, the reservoir 209 and the battery 210 are disposed so
as not to overlap in plan view.
[0770] Also, whereas in the third embodiment, the arcuate tube
portion 211a, the cam unit 217, the pressing pins 218, etc., of the
micropump 212 are disposed above the rotation drive unit 214, the
fourth embodiment differs in that these components are oppositely
disposed below the rotation drive unit 214.
[0771] In addition to the above, the fourth embodiment is the same
as the third embodiment.
[0772] FIG. 17 is a plan view of principal portions of the fourth
embodiment.
[0773] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions
taken along positions C-C in FIG. 17.
[0774] As shown in FIG. 17, the battery 210 is disposed somewhat to
the left of the center in the longitudinal direction (left/right
direction in FIG. 17) of the drug solution feeder 201 and at
substantially the center in the narrow width direction (up/down
direction in FIG. 17).
[0775] Also, as shown in FIG. 18, as the battery 210, a battery,
such as a button type battery, that is thick so as to nearly
contact the inner surface of the upper cover 202 and the inner
surface of the lower cover 203 is employed.
[0776] The reservoir 209 is formed in a semicircular shape at the
battery 210 side so as to avoid the battery 210 as shown in FIG. 17
and is formed to a thickness such that the inner surface of the
upper cover 202 and the inner surface of the lower cover 203 are
nearly contacted.
[0777] Because, by the above, a battery that is thick in the height
direction can be employed as the battery 210, a large capacity can
be secured, and because the battery capacity is large, the duration
of the battery can be made long and an animal experiment can be
continued over a long term.
[0778] In addition, because the reservoir 209 is not partially
overlapped with the battery in plan view as in the third
embodiment, a large drug solution storage capacity can be
secured.
[0779] Because the efficiencies of securing of the capacities of
the reservoir 209 and the battery 210 are thus improved, the drug
solution feeder 201 can be made compact in plan view.
[0780] The burden placed on an experimental animal when the drug
solution feeder 201 is implanted into the experimental animal can
thus be lightened, thus contributing to improving the reliability
of the animal experiment concerning a drug solution.
[0781] Moreover, the reservoir 209 does not have to be provided
with a step portion, such as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, for avoiding
the battery 210.
[0782] Because the reservoir 209 can thus be formed of the same
thickness across substantially the entire region of the drug
solution storage portion so as to extend, for example, from the
inner surface of the upper cover 202 to the inner surface of the
lower cover 203, locations that could compromise the strength upon
repeated contraction and expansion due to decrease and
replenishment of the drug solution can be eliminated to enable high
strength to be secured over a long term with stability.
[0783] Furthermore, because the battery 210 is formed to be thick
in cross-sectional view as mentioned above, the principal portions
of the liquid injection port 208 are disposed so as not to overlap
with the battery 210 in plan view.
[0784] That is, the liquid injection port frame 220 and the liquid
injection port packing 221 shown in FIG. 17 do not overlap with the
battery 210 in plan view.
[0785] The connecting cylinder portion 220b of the liquid injection
port frame 220 that connects the liquid injection port 208 to the
reservoir 209 is disposed above the battery 210 in plan view as
shown in FIG. 14 and does not overlap with the battery 210 in plan
view.
[0786] Likewise, the connecting cylinder 222 that connects the
reservoir 209 to the micropump 212 is set below the battery 210 as
shown in FIG. 17 so as to avoid the battery 210 in plan view.
[0787] As shown in FIG. 18, the arrangement in the cross-sectional
view is as follows.
[0788] The connecting cylinder portion 220b that connects the
liquid injection port 208 to the reservoir 209 is connected at the
upper side of the central portion of the reservoir 209 in
cross-sectional view in substantially the same manner as in the
third embodiment shown in FIG. 14.
[0789] The connecting pipe 222 connecting the reservoir 209 to the
tube 211 is disposed below the reservoir 209 and is connected at
the lower side of the central portion of the reservoir 209 in
cross-sectional view as shown in FIG. 18.
[0790] Also, with the micropump 212, the connecting pipe attachment
portion 211c in communication with the connecting pipe 222, the
first cam 215 and the second cam 216 that constitute the cam unit
217, the pressing pins 218, the arcuate tube portion 211a, etc.,
are set at the inner surface side of the lower cover 203 in
cross-sectional view, that is, at positions of substantially the
same height as the connecting pipe portion 222 as shown in FIG.
18.
[0791] The exposed tube portion 211b of the tube 211 is also
positioned at the inner surface side of the lower cover 203 and
protrudes to the exterior.
[0792] The micropump 212 is thus disposed upside down in the
cross-sectional view direction with respect to its orientation in
the third embodiment.
[0793] That is, the rotation drive unit 214, the connecting pipe
attachment portion 211c of the tube 211, the first cam 215 and the
second cam 216 that constitute the cam unit 217, the pressing pin
218, the arcuate tube portion 211a, etc., are configured upside
down in the cross-sectional view direction with respect to those
shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.
[0794] The circuit substrate 226 and the IC 225 are likewise
disposed above the rotation drive unit 214 in cross-sectional
view.
[0795] The flow of the drug solution is carried out smoothly and
without strain in plan view and cross-sectional view.
[0796] That is, the drug solution storage portion 209c of the
reservoir 209 is formed at a central region of the reservoir 209 in
plan view as shown in FIG. 17.
[0797] The liquid injection port 208, which can be said to be a
drug solution feeding inlet, is formed at the upper side of the
drug solution storage portion of the reservoir 209.
[0798] The connecting pipe 222, which can be said to be a drug
solution discharge outlet, is formed at the lower side of the drug
solution storage portion 209c.
[0799] Thus, when the drug solution is injected from the liquid
injection port 208 at the upper side of the drug solution storage
portion 209c, it is smoothly contained in the drug solution storage
portion 209c, and is smoothly discharged from the connecting pipe
222 at the lower side of the drug solution storage portion
209c.
[0800] There is thus no stagnation of the drug solution and the
drug solution is made to flow without strain inside the flow
path.
[0801] Meanwhile, in cross-sectional view in the drug solution
storage portion 209c of the reservoir 209, when the drug solution
is injected from the liquid injection port 208 at the upper side,
it is smoothly contained in the drug solution storage portion 209c,
and is smoothly discharged from the connecting pipe 222 at the
lower side of the drug solution storage portion 209c as shown in
FIG. 18.
[0802] Moreover, with the micropump 212, the connecting pipe
attachment portion 211c of the tube 211 in communication with the
connecting pipe 222, the cam unit 217, the pressing pins 218, the
arcuate tube portion 211a, and the exposed tube portion 211b are
positioned at the inner surface side of the lower cover 203 so as
to be at substantially the same height as the connecting pipe 222
and protrude to the exterior.
[0803] There is thus no stagnation of the drug solution and the
drug solution is made to flow without strain inside the flow path
and be discharged to the exterior.
[0804] In particular, when in implanting the drug solution feeder
201 into an experimental animal, the drug solution feeder 201 is
implanted so that the lower cover 203 is set at a lower side in the
vertical direction and the upper cover 202 is set at an upper side
in the vertical direction, a flow path, in which the drug solution
flows without strain and in accordance with gravity, is formed, and
the drug solution is thus made to flow more smoothly.
[0805] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 17, the battery 210 is
positioned at substantially the center in the narrow width
direction and the longitudinal direction of the drug solution
feeder 201.
[0806] The reservoir 209 and the micropump 212 are also disposed at
substantially the center in the narrow width direction.
[0807] The battery 210, the reservoir 209, which contains the drug
solution, and the micropump 212, especially the rotation drive unit
214, are comparatively heavy units.
[0808] By these units of large weight being disposed at
substantially the center in the narrow width direction and the
longitudinal direction, the fixing stability of the drug solution
feeder 201 during an animal experiment in which the drug solution
feeder 201 is implanted in an experimental animal is improved.
[0809] This is because the center of gravity of the drug solution
feeder 201 is positioned at substantially the center in plan view
of the drug solution feeder 201, and the drug solution feeder 201
is made less likely to receive an excessive acting force from the
implantation portion of the experimental animal when the
experimental animal moves.
[0810] The experiment is thus continued with stability.
Fifth Embodiment
[0811] A fifth embodiment differs from the third embodiment in
that, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 19, the liquid injection
port 208 is disposed at a central portion in the narrow width
direction of the drug solution feeder 201 in plan view.
[0812] In FIG. 19, that the liquid injection port 208 is disposed
at the substantially central portion in the narrow width direction
of the drug solution feeder 201 means that a central position 208d
of the liquid injection port 208 is positioned at an intermediate
point 201a in the narrow width direction of the drug solution
feeder 201, that is, at a position at which the distance from the
upper edge in FIG. 19 and the distance from the lower edge are
substantially equal.
[0813] The substantially equal position includes the condition of
being within a predetermined range width 201b from the intermediate
point 201a.
[0814] The predetermined range width 201b is set to 1/5th a maximum
width 201c of the drug solution feeder 201.
[0815] The predetermined range width 201b is more preferably set to
1/10th and even more preferably set to 1/15th the maximum width
201c.
[0816] Due to the central position 208d of the liquid injection
port 208 being thus present near the intermediate point 201a in the
narrow width direction of the drug solution feeder 201, when an
injector is inserted into the liquid injection port 208 to
replenish a drug solution into the reservoir 209, the force of
inserting the injector is prevented from being applied to an
experimental animal in a direction in which the drug solution
feeder 201 becomes inclined.
[0817] That is, if, for the sake of comparison, the central
position 208d of the liquid injection port 208 is located not near
the intermediate point 201a in the narrow width direction of the
drug solution feeder 201 but at a biased position close to the
upper edge or the lower edge, because the force of inserting the
injector into the liquid injection port 208 acts on the location
close to the upper edge or the lower edge, the drug solution feeder
201 will tend to incline toward the upper edge side or the lower
edge side.
[0818] Replenishment of the drug solution into the liquid injection
port 208 by the injector is thus made difficult, and because a
localized pain due to the inclination is also inflicted on the
experimental animal being replenished, the liquid injection
operation tends to be hampered.
[0819] In contrast, with the present embodiment, when the injector
is inserted into the liquid injection port 208 to replenish the
drug solution in the reservoir 209, because the inserting force is
applied substantially uniformly in the narrow width direction of
the drug solution feeder 201, a localized pain is not inflicted on
the experimental animal and the drug solution replenishing
operation is performed smoothly.
[0820] In the plan view of FIG. 19, the reservoir 209 and the
battery 210 are overlapped in plan view and this is a point of
difference with respect to the third embodiment.
[0821] Also, the liquid injection port 208 is disposed between the
reservoir 209 and the micropump 212 and between the battery 210 and
the micropump 212.
[0822] Because the liquid injection port 208 is disposed between
the reservoir 209 or the battery 210 and the micropump 212 in plan
view as mentioned above, the liquid injection port 208 is
positioned near a central portion of the drug solution feeder 201
even in the longitudinal direction (left/right direction in FIG.
19) of the drug solution feeder 201.
[0823] Thus, in the same manner as described above, when an
injector is inserted into the liquid injection port 208 to
replenish the drug solution in the reservoir 209, because the
inserting force is applied substantially uniformly across the
entire region direction of the drug solution feeder 201 even in the
longitudinal of the drug solution feeder 201, a localized pain is
not inflicted on the experimental animal and the drug solution
replenishing operation is performed smoothly.
[0824] When the liquid injection port 208 is positioned at a
substantially central portion in the narrow width direction and the
longitudinal direction, because in extracting the injector from the
liquid injection port 208, an extraction force is applied across
the entire region of the drug solution feeder 201, a localized pain
is not inflicted on the experimental animal and the liquid
injection operation can be performed satisfactorily overall.
Sixth Embodiment
[0825] A sixth embodiment shall now be described with reference to
FIGS. 20 to 26.
[0826] With the sixth embodiment, the outer shape of the drug
solution feeder is modified in particular.
[0827] FIGS. 20A to 20D are external views of an outer appearance
of a drug solution feeder for implantation under the skin of an
experimental animal.
[0828] FIG. 20A is a lower side view as viewed from a lower side of
the drug solution feeder and is a side view as viewed from the
nearer side of the paper surface of FIG. 22, FIG. 20B is an upper
side view as viewed from an upper side of the drug solution feeder
and is a side view as viewed from the upper side of the paper
surface of FIG. 22, FIG. 20C is a right side view as viewed from
the right side of the drug solution feeder, and FIG. 20D is a left
side view as viewed from the left side of the drug solution
feeder.
[0829] FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of a right side portion in FIG.
20A of the drug solution feeder according to this invention and is
also a side view of a thread retainer for sewing by thread onto an
experimental animal in implanting the drug solution feeder in the
experimental animal.
[0830] FIG. 22 is a plan view of the drug solution feeder as viewed
from the upper side of the paper surface of FIG. 20A.
[0831] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions
taken along positions A2-A2 in FIG. 22.
[0832] FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions
taken along positions B1-B1 in FIG. 22.
[0833] FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of a
micropump unit shown in FIG. 22.
[0834] FIG. 26 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a liquid
injection port.
[0835] First, the outer appearance of the drug solution feeder
(fluid transportation device) 301 shall be described.
[0836] In FIGS. 20A to 20D the drug solution feeder 301 to be
implanted under the skin of an experimental animal has a
substantially box-like outer appearance.
[0837] A breadth dimension in a wide width direction (longitudinal
direction) is approximately 34 mm, a depth dimension in a narrow
width direction (lateral direction) is approximately 18 mm, and a
height dimension is approximately 8.5 mm.
[0838] As an outer case, an upper cover 302, a lower cover 303, an
upper base frame 304, and a lower base frame 305 are fixed to each
other.
[0839] The material of the upper cover 302, the lower cover 303,
the upper base frame 304, the lower base frame 305 and other
members that come in contact with an experimental animal is
required to be innocuous to the experimental animal.
[0840] In addition, these members are functional members and are
thus required to be high in strength and high in hardness.
[0841] Thus, as the material of the upper cover 302, the lower
cover 303, the upper base frame 304, and the lower base frame 305
that constitute the outer case, polypropylene, polystyrene,
polycarbonate, or other synthetic resin that is innocuous to the
experimental animal and yet is high in strength, high in hardness,
and preferably lightweight is used.
[0842] After assembly, a silicone coating process is preferably
applied to further secure the innocuousness.
[0843] The abovementioned materials may also be selected from the
standpoint of securing biocompatibility.
[0844] The upper cover 302 is formed of a transparent material to
readily enable discernment of whether the internal structure, the
assembly state of parts, and the operation state are normal or
abnormal.
[0845] The other outer case members of the lower cover 303, the
upper base frame 304, and the lower base frame 305 are formed of a
non-transparent, colored resin.
[0846] The upper cover 302, the lower cover 303, the upper base
frame 304, and the lower base frame 305 have functions of housing
and holding internalized members and are members that hold a
reservoir 309 that expands and contracts, for example, upon
supplying or discharging of the drug solution.
[0847] Because the reservoir 309 expands and contracts as described
above, it slides, for example, to some degree with respect to the
upper cover 302, the lower cover 303, the upper base frame 304, and
the lower base frame 305.
[0848] As shall be described below, because an arcuate tube portion
311a of a tube 311 is successively pressed by a plurality of
pressing pins 318, this pressing force acts on the upper cover 302
and the upper base frame 304 that hold the pressed arcuate tube
portion 311a on the side walls thereof, and in accompaniment with
the expansion and contraction of the arcuate tube portion 311a, the
arcuate tube portion 311 a slides to some degree with respect to
these side walls.
[0849] The members provided with the functions of housing and
holding the internalized members, that is for example, the upper
cover 302, the lower cover 303, the upper base frame 304, and the
lower base frame 305 are thus required to be high in strength and
low in frictional coefficient.
[0850] The upper cover 302, the lower cover 303, the upper base
frame 304, the lower base frame 305, and other members having the
functions of housing and holding the internalized members may thus
be filled with a filler that contributes to lowering friction.
[0851] As shall be described later, in FIG. 25, an arcuate tube
portion supporting wall 324a, which constitutes a tube housing
portion 324 that houses the arcuate tube portion 311a of the
micropump 312, is formed by the upper cover 302 and the upper base
frame 304, and because the pressing pins 318 successively press the
arcuate tube portion 311a, the arcuate tube portion supporting wall
324a receives this pressing force.
[0852] The upper cover 302 and the upper base frame 304 that
constitute the arcuate tube portion supporting wall 324a may thus
be filled with a filler that contributes to high strength and low
friction.
[0853] The arcuate tube portion supporting wall 324a is thereby
prevented from deforming even when the arcuate tube portion 311a is
pressed by the pressing pins 318, and a stable drug solution
feeding micropump that does not change with time can be
provided.
[0854] The outer shape of the drug solution feeder 301 is as
follows.
[0855] As shown in FIG. 20A, an upper/front surface of the drug
solution feeder 301 is formed in a convex shape, with which a
substantially central portion in the wide width direction
(longitudinal direction) is the highest portion.
[0856] The upper surface shape of the upper cover 302 is thus
formed in an arcuate shape of radius R1 as shown in FIG. 20A.
[0857] Meanwhile, a lower/rear surface of the drug solution feeder
301 is formed in a concave shape, with which a substantially
central portion in the wide width direction (longitudinal
direction) is the highest portion (is a depressed portion).
[0858] The lower surface shape of the lower cover 303 is thus
formed in an arcuate shape of radius R2 as shown in FIG. 20A.
[0859] The magnitudes of these radii R1 and R2 may be set in
accordance with the shape below the skin of an animal in which the
drug solution feeder 301 is implanted.
[0860] R1 and R2 may be concentric or non-concentric.
[0861] FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of the right side portion in
FIG. 20B.
[0862] Due to the convex shape, the substantially central portion
of the upper/front surface in the longitudinal direction is raised
byjust a height h31 from a boundary position between a longitudinal
right side inclined surface 301e (or a longitudinal left side
inclined surface 301e) and the upper/front surface.
[0863] This boundary position is the position of an intersection
between the longitudinal right side inclined surface 301e and an
extension of the convex shape of the upper/front surface.
[0864] Due to the concave shape, the substantially central portion
of the lower/rear surface in the longitudinal direction is raised
by just a height h41 from lower surface positions at opposite ends
of the lower/rear surface.
[0865] The shape in the narrow width direction (lateral direction)
orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is as follows.
[0866] As shown in FIG. 20C, the upper/front surface of the drug
solution feeder 301 is formed in a convex shape, with which a
substantially central portion in the narrow width direction is the
highest portion.
[0867] The upper surface shape of the upper cover 302 is thus
formed in an arcuate shape of radius r1 as shown in FIG. 20C.
[0868] Meanwhile, the lower/rear surface of the drug solution
feeder 301 is formed in a concave shape, with which a substantially
central portion in the narrow width direction is the highest
portion (is a depressed portion).
[0869] The lower surface shape of the lower cover 303 is thus
formed in an arcuate shape of radius r2 as shown in FIG. 20C.
[0870] r1 and r2 may be concentric or non-concentric.
[0871] The upper/front surface shape in the longitudinal direction
and the upper/front surface shape in the narrow width direction do
not have to be arcuate and may be noncircular curves or
combinations of straight lines.
[0872] That is, as long as the upper/front surface of the drug
solution feeder 301 is formed in a convex shape such that a
substantially central region in the longitudinal direction or the
narrow width direction is the highest portion, the upper/front
surface may be formed in any shape.
[0873] Likewise, the lower/rear surface shape in the longitudinal
direction and the lower/rear surface shape in the narrow width
direction do not have to be arcuate and may be noncircular curves
or combinations of straight lines, and as long as the lower/rear
surface of the drug solution feeder 301 is formed in a concave
shape such that a substantially central region in the longitudinal
direction or the narrow width direction is the highest portion (is
depressed), the lower/rear surface may be formed in any shape.
[0874] The upper/front surface shape in the longitudinal direction
may be formed in the above-described convex shape with the
upper/front surface shape in the narrow width direction being
formed in a straight-line shape, or oppositely, the upper/front
surface shape in the longitudinal direction may be formed in a
straight-line shape with the upper/front surface shape in the
narrow width direction being formed in the above-described convex
shape.
[0875] Also, the lower/rear surface shape in the longitudinal
direction may be formed in the above-described concave shape with
the lower/rear surface shape in the narrow width direction being
formed in a straight-line shape, or oppositely, the lower/rear
surface shape in the longitudinal direction may be formed in a
straight-line shape with the lower/rear surface shape in the narrow
width direction being formed in the above-described concave
shape.
[0876] The shape of the upper/front surface in the longitudinal
direction, the magnitudes of the radii R1 and R2, the height h31,
and the depth h41 are set according to the shape of the skin and
the subcutaneous shape of the animal in which the drug solution
feeder 301 is implanted.
[0877] The shape of the upper/front surface in the narrow width
direction, the magnitudes of the radii r1 and r2, the height h31,
and the depth h41 are set according to the shape of the skin and
the subcutaneous shape of the animal in which the drug solution
feeder 301 is implanted.
[0878] By the upper/front surface being formed in the convex shape
or the lower/rear surface being formed in the concave shape, the
upper/front surface shape or the lower/rear surface shape of the
drug solution feeder 301 is formed in a shape that is substantially
in accordance with the subcutaneous shape of the animal, and thus
when the drug solution feeder 301 is implanted, the drug solution
feeder 301 is made readily compatible to the skin etc., and can
prevent or lessen excessive pulling and injury of the animal.
[0879] Especially, by the upper/front surface being formed in the
convex shape and the lower/rear surface being formed in the concave
shape at the same time, the upper/front surface or lower/rear
surface of the drug solution feeder 301 is enabled to be set
readily along the shape of the inner surface of the skin, the
subcutaneous shape, etc., of the animal that each surface contacts
and the abovementioned actions and effects can be exhibited more
effectively.
[0880] On the outer case, inclined surfaces, each inclining so as
to become narrow in width in the wide width direction from the
lower/rear surface toward the upper/front surface of the outer
case, are formed at a narrow width side outer wall (first narrow
width side outer wall) that is formed along the narrow width
direction at one end (first end) in the wide width direction
(longitudinal direction) of the drug solution feeder and at a
narrow width side outer wall (second narrow width side outer wall)
that is formed along the narrow width direction at the other end
(second end) in the wide width direction.
[0881] That is, the inclined surfaces are formed incliningly so
that the first narrow width outer wall and the second narrow width
side outer wall converge from the rear surface toward the skin side
surface of the outer case.
[0882] That is, the left and right side surfaces in the
longitudinal direction of the drug solution feeder 301 are formed
as inclined surfaces that become narrow in dimension in the
longitudinal direction of the drug solution feeder 301 as the upper
side is approached, and the longitudinal left side inclined surface
301d at the left end and the longitudinal right side inclined
surface 301e are thus formed as shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B.
[0883] When these inclined surfaces 301d and 301e are implanted
under the skin of an experimental animal, the skin of the
experimental animal is pulled according to the volume and height of
the drug solution feeder 301, and in the worst case, this skin
becomes injured.
[0884] The inclined surfaces 301d and 301e are thus formed to
minimize the pulling as much as possible and prevent a localized
shear force from being applied to the skin.
[0885] Inclination angles .quadrature.11 and .quadrature.21 of the
inclined surfaces 301d and 301e are defined so that when the drug
solution feeder 301 is set on a flat planar surface, the angles
that the inclined surfaces 301d and 301e form with respect to
vertical lines orthogonal to the flat surface are the inclination
angles .quadrature.11 and .quadrature.21.
[0886] Each of the inclination angles .quadrature.11 and
.quadrature.21 is preferably 5 degrees to 60 degrees and especially
preferably 15 degrees to 30 degrees.
[0887] The inclination angles .quadrature.11 and .quadrature.21 of
the inclined surfaces 301d and 301e may be the same or may
differ.
[0888] Furthermore, with the outer case, inclined surfaces, each
inclining so as to become narrow in width in the narrow width
direction from the lower/rear surface toward the upper/front
surface of the outer case, are formed at a wide width side outer
wall (first wide width side outer wall) that is formed along the
wide width direction at one end (first end) in the narrow width
direction of the drug solution feeder and at a wide width side
outer wall (second wide width side outer wall) that is formed along
the wide width direction at the other end (second end) in the
narrow width direction.
[0889] That is, the inclined surfaces are formed incliningly so
that the first wide width outer wall and the second wide width side
outer wall converge from the rear surface toward the skin side
surface of the outer case.
[0890] That is, though the side surfaces in the narrow width
direction of the drug solution feeder 301 shown in FIGS. 20C and
20D do not have to be formed as inclined surfaces as described
above (that is, angle .quadrature. may be 0 degrees), these side
surface are preferably formed as inclined surfaces that become
narrow toward the upper side, that is, formed as a width-left
inclined surface 301f and a width-right inclined surface 301g in
the narrow width direction as shown in FIG. 20C.
[0891] Inclination angles .quadrature.11 and .quadrature.21 of the
inclined surfaces 301f and 301g are defined so that when the drug
solution feeder 301 is set on a flat planar surface, the angles
that the inclined surfaces 301f and 301g form with respect to
vertical lines orthogonal to the flat surface are the inclination
angles .quadrature.11 and .quadrature.21.
[0892] Each of the inclination angles .quadrature.11 and
.quadrature.21 of the inclined surfaces 301f and 301g is preferably
5 degrees to 45 degrees and especially preferably 10 degrees to 30
degrees.
[0893] The inclination angles .quadrature.11 and .quadrature.21 of
the inclined surfaces 301f and 301g may be the same or may
differ.
[0894] In the standpoint of reducing the pulling of the skin of the
experimental animal, it is preferable that the above-described
inclination angles be larger. In the standpoint of efficient
positioning of the internal space and the internalized members of
the drug solution feeder 301 and ease of holding of the drug
solution feeder 301 by a hand during the initial drug solution
injection, it is preferable that the inclination angles be smaller.
Thus, the inclination angles are determined taking both standpoints
into consideration.
[0895] The inclined surfaces 301d, 301e, 301f, and 301g are not
limited to those formed by straight lines as described above and
may be formed by curves instead.
[0896] Such curves are preferably convex curves, with which central
portions of the inclined surfaces 301d, 301e, 301f, and 301g are
made convex.
[0897] The degrees of inclinations are preferably such that when
angles, formed by tangents to the inclined surfaces 301d, 301e,
301f, and 301g at a height position of 1/2 a height (thickness) H1
of the drug solution feeder 301 and the vertical lines (lines in
the up/down directions) in FIGS. 20A to 20D, are .quadrature.11,
.quadrature.21, .quadrature.11, and .quadrature.21, these angles
.quadrature.11, .quadrature.21, .quadrature.11, and .quadrature.21
are set to the above-described angles.
[0898] By forming the inclined surfaces 301d, 301e, 301f, and 301g
as convex, non-straight-line surfaces, the drug solution feeder 301
is made more compatible to the animal and made to prevent excessive
pulling and prevent injury.
[0899] In side view (in the state viewed from a side surface
direction), the upper, lower, left, and right comers are formed in
arcs in consideration of not damaging subcutaneous portions of the
experimental animal.
[0900] As shown in FIG. 20A, the left and right comers in the
longitudinal direction of the lower cover 301 are formed in arcs of
large radii, and as shown in FIG. 20C, the left and right comers in
the narrow width direction of the lower cover 303 are formed in
arcs of large radii.
[0901] Likewise, as shown in FIG. 20A, the left and right comers in
the longitudinal direction of the upper cover 302 are formed in
arcs of large radii, and as shown in FIG. 20C, the left and right
comers in the narrow width direction of the upper cover 302 are
formed in arcs of large radii.
[0902] The arcuate portions in the longitudinal direction are
formed in arcuate shapes of larger radii than the arcuate portions
in the narrow width direction, and the arcuate portions of the
lower cover 303 are formed in arcuate shapes of larger radii than
the corresponding arcuate portions of the upper cover 302.
[0903] The relationship between the magnitudes of the radii may be
opposite to that described above or the arcuate shapes may all be
substantially the same in radius.
[0904] As shown in FIGS. 20C, 20D, and 21, thread retainers 307,
which are attachment portions for passing thread through in order
to fix the drug solution feeder 301 by sewing by the thread onto an
experimental animal under the skin of the experimental animal, are
formed protrudingly at a plurality of locations.
[0905] Each thread retainer 307 has a hole 307a for passing the
thread through.
[0906] The thread retainers 307 are formed protrudingly on side
surfaces of the lower cover 303, and a lower surface of each
retainer 307 is positioned at a predetermined height h11 from the
bottom surface of the lower cover 303.
[0907] This predetermined height h11 is positioned preferably at
1/10 to 1/2 and more preferably at 1/5 to 1/3 of the thickness of
the drug solution feeder 301, that is, the thickness H1 from the
upper/front surface of the upper cover 302 to the lower surface of
the lower cover 303.
[0908] The reason for this is because, by the retainers 307 being
positioned at the height h1, in fixing the drug solution feeder 301
by sewing onto an experimental animal, the sewn portion of the
experimental animal can be brought to a plan view position close to
the retainers 307 and the drug solution feeder 301 can thus be
drawn close to a portion immediately below it so that it is
attached in a less suspended manner.
[0909] The retainers 307 may be formed so as to protrude from side
surfaces of the lower base frame 305 instead.
[0910] In this case, the retainers 307 may be positioned at
positions at which the predetermined height h11 is secured or may
be formed to protrude in plan view directions from the lower
surface of the lower cover 303, which is the bottom surface of the
drug solution feeder.
[0911] The plan view positions at which the thread retainers 307
are formed are left and right side surface locations of the drug
solution feeder 301 as shown in FIG. 22.
[0912] That is, the thread retainers 307 are formed at a total of
three locations, i.e. the two locations at the right side surface
of a location near the portion at which the tube 306 protrudes to
the exterior and a location at the upper side of this location, and
the one location near the center of the left side surface.
[0913] If the formation locations at the right side surface of the
thread retainers 307 are positions at opposite sides across the
position of protrusion of the tube 306, the protruding portion of
the tube 306 that protrudes from the side surface of the drug
solution feeder 301 can be fixed and made less likely to move, and
the drug solution can be supplied continuously and with stability
to an experimental animal without having to move a catheter for
drug solution supply to the experimental animal.
[0914] The formation locations in plan view of the thread retainers
307 are preferably at inner sides of a quadrilateral circumscribing
the outermost ends of the outer case as shown in FIG. 22.
[0915] The quadrilateral circumscribing the outer case is
designated as follows in FIG. 22.
[0916] That is, the quadrilateral is drawn by an upper end
longitudinal direction tangent e11 that constitutes the maximum
width of the outer case in the longitudinal direction of the drug
solution feeder 301, a lower end longitudinal direction tangent e21
that constitutes the maximum width of the outer case in the same
longitudinal direction, a right end narrow width direction tangent
e31 that constitutes the maximum width of the outer case in the
narrow width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction,
and a left end narrow width direction tangent e41 that constitutes
the maximum width of the outer case in the same narrow width
direction (lateral direction).
[0917] The thread retainers 307 are positioned inside the
quadrilateral surrounded by the tangents e1, e2, e3, and e4 in plan
view.
[0918] By the thread retainers 307 thus being positioned within the
above-described quadrilateral in plan view, the thread retainers
307 do not protrude outward from the side surfaces of the outer
case unnecessarily, and the thread retainers 307 are prevented from
being pressed against an experimental animal unnecessarily and
inflicting injury or discomfort on the experimental animal.
[0919] In particular, because the thread retainers 307 tend to be
formed as protrusions that tend to press against the experimental
animal locally and thereby inflict injury readily, keeping the
thread retainers 307 within the above-described quadrilateral is an
effective means for preventing such problems.
[0920] Also, as shown in FIG. 20A, the tube 311b protrudes to the
exterior from a side surface.
[0921] FIG. 22 is a plan diagram in plan view of the drug solution
feeder 301 (showing the state of the drug solution feeder 301 as
viewed from the upper side of the paper surface of FIG. 20A).
[0922] As shown in this plan diagram, the same arrangement as that
of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 12 is employed.
[0923] As a liquid injection port 308, the reservoir 309, a battery
310, the tube 311, the arcuate tube portion 311a, an exposed tube
portion 311b, the micropump 312, outer case fixing screws 313, a
rotation drive unit 314, a first cam 315, a second cam 316, a cam
unit 317, the pressing pins 318, guiding fittings 319, an
integrated circuit (IC) 325, and a circuit substrate 326 in FIG.
22, the same members as 208, the reservoir 209, the battery 210,
the tube 211, the arcuate tube portion 211a, the exposed tube
portion 211b, the micropump 212, the outer case fixing screws 213,
the rotation drive unit 214, the first cam 215, the second cam 216,
the cam unit 217, the pressing pins 218, the guiding fittings 219,
the integrated circuit (IC) 225, and the circuit substrate 226
shown in FIG. 12 are used, and thus descriptions of these members
shall be omitted.
[0924] The general cross-sectional structure and the detailed
structure and materials of the principal portions of the drug
solution feeder 301 are shown in FIGS. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and
26.
[0925] These correspond to FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 for the
third embodiment.
[0926] Because descriptions of the upper cover 302, the lower cover
303, the upper base frame 304, the lower base frame 305, and the
outer case fixing screws 313 shown in FIGS. 21 to 26 will be the
same as the descriptions of the upper cover 202, the lower cover
203, the upper base frame 204, the lower base frame 205, and the
outer case fixing screws 213 shown in FIGS. 11 to 16, descriptions
of these members shall be omitted.
[0927] Also, as mentioned above, the liquid injection port 308 is
the same as the liquid injection port 208 of the third embodiment,
and because a description of a liquid injection port protrusion
308a, an injection opening 308b, an inclined surface 308c, a liquid
injection port frame 320, a space 320a, a connecting cylinder
portion 320b, a communicating path 320c, and a liquid injection
port packing 321 will be the same as the description of the liquid
injection port protrusion 208a, the injection opening 208b, the
inclined surface 208c, the liquid injection port frame 220, the
space 220a, the connecting cylinder portion 220b, the communicating
path 220c, and the liquid injection port packing 221 of the third
embodiment shown in FIG. 16, descriptions of these members shall be
omitted.
[0928] In regard to the dimensions of the liquid injection port
protrusion 308a, because descriptions of an outer diameter d11,
h21, an inclination angle .quadrature.1, an inner diameter d21, an
outer diameter d31, and a diameter d41 will be the same as the
descriptions of the outer diameter d1, h2, the inclination angle
.quadrature., the inner diameter d2, the outer diameter d3, and the
diameter d4 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 16 and thus
descriptions of these members shall be omitted.
[0929] Also, the shape, material, etc., of the reservoir 309 are
the same as those of the reservoir 209 of the third embodiment, and
because descriptions of a liquid injection port connecting portion
309a, a connecting pipe connecting portion 309b, and a drug
solution storage portion 309c will be the same as the descriptions
of the liquid injection port connecting portion 209a, the
connecting pipe connecting portion 209b, and the drug solution
storage portion 209c of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 12,
descriptions of these members shall be omitted.
[0930] Also, the shape, material, etc., of the tube 311 are the
same as those of the tube 211 of the third embodiment, and because
descriptions of the arcuate tube portion 311a, the exposed tube
portion 311b, and a connecting pipe attachment portion 311c is the
same as the arcuate tube portion 211a, the exposed tube portion
211b, and the connecting pipe attachment portion 211c of the third
embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 to 16, descriptions of these members
shall be omitted.
[0931] Also, the shape, material, etc., of the micropump 312 are
the same as those of the micropump 212 of the third embodiment, and
because descriptions of the rotation drive unit 314, the first cam
315, the second cam 316, the cam unit 317, the pressing pins 318, a
tube exposing opening 323, a tube housing portion 324, the arcuate
tube portion supporting wall 324a, and a rotation center O1 will be
the same as the description of the rotation drive unit 214, the
first cam 215, the second cam 216, the cam unit 217, the pressing
pins 218, the tube exposing opening 223, the tube housing portion
224, the arcuate tube portion supporting wall 224a, and the
rotation center O of the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 to 16,
descriptions of these members shall be omitted.
[0932] In addition to the above, because descriptions of a
connecting pipe 322, the IC 325, the circuit substrate 326, circuit
substrate fixing screws 327, external signal input ports 328, and
input pins 329 will be the same as the descriptions of the
connecting pipe 222, the IC 225, the circuit substrate 226, the
circuit substrate fixing screws 227, the external signal input
ports 228, and the input pins 229 of the third embodiment shown in
FIGS. 12 to 16, descriptions of these members shall be omitted.
[0933] Also, with the drug solution feeder 301 according to the
sixth embodiment, because descriptions of an assembly method
thereof, a sterilization process of the respective components
during assembly, and a sterilization process for the entire drug
solution feeder 301 will be the same as the corresponding
descriptions for the drug solution feeder 201 according to the
third embodiment, these descriptions shall be omitted.
[0934] Also, because a description of an application of
waterproofing for preventing the entry of body fluids of an
experimental animal into the interior of the drug solution feeder
301 and joining of members, with portions exposed to the exterior,
to each other by attachment of an adhesive with a waterproof
function for the waterproofing will be the same as the
corresponding description for the drug solution feeder 201
according to the third embodiment, this description shall be
omitted.
[0935] Also, because a description of a usage method of the drug
solution feeder 301 will be the same as the corresponding
description of the drug solution feeder 201 according to the third
embodiment, this description shall be omitted.
Seventh Embodiment
[0936] A seventh embodiment shall now be described with reference
to FIGS. 27 and 28.
[0937] Whereas in the sixth embodiment, the reservoir 309 and the
battery 310 are partially overlapped in plan view, in the seventh
embodiment, the reservoir 309 and the battery 310 are disposed so
as not to overlap in plan view.
[0938] Also, whereas in the sixth embodiment, the arcuate tube
portion 311a, the cam unit 317, the pressing pins 318, etc., of the
micropump 312 are disposed above the rotation drive unit 314, the
seventh embodiment differs in that these components are oppositely
disposed below the rotation drive unit 314.
[0939] In addition to the above, the seventh embodiment is the same
as the sixth embodiment.
[0940] FIG. 27 is a plan view of principal portions of the second
embodiment, and FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of principal
portions taken along positions C1-C1 of FIG. 27.
[0941] In FIG. 28, a substantially central portion in the
longitudinal direction of the upper cover 302 is formed in a convex
shape that protrudes slightly upward, and the lower/rear surface of
the lower cover 303 is formed in a concave shape.
[0942] With the concave shape at the lower/rear surface, a
substantially central portion is formed by a horizontal straight
line, a left end side is formed by a leftwardly descending straight
line, and a right end side is formed by a rightwardly descending
straight line.
[0943] As shown in FIG. 27, the battery 310 is disposed somewhat to
the left of the center in the longitudinal direction (left/right
direction in FIG. 27) of the drug solution feeder 301 and at
substantially the center in the narrow width direction (up/down
direction in FIG. 27).
[0944] Also, as shown in FIG. 28, as the battery 310, a battery,
such as a button type battery, that is thick so as to nearly
contact the inner surface of the upper cover 302 and the inner
surface of the lower cover 303 is employed.
[0945] The reservoir 309 is formed in a semicircular shape at the
battery 310 side so as to avoid the battery 310 as shown in FIG. 27
and is formed to a thickness such that the inner surface of the
upper cover 302 and the inner surface of the lower cover 303 are
nearly in contact as shown in FIG. 28.
[0946] The seventh embodiment is the same as the fourth embodiment
shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, and because descriptions of the liquid
port 308, the reservoir 309, the drug solution storage portion
309c, the battery 310, the tube 311, the arcuate tube portion 311a,
the exposed tube portion 311b, the connecting pipe attachment
portion 311 c, the micropump 312, the rotation drive unit 314, the
first cam 315, the second cam 316, the cam unit 317, the pressing
pins 318, the liquid injection port frame 320, the connecting
cylinder portion 320b, the liquid injection port packing 321, the
connecting pipe 322, the circuit substrate 326, and the IC 325 will
be the same as the descriptions of the liquid injection port 208,
the reservoir 209, the drug solution storage portion 209c, the
battery 210, the tube 311, the arcuate tube portion 311a, the
exposed tube portion 311b, the connecting pipe attachment portion
311c, the micropump 312, the rotation drive unit 314, the first cam
315, the second cam 316, the cam unit 317, the pressing pins 318,
the liquid injection port frame 320, the connecting cylinder
portion 320b, the liquid injection port packing 321, the connecting
pipe 322, the circuit substrate 326, and the IC 325 of the fourth
embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the descriptions of these
members shall be omitted.
Eighth Embodiment
[0947] An eighth embodiment differs from the sixth embodiment in
that, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 29, the liquid injection
port 308 is disposed at a central portion in the narrow width
direction of the drug solution feeder 301 in plan view.
[0948] The arrangements of other portions, especially the outer
shape of the outer case of the drug solution feeder, are the same
as those of the sixth embodiment.
[0949] The seventh embodiment is the same as the fifth embodiment
shown in FIG. 19, and because descriptions of an intermediate point
301a, a predetermined range width 301b, maximum width 301c, the
liquid injection port 308, a central position 308d, the reservoir
309, the battery 310, and the micropump 312 in FIG. 29 will be the
same as the descriptions of the intermediate point 201a, the
predetermined range width 201b, the maximum width 201c, the liquid
injection port 208, the central position 208d, the reservoir 209,
the battery 210, and the micropump 212 of the fifth embodiment
shown in FIG. 19, the descriptions of these members shall be
omitted.
Ninth Embodiment
[0950] A ninth embodiment shall now be described with reference to
FIG. 30.
[0951] Because with the outer case, the substantially central
portion of the upper/front surface in the wide width direction of
the drug solution feeder is formed in a convex surface or the
substantially central portion of the lower/rear surface in the wide
width direction of the drug solution feeder is formed in a concave
surface or both the convex surface and the concave surface are
formed, the shapes of the internal components can be configured in
a modified manner.
[0952] As shown in FIG. 30, with the ninth embodiment, by a
substantially central portion of the lower/rear surface of the
lower cover 303 being formed in a concave surface, a lower portion
of the reservoir 309 can be formed to extend downward.
[0953] FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of
the drug solution feeder 301 corresponding to FIG. 23.
[0954] In FIG. 30, when the left and right end sides in the
longitudinal direction of the lower cover 303 are formed to
protrude in the downward direction with respect to FIG. 23, the
lower portion of the reservoir 309 at the outer left end portion
that does not overlap with the battery 310 in plan view is extended
downward, thereby forming a lower extended portion 309g.
[0955] Thus, a volume that is larger by the amount corresponding to
the lower extended portion 309g can be secured for the reservoir
309.
[0956] The extended portion of the reservoir 309 is not limited to
the above and may be another portion instead.
[0957] For example, when the opposite end sides in the narrow width
direction of the lower cover 303 are protruded in the downward
direction with respect to FIG. 23, the opposing ends of the
reservoir 309 in the narrow width direction that do not overlap
with the battery 310 in plan view may be extended downward.
[0958] Or, when a substantially central portion in the longitudinal
direction of the upper/front surface of the upper cover 302 is
convex, an upper portion of the reservoir 309 corresponding to the
convex shape of the central portion may be formed to protrude in
the upward direction along the convex shape.
[0959] Or, when a substantially central portion in the narrow width
direction of the upper/front surface of the upper cover 302 is
convex, the upper side of the reservoir 309 may be formed to
protrude in correspondence to the convex shape.
Tenth Embodiment
[0960] A tenth embodiment shall now be described with reference to
FIG. 31.
[0961] Because with the outer case, the substantially central
portion of the upper/front surface in the wide width direction of
the drug solution feeder is formed in a convex surface or the
substantially central portion of the lower/rear surface in the wide
width direction of the drug solution feeder is formed in a concave
surface or both the convex surface and the concave surface are
formed, the shapes of the internal components can be configured in
a modified manner.
[0962] The tenth embodiment provides a modification example in
which an up/down direction axis of the reservoir 309 is inclined
with respect to an up/down direction axis 311h of the drug solution
feeder 301 and an up/down direction of the micropump 312 is also
inclined as shown in FIG. 31.
[0963] FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions
corresponding to FIG. 28.
[0964] When the drug solution feeder 301 is set on a planar flat
surface, the up/down direction axis 311h of the drug solution
feeder 301 is a vertical axis that is orthogonal to the flat
surface.
[0965] In FIG. 31, the lower/rear surface of the lower cover 303 is
formed in a concave surface such that the central portion in the
longitudinal direction is concave.
[0966] A central lower/rear surface 303c is formed at a central
portion of the lower/rear surface of the lower cover 303, a left
lower/rear surface 303d and a right lower/rear surface 303e are
formed to the left and right, respectively, of the central
lower/rear surface 303c, and each of the central lower/rear surface
303c, the left lower/rear surface 303d, and the right lower/rear
surface 303e is formed in a substantially straight-line form.
[0967] Each of the central lower/rear surface 303c, the left
lower/rear surface 303d, and the right lower/rear surface 303e may
be formed instead in an arcuate form.
[0968] Meanwhile, a central upper/front surface 302c is formed at a
central portion of the upper surface of the upper cover 302, a left
upper/front surface 302d and a right upper/front surface 302e are
formed to the left and right, respectively, of the central
upper/front surface 302c, and each of the central upper/front
surface 302c, the left upper/front surface 302d, and the right
upper/front surface 302e is formed in a substantially arcuate
form.
[0969] Each of the central upper/front surface 302c, the left
upper/front surface 302d, and the right upper/front surface 302e
may be formed instead in a straight-line shape.
[0970] Here, the up/down direction axis 309h of the reservoir 309
is substantially orthogonal to the left lower/rear surface 303d of
the lower cover 303 and is thus inclined toward the left at a
reservoir inclination angle .quadrature.1 with respect to the
up/down direction axis 311h of the drug solution feeder 301 that is
orthogonal to the central lower/rear surface 303c of the lower
cover 303.
[0971] Likewise, the up/down direction axis 312a of the micropump
312 is substantially orthogonal to the right lower/rear surface
303e of the lower cover 303 and is thus inclined toward the right
at a micropump inclination angle .quadrature.2 with respect to the
up/down direction axis 311h of the drug solution feeder 301 that is
orthogonal to the central lower/rear surface 303c of the lower
cover 303.
[0972] Because the reservoir 309 and the micropump 312 are thus
disposed with the respective up/down axes being inclined so as to
be substantially orthogonal to the concave surface of the
lower/rear surface of the lower cover 303 and the convex surface of
the upper/front surface of the upper cover 302 that constitute the
outer case, the reservoir 309 and the micropump 312 can be
positioned with hardly any gap with respect to the inner surface of
the outer case and a thin drug solution feeder can thus be
realized.
[0973] Because a thin form can thus be realized while realizing
lessening of discomfort and minimizing injury to an animal by
making the upper/front surface of the outer case a convex surface
and the lower/rear surface a concave surface, injuring of the
animal can be lessened further.
Eleventh Embodiment
[0974] An eleventh embodiment shall now be described with reference
to FIGS. 32A to 32D.
[0975] The shapes of the upper/front surface and the lower/rear
surface of the outer case are not limited to those described
above.
[0976] The eleventh embodiment is arranged as shown in FIGS. 32A to
32D.
[0977] In FIG. 32A, in the longitudinal direction, a substantially
central portion of the upper/front surface of the upper cover 302
is formed in a convex surface, and the lower/rear surface of the
lower cover 303 is formed in a straight-line shape.
[0978] In FIG. 32B, in opposition to the arrangement shown in FIG.
32A, the upper/front surface of the upper cover 302 is formed in a
straight-line shape, and a substantially central portion of the
lower/rear surface of the lower cover 303 is formed in a concave
shape.
[0979] In FIG. 32C, in the narrow width direction, a substantially
central portion of the upper/front surface of the upper cover 302
is formed in a convex surface, and the lower/rear surface of the
lower cover 303 is formed in a straight-line shape.
[0980] In FIG. 32D, in opposition to the arrangement shown in FIG.
32C, the upper/front surface of the upper cover 302 is formed in a
straight-line shape, and a substantially central portion of the
lower/rear surface of the lower cover 303 is formed in a concave
shape.
[0981] Combinations besides the above are also possible.
[0982] By these arrangements, discomfort to an animal is eliminated
further when the drug solution feeder is incorporated in the
animal.
[0983] In regard to the inclined surfaces, this invention is not
limited to the forms described with the sixth to eleventh
embodiments, and it is sufficient that an inclined surface be
formed at least at a portion of the outer walls spanning from the
skin side surface, which is the surface of the upper cover 302, to
the rear surface, which is the surface of the lower cover 303.
[0984] For example, as has been mentioned above, though in the
sixth embodiment shown in FIGS. 20A to 20D, all of the outer walls
(side surfaces) are arranged as the inclined surfaces 301d, 301e,
301f, and 301g, an embodiment is also possible in which just the
inclined surfaces 301d and 301e are left and the other outer walls
are made non-inclined (by setting .quadrature.11 and .quadrature.21
to 0 degrees).
[0985] In this case, the outer walls in the wide width direction at
which the inclined surfaces 301f and 301g were formed are formed in
substantially vertical surfaces.
[0986] The substantially vertical surfaces become the vertical hold
surfaces to be described below.
[0987] With this embodiment, after the drug solution feeder 301 is
implanted under a skin, the substantially vertical surfaces
(vertical hold surfaces) can be held readily via the skin and the
drug solution feeder 301 in the implanted state can be fixed
readily.
[0988] The position of the liquid injection port 308 can thus be
fixed readily in replenishing the drug solution into the reservoir
309, and the position into which an injection needle is to be
inserted can thereby be clarified to improve the workability.
[0989] An embodiment is also possible in which just the inclined
surfaces 301f and 301g, among the inclined surfaces 301d, 301e,
301f, and 301g, are left and the other outer walls are made
non-inclined (by setting .quadrature.11 and .quadrature.21 to 0
degrees).
[0990] An embodiment is also possible in which one of the inclined
surfaces 301d, 301e, 301f, and 301g is formed as an inclined
surface and the other outer walls are made substantially vertical
surfaces that are non-inclined.
[0991] An embodiment is also possible in which a vertical hold
surface, such as that described above, is provided at a portion of
an inclined surface.
[0992] To describe using the sixth embodiment shown in FIGS. 20A to
20D, intermediate portions of the inclined surfaces 301f and 301g
may be formed to be substantially vertical partially (by setting
.quadrature.11 and .quadrature.21 to 0 degrees).
[0993] In this case, the inclined surfaces 301f and 301g are formed
at opposite sides of the respective substantially vertical
surfaces, and these vertical surfaces become the vertical hold
surfaces.
[0994] Modification examples and application examples that can be
applied to the respective embodiments shall now be described.
MODIFICATION EXAMPLE 1
[0995] FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of
the liquid injection port unit 208 that illustrates a modification
example of the liquid injection port 208 (including the liquid
injection port 308).
[0996] Whereas the liquid injection port protrusion 208a in FIG. 16
is made integral in color tone with the upper cover 202 in FIG. 16,
the liquid injection port protrusion 208a in FIG. 33 is differed in
color tone from the upper cover 202.
[0997] In terms of color tone, whereas the upper cover 202 is
formed of a colorless, transparent material, the liquid injection
port protrusion 208a in FIG. 33 is formed of a red material.
[0998] The liquid injection port protrusion 208a may thus be
arranged as a separate member from the upper cover 202 and these
components may be bonded at a contact surface by an adhesive with a
waterproof property, etc., or a red synthetic resin may be formed
on the upper cover 202 to form the liquid injection port protrusion
208a integrally from resin.
[0999] Because the liquid injection port protrusion 208a is made
red in color and thus differed in color tone from the upper cover
202, when the drug solution feeder 201 is implanted under a skin of
an experimental animal, the red color of the liquid injection port
protrusion 208a can be visually recognized readily from the
exterior, thus enabling an experimenter to readily recognize the
location of the liquid injection port 208 and readily insert an
injector into the liquid injection port 208.
[1000] Here, the color tone of the liquid injection port protrusion
208a is not limited to a red-based color tone, and the color tone
may be any color tone that is readily recognizable from the
exterior by an experimenter, and may be a blue-based or black-based
color tone, etc.
[1001] In FIG.33, a removal preventing collar 220d that prevents
the liquid injection port packing 221 from becoming removed is
provided at an upper end of the liquid injection port frame
220.
[1002] Structures besides the above are formed in the same manner
as in FIG. 16.
MODIFICATION EXAMPLE 2
[1003] FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of
the liquid injection port unit 208 that illustrates another
modification example of the liquid injection port 208 (including
the liquid injection port 308).
[1004] With the liquid injection port 208 in FIG. 34, a guiding
inclined surface 220e, which serves as a guide for inserting in an
injector from the exterior, is provided at an upper end of the
liquid injection port frame 220.
[1005] An inclination angle .quadrature. of this guiding inclined
surface is formed in the direction of spreading toward the upper
side and is preferably 5 degrees to 30 degrees and more preferably
10 degrees to 20 degrees.
MODIFICATION EXAMPLE 3
[1006] FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view of principal portions of
the liquid injection port unit 208 that illustrates yet another
modification example of the liquid injection port 208 (including
the liquid injection port 308).
[1007] In FIG. 35, the liquid injection port 208 does not have a
protrusion protruding from the upper surface of the upper cover
202.
[1008] That is, the liquid injection port protrusion 208a, such as
that shown in FIGS. 14 and 16, is not present.
[1009] The upper end of the liquid injection port frame 220 is thus
formed so as to be kept at a height no more than the upper surface
of the upper cover 202.
[1010] When the liquid injection port 208 is thus not protruded
from the upper surface of the upper cover 202, there is no need to
make the skin of an experimental animal become protruded, and the
burden on the experimental animal is lightened.
[1011] However, because it becomes difficult for an experimenter to
find the location of the liquid injection port 208 in the process
of supplying the drug solution, the color tone of the liquid
injection port frame 220 must be differed from the color tone of
the upper cover 202 as in the Modification Example 1.
MODIFICATION EXAMPLE 4
[1012] The micropump 212 (312) is not limited to the type described
above.
[1013] That is, the micropump may be of any type as long as the
drug solution is appropriately fed and discharged from the
reservoir 209 (309) to the exterior.
[1014] For example, the structures of the rotation drive unit 214
(314) and the cam unit 217 (317) may be the same as those disclosed
in Japanese Patent No. 3702901.
[1015] Also, though with the rotation drive unit 214 (314), a watch
movement that drives the hands of a watch is used and step driving
of the step motor thereof is performed by the drive control means
according to priorly determined drive signals or a control program
to rotatingly drive the cam unit, the rotation drive unit may be of
an arrangement in addition to the above.
[1016] Also, the pump structure that successively presses the tube
211 (311) to deliver the drug solution may be of any structure or
system.
[1017] For example, the micropump may be one with which the tube is
successively pressed locally by a plurality of metal balls that
rotate along the tube while being kept at predetermined intervals
and the drug solution that is present between the portions of the
tube at the predetermined intervals of the plurality of balls is
discharged.
MODIFICATION EXAMPLE 5
[1018] Though the battery 210 (310) in each of the embodiments may
be a silver oxide battery, lithium battery, or other type that is
disposable as a primary battery, the battery may also be a
rechargeable secondary battery.
[1019] In this case, recharging terminals must be formed, for
example, on the lower cover 203 (302) of the drug solution feeder
201 (301).
[1020] The secondary battery can be recharged by connecting
connection terminals of an external charger to the recharging
terminals and the drug solution feeder 201 (301) can thereby be
used over a long term or reused.
[1021] As the battery 210 (310) in each of the embodiments
described above, a battery that outputs a DC voltage of 1.5V is
used.
[1022] Another power supply besides a battery may be used
instead.
MODIFICATION EXAMPLE 6
[1023] Instead of the above-described waterproofing, a waterproof
structure may be employed to prevent the entry of body fluids of an
experimental animal into the interior of the drug solution
feeder.
[1024] For example, in each embodiment, microprotrusions are formed
along the entire periphery of the drug solution feeder on at least
one of the contacting surfaces among each set of the mutual outer
peripheral contacting surfaces of the upper cover 202 (302) and the
upper base frame 204 (304), the mutual outer peripheral contacting
surfaces of the upper base frame 204 (304) and the lower base frame
205 (305), and the mutual contacting surfaces of the lower base
frame 205 (305) and the lower cover 203 (303).
[1025] These microprotrusions are formed at the inner peripheral
side of the outer case fixing screws 213 (313) that are tightened
to fix outer case members.
[1026] By then tightening the outer case fixing screws 213 (313),
the respective contacting surfaces are press-contacted to each
other, and because the upper cover 202 (302), the upper base frame
204 (304), the lower base frame 205 (305), and the lower cover 203
(303) are formed of synthetic resin, the microprotrusions are
squashed by the press contact, thereby realizing a waterproof
structure.
[1027] The microprotrusions may instead be fused by heating by
ultrasonic vibration.
[1028] In the above cases, the injection opening 208b (308b) of the
liquid injection port 208 (308) and the upper outer peripheral wall
surface of the liquid injection port frame 220 (320), the inner
wall surface of the liquid injection port frame 220 (320) and the
outer peripheral wall surface of the liquid injection port packing
221 (321), and the outer peripheral surface of the exposed tube
portion 211b (311b) at the right end of the tube 211 (311) and the
inner peripheral wall surface of the tube exposing opening 223
(323) formed in the right walls of the upper cover 202 (302) and
the upper base frame 204 (304) are preferably adhered together by
the ultraviolet curing adhesive described above.
[1029] As another type of waterproof structure, a waterproof
packing structure, in which waterproof packings are press-contacted
at the contacting portion of the respective members, may also be
employed.
[1030] For example, by forming waterproof packing positioning
grooves from synthetic rubber along the circumferences of the outer
peripheral contacting surfaces of the upper cover 202 (302) and the
upper base frame 204 (304), the outer peripheral contacting
surfaces of the upper base frame 204 (304) and the lower base frame
205 (305), the contacting surfaces of the lower base frame 205
(305) and the lower cover 203 (303), the contacting surfaces of the
injection opening 208b (308b) of the liquid injection port 208
(308) and the upper outer periphery of the liquid injection port
frame 220 (320), and the outer peripheral surface of the exposed
tube portion 211b (311b) at the right end of the tube 211 (311) and
the inner peripheral wall surface of the tube exposing opening 223
(323) formed in the right walls of the upper cover 202 (302) and
the upper base frame 204 (304) and, upon inserting waterproof
packings in the positioning grooves, assembling, and tightening the
outer case fixing screws 213 (313), a waterproof structure is
obtained by the respective waterproof packings being elastically
pressed.
MODIFICATION EXAMPLE 7
[1031] With the drug solution feeder 201 (including the drug
solution feeder 301), the reservoir 209 is set to expand and
contract and become deformed in outer shape when the drug solution
is fed in the above-described manner via the liquid injection port
208 into the reservoir 209 of the above-described material and
thickness and when the drug solution is discharged by the micropump
212.
[1032] For example, when the reservoir 209 is filled with the drug
solution, the reservoir 209 is expanded and takes on an expanded
outer shape, that is, the plan view shape and the side view shape
shown in FIGS. 12, 13, and 14.
[1033] As the drug solution is thereafter discharged by the
micropump 212, the reservoir 209 contracts gradually and the outer
shape thereof becomes a contracted outer shape.
[1034] If the outer shape of the reservoir 209 is set so as not to
change even when the drug solution is discharged from the reservoir
209 by the micropump 212, a space, corresponding to the volume of
the discharged drug solution, will form inside the reservoir
209.
[1035] This space will be in a substantially vacuum state.
[1036] When the drug solution feeding operation by the micropump
212 is continued thereafter, the drug solution becomes difficult to
discharge and control of drug solution feeding (feeding amount,
feeding speed, etc.) becomes difficult.
[1037] This is because a counteracting force due to the vacuum
state of the space inside the reservoir 209 acts against the drug
solution feeding force of the micropump 212.
[1038] Thus, the more the drug solution is discharged from the
reservoir 209, the greater the counteracting force, and the drug
solution feeding control is made more difficult.
[1039] Thus, in order to make-an improvement regarding the drug
solution feeding control being made more difficult, the reservoir
209 is preferably enabled to contract in accompaniment with the
discharge of the drug solution from the reservoir 209.
[1040] FIG. 36 shows a modification example that is arranged so
that the reservoir 209 can contract.
[1041] FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view as viewed from
substantially the same direction as FIG. 14.
[1042] In contrast to FIG. 14, the reservoir 209 and the battery
210 are illustrated without omission in the left/right
direction.
[1043] In FIG. 36, the reservoir 209 is arranged in the same manner
as in FIG. 14, and the material and thickness thereof are also
substantially the same as those in FIG. 14.
[1044] In FIG. 36, because most of the drug solution has been
discharged from the reservoir 209 by the micropump 212, an upper
side wall 209d of the reservoir 209 droops down to a drooped
position 209e, indicated by solid lines.
[1045] The drooped position 209e descends to a position at which
the upper side wall 209d substantially contacts a lower side wall
209f of the reservoir 209.
[1046] In this state, the drug solution has been discharged by the
micropump 212 and only a slight amount is present in the reservoir
209.
[1047] Meanwhile, a deformable upper cover portion 230, which is
elastically deformable, is formed on a planar region of the upper
cover 202 that opposes the reservoir 209 in plan view.
[1048] The material of the deformable upper cover portion 230 is
the same as that of the reservoir 209 and is, specifically, an
olefin-based, vinyl-chloride-based, or silicone-based synthetic
resin that is excellent in chemical resistance, elasticity, high
strength, and gas barrier property and has a rubber hardness of
approximately 25 degrees to 40 degrees, and the thickness thereof
is set to 0.2 mm.
[1049] With the deformable upper cover portion 230, an outer
peripheral surface 230b of an outer peripheral thick portion 230a
at the outer periphery is joined by an adhesive or joined by heat
fusion to an inner peripheral surface of an opening of the upper
cover 202 to secure a waterproof property.
[1050] A substantially central portion of the deformable upper
cover portion 230 is arranged as a central thin portion 230c.
[1051] As shown in FIG. 36, though as most of the drug solution in
the reservoir 209 becomes discharged, the pressure at the inner
side of the deformable upper cover portion 230, that is, the
interior of the drug solution feeder 201 drops and the upper side
wall 209d of the reservoir 209 thus tends to deform downwards, this
downward deformation is prevented by the pressure drop that occurs
at the upper side.
[1052] In this process, the central thin portion 230c becomes
elastically deformed inward (downward in FIG. 36) by the pressure
drop at its inner side and droops down to a lower position
230d.
[1053] The pressure at the inner side of the thin portion 230c thus
hardly drops and the drooping of the upper side wall 209d of the
reservoir 209 is thus not prevented.
[1054] The lowering of the pressure inside the reservoir 209 is
thus prevented, and the discharge of the drug solution by the
micropump 212 is performed smoothly.
[1055] When the interior of the reservoir 209 is filled with the
drug solution, the central thin portion 230c of the deformable
upper cover portion 230 is positioned at the upper side and the
side view shape thereof is a bellows shape as indicated by
alternate long and two short dashes lines in FIG. 36.
[1056] This is because the deformable upper cover portion 230 is
thereby made elastically deformable more readily to the lower
position 230d.
[1057] The shape of the thin portion 230c when the interior of the
reservoir 209 is filled with the drug solution is not restricted to
a bellows shape and may be horizontal instead.
[1058] That is, any material or shape may be employed as long as
the deformable upper cover portion 230 can elastically deform
readily to the lower position 230d.
[1059] This invention is not limited to the structure of the
deformable upper cover portion 230, which is elastically deformable
and is provided at the upper cover 202, and any structure may be
employed by which the outer case portion of the drug solution
feeder 201 deforms elastically inward in accordance with the
pressure drop inside reservoir 209 when the drug solution in the
reservoir 209 is discharged.
[1060] For example, an opening in communication with the exterior
may be provided in the outer case portion of the drug solution
feeder 201 so as to be in communication with a space that is at the
inner side of the upper cover 202 and yet at the outer side of the
reservoir 209.
[1061] For example, the upper cover 202, shown in FIGS. 13 and 14,
is provided with a small hole at a position that overlaps with the
reservoir 209 in plan view.
[1062] This small hole may be provided instead at a position of the
lower cover 203 that overlaps in plan view with the reservoir
209.
[1063] The reservoir 209 may be configured so that the outer shape
of the reservoir 209 hardly changes when the drug solution is fed
in the above-described manner via the liquid injection port 208 and
when the drug solution is discharged by the micropump 212.
[1064] In this case, a material that does not readily deform
elastically is selected as the material of the reservoir 209.
[1065] This invention is not limited to the above-described
embodiments, and modifications, improvements, etc., within a range
in which the objects of this invention can be achieved (within a
range that does not deviate from the gist of the invention) are
included in this invention.
[1066] That is, though this invention is illustrated and described
in particular in regard to specific embodiments, a person skilled
in the art can add various modifications, regarding the shape,
material, combination, and other detailed arrangements and
processing methods among manufacturing processes, to the
above-described embodiments without deviating from the philosophy
of the art and the scope of the objects of this invention.
[1067] The above-disclosed descriptions that limit the shape,
material, manufacturing process, etc., are provided as examples for
facilitating the understanding of this invention and because these
do not limit this invention, descriptions using names of members,
with which a part or all of the restrictions concerning the shape,
material, and combination, have been eliminated, are included
within this invention.
[1068] For example, though each of the above-described embodiments
is described as a fluid transportation device to be implanted
inside a living body, implantation is not limited to inside a
living body and implantation in another equipment or device is also
possible.
[1069] In particular, because the present fluid transportation
device has a sealed structure, it is favorable as a fluid
transportation device to be used inside a fluid or a location with
much dust.
[1070] Thus, each of the above-described embodiments can provide a
fluid transportation device, with which compactness and thinness
are realized and which has a waterproof property enabling
implantation inside a living body, enables additional injection of
a drug solution to be performed at any suitable timing, enables
continuous, sustained flow of a drug solution or other fluid of a
microvolume, and is high in safety.
[1071] Though each of the above-described embodiments is formed in
an outer shape that is substantially rectangular in plan view, this
invention is not restricted thereto, and the outer shape may be
square, circular, elliptical, oval, or semicircular in plan view
and may even be spherical, etc.
[1072] Which outer shape is applied is selected according to the
location, circumstances, etc., of use and, for example, with a type
that is implanted under the skin, an outer shape that does not
inflict discomfort (does not have an impact) upon implantation is
selected.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[1073] Because the fluid transportation device according to this
invention can be made compact and enables continuous flow at a
micro flow rate with stability, it is favorable for implantation in
a living body for development of a new drug, treatment, or other
medical purpose.
[1074] The fluid transportation device according to this invention
can also be used with various machines and devices and can be
implanted inside a device or outside a device to transport water,
saline solution, drug solution, oil, aromatic liquid, ink, gas, or
other fluid.
[1075] The fluid transportation device according to this invention
can also be used alone to feed or make an abovementioned fluid
flow.
[1076] The drug solution feeder 201 or 301 according to this
invention can be implanted, as described above, under the skin of
an experimental animal and used in an animal experiment concerning
a drug solution.
[1077] The drug solution may be for development of a new medical
drug, for development of a nutrient agent for a small animal, etc.,
and the application thereof is not limited.
[1078] The drug solution feeder 201 or 301 according to this
invention is not limited to being a device to be implanted in an
experimental animal and may be applied to an application of
implantation under the skin of a human body, and the drug solution
in this case may be a drug solution for medical treatment or a
nutrient solution and may be injected into a blood vessel or a
muscle.
* * * * *