The present invention concerns a drug delivery device with an electric brushless DC or stepper motor. A novel approach to motor control uses the micro-stepping technique in combination with over-revving the commutation of the stepper motor and reversing the rotor for a small number of microsteps with each delivery cycle. This approach has the effect of keeping the elasticity of the drive train behind the plunger in a relaxed state after completing a delivery cycle, providing better control of the movement of the rotor. Loss of steps can be avoided for a wide range of friction or speed situations, increasing the accuracy of drug delivery and making tracking of the rotor position and detecting loss of steps a much better parameter to detect blockage or occlusion. The increased controllability allows to substantially increase the motor speed for delivery, resulting in an optimum of energy efficiency while still ensuring reliable operation.

An apparatus, system and method for regulating fluid flow are disclosed. An apparatus for infusing fluid into a patient includes a housing, a tube-contact member, a rotating arm, and a tube-retention cover. The housing has an opening on a front side of the housing. The opening is sized to receive a drip chamber having an inlet tube and an outlet tube. The tube-contact member contacts one of the inlet tube and the output tube of the drip chamber when inserted into the opening. The rotating arm is coupled to the tube-contact member and is configured to rotate along an axis. The tube-retention cover is configured to close when the drip chamber is initially loaded into the opening.

An infusion system includes a primary delivery device, a secondary delivery device, an ancillary device, and a manifold. The manifold includes a primary connection port fluidly coupled with the primary delivery device. A delivery connection port in fluid communication with the primary connection port is fluidly coupled with the ancillary device. A secondary connection port fluidly coupled with the secondary delivery device is in fluid communication with the primary connection port. The primary connection port is operable to permit bidirectional flow so that fluid flows from the primary delivery device through the primary connection port and through the delivery connection port to the ancillary device, and from the secondary delivery device through the secondary connection port and through the primary connection port to be received by the primary delivery device.

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Some embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs into the intestinal wall or other GI lumen. The device comprises a capsule sized to be swallowed and pass through the intestinal tract. The capsule can include at least one guide tube, one or more tissue penetrating members positioned in the guide tube, a delivery member, an actuating mechanism and a release element. The release element degrades upon exposure to various conditions in the intestine so as to release and actuate the actuating mechanism. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.

A drug delivery device includes a blunt cannula and a reservoir. The blunt cannula has a cylindrical wall that defines an axial passage between a first end and a second end of the blunt cannula. The wall has at least a first tapered region at the first end to define an opening in fluid communication with the axial passage and adapted at the first end to resist interruption of fluid flow through the axial passage and out of the first end of the blunt cannula. The reservoir is connected to the second end of the blunt cannula.

A drug delivery device includes a blunt cannula and a reservoir. The blunt cannula has a cylindrical wall that defines an axial passage between a first end and a second end of the blunt cannula. The wall has at least a first tapered region at the first end to define an opening in fluid communication with the axial passage and adapted at the first end to resist interruption of fluid flow through the axial passage and out of the first end of the blunt cannula. The reservoir is connected to the second end of the blunt cannula.

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Many embodiments provide a swallowable device for delivering the agents. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs into the intestinal wall or other GI lumen. Embodiments also provide various drug preparations that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the intestinal wall and degrade within the wall to release the drug to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be coupled to an actuator having a first configuration where the preparation is contained in the capsule and a second configuration where the preparation is advanced out of the capsule into the intestinal wall. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.

Aspects of systems and apparatuses for medical infusion illumination are disclosed. In one aspect a system for medical infusion line illumination is disclosed. The system comprising an electronic illuminator. The electronic illuminator comprising a printed circuit board (‘PCB’), a light emitting diode (‘LED’), a lens configured with the LED, a power source to supply power to the PCB and LED; and at least one sensory assembly. The LED and lens of the electronic illuminator are configured to a side scattering fiber optic cable. The side scattering fiber optic cable comprises a fiber funnel cap at a proximal end to receive light from the LED through the lens of the electronic illuminator. The side scattering fiber optic cable further comprises a protective end cap at a distal end, wherein the protective end cap is polished on an interior surface to reflect light from the LED of the electronic illuminator.

Aspects of systems and methods for controlling SAR in medical infusion illumination are disclosed herein. In one aspect a system for reducing microorganism load in an environment surrounding an electronic illuminator is disclosed. In the system an electronic illuminator is disclosed comprising an LED module, a power driver equipped to the LED module for driving power to the LED, housing to protect the contents of the electronic illuminator and dissipate heat, and a PCB configured with an MCU for controlling operations within the electronic illuminator. Further, the system comprises a side emitting fiber optic line or line, also known as side glow fiber. The side emitting fiber optic line comprises a funnel cap for engaging with the electronic illuminator and a protective end cap for protecting and reflecting light radiation. In other aspects, a method for reducing microorganism count in an environment surrounding an electronic illuminator is disclosed. The method comprises provisioning an electronic illuminator equipped with an LED module and a side emitting fiber optic line. Then transmitting a signal, to a power driver of the LED module to begin the microorganism reduction. Next, emitting light radiation, by the LED module, and lastly terminating the light radiation after a set duration.

Aspects of a dual lumen fiber optic medical infusion line and method of manufacture are disclosed herein. The dual lumen fiber optic medical infusion line includes a first elongate body that is substantially cylindrical and extends from a proximal end to a distal end and includes a first lumen extending throughout the entire length of the first elongate body, and a second elongate body that is substantially cylindrical and extends from a proximal end to a distal end and includes a first lumen extending throughout the entire length of the second elongate body, The second elongate body is engaged to the first elongate body. A fiber optic cable is disposed within the first elongate body. A distal end cap is engaged to the distal end of the fiber optic cable, and a fiber funnel cap is engaged to the proximal end of the fiber optic cable.