# US 10,245,378 B2 · Reservoir volume sensing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,378 B2 - Document ID: US10245378B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/418,281 - Filed: 2017-01-27 - Published: 2018-08-02 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-27 - Assignees: Medtronic, Inc. - Applicants: Medtronic, Inc. - Inventors: Naresh Lakshman Raman; Alex O. Espe; Nicholas R. Whitehead; Timothy J. Denison; Venkat R. Gaddam; Scott A. Sarkinen; Erik J. Peterson; Jacob A. Otterstetter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245378B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/172: electrical or electronic - A61M 5/14224: {Diaphragm type} - A61M 5/14276: {specially adapted for implantation} - A61M 5/152: pressurised by contraction of elastic reservoirs - A61M 5/155: pressurised by gas {introduced into the reservoir} - A61M 5/1684: {by detecting the amount of infusate remaining, e.g. signalling end of infusion} - G01F 17/00: Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies (measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B) - A61M 2205/18: with alarm - A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means - A61M 2205/3375: Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means - A61M 2205/3389: Continuous level detection (A61M2205/3393 takes precedence) - A61M 2205/3523: using telemetric means - A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers - A61M 2205/702: automatically during use - A61M 2209/045: for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME ## Abstract Reservoir volume of implantable infusion devices may be determined using a volume sensor that provides a signal representative of a distance between the volume sensor and a movable wall of the reservoir. The volume sensor may be a light-based or sound-based sensor, and may be located outside of the reservoir. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An implantable medical infusion device comprising: a housing; an expandable reservoir located in the housing to contain therapeutic fluid, wherein the expandable reservoir defines a volume and is configurable between an empty state and a full state, wherein the expandable reservoir comprises a movable wall that moves in response to the expansion and contraction of the expandable reservoir between the empty state and the full state; and a light-based volume sensor located in the housing to sense a light signal representative of a distance between the volume sensor and the movable wall of the expandable reservoir to determine the volume of the expandable reservoir, wherein the light-based volume sensor transmits and receives light to and from the movable wall through the volume of the expandable reservoir. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a bulkhead partitioning an interior space of the housing to define a reservoir chamber, wherein the expandable reservoir is located in the reservoir chamber, wherein the light-based volume sensor is located outside of the reservoir chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the light-based volume sensor transmits and receives light to and from the movable wall through the therapeutic fluid contained in the expandable reservoir. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a window portion defining at least a portion of the expandable reservoir, wherein the light-based volume sensor transmits and receives light into and out of the expandable reservoir through the window portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the window portion comprises sapphire. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the light-based volume sensor is spaced away from the expandable reservoir defining space therebetween. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a computing apparatus operably coupled to the light-based volume sensor to receive data corresponding to the light signal representative of the distance between the volume sensor and the movable wall of the expandable reservoir and to determine the volume of the expandable reservoir based on the data corresponding to the light signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising telemetry apparatus to wirelessly transmit data representative of the volume of the expandable reservoir to an external device. ### Claim 9 An implantable therapeutic pump comprising: an expandable reservoir to contain therapeutic fluid, wherein the expandable reservoir defines a volume and is configurable between an empty state and a full state, wherein the expandable reservoir comprises a movable wall that moves in response to the expansion and contraction of the expandable reservoir between the empty state and the full state; and a volume sensor to transmit a signal to the movable wall of the expandable reservoir through the therapeutic fluid contained in the expandable reservoir and to receive the signal reflected from the movable wall of the expandable reservoir to determine a volume of the expandable reservoir. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The pump of claim 9, wherein volume sensor is a light-based sensor and the signal is a light signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The pump of claim 9, wherein volume sensor is a sound-based sensor and the signal is a sound signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The pump of claim 9, further comprising a housing defining an interior space, wherein the housing comprises a bulkhead partitioning the interior space of the housing to define a reservoir chamber, wherein the expandable reservoir is located in the reservoir chamber, wherein the volume sensor is located outside of the reservoir chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The pump of claim 12, further comprising a propellant disposed in the reservoir chamber outside of the expandable reservoir to exert pressure on at least a portion of the expandable reservoir. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The pump of claim 9, wherein the reservoir comprises a fixed wall opposite the movable wall, wherein the fixed wall is in a fixed position with respect to the volume sensor, wherein the volume sensor transmits and receives the signal to determine a distance between the fixed wall and the movable wall. ### Claim 15 An infusion system comprising: a housing; an expandable reservoir located in the housing to contain therapeutic fluid, wherein the expandable reservoir defines a volume and is configurable between an empty state and a full state, wherein the expandable reservoir comprises a movable wall that moves in response to the expansion and contraction of the expandable reservoir between the empty state and the full state; a sensor located in the housing to sense a signal representative of a distance between the sensor and the movable wall of the expandable reservoir; and computing apparatus operably coupled to the sensor to determine the volume of the expandable reservoir based on the signal representative of a distance between the sensor and the movable wall of the expandable reservoir, wherein the housing further comprises a window portion defining at least a portion of the expandable reservoir, wherein the sensor transmits and receives the signal into and out of the expandable reservoir through the window portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the computing apparatus is located in the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising an external device, wherein the computing apparatus is located in the external device and is operably coupled to the sensor wirelessly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein sensor is a light-based sensor and the signal is a light signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the reservoir comprises a fixed wall opposite the movable wall, wherein the fixed wall is in a fixed position with respect to the sensor.