# US 10,369,344 B2 · Apparatus and method to convey a fluid

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- Number: US 10,369,344 B2
- Document ID: US10369344B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/542,346
- Filed: 2012-07-05
- Published: 2012-11-08
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2006-06-30
- Assignees: Biocompatibles UK Limited
- Applicants: Thomas J. Simpson; Jim Hagerman
- Inventors: Thomas J. Simpson; Jim Hagerman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369344B2

## CPC

- A61M 37/0069: {Devices for implanting pellets, e.g. markers or solid medicaments (for introducing of radioactive sources for interstitial radiation therapy, i.e. brachytherapy A61N5/1027)}
- A61M 5/14: Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
- A61M 5/142: Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
- A61M 2206/14: Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws
- A61M 2206/20: having means for promoting or enhancing the flow, actively or passively
- A61N 5/1001: {using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy}
- 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)}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)

## Abstract

An apparatus includes a fluid path, a coupling, and a nozzle. The fluid path is to carry a fluid including one or more microparticles. The coupling is located in the fluid path. The nozzle is located in the fluid path to move the fluid through a stagnant region located near the coupling. A method includes introducing a fluid including one or more microparticles into a fluid conduit including a coupling, aligning the fluid conduit near the coupling with a force field, and introducing the fluid includes delivering the one or more microparticles to a vasculature.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
introducing a fluid including one or more microparticles into a fluid conduit including a coupling and a nozzle to establish a fluid path through the fluid conduit and move the fluid through a stagnant region positioned radially outward of the nozzle, the nozzle including an input port at an upstream end thereof and an output port located in the fluid path at a distal-most downstream end thereof defining a central fluid path through the nozzle from the input port to the output port, the input port of the nozzle having a larger cross sectional area than the output port of the nozzle, and wherein the nozzle comprises one or more side ports positioned near the input port of the nozzle to provide at least one additional fluid path, wherein the fluid flows into the nozzle via the input port, a first portion of the fluid that flows into the nozzle via the input port flows through the central fluid path and out of the nozzle via the output port and into the fluid path, and a second portion of the fluid that flows into the nozzle via the input port flows through the one or more side ports and moves through the stagnant region and into the fluid path while bypassing the central fluid path of the nozzle;
aligning the fluid conduit in a region near the coupling with a force field; and
delivering the one or more microparticles to a vasculature.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein aligning the fluid conduit in the region near the coupling with the force field comprises aligning the fluid conduit in the region near the coupling with a gravitational field.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein introducing the fluid including the one or more microparticles into the fluid conduit including the coupling and the nozzle includes introducing a slurry of radioactive microparticles under pressure into the fluid conduit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing a flushing fluid having a volume of between about twenty milliliters and about eighty milliliters.

### Claim 5

A method comprising:
coupling a source of high density microparticles having high specific activity and a fluid conduit with a coupling and a nozzle to establish a fluid path through the fluid conduit and move a fluid through a stagnant region positioned radially outward of the nozzle; the nozzle including an input port at an upstream end thereof and an output port located in the fluid path at a distal-most downstream end thereof defining a central fluid path through the nozzle from the input port to the output port, the input port of the nozzle having a larger cross sectional area than the output port of the nozzle, and wherein the nozzle comprises one or more side ports positioned near the input port of the nozzle to provide at least one additional fluid path, wherein the fluid flows into the nozzle via the input port, a first portion of the fluid that flows into the nozzle via the input port flows through the central fluid path and out of the nozzle via the output port and into the fluid path, and a second portion of the fluid that flows into the nozzle via the input port flows through the one or more side ports and moves through the stagnant region and into the fluid path while bypassing the central fluid path of the nozzle;
aligning the fluid conduit in a region near the coupling with a force field; and
delivering the high density microparticles having the high specific activity to a mammal at a pressure of between about 5 psig and about 30 psig at the source.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein coupling the source of the high density microparticles having the high specific activity and the fluid conduit with the coupling and the nozzle comprises connecting a catheter between the source and the mammal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein delivering the high density microparticles having the high specific activity to the mammal at the pressure of between about 5 psig and about 30 psig at the source comprises delivering more than about 90% of the high density microparticles available at the source to the mammal.

### Claim 8

A method comprising:
introducing a fluid including one or more microparticles into a fluid conduit, the fluid conduit including a coupling and a nozzle;
establishing a fluid path through the fluid conduit to move the fluid through a stagnant region positioned radially outward of the nozzle, the nozzle having a longitudinal axis and including an input port at an upstream end thereof and an output port located in the fluid path at a distal-most downstream end thereof defining a central fluid path through the nozzle from the input port to the output port, wherein at least a portion of the input port and at least a portion of the output port are in-line with the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, and wherein the nozzle comprises one or more side ports positioned near the input port of the nozzle to provide at least one additional fluid path, wherein the fluid flows into the nozzle via the input port, a first portion of the fluid that flows into the nozzle via the input port flows through the central fluid path and out of the nozzle via the output port and into the fluid path, and a second portion of the fluid that flows into the nozzle via the input port flows through the one or more side ports and moves through the stagnant region and into the fluid path while bypassing the central fluid path of the nozzle;
aligning the fluid conduit in a region near the coupling with a force field; and
delivering the one or more microparticles to a vasculature.