Automated fluid pressure control system

An apparatus for providing a predetermined amount of fluid at a predetermined pressure to a delivery device positioned at a delivery site internal to the body of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• a conduit adapted to be connected to the delivery device;
• a reservoir containing the fluid wherein the reservoir comprises a syringe having a barrel containing the fluid, the barrel having an output port to which the conduit is connected and a plunger which is movable to vary the volume of fluid in the barrel;
• a pneumatic driver which moves the plunger in relation to the barrel to control the fluid pressure in response to pneumatic pressure;
• a pressure sensor means for automatically sensing the pressure of the fluid and for providing a sensed pressure signal representative of the sensed pressure;
• a controller which automatically receives the sensed pressure signal, automatically compares the sensed pressure signal to a target pressure signal representative of the predetermined pressure, automatically provides a pressure error signal representative of the difference between the sensed pressure signal and the target pressure signal, and automatically controls the pneumatic driver to move the plunger in accordance with the error signal to attain the predetermined pressure;
• a volume detector which detects the volume of the fluid delivered by the syringe and provides a volume signal representative of the detected volume delivered;
• and
• the controller further automatically compares the volume signal to a target volume signal representative of the predetermined volume of fluid to be delivered and controls the pneumatic driver to cease delivery of the fluid when the volume signal and the target volume signal are equal.

An apparatus for administering a predetermined volume of fluid to a delivery site internal to the body of a patient at a predetermined pressure through a delivery device having a aperture, the apparatus comprising:

• a reservoir containing the fluid;
• a conduit adapted to be connected between the reservoir and the delivery device;
• a pneumatic driver;
• a driving member operated upon by the pneumatic driver for varying the pressure of the fluid and causing the fluid to flow from the reservoir to the delivery device;
• a pressure sensor means for sensing the pressure of the fluid and for providing a sensed pressure signal representative thereof;
• a volume detector which detects the volume of the medical fluid provided from the reservoir through the conduit and which provides a volume signal representative of the detected volume provided;
• a controller which automatically receives the sensed pressure signal, automatically compares the sensed pressure signal to a target pressure signal representative of the predetermined pressure, automatically provides a pressure error signal representative of the difference between the sensed pressure signal and the target pressure signal and automatically controls the pneumatic driver to vary the pressure of the fluid in accordance with the error signal to attain the predetermined pressure, the controller also automatically comparing the volume signal to a target volume signal representative of the predetermined volume of fluid to be delivered and automatically controlling the driving means to cease delivery of the fluid when the volume signal equals the target fluid signal.

A method for administering a predetermined volume of fluid at a predetermined pressure to a delivery device positioned at a delivery site internal to the body of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

• containing the fluid to be delivered in a reservoir comprising a syringe having a barrel and a plunger movable in the barrel for controlling the movement of the fluid into and out of the barrel;
• controlling the fluid pressure by moving the plunger with a pneumatic driver in relation to the barrel in response to pneumatic pressure to move the fluid from the reservoir through a fluid conduit and to the delivery device;
• sensing the pressure of the fluid and providing a sensed pressure signal representative of the sensed pressure;
• automatically comparing the sensed pressure to the predetermined pressure;
• automatically varying the application of pneumatic pressure in accordance with the pressure difference between the sensed pressure and the predetermined pressure to attain the predetermined pressure;
• sensing the volume of the fluid delivered and providing a volume signal representative of the detected volume delivered;
• and
• comparing the volume signal to a target volume signal representative of a predetermined volume of fluid to be delivered and controlling the pneumatic driver to cease delivery of the fluid when the volume signal and the target volume signal are equal.

A method for providing fluid at a predetermined pressure to the walls of a delivery site internal to the body of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning an inflatable delivery device in contact with the walls of the delivery site, the delivery device having at least one aperture which is positioned in contact with a wall of the delivery site through which the fluid will flow into the wall;
• containing the fluid in a reservoir;
• connecting a conduit between the reservoir and the delivery device to conduct the fluid therebetween;
• controlling the fluid pressure by applying pneumatic pressure to cause the reservoir to expel the fluid at a greater and lesser rate;
• automatically sensing the pressure of the fluid and providing a sensed pressure signal representative of the sensed pressure;
• detecting the volume of the fluid delivered from the reservoir and providing a volume signal representative of the detected volume delivered;
• automatically comparing the sensed pressure signal to a target pressure signal representative of the predetermined pressure;
• automatically providing a pressure error signal representative of the difference between the sensed pressure signal and the target pressure signal to automatically control the pneumatic pressure to vary the pressure of the fluid in accordance with the error signal to attain the predetermined pressure;
• automatically comparing the volume signal to a target volume signal representative of a predetermined volume of fluid to be delivered;
• and
• controlling the pneumatic pressure to cease delivery of the fluid when the volume signal and the target volume signal are equal.