Importance

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Abstract

An integral valve and pumping unit is provided for infusing medication into the body which employs only one moving part. This pumping unit is connected to the medication supply reservoir through a first flow restriction device which has no moving parts but has directional flow characteristics so that liquid medication can flow readily from the reservoir to the pumping unit but flow from the pumping unit to the reservoir encounters a relatively high resistance. A second flow restriction device is connected between the pumping unit and the outlet catheter which is employed to infuse medication into the body, this second flow restriction device likewise having no moving parts and offering relatively little resistance to liquid flow from the pumping unit to the catheter while having relatively high resistance to flow in the opposite direction. The valve portion of the integral valve-pump unit ensures that no liquid can flow either from the reservoir to the catheter or vice versa, when the pumping unit is inoperative or when the reservoir is being filled.

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First Claim