The present invention relates to an implantable infusion pump having a
refillable infusate reservoir in fluid communication with a delivery site
via a flow path. This flow path includes a flow resistance. The infusion
pump includes a sensing device(s), positioned relative to the flow path,
to provide data regarding a flow rate along the flow path. The infusion
pump effects a division of a total flow period into at least a plurality
of unit dose periods, each unit dose period effecting delivery of a unit
dose of infusate. The cumulative effect of delivering the total number of
unit dose periods is the delivery of a desired dose over the total flow
period. The present invention permits a reservoir pressure to vary over
any portion of total flow period but effects a constant-pressure state
over each unit dose cycle.