Method and system for detecting malfunction of a MEMS micropump

• US 10,286,144 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Debiotech S.A.
• Original Assignee: Debiotech S.A.
• Inventors: Chappel, Eric, Proennecke, Stephan, Neftel, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust, Timothy L
• Application Number:
  US14/128,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20140147246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,517 Days
• Field of Search: 4174132, 4174133
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14593 the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16859 Evaluation of pressure response, e.g. to an applied pulse
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0005 by using valves

Abstract

Method for detecting failure including possible under or over delivery of a micropump having at least an inlet valve, a pumping chamber with an inner pressure sensor and an outlet valve, said method comprising the determination of the pump tightness via the measurement of the pressure by said inner pressure sensor in said pumping chamber at least at certain intervals when the pump is inactive and the comparison with a value of reference.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising a pumping device having an inner pressure sensor arranged to measure a pressure in a pumping chamber, an external reservoir in fluid communication with the pumping chamber of the pumping device, a notification device and a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is configured to

monitor a signal of the inner pressure sensor during a filling of the reservoir;

trigger a notification with the notification device when a first threshold pressure signal is reached during the filling of the reservoir; and

continuously actuate the pumping device to remove a determined volume of fluid from the reservoir, after the triggering of the notification.

2. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein during the filling the pumping device is in a rest position.

3. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to stop the notification when the signal of the inner pressure sensor is lower than a predefined threshold.

4. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to stop the pumping actuation when a predefined number of strokes have been reached.

5. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to stop the pumping actuation after a predetermined time period.

6. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to stop the pumping actuation when a predefined threshold for the signal of the inner pressure sensor has been reached.

7. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir includes a predefined volume.

8. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein in continuously actuating the pumping device, the determined volume of fluid is removed from the reservoir such that a volume of fluid remaining in the reservoir reaches a predefined value.

9. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the pumping device further comprises a pumping membrane, and the pressure sensor is arranged to be in operative connection with the pumping membrane of the pumping chamber.

10. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the pumping device further comprises a pumping membrane and an actuator for actuating the pumping membrane, wherein during the filling, the pumping membrane is in a rest position.

11. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the pumping device further comprises a pumping membrane and an actuator for actuating the pumping membrane, wherein during the filling, the actuator of the pumping membrane is not powered.