External drug pump

• US 10,413,679 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2015
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Pharma. Services IL, Ltd. (West Pharmaceutical Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: West Pharma. Services IL, Ltd. (West Pharmaceutical Services Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi, Cabiri, Oz
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhisma
• Assistant Examiner(s): Engel, Matthew A
• Application Number:
  US14/850,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20150374926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14252 with needle insertion means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1426 with means for preventing access to the needle after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14533 cam actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/31518 designed to reduce the overall size of an injection device, e.g. using flexible or pivotally connected chain-like rod members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3146 Priming, e.g. purging, reducing backlash or clearance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31596 comprising means for injection of two or more media, e.g. by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/12 with reciprocation along the axis of rotation, e.g. gearings with helical grooves and automatic reversal or cams
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18576 including screw and nut

Abstract

Apparatus is described for administering a substance to a subject. A vial contains the substance and a stopper is disposed within the vial and is slidably coupled to the vial. A first threaded element is (a) rotatable with respect to the vial and (b) substantially immobile proximally with respect to the vial during rotation of the first threaded element. A second threaded element is threadedly coupled to the first threaded element. At least a distal end of the second threaded element is substantially non-rotatable with respect to the vial, and the distal end of the second threaded element defines a coupling portion that couples the second threaded element to the stopper. The first threaded element, by rotating, linearly advances the stopper and at least the distal end of the second threaded element toward a distal end of the vial. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing;

a vial containing a substance, the vial defining an inner surface sealed by a stopper, the stopper being in sliding frictional contact with the inner surface, said frictional contact including a rotational friction component for opposing rotation of the stopper relative to the vial and a linear friction component for opposing linear advancement of the stopper, and

first and second threaded elements for placement within the vial, the first and second threaded elements being threadedly coupled to each other and forming a threaded coupling located at least partially within the vial, a distal end of the second threaded element being configured for coupling to the stopper;

inserting the vial into a housing base, wherein a portion of the housing base displaces the first and second threaded elements and the stopper toward a distal end of the vial, the distal end of the second threaded element being coupled to the stopper; and

pushing the substance out of the vial by advancing the stopper and at least the distal end of the second threaded element toward the distal end of the vial, the advancing being performed by;

rotating the first threaded element with respect to the vial, and, in turn, linearly advancing the second threaded element, overcoming the linear friction component and linearly advancing the stopper,

impeding proximal linear motion of the first threaded element with respect to the vial during rotation of the first threaded element, and

impeding rotational motion of at least the stopper with respect to the vial by the rotational friction component between the stopper and the inner surface of the vial.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the distal end of the second threaded element is disposed at least partially within the stopper.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein advancing the distal end of the second threaded element comprises maintaining the distal end of the second threaded element proximal to a distal end of the stopper at all times during the rotating of the first threaded element.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vial includes a distal compartment and a proximal compartment, the distal compartment containing a powder and the proximal compartment containing a liquid, a dividing stopper within the vial, and further comprising mixing the powder and the liquid by advancing the dividing stopper toward the distal end of the vial by rotating the first threaded element with respect to the vial.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first threaded element includes a nut, wherein the second threaded element includes a screw, and wherein pushing the substance out of the vial comprises advancing at least a distal end of the screw toward the distal end of the vial by rotating the nut with respect to the vial.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the screw includes a telescopic screw, and wherein advancing the distal end of the screw toward the distal end of the vial comprises extending the telescopic screw toward the distal end of the vial.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first threaded element includes a screw, wherein the second threaded element includes a nut, and wherein pushing the substance out of the vial comprises advancing at least a distal end of the nut toward the distal end of the vial by rotating the screw with respect of the vial.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the nut includes a telescopic nut, and wherein advancing the distal end of the nut toward the distal end of the vial comprises extending the telescopic nut toward the distal end of the vial.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the screw includes a telescopic screw and wherein advancing the distal end of the nut toward the distal end of the vial comprises extending the telescopic screw toward the distal end of the vial.