Micro infusion drug delivery device

• US 20010053887A1
• Filed: 05/01/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Sterling Medivations, Inc. (Guided Therapeutics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Douglas, Joel, Hugo, Robert Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,659,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/152
• 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 2037/0023 Drug applicators using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/003 having a lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump

Abstract

An infusion pump includes a plurality of projections configured so that they enter the subcutaneous region of the patients skin and provides a painless means of creating a breach in the stratum corneum which is sealed against leakage by the skin surrounding each projection and provides a flow path for either a basal and bolus injection of medication. The pump includes a drug reservoir containing a drug. The pump includes a microactuator and includes a housing having a foundation or lid which opens and closes so that the medication container can be inserted and supported in a delivery mode position. A micro actuator is used to advance either a roller or a piston in communication with the medication container. Attached to the micro-actuator is a device that is mounted for movement along the access of the medication container. The device indexes along the medication container that is used to dispense the medication.

Claims

1. A system useful for dispensing medication comprising:

a foundation;

a gripper including a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion, the first portion being movable toward and away from the second portion along a gripper direction;

a first actuator which changes length in response to a stimulus, the first actuator partially secured to the foundation and positioned adjacent to the gripper first portion, the first actuator oriented relative to the gripper direction and positioned relative to the gripper first portion so that when the first actuator changes length in response to a stimulus the first actuator moves the gripper first portion along the gripper direction;

a second actuator which changes length in response to a stimulus, the second actuator partially secured to the foundation and positioned adjacent to one of the gripper portions, the second actuator oriented relative to the gripper direction and positioned relative to said one of the gripper portions so that when the second actuator changes length in response to a stimulus the second actuator moves said one of the gripper portions along a direction different from the gripper direction.

2. A system in accordance with

claim 1

, wherein at least one of the first actuator and the second actuator comprise piezoelectric actuators.

3. A system in accordance with

claim 1

, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator comprise piezoelectric actuators.

4. A system in accordance with

claim 1

, further comprising:

a third actuator which changes length in response to a stimulus, the third actuator partially secured to the foundation and positioned adjacent to another of the gripper portions, the third actuator oriented relative to the gripper direction and positioned relative to said another of the gripper portions so that when the third actuator changes length in response to a stimulus the third actuator moves said another of the gripper portions along a direction different from the gripper direction.

5. A system in accordance with

claim 1

, further comprising:

a medication cartridge releasably mounted to the foundation, the medication cartridge including a hollow barrel, and open end, and an outlet opposite the open end;

a plunger slidably positioned in the barrel;

a piston slidably positioned in the barrel adjacent to the plunger, the piston including portions extending between the gripper first portion and the gripper second portion;

the piston and the gripper first portion sized, positioned, and configured so that when the gripper first portion moves along the gripper direction toward the gripper second portion, the gripper first portion engages the piston.

6. A system in accordance with

claim 1

, further comprising:

a medication bag releasably mounted to the foundation, the medication bag including a first sidewall and an outlet;

a piston slidably mounted to the foundation, the piston including portions extending between the gripper first portion and the gripper second portion;

a roller attached to the piston and positioned immediately adjacent to the medication bag sidewall;

the piston and the gripper first portion sized, positioned, and configured so that when the gripper first portion moves along the gripper direction toward the gripper second portion, the gripper first portion engages the piston.

15. A device in accordance with

claim 1

1, wherein the needle sharpened ends are bent between at and angle between about 1 degree and about 25 degrees.

7. A system useful for dispensing medication comprising:

a medication cartridge including a hollow barrel, and open end, and an outlet opposite the open end;

a plunger slidably positioned in the barrel;

a slide positioned in the barrel adjacent to the plunger and movable in the barrel along a slide direction;

a first actuator which changes length in response to a stimulus, the first actuator partially secured to the slide, the first actuator oriented relative to the slide direction and so that when the first actuator changes length in response to a stimulus the first actuator moves the slide along the slide direction;

a second actuator which changes length in response to a stimulus, the second actuator partially secured to the slide, the second actuator oriented relative to the slide direction so that when the second actuator changes length in response to a stimulus the second actuator engages the barrel inside surface and holds the slide in the barrel.

8. A system in accordance with

claim 7

, wherein the slide includes a slide first portion to which the first actuator and the second actuator are partially attached, and the slide including a slide second portion movable relative to the slide first portion along the slide direction, and further comprising:

a third actuator which changes length in response to a stimulus, the third actuator partially secured to the slide second portion, the third actuator oriented relative to the slide direction so that when the third actuator changes length in response to a stimulus the third actuator engages the barrel inside surface and holds the slide second portion in the barrel.

9. A system useful for dispensing medication comprising:

a U-shaped flexible shaft;

a solenoid movable between first and second positions;

a pawl connected to the solenoid;

a pinion having teeth and positioned with the pawl between the pinion teeth;

a belt on the pinion;

an arm attached to the belt and to the flexible shaft;

wherein movement of the solenoid between the first and second positions moves the pawl, the pawl rotating the pinion, the pinion moving the belt, the belt moving the arm, the arm moving the flexible shaft.

10. A system in accordance with

claim 9

, further comprising:

a medication cartridge including a hollow barrel, and open end, and an outlet opposite the open end;

a plunger in the cartridge barrel;

the flexible shaft extending into the cartridge barrel and engaging the plunger.

11. A device useful for dispensing a liquid comprising:

a plurality of needles, the needles each including a sharpened end and being bent adjacent to the sharpened end;

a base including bores in which the needles are at least partially inserted, the base including an annular space to which the bores extend;

a cap sealingly mounted to the base and forming a plenum space with the base, the plenum space including a portion of the base annular space, the cap including a fluid passageway in fluid communication with the plenum space.

12. A device in accordance with

claim 11

, further comprising:

an annular member having a center hole, the base positioned in the center hole.

13. A device in accordance with

claim 12

, further comprising:

a ring positioned against the needle bends, the needles positioned between the ring and the annular member, the needle sharpened ends extending past the ring.

14. A device in accordance with

claim 13

, wherein the needle sharpened ends extend past the ring a distance between about 0.5 mm and about 3.0 mm.