System and method for attaching upper and lower outer cases in an implantable drug pump

• US 20020072721A1
• Filed: 08/27/2001
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Philippens, Frans L., Verbeek, Maurice T.Y.
• Granted Patent: US 6,719,739 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/288.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An implantable pump having a bulkhead, a reservoir structure attached to the bulkhead and upper and lower cases attached to the bulkhead by a single outer seal as well as a method of making such a pump is disclosed. The reservoir structure forms a reservoir that contains fluid drug or other medicaments. The upper and lower cases are attached to the bulkhead by first connecting either the upper or lower case directly to the bulkhead. Then, the lower or upper case not attached to the bulkhead is attached to the upper or lower case that had been previously attached to the bulkhead.

Claims

1. An implantable infusion pump comprising:

a reservoir for storing fluid;

an outlet port;

a metering system for metering fluid in the reservoir to the outlet port;

an upper case having an upper surface and an upper case side wall, the upper case side wall terminating in an upper case terminal end, the upper case having a thickness;

a lower case having a bottom surface and a lower case side wall, the lower case side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the lower case side wall terminating in a lower case terminal end and having an ultimate end near the lower case terminal end, the lower case side wall having an inward bend formed so that the ultimate end is substantially parallel, although inwardly displaced, to the lower case side wall opposite the inward bend, the amount of displacement of the lower case terminal end being about equal to the thickness of the upper case, the lower case having a thickness; and

a bulkhead for positioning the reservoir and metering system, the bulkhead having an outer periphery with a lower edge, the outer periphery having an annular recess extending around the outer periphery at the lower edge or the periphery, the recess having a recess top and a vertical wall connecting the recess top to the lower edge, the recess top having a width about equal to the thickness of the lower case;

wherein, the lower case terminal end is located approximately at and connected to the recess top whereby the inner surface of the lower case side wall near the lower case terminal end is in contact with the vertical wall;

wherein, the upper case terminal end is located on and connected to the outside surface of the lower case side wall case near the inward bend whereby, the upper case is connected to the lower case.

2. In an implantable infusion pump having a reservoir for storing fluid, an outlet port, a metering system for metering fluid in the reservoir to the outlet port, a bulkhead for positioning the reservoir and metering system, the bulkhead having an outer periphery with a lower edge, an upper case having an upper surface and an upper case side wall, the upper case side wall terminating in an upper case terminal end, the upper case having a thickness and a lower case having a bottom surface and a lower case side wall, the lower case side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the lower case side wall terminating in a lower case terminal end and having an ultimate end near the lower case terminal end, an improvement comprising:

the outer periphery having an annular recess extending around the outer periphery at the lower edge or the periphery, the recess having a recess top and a vertical wall connecting the recess top to the lower edge, the recess top having a width about equal to the thickness of the lower case;

the lower case side wall having an inward bend formed so that the ultimate end is substantially parallel, although inwardly displaced, to the lower case side wall opposite the inward bend, the amount of displacement of the lower case terminal end being about equal to the thickness of the upper case, the lower case having a thickness; and

wherein, the lower case terminal end is located approximately at and connected to the recess top whereby the inner surface of the lower case side wall near the lower case terminal end is in contact with the vertical wall;

wherein, the upper case terminal end is located on and connected to the outside surface of the lower case side wall case near the inward bend whereby, the upper case is connected to the lower case.

3. In an implantable infusion pump having a reservoir for storing fluid, an outlet port, a metering system for metering fluid in the reservoir to the outlet port, a bulkhead for positioning the reservoir and metering system, the bulkhead having an outer periphery with a lower edge, an upper case having an upper surface and an upper case side wall, the upper case side wall terminating in an upper case terminal end, the upper case having a thickness and a lower case having a bottom surface and a lower case side wall, the lower case side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the lower case side wall terminating in a lower case terminal end and having an ultimate end near the lower case terminal end, the method of connecting the lower case to the bulkhead and the upper case to the lower case comprising the steps of:

forming an annular recess in the outer periphery of the bulkhead extending around the outer periphery at the lower edge of the periphery, the recess having a recess top and a vertical wall connecting the recess top to the lower edge, the recess top having a width about equal to the thickness of the lower case;

forming an inward bend in the lower case side wall so that the ultimate end is substantially parallel, although inwardly displaced, to the lower case side wall opposite the inward bend, the amount of displacement of the lower case terminal end being about equal to the thickness of the upper case, the lower case having a thickness; and

locating and connecting the lower case terminal end to the recess top whereby the inner surface of the lower case side wall near the lower case terminal end is in contact with the vertical wall; and

locating and connecting the upper case terminal end to the outside surface of the lower case side wall case near the inward bend whereby, the upper case is connected to the lower case.

4. An implantable infusion pump comprising:

a reservoir for storing fluid;

an outlet port;

a metering system for metering fluid in the reservoir to the outlet port;

a lower case having an bottom surface and a lower case side wall, the lower case side wall terminating in an lower case terminal end, the lower case having a thickness;

an upper case having a top surface and an upper case side wall, the upper case side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the upper side wall terminating in an upper case terminal end and having an ultimate end near the upper case terminal end, the upper case side wall having an inward bend formed so that the ultimate end is substantially parallel, although inwardly displaced, to the upper case side wall opposite the inward bend, the amount of displacement of the upper case terminal end being about equal to the thickness of the lower case, the upper case having a thickness; and

a bulkhead for positioning the reservoir and metering system, the bulkhead having an outer periphery with an upper edge, the outer periphery having an annular recess extending around the outer periphery at the upper edge at the periphery, the recess having a recess bottom and a vertical wall connecting the recess bottom to the upper edge, the recess bottom having a width about equal to the thickness of the upper case;

wherein, the upper case terminal end is located approximately at and connected to the recess bottom whereby the inner surface of the upper case side wall near the upper case terminal end is in contact with the vertical wall;

wherein, the lower case terminal end is located on and connected to the outside surface of the upper case side wall case near the inward bend whereby, the lower case is connected to the upper case.

5. In an implantable infusion pump having a reservoir for storing fluid, an outlet port, a metering system for metering fluid in the reservoir to the outlet port, a bulkhead for positioning the reservoir and metering system, the bulkhead having an outer periphery with an upper edge, a lower case having a bottom surface and a lower case side wall, the lower case side wall terminating in a lower case terminal end, the lower case having a thickness and an upper case having a top surface and an upper case side wall, the upper case side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the upper case side wall terminating in an upper case terminal end and having an ultimate end near the upper case terminal end, an improvement comprising:

the outer periphery having an annular recess extending around the outer periphery at the upper edge at the periphery, the recess having a recess bottom and a vertical wall connecting the recess bottom to the upper edge, the recess bottom having a width about equal to the thickness of the upper case;

the upper case side wall having an inward bend formed so that the ultimate end is substantially parallel, although inwardly displaced, to the upper case side wall opposite the inward bend, the amount of displacement of the upper case terminal end being about equal to the thickness of the lower case, the upper case having a thickness; and

wherein, the upper case terminal end is located approximately at and connected to the recess bottom whereby the inner surface of the upper case side wall near the upper case terminal end is in contact with the vertical wall;

wherein, the lower case terminal end is located on and connected to the outside surface of the upper case side wall case near the inward bend whereby, the lower case is connected to the upper case.

6. In an implantable infusion pump having a reservoir for storing fluid, an outlet port, a metering system for metering fluid in the reservoir to the outlet port, a bulkhead for positioning the reservoir and metering system, the bulkhead having an outer periphery with an upper edge, a lower case having a bottom surface and a lower case side wall, the lower case side wall terminating in a lower case terminal end, the lower case having a thickness and an upper case having a top surface and an upper case side wall, the upper case side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the upper case side wall terminating in an upper case terminal end and having an ultimate end near the upper case terminal end, the method of connecting the upper case to the bulkhead and the lower case to the upper case comprising the steps of:

forming an annular recess in the outer periphery extending around the outer periphery at the upper edge at the periphery, the recess having a recess bottom and a vertical wall connecting the recess bottom to the upper edge, the recess bottom having a width about equal to the thickness of the upper case;

forming an inward bend in the upper case side wall so that the ultimate end is substantially parallel, although inwardly displaced, to the upper case side wall opposite the inward bend, the amount of displacement of the upper case terminal end being about equal to the thickness of the lower case, the upper case having a thickness; and

locating and connecting the upper case terminal end to the recess bottom whereby the inner surface of the upper case side wall near the upper case terminal end is in contact with the vertical wall;

locating and connecting the lower case terminal end to the outside surface of the upper case side wall case near the inward bend whereby, the lower case is connected to the upper case.