Delivery device and cartridge therefore

• US 20030100864A1
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Inventors: Bendsen, Henrik, Moller-Jensen, Jens
• Granted Patent: US 7,407,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/141
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14204 with gas-producing electrochemical cell
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14593 the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/204 connected to external reservoirs for multiple refilling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/28 Syringe ampoules or carpules, i.e. ampoules or carpules provided with a needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/282 by compression of deformable ampoule or carpule wall

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable pump device and a cartridge therefore. The cartridge comprises a first reservoir for a flowable drug provided in combination with a second reservoir comprising a pump liquid, a pump chamber being associated with the first reservoir and adapted to receive the pump liquid in order to expel drug from the first reservoir. In a first aspect, the reservoirs of the system may be provided as a disposable cartridge unit to be combined with a further unit to form an delivery device, the delivery device as a whole comprising the pump means for pumping the pump liquid from the second reservoir to the pump chamber, control means for controlling the action of the pump means, and an energy reservoir for energizing the pump means as well as the control means, however, one or more of these components may be incorporated in the disposable cartridge.

Claims

1. A cartridge for a delivery device, the cartridge comprising:

a variable-volume drug reservoir comprising an outlet means and adapted for containing a predefined volume of a flowable drug,

a pump liquid reservoir comprising a volume of a pump liquid contained therein and a pump liquid outlet means,

a variable-volume pump chamber associated with the drug reservoir and comprising a pump liquid inlet means, the pump chamber being adapted to receive the pump liquid in order to expel a drug from the drug reservoir as the pump chamber expands,

wherein the volume of the pump liquid corresponds at least to the volume for which the drug reservoir is adapted.

2. A cartridge as in claim 1, wherein the pump liquid outlet and inlet means are adapted to be connected to inlet respectively outlet means of a pump means.

3. A cartridge as in claim 2, comprising an energy source for operating the pump means.

4. A cartridge as in claim 1, comprising a pump means having an inlet in liquid communication with the pump liquid outlet means and an outlet in liquid communication with the pump liquid inlet means, the pump means being adapted to be connected to control means for controlling the operation of the pump, the cartridge preferably comprising an energy source for operating the pump means and/or the control means.

5. A cartridge as in claim 1, wherein the drug reservoir is in the form of a substantially cylindrical body with an axially displaceable piston arranged there within, the piston and the pump chamber being arranged such that expansion of the pump chamber displaces the piston axially.

6. A cartridge as in claim 1, wherein the drug reservoir is in the form of a flexible bag, the drug reservoir being enclosed within a non-deformable chamber housing, the pump chamber being defined between an exterior surface of the drug reservoir and an interior wall of the surrounding chamber housing.

7. A cartridge as in claim 1, comprising a housing member having first and second non-deformable sections and a flexible liquid-impermeable membrane defining the drug reservoir between the membrane and the first non-deformable section, and defining the pump chamber between the membrane and the second non-deformable section, whereby expansion of the pump chamber will result in reduction of the volume of the drug reservoir.

8. A cartridge as in claim 1, wherein the pump liquid reservoir is in the form of a flexible bag, or is formed between a non-deformable housing section and a second flexible liquid-impermeable membrane.

9. A cartridge as in claim 1, wherein the pump chamber and the associated pump liquid inlet and outlet means in an initial state are collapsed having a volume of substantially zero.

10. A cartridge as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the inlet and outlet means comprises an opening closed by a penetratable self-sealing membrane.

11. A cartridge as in claim 1, wherein the drug reservoir contains a volume of a flowable drug, the volume of the pump liquid corresponding at least to the volume of the flowable drug.

12. A combined portable delivery device comprising a cartridge and a control unit, wherein the cartridge and the control unit include mating coupling means so as to allow the disposable unit to be secured to the control unit, the combined delivery device comprising:

a variable-volume drug reservoir comprising an outlet means and adapted for containing a flowable drug,

a pump liquid reservoir comprising a pump liquid contained therein and a pump liquid outlet means,

a variable-volume pump chamber associated with the drug reservoir and comprising a pump liquid inlet means, the pump chamber being adapted to receive the pump liquid in order to expel a drug from the drug reservoir as the pump chamber expands,

the drug reservoir, the pump liquid reservoir and the pump chamber being comprised in the cartridge,

a pump means arranged for pumping pump liquid from the pump liquid reservoir to the pump chamber,

control means comprised in the control unit for controlling the operation of the pump,

an energy source for operating the pump means and/or the control means, and

the mating coupling means providing communication between the pump means and the pump liquid outlet and inlet means, or between the control means and the pump means.

13. A delivery device in claim 12, wherein the cartridge comprises:

a variable-volume drug reservoir comprising an outlet means and adapted for containing a predefined volume of a flowable drug,

a pump liquid reservoir comprising a volume of a pump liquid contained therein and a pump liquid outlet means,

a variable-volume pump chamber associated with the drug reservoir and comprising a pump liquid inlet means, the pump chamber being adapted to receive the pump liquid in order to expel a drug from the drug reservoir as the pump chamber expands,

wherein the volume of the pump liquid corresponds at least to the volume for which the drug reservoir is adapted.

14. A self-contained portable delivery device comprising:

a variable-volume drug reservoir comprising an outlet means and adapted for containing a flowable drug,

a pump liquid reservoir comprising a pump liquid contained therein and a pump liquid outlet means,

a variable-volume pump chamber associated with the drug reservoir and comprising a pump liquid inlet means, the pump chamber being adapted to receive the pump liquid in order to expel a drug from the drug reservoir as the pump chamber expands,

a pump means arranged for pumping pump liquid from the pump liquid reservoir to the pump chamber,

control means for controlling the operation of the pump,

an energy source for operating the pump means and the control means.

15. A delivery device as in claim 14, in combination with display and/or memory means being either detachable from the delivery device or adapted to communicate wirelessly with the delivery device.