External infusion device with a vented housing

• US 20040092873A1
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Moberg, Sheldon B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,597,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1623 Details of air intake
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/12 for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/14 for connecting tubes having sealed ends needle sets A61M5/162; having valves closing automatically on disconnection of line A61M39/26
• 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 5/162 Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube ; Connections between reservoir and tube in jet-action syringes A61M5/30; connectors for tubes having sealed ends and a needle for piercing them A61M39/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/01 Motorized syringe
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/12 Pressure infusion

Abstract

An external infusion device for infusion of a fluid into a body from a reservoir includes a drive system, a housing, electronic control circuitry and at least one vent port. The drive system is operatively coupled with a reservoir to infuse a fluid into a body. The housing is adapted for use on an exterior of the body, and is sized to contain at least a portion of a reservoir. In addition, the drive mechanism is at least partially contained within the housing, and operatively couples with the at least a portion of a reservoir within the housing. Also, the housing is sized to be carried by a user without significant restriction on mobility. The electronic control circuitry is coupled to the drive system to control infusion of the fluid into the body. Moreover, the housing has at least one vent port that permits the passage of air into and out of the housing and inhibits the passage of liquids into the housing through the at least one vent port.

Claims

1. An external infusion device for infusion of a fluid into a body from a reservoir, the external infusion device comprising:

a drive system to operatively couple with a reservoir to infuse a fluid into a body;

a housing adapted for use on an exterior of the body, wherein the housing is sized to contain at least a portion of a reservoir, wherein the drive mechanism is at least partially contained within the housing, wherein the drive mechanism operatively couples with the at least a portion of a reservoir within the housing, and wherein the housing is sized to be carried by a user without significant restriction on mobility;

electronic control circuitry coupled to the drive system to control infusion of the fluid into the body;

wherein the housing has at least one vent port that permits the passage of air into and out of the housing and inhibits the passage of liquids into the housing through the at least one vent port.

2. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one vent port further includes a hydrophobic material that permits the passage of air into and out of the housing and inhibits the passage of liquids into the housing through the at least one vent port.

3. An external infusion device according to claim 2, wherein the hydrophobic material is formed from PTFE.

4. An external infusion device according to claim 2, wherein the hydrophobic material is formed as sheet.

5. An external infusion device according to claim 4, wherein the sheet of hydrophobic material is attached to the housing using adhesives to cover the at least one vent port.

6. An external infusion device according to claim 4, wherein the sheet of hydrophobic material is attached to the housing using sonic welding to cover the at least one vent port.

7. An external infusion device according to claim 4, wherein the sheet of hydrophobic material is heat welded to the housing to cover the at least one vent port.

8. An external infusion device according to claim 4, wherein the sheet of hydrophobic material is a label.

9. An external infusion device according to claim 2, wherein the hydrophobic material is pressed into the housing of the external infusion device.

10. An external infusion device according to claim 9, wherein the hydrophobic material is pressed into a cavity in the housing that forms the at least one vent port.

11. An external infusion device according to claim 10, wherein the hydrophobic material is molded to fit the cavity in the housing.

12. An external infusion device according to claim 2, wherein the hydrophobic material resists the passage of water.

13. An external infusion device according to claim 2, wherein the external infusion device is configured to infuse insulin.

14. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the housing and at least one vent port provide a water resistant structure that provides the user with the ability to participate in water sports.

15. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one vent port allows the air pressure within the housing to equalize with the air pressure outside of the housing.

16. An external infusion device for infusion of a fluid into a body from a reservoir, the external infusion device comprising:

drive system means to operatively couple with a reservoir for infusing a fluid into a body;

housing means adapted for use on an exterior of the body, wherein the housing means is sized to contain at least a portion of a reservoir, wherein the drive mechanism means is at least partially contained within the housing means, wherein the drive mechanism means operatively couples with the at least a portion of a reservoir within the housing means, and wherein the housing means is sized to be carried by a user without significant restriction on mobility;

electronic control circuitry means coupled to the drive system for controlling infusion of the fluid into the body;

wherein the housing means has at least one vent port means for permitting the passage of air into and out of the housing means and inhibiting the passage of liquids into the housing means through the at least one vent port.

17. An external infusion device according to claim 16, wherein the at least one vent port means further includes hydrophobic material means for permitting the passage of air into and out of the housing means and inhibiting the passage of liquids into the housing means through the at least one vent port means.

18. An external infusion device according to claim 17, wherein the hydrophobic material means is formed from PTFE.

19. An external infusion device according to claim 17, wherein the hydrophobic material means is formed as sheet.

20. An external infusion device according to claim 19, wherein the sheet of hydrophobic material means is attached to the housing means using adhesives to cover the at least one vent port means.

21. An external infusion device according to claim 19, wherein the sheet of hydrophobic material means is attached to the housing means using sonic welding to cover the at least one vent port means.

22. An external infusion device according to claim 19, wherein the sheet of hydrophobic material means is heat welded to the housing means to cover the at least one vent port means.

23. An external infusion device according to claim 19, wherein the sheet of hydrophobic material means is a label.

24. An external infusion device according to claim 17, wherein the hydrophobic material means is pressed into the housing means of the external infusion device.

25. An external infusion device according to claim 24, wherein the hydrophobic material means is pressed into a cavity in the housing means that forms the at least one vent port means.

26. An external infusion device according to claim 25, wherein the hydrophobic material means is molded to fit the cavity in the housing means.

27. An external infusion device according to claim 17, wherein the hydrophobic material means resists the passage of water.

28. An external infusion device according to claim 17, wherein the external infusion device is configured to infuse insulin.

29. An external infusion device according to claim 16, wherein the housing means and at least one vent port means provide a water resistant structure that provides the user with the ability to participate in water sports.

30. An external infusion device according to claim 16, wherein the at least one vent port means allows the air pressure within the housing means to equalize with the air pressure outside of the housing means.

31. A method of equalizing pressure in an external infusion device for infusion of a fluid into a body from a reservoir, the external infusion device having a drive system to operatively couple with a reservoir to infuse a fluid into a body, a housing adapted for use on an exterior of the body, wherein the housing is sized to contain at least a portion of a reservoir, wherein the drive mechanism is at least partially contained within the housing, wherein the drive mechanism operatively couples with the at least a portion of a reservoir within the housing, and wherein the housing is sized to be carried by a user without significant restriction on mobility, and electronic control circuitry coupled to the drive system to control infusion of the fluid into the body, the method comprising steps of:

providing at least one vent port in the housing that permits the passage of air into and out of the housing and inhibits the passage of liquids into the housing through the at least one vent port.

32. A method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of using a hydrophobic material with the at least one vent port to permit the passage of air into and out of the housing and inhibit the passage of liquids into the housing through the at least one vent port.

33. A method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of forming the hydrophobic material from PTFE.

34. A method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of forming the hydrophobic material as sheet.

35. A method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of attaching the sheet of hydrophobic material to the housing using adhesives to cover the at least one vent port.

36. A method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of attaching the sheet of hydrophobic material to the housing using sonic welding to cover the at least one vent port.

37. A method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of heat welding the sheet of hydrophobic material to the housing to cover the at least one vent port.

38. A method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of forming the sheet of hydrophobic material as a label.

39. A method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of pressing the hydrophobic material into the housing of the external infusion device.

40. A method according to claim 39, further comprising the step of forming a cavity as the at least one vent port in the housing and pressing the hydrophobic material into the cavity in the housing that forms the at least one vent port.

41. A method according to claim 40, further comprising the step of molding the hydrophobic material to fit the cavity in the housing.

42. A method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of using the hydrophobic material to resist the passage of water.

43. A method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of configuring the external infusion device to infuse insulin.

44. A method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of forming the housing and at least one vent port to provide a water resistant structure that provides the user with the ability to participate in water sports.

45. A method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of allowing the at least one vent port to equalize the air pressure within the housing with the air pressure outside of the housing.