Infusion device and method with drive device in infusion device and method with drive device in separable durable housing portion

• US 20060264889A1
• Filed: 08/23/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Moberg, Sheldon B., Hanson, Ian B., Cheney, Paul S. II
• Granted Patent: US 7,569,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14252 with needle insertion means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14573 with a replaceable reservoir for quick connection/disconnection with a driving system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1581 Right-angle needle-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/10 Device therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14236 Screw, impeller or centrifugal type pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• 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 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• 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

Abstract

A delivery device includes a durable housing portion and a separable disposable portion that selectively engage and disengage from each other. The disposable housing portion secures to the patient and may be disposed of after it has been in use for a prescribed period. Components that normally come into contact with a patient or with infusion media are supported by the disposable housing portion for disposal after the prescribed use, while the durable housing portion supports electronics for controlling delivery of infusion media from the reservoir and a drive device and drive linkage.

Claims

1. A delivery device for delivering an infusion media to a user, the device comprising:

a disposable housing portion adapted to be secured to a user;

a durable housing portion configured to be selectively engaged with and disengaged from the disposable housing portion to allow disposal of the disposable housing portion without disposing of the durable housing portion;

a reservoir for containing infusion media supported on the disposable housing portion;

electrical control circuitry and a drive device contained in the durable housing portion, wherein the electrical control circuitry controls the delivery of infusion media from the reservoir to the user and wherein the drive device operatively couples to the reservoir to drive infusion media from the reservoir under control of the electrical control circuitry when the durable housing portion is engaged with the disposable housing portion.

2. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the durable housing portion contains a drive linkage, wherein the drive device is coupled to the drive linkage and wherein the drive linkage is operatively coupled to the reservoir for driving fluid out of the reservoir under control of the electrical control circuitry when the durable housing portion is engaged with the disposable housing portion.

3. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the drive device comprises an electrical motor.

4. A delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the drive linkage comprises a gear train and a threaded shaft attached to an outermost gear of the gear train away from the drive device, wherein the gear train provides a rotating action to the threaded shaft.

5. A delivery device according to claim 2, wherein:

the drive linkage comprises a threaded shaft coupled to the drive device for rotation;

the reservoir comprises a container and a moveable member disposed at least partially within the container and moveable to drive infusion media out of the container, the moveable member having one of the group consisting of a threaded seat, a keyed seat, and a slotted seat engageable with the threaded shaft of the drive device;

the seat on the moveable member of the reservoir operatively couples with the threaded shaft of the drive device when the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are engaged, and wherein the threaded shaft is configured to separate from the seat of the moveable member when the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are disengaged.

6. A delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the drive linkage further comprises a shaft having first and second ends and a drive screw, and wherein the first end of the shaft is coupled to the drive device for rotation by the drive device, the second end of the shaft is coupled to the drive screw for rotation therewith and the drive screw is coupled to the reservoir for driving infusion media from the reservoir upon rotation of the drive screw.

7. A delivery device according to claim 6, wherein the reservoir further comprises a piston plunger having a longitudinal dimension and a single rack having threads extending along the longitudinal dimension of the piston plunger, wherein the threads of the single rack operatively couple with the drive screw of the drive device for rotation therewith when the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are engaged.

8. A delivery device according to claim 2, wherein:

the drive linkage comprises a shaft and pinion gear coupled to the drive device for rotation of the pinion gear; and

the reservoir comprises a container and a moveable plunger disposed at least partially within the container and moveable to drive infusion media out of the container, the plunger being operatively coupled with the pinion gear to move the plunger upon rotation of the pinion gear.

9. A delivery device according to claim 8, wherein the plunger comprises a single threaded rack that operatively couples to the pinion gear to be moveably driven with rotation of the pinion gear by the drive device when the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are engaged.

10. A delivery device according to claim 2, wherein:

the drive linkage comprises two shafts and two pinion gears, each pinion gear coupled to a respective shaft, the shafts further coupled to the drive device for rotation of the shafts and pinion gears; and

the reservoir comprises a container and a moveable plunger disposed at least partially within the container and moveable to drive infusion media out of the container, the plunger being operatively coupled with the two pinion gears to move the plunger upon rotation of the pinion gears.

11. A delivery device according to claim 10, wherein the plunger comprises two threaded racks that operatively couple to the pinion gears to be moveably driven with rotation of the pinion gears by the drive device when the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are engaged.

12. A delivery device according to claim 6, wherein the reservoir comprises a piston plunger with a hollow, threaded interior along a longitudinal direction of the piston plunger, wherein the threaded interior is threaded to correspond to the drive screw of the drive device, and wherein the threaded interior operatively couples with the drive screw of the drive device when the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are engaged.

13. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the drive device comprises a threaded drive shaft screw and wherein the reservoir comprises a container and a piston plunger moveable within the container, the piston plunger having a pair of pivotal arm members extending longitudinally out of the container in a V-configuration, wherein each arm member comprises a threaded foot portion extending toward the threaded drive shaft screw of the drive device, and wherein the delivery device further comprises cam surfaces arranged relative to the reservoir for pivoting the arm members toward the threaded screw to engage the threaded foot portions of the arm members with the threaded screw.

14. A delivery device according to claim 13, wherein:

the reservoir and the piston plunger are supported for rotation;

the arm members operatively couple with the drive shaft screw of the drive device when the reservoir and the piston plunger are rotated in a direction allowing the cam surfaces to engage the arm members and the drive shaft screw and when the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are engaged; and

the arm members and the drive shaft screw allow for separation of the reservoir and the drive device when the reservoir and the piston plunger are rotated in a direction opposite to the direction that allows the cam surfaces to engage the arm members and the drive shaft screw and when the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are disengaged.

15. A method for delivering an infusion media to a user, the method comprising:

securing a disposable housing portion to a user;

attaching a durable housing portion to the disposable housing portion in a manner that allows a user to selectively detach the durable housing portion from the disposable housing portion;

supporting a reservoir for containing infusion media on the disposable housing portion; and

containing electrical control circuitry and a drive device in the durable housing portion for controlling the delivery of infusion media from the reservoir to the user when the durable housing portion and the disposable housing portion are engaged.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising:

containing a drive linkage in the durable housing portion; and

coupling the drive linkage to the reservoir for driving fluid out of the reservoir when the durable housing portion is engaged with the disposable housing portion.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the drive device comprises an electrical motor.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the drive linkage comprises a gear train and a threaded shaft attached to an outermost gear of the gear train away from the drive device, and wherein the method further comprises rotating the gear train with the drive device and rotating the threaded shaft with the gear train.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein:

containing a drive linkage in the durable housing comprises coupling a threaded shaft to the drive device for rotation by the drive device;

supporting a reservoir comprises supporting a container and a moveable member in the disposable housing portion, the moveable member being moveable within the container and to drive infusion media out of the container, the moveable member having one of the group consisting of a threaded seat, a keyed seat, and a slotted seat engageable with the threaded shaft of the drive device;

operatively coupling the seat on the moveable member of the reservoir with the threaded shaft when the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are engaged, and separating the threaded shaft from the seat of the moveable member when the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are disengaged.

20. A method according to claim 16, wherein containing a drive linkage in the durable housing portion comprises:

containing a shaft having and a drive screw in the durable housing portion;

coupling the shaft to the drive device for rotation by the drive device;

coupling the shaft to the drive screw for rotation therewith; and

coupling the drive screw to the reservoir for driving infusion media from the reservoir upon rotation of the drive screw.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the reservoir comprises a container and a piston plunger having a longitudinal dimension and a single rack having threads extending along the longitudinal dimension, wherein the method further comprises coupling the threads of the single rack operatively with the drive screw for rotation therewith when the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are engaged.

22. A method according to claim 16, wherein:

containing a drive linkage in the durable housing portion comprises containing a shaft having a pinion gear on one end in the durable housing portion and coupling the pinion gear to the drive device for rotation of the pinion gear by the drive device; and

supporting a reservoir comprises supporting a container and a moveable plunger on the disposable housing portion, the moveable plunger located at least partially within the container and moveable to drive infusion media out of the container; and

operatively coupling the moveable plunger with the pinion gear to move the plunger upon rotation of the pinion gear.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the plunger comprises a single threaded rack and wherein operatively coupling the moveable plunger with the pinion gear comprises engaging the pinion gear and the single threaded rack and moving the single threaded rack of the plunger with rotation of the pinion gear by the drive device when the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are engaged.

24. A method according to claim 16, wherein:

containing a drive linkage in the durable housing portion comprises containing two shafts and two pinion gears in the durable housing portion with each pinion gear coupled to a respective shaft, and coupling the shafts to the drive device for rotation of the shafts and pinion gears; and

supporting a reservoir comprises supporting a container and a moveable plunger on the disposable housing portion, the moveable plunger being located at least partially within the container and moveable to drive infusion media out of the container; and

operatively coupling the moveable plunger to the two pinion gears to move the plunger upon rotation of the pinion gears.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the plunger comprises two threaded racks that operatively couple to the pinion gears to be moveably driven with rotation of the pinion gears by the drive device when the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are engaged.

26. A method according to claim 20, wherein the reservoir comprises a piston plunger with a hollow, threaded interior along a longitudinal direction of the piston plunger, wherein the threaded interior is threaded to correspond to the drive screw of the drive device, and wherein the method further comprises operatively coupling the threaded interior with the drive screw of the drive device when the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are engaged.

27. A method according to claim 16, wherein containing a drive device and drive linkage comprises containing a threaded drive shaft screw in the durable housing portion and wherein supporting a reservoir comprises supporting a container and a piston plunger on the disposable housing portion, the piston plunger being moveable within the container, the piston plunger having a pair of pivotal arm members extending longitudinally out of the container in a V-configuration, wherein each arm member comprises a threaded foot portion extending toward the threaded drive shaft screw of the drive device, and wherein the method further comprises supporting cam surfaces relative to the threaded screw for contacting and pivoting the arm members toward the threaded screw to selectively engage the threaded foot portions of the arm members with the threaded screw.

28. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:

supporting the reservoir and the piston plunger for rotation;

operatively coupling the arm members with the drive shaft screw of the drive device when the reservoir and the piston plunger are rotated in a direction allowing the cam surfaces to engage the arm members and the drive shaft screw and when the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are engaged; and

separating the arm members and the drive shaft screw when the reservoir and the piston plunger are rotated in a direction opposite to the direction that allows the cam surfaces to engage the arm members and the drive shaft screw and when the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are disengaged.