Infusion medium delivery device and method with compressible or curved reservoir or conduit

• US 20080051709A1
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hanson, Ian B., Mounce, R. Paul, Stutz, William H., Bente, Paul F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,137,314 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/131
• 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 2005/31518 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 2205/0266 Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14224 Diaphragm type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller 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 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1223 the actuating elements, e.g. rollers, moving in a straight line during squeezing
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1253 by using two or more rollers as squeezing elements, the rollers moving on an arc of a circle during squeezing
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1269 the rotary axes of the rollers lying in a plane perpendicular to the rotary axis of the driving motor

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-user and may be disposed of after it has been in use for a prescribed period. Components that normally come into contact with a patient-user or with infusion media are supported by the disposable housing portion for disposal after the prescribed use, while the durable housing portion supports other components such as electronics for controlling delivery of infusion media from the reservoir and a drive device and drive linkage.

Claims

1. A delivery device comprising:

a first housing portion;

a second housing portion configured to selectively engage with and disengage from the first housing portion;

a rotatable rotor supporting at least one pad or roller for movement in an annular path with the rotation of the rotor;

a conduit supported by the first housing portion and having a flexible portion arranged within at least a portion of the annular path of the at least one pad or roller to be engaged at locations along the annular path by the at least one roller or pad when the second housing portion and the first housing portion are engaged, the flexible portion of the conduit being resiliently collapsible at the locations of engagement of the at least one roller or pad to provide a pumping action as the rotor rotates the at least one roller or pad along the annular path while the second housing portion and first housing portion are engaged, the conduit being connectable in fluid flow communication with an injection site;

a reservoir having an interior volume for containing a fluid, the interior volume of the reservoir being in fluid flow communication with the conduit; and

a drive device supported by the second housing portion and operatively coupled to the rotor for selectively rotating the rotor.

2. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable rotor is supported for rotation by the second housing portion.

3. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein:

the second housing portion has a housing structure with an internal volume;

the rotor is disposed outside of the internal volume; and

the delivery device further comprising a rotor shaft having a longitudinal axis, the rotor shaft coupled to the rotor and extending into the internal volume of the second housing portion and operatively coupled to the drive device.

4. A delivery device according to claim 3, wherein the rotor shaft extends through an aperture in a wall of the second housing portion.

5. A delivery device according t6claim 4, further comprising a seal disposed around the aperture in the wall of the second housing portion.

6. A delivery device according to claim 3, wherein the rotor is disposed within a recess in a wall of the second housing portion.

7. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the rotor comprises at least two wheels, including a drive wheel operatively coupled to the drive device to receive rotational drive force, and a belt-like structure extending in an annular path around the at least two wheels, and wherein the at least one pad or roller is supported on the belt.

8. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the rotor comprises a rotary wheel and wherein the at least one pad or roller is supported by the rotary wheel.

9. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the rotor comprises a rotary wheel supported for rotation about a first axis of rotation and wherein the at least one pad or roller comprises at least one rotatable roller supported for rotation on the rotary wheel about a second axis of rotation that is orthogonal to the first axis of rotation.

10. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible portion of the conduit is supported on a flat support surface.

11. A delivery device according to claim 10, wherein the reservoir comprises a rigid container structure and wherein the support surface comprises a surface of the reservoir.

12. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible portion of the conduit is supported on a curved support surface.

13. A delivery device according to claim 12, wherein the reservoir comprises a rigid container structure and wherein the support surface comprises a surface of the reservoir.

14. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible portion of the conduit that is arranged within at least a portion of the annular path of the at least one pad or roller comprises a portion of the conduit arranged in at least a partial coil around a generally annular path.

15. A delivery device according to claim 14, wherein the rotor is rotatable about a first axis of rotation and wherein the at least one pad or roller comprises a plurality of rollers, each supported for rotation on the rotor about a respective axis of rotation that is transverse to the first axis of rotation and along a path that aligns with the annular path of the conduit, when the first and second housing portions are engaged.

16. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the rotor is rotatable about a first axis of rotation and wherein the at least one pad or roller comprises at least one roller supported for rotation on the rotor about an axis of rotation that is transverse to the first axis of rotation.

17. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the rotor is rotatable about a first axis of rotation and wherein the at least one pad or roller comprises a plurality of rollers, each roller supported for rotation on the rotor about an axis of rotation that is transverse to the first axis of rotation.

18. A method of making a delivery device, the method comprising:

providing a first housing portion;

providing a second housing portion configured to selectively engage with and disengage from the first housing portion;

supporting a rotatable rotor for rotation, the rotor having at least one pad or roller for movement in an annular path with the rotation of the rotor;

providing a conduit having a flexible portion;

coupling an interior volume of a reservoir in fluid flow communication with the conduit, the interior volume of the reservoir for containing a fluid;

supporting the flexible portion of the conduit on the first housing portion and arranging the flexible portion of the conduit within at least a portion of the annular path of the at least one pad or roller to be engaged at locations along the annular path by the at least one pad or roller when the second housing portion and the first housing portion are engaged, the flexible portion of the conduit being resiliently collapsible at the locations of engagement of the at least one pad or roller to provide a pumping action as the rotor rotates while the first and second housing portions are engaged, the conduit being connectable in fluid flow communication with an injection site;

supporting a drive device on the second housing portion; and

operatively coupling the drive device to the rotor for selectively rotating the rotor to provide, the pumping action while the first and second housing portions are engaged.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein supporting a rotatable rotor comprises supporting the rotatable rotor on the second housing portion.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein:

providing a second housing portion comprising providing a housing structure with an internal volume;

supporting a rotatable rotor comprises supporting a rotor on the second housing portion, outside of the internal volume; and

operatively coupling the drive device to the rotor comprises extending a rotor shaft having a longitudinal axis into the interior volume of the second housing portion, operatively coupling the rotor shaft to the rotor and to the drive device to transfer drive force from the drive device to the rotor.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein extending a rotor shaft comprises extending the rotor shaft through an aperture in a wall of the second housing portion.

22. A method according to claim 21, further comprising arranging a seal around the aperture in the wall of the second housing portion.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein supporting a rotatable rotor comprises supporting a rotor within a recess in a wall of the second housing portion.

24. A method according to claim 18, wherein supporting a rotatable rotor comprises supporting at least two wheels and extending a belt-like structure in an annular path around the at least two wheels, and wherein the at least one pad or roller is supported on the belt.

25. A method according to claim 18, wherein supporting a rotatable rotor comprises supporting a rotary wheel and wherein the at least one pad or roller is supported by the rotary wheel.

26. A method according to claim 18, wherein supporting a rotatable rotor comprises supporting a rotary wheel for rotation about a first axis of rotation and wherein the at least one pad or roller comprises at least one rotatable roller supported for rotation on the rotary wheel about a second axis of rotation that is orthogonal to the first axis of rotation.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein supporting the flexible portion of the conduit comprises supporting the flexible portion of the conduit on a flat support surface.

28. A method according to claim 18, wherein supporting the flexible portion of the conduit comprises supporting the flexible portion of the conduit on a flat support surface.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein supporting the flexible portion of the conduit on a flat support surface comprises supporting the flexible portion of the conduit on a flat surface of the reservoir.

30. A method according to claim 18, wherein supporting the flexible portion of the conduit comprises supporting the flexible portion of the conduit on a curved support surface.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein supporting the flexible portion of the conduit on a curved support surface comprises supporting the flexible portion of the conduit on a curved surface of the reservoir.

32. A method according to claim 18, wherein arranging the flexible portion of the conduit that is arranged within at least a portion of the annular path of the at least one pad or roller comprises arranging a portion of the conduit in at least a partial coil around a generally annular path.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein supporting a rotatable rotor comprises supporting a rotor for rotation about a first axis, wherein the at least one pad or roller comprises a plurality of rollers, each supported for rotation on the rotor about a respective axis of rotation that is transverse to the first axis of rotation and along a path that aligns with the annular path of the conduit, when the first and second housing portions are engaged.

34. A method according to claim 18, wherein supporting a rotatable rotor comprises supporting a rotor for rotation about a first axis and wherein the at least one pad or roller comprises at least one roller supported for rotation on the rotor about an axis of rotation that is transverse to the first axis of rotation.

35. A method according to claim 18, wherein supporting a rotatable rotor comprises supporting a rotor for rotation about a first axis of rotation and wherein the at least one pad or roller comprises a plurality of rollers, each roller supported for rotation on the rotor about an axis of rotation that is transverse to the first axis of rotation.

36. A delivery device comprising:

a rotatable rotor supporting at least one cam follower for movement in an annular path with the rotation of the rotor;

a camming surface having a first portion and a second portion, the camming surface arranged to abut the at least one cam follower as the cam follower is moved in the annular path, to move the at least one cam follower in a first direction, upon the first portion of the camming surface abutting the at least one cam follower and allowing the at least one cam follower to move in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, upon the second portion of the camming surface abutting the at least one cam follower;

a respective fluid chamber associated with each cam follower and having a volume arranged adjacent its associated cam follower;

a flexible membrane arranged between each cam follower and its associated fluid chamber, the flexible membrane arranged to flex in one direction to reduce the volume of a fluid chamber upon movement of the cam follower associated with that fluid chamber in the first direction;

an inlet channel provided in fluid flow communication with each fluid chamber when a cam follower is moved in the annular path to aligned with the inlet channel and moved in the second direction to increase the volume of the fluid chamber associated with the cam follower; and

an outlet channel provided in fluid flow communication with each fluid chamber when a cam follower is moved in the annular path to align with the outlet channel and moved in the first direction to decrease the volume of the fluid chamber associated with the cam follower;

wherein fluid is drawn through the inlet channel and into the fluid chamber associated with a cam follower upon movement of the cam follower in the second direction to increase the volume of the fluid chamber associated with the cam follower; and

wherein fluid is driven through the outlet channel and from the fluid chamber associated with a cam follower upon movement of the cam follower in the first direction to decrease the volume of the fluid chamber associated with the cam follower.

37. A delivery device according to claim 36, further comprising:

a first housing portion;

a second housing portion configured to selectively engage with and disengage from the first housing portion;

wherein the rotatable rotor is supported for rotation by the second housing portion and wherein a drive device is supported by the first housing portion in a position to operatively engage the rotatable rotor for driving the rotatable rotor, when the first and second housing portions are engaged.

38. A delivery device according to claim 37, wherein:

the second housing portion has a housing structure with an internal volume;

the rotor is disposed outside of the internal volume; and

the delivery device further comprising a rotor shaft having a longitudinal axis, the rotor shaft coupled to the rotor and extending into the internal volume of the second housing portion.

39. A delivery device according to claim 38, wherein the rotor shaft extends through an aperture in a wall of the second housing portion.

40. A delivery device according to claim 36, further comprising a reservoir having an interior volume for containing an infusion fluid, the reservoir coupled in fluid flow communication with the inlet channel.