Infusion medium delivery device and method with drive device for driving plunger in reservoir

• US 20080051711A1
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• 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: Bente, Paul F., Moberg, Sheldon B., Kavazov, Julian D., Hanson, Ian B., Enegren, Bradley J., Griffin, Christopher G., Mounce, R. Paul, Maule, Susie E., Holt, Mark D., Guezuraga, Robert M., Norton, Melissa D., Kovelman, Paul H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,277,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1406 Septums, pierceable membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• 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 2205/0266 Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• 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 5/14248 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 5/385 using hydrophobic filters

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 medium are supported by the disposable housing portion, while the durable housing portion supports other components such as electronics and a drive device. A reservoir is supported by the disposable housing portion and has a moveable plunger that operatively couples to the drive device, when the disposable and durable housing portions are engaged.

Claims

1. A delivery device for delivering an infusion medium 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 first reservoir supported by the disposable housing portion, the reservoir having an interior for containing a first fluidic medium and a plunger moveable within the interior of the reservoir along an axial direction of the reservoir;

an expandable structure having an interior volume and an end for engaging the plunger and moving the plunger as the expandable structure is expanded, when the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are engaged;

a second reservoir supported by the durable housing portion, for containing a second fluid medium for expanding the expandable structure;

a conduit for coupling the second reservoir to an interior volume of the expandable structure; and

a drive device supported by the durable housing portion, for selectively conveying the second fluidic medium through the conduit, from the second reservoir to the interior volume of the expandable structure, to selectively expand the expandable structure, when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are engaged.

2. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the drive device comprises a peristaltic drive device.

3. A delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the peristaltic drive device comprises a rotatable rotor having a plurality of contact rollers or pads arranged to contact a first length of the conduit as the rotor is rotated, and wherein a support surface is provided on the durable housing portion for supporting at least the first length of the conduit.

4. A delivery device according to claim 3, wherein the support surface comprises a curved surface.

5. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the drive device comprises a fluid pump.

6. A delivery device according to claim 3, wherein the drive device further comprises a motor operatively coupled to rotate the rotatable rotor.

7. A delivery device according to claim 6, further comprising linkage structure coupled to the motor and to the rotatable rotor, to transfer drive force from the motor to the rotatable rotor.

8. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the drive device comprises a rotatable rotor having a plurality of contact rollers or pads arranged to contact a first length of the conduit as the rotor is rotated;

and a motor operatively coupled to rotate the rotatable rotor;

wherein a support surface is provided on the durable housing portion for supporting at least the first length of the conduit.

9. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the drive device comprises a rotatable rotor having a plurality of contact rollers or pads arranged to contact a first length of the conduit as the rotor is rotated along a radius of curvature, and wherein a curved surface is provided on the durable housing portion for supporting at least the first length of the conduit, the curved surface having a radius of curvature approximating the radius of curvature of the rotor rollers or pads.

10. A delivery device according to claim 9, wherein the drive device further comprises a motor operatively coupled to rotate the rotatable rotor.

11. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the expandable structure comprises a bellows structure.

12. A delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the drive device comprises a fluid pump.

13. A method for making a delivery device for delivering an infusion medium to a user, the method comprising:

providing a first housing portion adapted to be secured to a user;

providing a second housing portion configured to be selectively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion to allow disposal of the first housing portion without disposing of the second housing portion;

supporting a first reservoir on the first housing portion, the reservoir having an interior for containing a first fluidic medium;

arranging a plunger within the interior of the reservoir and movable along an axial direction of the reservoir;

arranging an end of an expandable structure for engaging the plunger and moving the plunger as the expandable structure is expanded, when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are engaged;

supporting a second reservoir on the second housing portion, for containing a second fluid medium for expanding the expandable structure;

coupling a conduit in fluid flow communication with the second reservoir and an interior volume of the expandable structure; and

operatively coupling a drive device for selectively conveying the second fluidic medium through the conduit, from the second reservoir to the interior volume of the expandable structure, to selectively expand the expandable structure, when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are engaged.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein operatively coupling a drive device comprises operatively coupling a peristaltic drive device to the conduit.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein operatively coupling a drive device comprises supporting a rotatable rotor for rotation and arranging the rotatable rotor having a plurality of contact rollers or pads to contact a first length of the conduit as the rotor is rotated when the first and second housing portions are engaged.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising providing a support surface for supporting the first length of conduit.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the support surface is curved.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein operatively coupling a drive device further comprises operatively coupling a motor to rotate the rotatable rotor.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein operatively coupling a motor comprises coupling a linkage structure to the motor and to the rotatable rotor, to transfer drive force from the motor to the rotatable rotor.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the support surface is curved.

21. A method according to claim 13, wherein operatively coupling a drive device comprises supporting a rotatable rotor for rotation, the rotor having a plurality of contact rollers or pads arranged to contact a first length of the conduit as the rotor is rotated along a radius of curvature;

and

supporting at least the first length of the conduit on a surface in the first housing portion.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein supporting at least the first length of the conduit comprises arranging a curved surface to support the first length of the conduit, the curved surface having a radius of curvature approximating the radius of curvature of the rotor rollers or pads.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the expandable structure comprises a bellows structure.

24. A method according to claim 13, wherein the expandable structure comprises a bellows structure.