Systems and methods allowing for reservoir filling and infusion medium delivery

• US 20080097327A1
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Moberg, Sheldon B., Kavazov, Julian D., Luan, Truong Gia, Hanson, Ian B., Mounce, R. Paul, Kovelman, Paul H., Bente, Paul F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,840,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/155
• 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 system includes a durable portion with a durable housing and a separable disposable portion with a disposable housing that selectively engage with and disengage from each other. The disposable housing secures to a 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 an infusion medium may be part of the disposable portion to allow for disposal after a prescribed use. A reservoir for holding the infusion medium may be part of the disposable portion, and may be supported by the disposable housing. The durable portion may include other components such as electronics for controlling delivery of the infusion medium from the reservoir, and a drive device including a motor and drive linkage.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a reservoir for holding an infusion medium;

a piston disposed at least partially within the reservoir, the piston being moveable to allow the infusion medium to fill into the reservoir and to force the infusion medium out of the reservoir;

a plunger shaft connected to the piston, the plunger shaft having a mating portion for mating with a linkage portion of a drive device, the drive device allowing for driving the plunger shaft so as to move the piston to force the infusion medium out of the reservoir when the linkage portion of the drive device is mated with the mating portion of the plunger shaft; and

a handle, the handle having a handle mating portion for mating with the mating portion of the plunger shaft, the handle capable of being used by a user to move the plunger shaft so as to move the piston to allow the infusion medium to fill into the reservoir when the handle mating portion of the handle is mated with the mating portion of the plunger shaft.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein the mating portion of the plunger shaft is threaded.

3. The system of claim 1,

wherein the handle mating portion of the handle is threaded.

4. The system of claim 1,

wherein the mating portion of the plunger shaft comprises a partial nut;

and

wherein the handle mating portion of the handle comprises a threaded interface.

5. The system of claim 1,

wherein the handle has a gripping arm for gripping the plunger shaft when the handle mating portion of the handle is mated with the mating portion of the plunger shaft.

6. The system of claim 1,

wherein the reservoir has a port that is connectable to an infusion path to allow for delivering the infusion medium from the reservoir to a body of a particular user;

and

wherein the port is connectable to a transfer path to allow for the infusion medium to be filled into the reservoir from an infusion medium container.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a transfer guard connectable to the reservoir for providing a path to allow the infusion medium to be transferred from an infusion medium container to the reservoir.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a base adapted to be secured to a particular user;

wherein the reservoir is connected to the base or is integrated into the base.

9. The system of claim 8,

wherein the reservoir is connectable to an infusion path to allow for delivering the infusion medium from the reservoir to a body of the particular user through an opening in the base.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the drive device having the linkage portion;

wherein the drive device further comprises a motor for moving the linkage portion; and

wherein the motor is able to move the linkage portion of the drive device so as to drive the plunger shaft when the linkage portion of the drive device is mated with the mating portion of the plunger shaft.

11. The system of claim 10,

wherein the linkage portion of the drive device is threaded.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a disposable housing for housing the reservoir and for being secured to a particular user; and

a durable housing for housing the motor of the drive device, the durable housing configured to be selectively engaged with and disengaged from the disposable housing.

13. The system of claim 1,

wherein the reservoir has a degassing portion that comprises a hydrophobic material for allowing gases to escape from the reservoir while keeping the infusion medium within the reservoir.

14. The system of claim 1,

wherein the piston has a degassing portion that comprises a hydrophobic material for allowing gases to escape from the reservoir while keeping the infusion medium within the reservoir.

15. A method for using a system, the system comprising a reservoir, a piston disposed at least partially within the reservoir, a plunger shaft connected to the piston, and a handle, the plunger shaft having a mating portion for mating with a linkage portion of a drive device, the handle having a handle mating portion for mating with the mating portion of the plunger shaft, the method comprising:

mating the handle mating portion of the handle with the mating portion of the plunger shaft so as to connect the handle to the plunger shaft;

establishing a transfer path for transferring an infusion medium from an infusion medium container to the reservoir; and

pulling the handle to move the plunger shaft so as to move the piston to allow the infusion medium to fill into the reservoir from the infusion medium container.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

disconnecting the handle from the plunger shaft.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

mating the linkage portion of the drive device with the mating portion of the plunger shaft after the handle has been disconnected from the plunger shaft.

18. The method of claim 17,

wherein the drive device comprises a motor;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

controlling the motor to move the linkage portion of the drive device to move the plunger shaft so as to move the piston to force the infusion medium out of the reservoir.

19. The method of claim 15,

wherein the handle comprises a gripping arm;

and

wherein the step of mating the handle mating portion of the handle with the mating portion of the plunger shaft, comprises;

mating the handle mating portion of the handle with the mating portion of the plunger shaft; and

rotating the handle so as to position the gripping arm of the handle in a position to grip the plunger shaft.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of establishing the transfer path, comprises:

connecting a transfer guard to a port of the reservoir; and

connecting the infusion medium container to the transfer guard.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

disconnecting the transfer guard from the port of the reservoir; and

connecting the port of the reservoir to an infusion path that allows for a transfer of the infusion medium from the reservoir to a body of a user.