Valves, Valved Fluid Transfer Devices and Ambulatory Infusion Devices Including The Same

• US 20080234637A1
• Filed: 03/24/2008
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Inventors: Lord, Peter C., Oberg, Keith A., McConnell, Susan, Ring, Lawrence S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/249
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/226 Spindles or actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0222 Materials for reducing friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/75 with filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/22 Valves or arrangement of valves A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/32 Details details of more general applicability F16K25/00 - F16K51/00

Abstract

Valves, valved fluid transfer devices and ambulatory infusion devices including the same.

Claims

1. A fluid transfer device for use in an implantable medical device, comprising:

a fluid transfer device housing configured to be carried within the implantable medical device;

a pump associated with the fluid transfer device housing; and

a valve in fluidic communication with the pump, the valve including a valve housing including a fluid lumen,

a valve seat including an opening in fluid communication with the fluid lumen, and

a valve element movable relative to the valve housing between a closed position where the valve element engages the valve seat and an open position where the valve element is in spaced relation to the valve seat,

wherein one of the valve seat and the valve element includes a main portion and a seal portion that is less tacky than the main portion and is in contact with the other of the valve seat and the valve element when the valve element is in the closed position.

2. A fluid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the valve seat includes the main portion and the seal portion;

the valve element includes a shaft, which extends through the valve housing fluid lumen and valve seat opening, and a head that engages the valve seat seal portion when the valve element is in the closed position; and

the valve further includes a spring that biases the valve element to the closed position.

3. A fluid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve is a main check valve that defines the inlet of the fluid transfer device, a bypass valve, or an outlet valve.

4. A fluid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material selected from the group consisting of silicone rubber, latex rubber, fluoropolymers, urethane, butyl rubber, and isoprene.

5. A fluid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material;

and

the seal portion comprises a layer of silicon suboxide on the main portion.

6. A fluid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material;

and

the seal portion comprises a relatively thin layer of a relatively hard elastomeric material.

7. A fluid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material;

and

the seal portion comprises a relatively thin layer of a fluoroelastomer or a low friction protective coating.

8. A fluid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material;

and

the seal portion comprises a surface of the valve seat main portion that has been halogenated.

9. A fluid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material;

and

the seal portion comprises a surface of the valve seat main portion that has been implanted with ions of a ceramic material or ions of a metal material or ions of a metal oxide material.

10. A fluid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material;

and

the seal portion comprises a surface of the valve seat main portion that has been implanted and coated with ions of a ceramic material or ions of a metal material or ions of a metal oxide material.

11. A fluid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material;

and

the seal portion comprises a coating of a filler material.

12. An ambulatory medical device, comprising:

a reservoir;

a fluid transfer device operably connected to the reservoir and including a fluid transfer device housing and a pump associated with the fluid transfer device housing; and

a valve carried by the fluid transfer device housing and in fluidic communication with the pump and/or the reservoir, the valve including

a valve housing including a fluid lumen,

a valve seat including an opening in fluid communication with the fluid lumen, and

a valve element movable relative to the valve housing between a closed position where the valve element engages the valve seat and an open position where the valve element is in spaced relation to the valve seat,

wherein one of the valve seat and the valve element includes a main portion and a seal portion that is less tacky than the main portion and is engaged by the other of the valve seat and the valve element when the valve element is in the closed position.

13. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the valve is a main check valve that defines the inlet of the fluid transfer device, a bypass valve, an outlet valve, a pressure regulator valve, a fill port valve, a valve that employ a reference pressure, a header assembly valve, or a valve that is associated with a catheter.

14. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the valve seat includes the main portion and the seal portion;

the valve element includes a shaft, which extends through the valve housing fluid lumen and valve seat opening, and a head that engages the valve seat seal portion when the valve element is in the closed position; and

the valve further includes a spring that biases the valve element to the closed position.

15. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material selected from the group consisting of silicone rubber, latex rubber, fluoropolymers, urethane, butyl rubber, and isoprene.

16. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material;

and

the seal portion comprises a layer of silicon suboxide on the main portion.

17. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material;

and

the seal portion comprises a relatively thin layer of a relatively hard elastomeric material.

18. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material;

and

the seal portion comprises a relatively thin layer of a fluoroelastomer or a low friction protective coating.

19. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material;

and

the seal portion comprises a surface of the valve seat main portion that has been halogenated.

20. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material;

and

the seal portion comprises a surface of the valve seat main portion that has been implanted with ions of a ceramic material or ions of a metal material or ions of a metal oxide.

21. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material;

and

the seal portion comprises a surface of the valve seat main portion that has been implanted with ions of a ceramic material or ions of a metal material.

22. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the main portion is formed from an elastomeric material;

and

the seal portion comprises a coating of a filler material.

23. An ambulatory medical device, comprising:

a reservoir; and

a fluid transfer device operably connected to the reservoir and including

a fluid transfer device housing,

a pump associated with the fluid transfer device housing, and

a main check valve carried by the fluid transfer device housing and in fluidic communication with the pump, the main check valve including

a valve housing including a fluid lumen,

a valve seat formed from an elastomeric material associated with the valve housing and including an opening in fluid communication with the fluid lumen,

means for making a surface of the valve seat less tacky than the elastomeric material, and

a valve element associated with the fluid lumen and movable relative to the valve housing between a closed position where the valve element engages the means for making the valve seat less tacky and an open position where the valve element is in spaced relation to the means for making the valve seat less tacky.

24. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the main check valve defines the inlet of the fluid transfer device.

25. An ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 23, wherein

the valve element includes a shaft, which extends through the valve housing fluid lumen and valve seat opening, and a head that engages the means for making the valve seat less tacky when the valve element is in the closed position;

and

the valve further includes a spring that biases the valve element to the closed position.

26-35. -35. (canceled)