Reservoir with liquidly applied seal

• US 20090036844A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Inventors: Hansen, Lasse, Fristrup, Charlotte Juel
• Application Number:
  US11/628,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20090036844A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/288.40
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1406 Septums, pierceable membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1475 Inlet or outlet ports

Abstract

The present invention provides a fluid reservoir comprising a first wall portion formed from a needle-penetrable material, the first wall portion comprising a seal surface. The reservoir further comprises a seal member formed from a needle-penetratable self-sealing material, wherein the seal member has been applied on the seal surface in a liquid state. In this way a liquid reservoir having a self-sealing needle-penetrable access means which can be manufactured in a cost-effective manner is provided.

Claims

1. A reservoir (1, 560, 660) containing a fluid, comprising:

a first wall portion formed from a needle-penetrable material, the first wall portion comprising an outer seal surface,

a seal member (10, 662) formed from a needle-penetrable self-sealing material,

wherein the seal member has been applied on the seal surface in a liquid state.

2. A reservoir as defined in claim 1, in combination with a structure (676, 678, 562, 31) forming a cavity in the vicinity of the seal surface, the seal member being arranged at least partially within the cavity.

3. A reservoir as defined in claim 2, wherein the cavity-forming structure (31) is formed integrally with the reservoir.

4. A reservoir as defined in claim 2, wherein the cavity-forming structure (562) is attached to the reservoir.

5. A reservoir as defined in claim 1, in combination with a mounting structure (562), a gap being formed between the mounting structure and the seal surface, the seal member being arranged at least partially in the gap bridging a portion of the mounting structure and the seal surface.

6. A reservoir as defined in claim 1, wherein the seal member is formed from a cured material.

7. A reservoir as defined in claim 1, wherein the seal member is formed from a liquid material.

8. A reservoir as defined in claim 1, wherein the first wall portion is made from a single layer of material.

9. A reservoir as defined in claim 1, wherein the reservoir generally is formed from a single material or single type of laminate (21, 22, 23).

10. A reservoir as defined in claim 1, wherein the reservoir has an outer surface generally formed from a first material (21) and an inner surface generally formed from a second material (22).

11. A reservoir as defined in claim 1,

comprising at least first and second flexible foil members (4, 5) sealed together to form at least one enclosed cavity for containing the fluid.

12. A reservoir as defined in claim 11, wherein the foil members are composite laminates of continuous layers including an outer layer (21) and an inner layer (22).

13. A reservoir as defined in claim 12, wherein the foil members comprise an intermediate layer (23), the inner layer being formed from a weldable material, the foil members being sealed together at least partially by welding.

14. A reservoir as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the reservoir is transparent or translucent such that a contained fluid can be viewed therethrough.

15. A reservoir as defined in claim 1, wherein the seal surface is formed from a material selected from a first group of materials comprising PE, PP, OPP, PET, OPET, PA and OPA, and the seal member is formed from a material selected from a second group of materials comprising curable elastomers.

16. A reservoir device (500), comprising:

a reservoir (560) as defined in claim 15, wherein the seal member serves as a reservoir outlet,

a fluid communication structure (350) having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being adapted to be arranged in fluid communication with the reservoir outlet (562),

wherein the fluid communication structure and the reservoir are moveable relative to each from an initial position in which there is no fluid communication therebetween and a connected position in which the fluid communication structure inlet is arranged in fluid communication with the reservoir through the reservoir outlet.

17. A reservoir device as defined in claim 16, wherein the inlet of the fluid communication structure is in the form of a pointed portion (351).

18. A reservoir device as defined in claim 17, further comprising a delivery assembly (570, 670) adapted to expel a fluid contained in the reservoir through the outlet of the reservoir.

19. A reservoir device as defined in claim 17, further comprising a delivery assembly (570, 670) having an inlet (321) associated with the fluid communication structure and an outlet (322), the inlet being adapted to be arranged in fluid communication with the reservoir, the delivery assembly being capable of expelling a fluid contained in the reservoir through the outlet of the delivery assembly.

20. A reservoir device as defined in claim 19, further comprising:

a transcutaneous access device (512) adapted to be arranged through the skin of a subject,

a mounting surface (532) adapted for application to the skin of the subject, wherein

the reservoir comprises a liquid drug, and

wherein the delivery assembly, in a situation of use, is adapted for expelling the drug out of the reservoir and through the skin of the subject via an outlet end of the transcutaneous access device.

21. A method for manufacturing a reservoir (1, 560, 660) adapted to contain a fluid, comprising the steps of:

providing a reservoir comprising a first wall portion formed from a needle-penetrable material, the first wall portion comprising an outer seal surface, and

applying a liquid material to the seal surface, the liquid material being adapted to form a needle-penetrable self-sealing seal member (10, 662).

22. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein the reservoir is provided in combination with a structure (676, 678) forming a cavity, the cavity being arranged to receive at least a portion of the applied liquid material.

23. A method as defined in claim 21, further comprising the step of curing or allowing the liquid material to cure, thereby forming the needle-penetrable self-sealing seal member.

24. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein the reservoir is sealed and contains an amount of a fluid prior to the application of the liquid material.