Fluid Delivery Device with Autocalibration

• US 20090179044A1
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Rush, Benjamin M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,766,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/55
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0288 Electro-rheological or magneto-rheological materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/702 automatically during use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/09 Flow through the pump
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/043 Micropumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2251/08 Shape memory
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/708 Measuring the time taken to traverse a fixed distance
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/029 provided with electric controlling means G01F11/022 and G01F11/024 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/0084 for measuring volume
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/10 of flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0694 by action on throttling means or flow sources of very small size, e.g. microfluidics microvalves F16K99/0001; microstructural devices per se B81B

Abstract

A micro fluid delivery device is particularly useful in medical applications. The device may be worn or carried by the user and may deliver drugs or other medicaments to the user or patient. The device has a control system that accepts input from the user and controls all aspects of operation of the device. The control system measures the output of the pump and adjusts the output of the pump to achieve the desired dosage rate and size. This eliminates differences from pump to pump that result from inevitable variations in the manufacturing of such small scale affordable devices.

Claims

1. A method of calibrating the flow rate of a fluid pumping device, the method comprising:

pumping the liquid;

detecting arrival of the liquid at a first sensor;

detecting arrival of the liquid at a second sensor;

measuring the time elapsed from the arrival of the liquid at the first sensor to the arrival of the liquid at the second sensor; and

adjusting the volumetric flow rate of the dispensing of the device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the dispensing device comprises a disposable portion, and wherein the method further comprises attaching the disposable portion to a re-usable portion of the device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein after a disposable portion is attached the volumetric flow rate of the dispensing device is adjusted.

4-21. -21. (canceled)