DEVICE AND METHOD EMPLOYING SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY
First Claim
1. A diabetes management system for treating a patient, comprising:
- an insulin pump having a plunger for reciprocating movement in a cavity, a shape memory alloy wire attached to the plunger to move the plunger in a first direction in the cavity and a biasing spring attached to the plunger to move the plunger in a second direction in the cavity opposite to the first direction;
a timing circuit and an electrical energy storage device for activating the shape memory alloy wire; and
a remote unit for wirelessly communicating with the insulin pump.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for the metering and delivery of small discrete volumes of liquid is comprised of a small or minimal number of inexpensive components. One such component is a movable member, such as a miniature precision reciprocating displacement pump head, which is driven by an actuator that comprises a shape memory alloy material. The operating mechanism of the system is of little or minimal complexity. The system facilitates the precise metering and delivery of the small discrete volumes of liquid. Potential applications for the system include subcutaneous, long-term, automated drug delivery, for example, the delivery of insulin to a person with diabetes. In such an application, the small, simple and inexpensive nature of the invention would allow for its use as both a portable and a disposable system.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A diabetes management system for treating a patient, comprising:
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an insulin pump having a plunger for reciprocating movement in a cavity, a shape memory alloy wire attached to the plunger to move the plunger in a first direction in the cavity and a biasing spring attached to the plunger to move the plunger in a second direction in the cavity opposite to the first direction; a timing circuit and an electrical energy storage device for activating the shape memory alloy wire; and a remote unit for wirelessly communicating with the insulin pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A diabetes management system for treating a patient, comprising:
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a blood of glucose monitor for collecting blood glucose levels in the patient; an insulin pump having a plunger for reciprocating movement in a cavity, a shape memory alloy wire attached to the plunger to move the plunger in a first direction in the cavity and a biasing spring attached to the plunger to move the plunger in a second direction in the cavity opposite to the first direction; a timing circuit and a battery for providing electrical energy to the shape memory alloy wire; and a remote unit for wirelessly communicating with the blood glucose monitor and the insulin pump. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification