CONTAINER FOR PUMP SYSTEM

• US 20100198184A1
• Filed: 02/05/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hegland, Michael, Olsen, James M., Seeley, Dale F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,282,620 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/408
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1587 suitable for being connected to an infusion line after insertion into a patient
• 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 5/1486 the bags being substantially completely surrounded by fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/152 pressurised by contraction of elastic reservoirs containers for dispensing contents by contraction of an elastic bag provided therein, in general B65D83/0061

Abstract

A container for housing a fluid therapeutic composition includes a rigid housing, a collapsible bag and a seal. The housing has an opening and an interior surface. The interior surface forms a cavity having a volume. The bag is disposed in the housing and is expandable to contact the interior surface of the housing and occupy the entire volume of the cavity when filled with the fluid therapeutic composition. The bag has an opening that is fixed in proximity to the opening of the housing. The seal is configured to prevent air from entering the bag via the bag opening and to prevent air from entering the cavity of the housing via the housing opening.

Claims

1. A container for housing a fluid therapeutic composition, the container comprising:

a housing having an opening and an interior surface, the interior surface forming a cavity having a volume, wherein the opening is in fluid communication with the cavity;

a collapsible bag for containing the fluid therapeutic composition, wherein the bag is disposed in the housing and expandable to contact the entire interior surface of the housing, wherein the bag has an opening to allow the therapeutic agent to be introduced into, or exit from, the bag, and wherein the opening of the bag is fixed in proximity to the opening of the housing; and

a seal configured to prevent air from entering the bag via the bag opening and to prevent air from entering the cavity of the housing via the housing opening.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the seal comprises a metallic foil layer disposed across the housing opening.

3. A container according to claim 1, wherein the seal comprises a pierceable and resealable septum configured allow fluid to be introduced into, or withdrawn from, the bag.

4. A container according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the seal extends into the bag opening and presses the bag against the interior surface of the housing to fix the bag relative to the housing.

5. A container according to claim 1, wherein the bag is formed of elastomeric material and has an unstressed volume of near zero cubic millimeters.

6. A container according to claim 1, wherein the bag is expandable to unstressed state having a volume that is equal to or greater than the volume of the cavity of the housing.

7. A container according to claim 1, wherein the housing is a glass vial.

8. A container according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an actuatable vent apparatus configured to allow air to flow between the outside of the housing and the cavity of the housing, when actuated.

9. A container according to claim 8, wherein the housing is formed from glass and the actuatable vent apparatus comprises a depressable actuator member configured to cause a crack in the glass housing to form a passageway extending from the cavity of the housing to the exterior of the housing, when depressed.

10. A system comprising:

a container according to claim 1; and

a pumping mechanism operably couplable to the container and configured to pump therapeutic fluid disposed in the bag out of the bag.

11. A system according to claim 10, further comprising a catheter fluidly couplable to the pumping mechanism and configured to deliver the pumped therapeutic fluid to a target location.

12. A system according to claim 11, further comprising a cannula having a lumen for transporting the therapeutic fluid, the cannula being configured to pierce the seal and being operably couplable to the pumping mechanism to allow the lumen to transport the fluid from the bag to the pumping mechanism.

13. A system according to claim 10, wherein the pumping mechanism is a peristaltic pumping mechanism.

14. A system comprising:

a container according to claim 5; and

a flow restrictor operably couplable to the bag and configured to control the rate at which the therapeutic fluid exits the bag.

15. A system according to claim 14, further comprising a cannula having a lumen for transporting the therapeutic fluid, the cannula being configured to pierce the seal and being operably couplable to the flow restrictor to allow the lumen to transport the fluid from the bag to the flow restrictor.

16. A method for delivering therapeutic fluid to a patient, comprising:

piercing the seal of a container according to claim 1 to allow access to the therapeutic fluid in the bag; and

pumping the therapeutic fluid from the bag to a target location of the patient.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising venting the housing of the container to allow air to flow from outside the housing to the housing cavity.

18. A method for filling a container having a bag and a housing, the housing having an opening and an interior surface forming a cavity, the cavity being in fluid communication with the opening, wherein the bag is disposed in the housing and has a bag opening to allow the therapeutic agent to be introduced into, or exit from, the bag, the method comprising:

filling the bag with therapeutic fluid until the bag and the therapeutic fluid occupies the entire volume of the cavity;

sealing the container to prevent air from entering the bag via the bag opening and to prevent air from entering the cavity of the housing via the housing opening.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein an automated dispenser is employed to fill the bag.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein sealing the container comprises inserting at least a part of a seal into the opening of the bag to press the bag against the interior surface of the housing.