Novel Drive System for use with an Insulin Delivery Device
First Claim
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1. A liquid infusion device, comprising:
- a flexible drive tape having a plurality of holes aligned essentially linearly along the length of the drive tape, the plurality of holes spaced apart at a fixed increment;
a drive shaft comprising at least one gear, the gears comprising a plurality of teeth that align and engage the holes in the flexible drive tape;
a piezoelectric motor for advancing the flexible drive tape;
a plunger attached to or in communication with at least one end of the flexible drive tape; and
a cartridge for containing a liquid medication for receiving the plunger and expelling the liquid medication upon movement of the plunger in the cartridge,wherein the piezoelectric motor turns the drive shaft, thereby advancing the flexible drive tape and driving the plunger into the cartridge in an increment correlating to the fixed increment between holes.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a mechanical drive system for a medical infusion device. The disclosed drive system employs a flexible tape with recesses or holes that are configured to mate with tabs or protrusions on a gear to advance the rotation of the gear at a rate determined by the pattern of recesses or holes on the flexible tape.
34 Citations
1 Claim
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1. A liquid infusion device, comprising:
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a flexible drive tape having a plurality of holes aligned essentially linearly along the length of the drive tape, the plurality of holes spaced apart at a fixed increment; a drive shaft comprising at least one gear, the gears comprising a plurality of teeth that align and engage the holes in the flexible drive tape; a piezoelectric motor for advancing the flexible drive tape; a plunger attached to or in communication with at least one end of the flexible drive tape; and a cartridge for containing a liquid medication for receiving the plunger and expelling the liquid medication upon movement of the plunger in the cartridge, wherein the piezoelectric motor turns the drive shaft, thereby advancing the flexible drive tape and driving the plunger into the cartridge in an increment correlating to the fixed increment between holes.
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Specification