Fluid Transfer Devices With Resilient Valve Structures And Ambulatory Infusion Devices Including Same

• US 20100284837A1
• Filed: 05/08/2009
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Inventors: Ring, Lawrence Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,292,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/410.1
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/04 using solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/046 the fluid flowing through the moving part of the motor

Abstract

Fluid transfer devices for use in, for example, ambulatory infusion devices and infusions devices including fluid transfer devices.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An infusion device, comprising:

a fluid transfer device including

a pump, and

a valve, associated with the pump, having a valve base defining a lumen having an outlet and a seal surface that extends around the lumen outlet, and a resilient structure, mounted in tension on the valve base, including a valve member movable between a closed state where the valve member engages the seal surface and an open state where at least a portion of the valve member is spaced apart from the seal surface;

an infusion device outlet operably connected to the fluid transfer device; and

a reservoir operably connected to the fluid transfer device.

22. An infusion device as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

a housing; and

wherein the fluid transfer device and the reservoir are located within the housing.

23. An infusion device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the reservoir comprises a negative pressure reservoir.

24. An infusion device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the seal surface or the valve member includes a protrusion that extends around the lumen outlet.

25. An infusion device as claimed in claim 21, wherein

the resilient structure comprises a cup-shaped resilient structure defining a relaxed inner diameter;

and

the valve base defines an outer diameter that is substantially greater than the relaxed inner diameter of the cup-shaped resilient structure.

26. An infusion device as claimed in claim 25, wherein

the pump includes an outer pump tube;

and

a portion of the cup-shaped resilient structure is located between the valve base and the outer pump tube.

27. An infusion device as claimed in claim 26, wherein

the pump includes an inlet chamber and an inlet tube, with a main portion and the valve base, adjacent to the inlet chamber;

and

the main portion defines an outer surface, the outer pump tube defines an inner surface, and the outer surface of the inlet tube main portion abuts the inner surface of the outer pump tube.

28. An infusion device as claimed in claim 26, wherein

the pump includes an electromagnet having a core with a main portion and the valve base;

and

the main portion defines an outer surface, the outer pump tube defines an inner surface, and the outer surface of the main portion abuts the inner surface of the outer pump tube.

29. An infusion device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the relaxed inner diameter of the cup-shaped resilient structure is about 50% to 95% of the outer diameter of the valve base.

30. An infusion device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the resilient structure includes a plurality of slots that define the movable valve member.

31. An infusion device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the resilient structure includes a wall and the movable valve member is connected to the wall by a plurality of supports.

32. An infusion device as claimed in claim 21, wherein

the pump includes a piston;

and

the piston is biased to a position in contact with the resilient structure and is movable to a pull-back position in spaced relation to the resilient structure.

33. An infusion device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the pump includes an electromagnet.

34. An infusion device, comprising:

a fluid transfer device having

an inlet valve including a valve base defining a lumen having an outlet and a seal surface that extends around the lumen outlet, and a resilient membrane including a least one narrow opening, mounted on the valve base, and a valve member associated with the narrow opening and movable between a closed state where the valve member engages the seal surface and an open state where at least a portion of the valve member is spaced apart from the seal surface, and

a pump including an inlet chamber adjacent to the resilient membrane, and a piston including an end surface that is biased to a position where the end surface the holds the valve member against the seal surface and is movable to a pull-back position where the end surface is in spaced relation to the resilient structure;

an infusion device outlet operably connected to the fluid transfer device; and

a reservoir operably connected to the inlet valve of the fluid transfer device.

35. An infusion device as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:

a housing; and

wherein the fluid transfer device and the reservoir are located within the housing.

36. An infusion device as claimed in claim 34, wherein the reservoir comprises a negative pressure reservoir.

37. An infusion device as claimed in claim 34, wherein the resilient membrane is mounted in tension on the valve base.

38. An infusion device as claimed in claim 34, wherein the resilient membrane includes a plurality of narrow openings.

39. An infusion device as claimed in claim 34, wherein the seal surface or the valve member includes a protrusion that extends around the lumen outlet.

40. An infusion device as claimed in claim 34, wherein

the resilient membrane comprises a cup-shaped resilient membrane defining a relaxed inner diameter;

and

the valve base defines an outer diameter that is substantially greater than the relaxed inner diameter of the cup-shaped resilient membrane.

41. An infusion device as claimed in claim 40, wherein

the pump includes an outer pump tube;

and

a portion of the cup-shaped resilient membrane is located between the valve base and the outer pump tube.

42. An infusion device as claimed in claim 41, wherein

the pump includes an inlet tube with a main portion and the valve base;

and

the main portion defines an outer surface, the outer pump tube defines an inner surface, and the outer surface of the inlet tube main portion abuts the inner surface of the outer pump tube.

43. An infusion device as claimed in claim 40, wherein the relaxed inner diameter of the cup-shaped resilient membrane is about 50% to 95% of the outer diameter of the valve base.

44. An infusion device as claimed in claim 34, wherein the pump includes an electromagnet.