TRANSFER GUARD SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20110030845A1
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Srisathapat, Chad, Lorenzen, Eric M., Kavazov, Julian D., Chong, Colin A., Ibranyan, Arsen, Bikovsky, Rafael
• Granted Patent: US 8,356,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/328
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2013 having two piercing ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2075 for external venting
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2089 Containers or vials which are to be joined to each other in order to mix their contents combinations of vial and syringe for mixing their contents A61J1/2096
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/494 Fluidic or fluid actuated device making

Abstract

A transfer guard may provide a fluid path from a vial to a reservoir containing a plunger head connected to a plunger arm operatively engagable with a handle that at least partially covers a casing configured to allow the handle to operatively engage the plunger arm to move the plunger head to transfer fluidic media from the vial to the reservoir.

A support structure may have a chamber, a first adapter for mating with a vial containing fluidic media, and a second adapter for mating with a reservoir containing a plunger head moveable within the reservoir. A first needle may provide a fluid path from the vial to the reservoir and a second needle may connect the vial and the chamber containing an air flow control mechanism for allowing air to flow in one direction.

Claims

1. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

a transfer guard for providing a fluid path from a vial to a reservoir;

a handle configured to be operatively engagable to a plunger arm connected to a plunger head arranged for movement in an axial direction of the reservoir; and

a casing configured to allow the plunger arm to move in the axial direction relative to the reservoir to move the plunger head in the axial direction within the reservoir, the handle configured to cover at least a portion of the casing;

the transfer guard and the handle configured such that fluidic media is transferred from the vial to the reservoir in a case where the handle is operatively engaged to the plunger arm and the handle is moved in the axial direction relative to the reservoir.

2. The system of claim 1, the casing having an opening for allowing the handle to operatively engage the plunger arm.

3. The system of claim 1, the handle comprising an engagement portion configured for pivotal movement to operatively engage and disengage the plunger arm.

4. The system of claim 3, the handle comprising a slide adapted to cause the pivotal movement of the engagement portion to operatively engage and disengage the plunger arm.

5. The system of claim 4,

the slide adapted to move at least between a first position and a second position;

the engagement portion configured to engage the plunger arm when the slide is moved to the first position; and

the engagement portion configured to disengage the plunger arm when the slide is moved to the second position.

6. The system of claim 3,

the engagement portion having an extension;

and

the plunger arm having an aperture for receiving the extension when the engagement portion of the handle operatively engages the plunger arm.

7. The system of claim 6, the extension of the engagement portion for extending through an opening in the casing to operatively engage the aperture in the plunger arm and for allowing the extension of the engagement portion to move along the opening as the plunger arm is moved by the handle.

8. The system of claim 1, the transfer guard having an end for mating with the reservoir, the end comprising a body configured to envelop the reservoir.

9. The system of claim 8, the body adapted to allow fluidic media in the reservoir to be viewable through the body in a case where the reservoir is connected to the end of the transfer guard and the reservoir contains fluidic media.

10. The system of claim 9, the body having an opening for allowing fluidic media in the reservoir to be viewable and for allowing a user-patient to provide further support to the reservoir during use of the system.

11. The system of claim 8, the body having one or more fill lines for measuring a volume of fluidic media in the reservoir.

12. The system of claim 1,

the transfer guard having a chamber, the transfer guard comprising:

a first needle for connecting the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir to provide a fluid flow path from the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir;

a second needle for connecting the chamber and the interior volume of the vial; and

an air flow control mechanism arranged within the chamber and configured to allow air to flow in one direction in a case where the second needle connects the chamber and the vial and the plunger head is moved within the reservoir to transfer fluidic media from the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir.

13. The system of claim 12, the air flow control mechanism configured to allow the chamber to communicate with atmosphere to equalize pressure relative to atmosphere in the interior volume of the vial in a case where the second needle connects the chamber and the vial and the plunger head is moved within the reservoir to transfer fluidic media from the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the air flow control mechanism comprises a membrane configured to allow air to flow in one direction.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the air flow control mechanism comprises a valve

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the valve comprises at least one of an umbrella valve and a duckbill valve configured to allow air to flow in one direction.

17. A method of making a system for transferring fluidic media, the method comprising:

providing a transfer guard for providing a fluid path from a vial to a reservoir;

configuring a handle to be operatively engagable to a plunger arm connected to a plunger head arranged for movement in an axial direction of the reservoir;

configuring a casing to allow the plunger arm to move in the axial direction relative to the reservoir to move the plunger head in the axial direction within the reservoir;

configuring the handle to cover at least a portion of the casing; and

configuring the transfer guard and the handle such that fluidic media is transferred from the vial to the reservoir in a case where the handle is operatively engaged to the plunger arm and the handle is moved in the axial direction relative to the reservoir.

18. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

a support structure having a chamber, the support structure comprising;

a first adapter adapted to be mated to a vial having an interior volume containing fluidic media; and

a second adapter adapted to be mated to a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media and a plunger head arranged for movement within the reservoir;

a first needle for connecting the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir to provide a fluid flow path from the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir;

a second needle for connecting the chamber and the interior volume of the vial; and

an air flow control mechanism arranged within the chamber and configured to allow air to flow in one direction in a case where the second needle connects the chamber and the vial and the plunger head is moved within the reservoir to transfer fluidic media from the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir.

19. The system of claim 18, the air flow control mechanism adapted to allow the chamber to communicate with atmosphere to equalize pressure relative to atmosphere in the interior volume of the vial in a case where the second needle connects the chamber and the vial and the plunger head is moved within the reservoir to transfer fluidic media from the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the first needle is concentrically arranged within at least a portion of the second needle.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the first needle and the second needle share a common axis.

22. The system of claim 20,

wherein an axis of the first needle and an axis of the second needle are parallel to each other;

and

wherein the axis of the first needle is offset from the axis of the second needle.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the air flow control mechanism comprises a membrane.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the air flow control mechanism comprises a valve.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the air flow control mechanism comprises at least one of an umbrella valve and a duckbill valve.

26. The system of claim 24,

the valve moveable at least between a first position and a second position;

the chamber for communicating with atmosphere in a case where the valve is in the second position and the fluid flow path is established.

27. The system of claim 18, the second adapter comprising a body configured to envelop the reservoir.

28. The system of claim 27, the body adapted to allow fluidic media in the reservoir to be viewable through the body in a case where the reservoir is connected to the second adapter and the reservoir contains fluidic media.

29. The system of claim 28, the body having an opening for allowing fluidic media in the reservoir to be viewable and for allowing a user-patient to provide further support to the reservoir during use of the system.

30. The system of claim 27, the body having one or more fill lines for measuring a volume of fluidic media in the reservoir.

31. A method of making a system for transferring fluidic media, the method comprising:

supporting a support structure having a chamber, the support structure comprising;

a first adapter adapted to be mated to a vial having an interior volume containing fluidic media; and

a second adapter adapted to be mated to a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media and a plunger head arranged for movement within the reservoir;

connecting the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir to provide a fluid flow path from the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir with a first needle;

connecting the chamber and the interior volume of the vial with a second needle; and

arranging an air flow control mechanism within the chamber and configuring the mechanism to allow air to flow in one direction to communicate with atmosphere in a case where the second needle connects the chamber and the vial and the plunger head is moved within the reservoir to transfer fluidic media from the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir.