CONNECTION AND ALIGNMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20110160655A1
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hanson, Ian B., Bente, Paul F. IV
• Granted Patent: US 8,998,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14252 with needle insertion means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1585 Needle inserters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1072 with a septum present in the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 Glucose concentration
• 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 5/1456 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: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49828 Progressively advancing of work assembly station or assembled portion of work

Abstract

A delivery system for delivering fluidic media to a user having a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from a first housing portion, the first housing portion and the second housing portion configured to be slidable relative to each other to operatively engage each other; and a fluid connector supported by one the housing portions in a position to engage a reservoir supported by an other of the housing portions in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are slid relative to each other to operatively engage each other.

Claims

1. A delivery system for delivering fluidic media to a user, the delivery system comprising:

a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user;

a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion, one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion for supporting a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media, the first housing portion and the second housing portion configured to be slidable relative to each other to operatively engage each other; and

a fluid connector supported by the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion in a position to engage the reservoir in a case where the reservoir is supported by the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion and the first housing portion and the second housing portion are slid relative to each other to operatively engage each other.

2. The delivery system of claim 1,

the first housing portion configured to be slidable in a first direction relative to the second housing portion at least between a first position and a second position;

wherein the first housing portion is operatively engaged with the second housing portion in case where the first housing portion is in the second position relative to the second housing portion.

3. The delivery system of claim 2,

wherein the reservoir is supported by the first housing portion and the fluid connector is supported by the second housing portion;

and

wherein the fluid connector is engaged with the reservoir for fluid flow between the fluid connector and the reservoir in a case where the first housing portion is in the second position relative to the second housing portion.

4. The delivery system of claim 2, the delivery system further comprising:

a connection structure for connecting the first housing portion and the second housing portion as the first housing portion slides relative to the second housing portion from the first position to the second position.

5. The delivery system of claim 4, wherein the first housing portion is slidable in the first direction relative to the second housing portion at least from an unlocked position to at least a locked position.

6. The delivery system of claim 4,

the connection structure comprising a dovetail connection structure;

the dovetail connection structure including a dovetail supported by one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion and a groove on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion relative to the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion supporting the dovetail, the dovetail for moving along at least a portion of the groove and engaging a surface defining the groove as the first housing portion slides relative to the second housing portion to the second position.

7. The delivery system of claim 4, the connection structure including a protrusion supported by one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion and a groove on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion relative to the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion supporting the protrusion, the protrusion for moving along at least a portion of the groove and engaging a surface defining the groove as the first housing portion slides relative to the second housing portion to the second position.

8. The delivery system of claim 7, wherein the surface defining the groove is tapered to allow the protrusion to engage the surface of the groove in a friction fit manner as the first housing portion slides relative to the second housing portion to the second position.

9. The delivery system of claim 7, wherein the protrusion is tapered to allow the protrusion to engage the surface in a friction fit manner as the first housing portion slides relative to the second housing portion to the second position.

10. The delivery system of claim 7, the connection structure including an abutment defining a cavity on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion relative to the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion supporting the protrusion, the abutment for locking the protrusion in the cavity when the first housing portion is in the second position relative to the second housing portion.

11. The delivery system of claim 4, the connection structure including:

a tab supported by one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion and a recess on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion relative to the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion supporting the tab, the tab for moving along at least a portion of the recess as the first housing portion slides relative to the second housing portion to the second position; and

an abutment defining a cavity on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion relative to the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion supporting the tab, the abutment for locking the tab in the cavity when the first housing portion is in the second position relative to the second housing portion.

12. The delivery system of claim 2,

one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion having a first engagement member;

the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, relative to the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion having the first engagement member, having a second engagement member;

the first engagement member and the second engagement member configured to engage each other as the first housing portion slides relative to the second housing portion to the second position to lock the first housing portion to the second housing portion.

13. The delivery system of claim 12,

wherein the first engagement member comprises a plurality of tabs;

and

wherein the second engagement member comprises at least one of a plurality of apertures and tabs for engaging at least one of the plurality of tabs as the first housing portion slides relative to the second housing portion to the second position to lock the first housing portion to the second housing portion.

14. The delivery system of claim 12, wherein the first engagement member and the second engagement member inhibit separation of the first housing portion from the second housing portion in an axial direction transverse to the first direction in a case where the first engagement member and the second engagement member are engaged with each other.

15. The delivery system of claim 2, the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion comprising a pair of ridges extending along a portion of the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion in the first direction, the pair of ridges for guiding the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion as the first housing portion slides relative to the second housing portion to the second position.

16. The delivery system of claim 15, wherein each of the ridges extend along a periphery of the one of the first housing portion and second housing portion.

17. The delivery system of claim 15, wherein the ridges of the pair of ridges are parallel to each other.

18. The delivery system of claim 17, each of the ridges having an inner surface, wherein the inner surface of each of the ridges are nonparallel to each other.

19. The delivery system of claim 15, wherein the ridges of the pair of ridges are non-parallel to each other.

20. The delivery system of claim 15, the delivery system further comprising:

a connection structure for connecting the first housing portion and the second housing portion as the first housing portion slides relative to the second housing portion to the second position;

the pair of ridges for guiding the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion to allow the connection structure to connect the first housing portion and the second housing portion as the first housing portion slides relative to the second housing portion to the second position.

21. The delivery system of claim 2, one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion having a stopping surface for contacting a portion of the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, relative to the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion having the stopping surface, to substantially prevent the reservoir supported by the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion from contacting the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion relative to the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion supporting the reservoir.

22. The delivery system of claim 21, the stopping surface for contacting a portion of the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, relative to the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion having the stopping surface, to substantially prevent the reservoir from contacting the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, relative to the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, after the fluid conduit and the reservoir are engaged.

23. The delivery system of claim 2, the delivery system further comprising a pair of magnets, the pair of magnets including a first magnet supported on one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion and a second magnet supported on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion relative to the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion supporting the first magnet, the first magnet and the second magnet configured to align the first housing portion and the second housing portion in a case where the first housing portion slides relative to the second housing portion to the second position and is misaligned with the second housing portion.

24. The delivery system of claim 23, wherein each of the magnets are arranged to repel each other in a case where the first housing portion slides relative to the second housing portion to the second position and is misaligned with the second housing portion.

25. The delivery system of claim 24, wherein each of the magnets have common poles.

26. The delivery system of claim 2, one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion having a latch for engaging the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, relative to the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion having the latch, when the first housing portion is in the second position relative to the second housing portion.

27. The delivery system of claim 26, the latch configured to be squeezable to at least one of engage and disengage the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion relative to the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion having the latch.

28. The delivery system of claim 26, the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, relative to the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion having the latch, having a sensor for sensing the latch.

29. The delivery system of claim 26,

one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion having a bias member for biasing the first housing portion and the second housing portion apart from each other in a case where the first housing portion is slid in the first direction, but is not slid to the second position;

the latch for engaging the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, relative to the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion having the latch, in a case where the first housing portion is slid in the first direction to the second position.

30. The delivery system of claim 2, one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion having a bias member for biasing the first housing portion and the second housing portion apart from each other in a case where the first housing portion is slid in the first direction, but is not slid to the second position.

31. The delivery system of claim 2, wherein the fluid connector comprises a needle for piercing a septum of the reservoir in a case where the reservoir is supported by the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion and the first housing portion slides relative to the second housing portion to the second position.

32. The delivery system of claim 2, the fluid connector having a first opening in fluid communication with the interior volume of the reservoir in a case where the reservoir is supported by the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion and the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged;

the fluid connector having a second opening in fluid communication with an infusion path extending into skin of a user.

33. The delivery system of claim 2, the fluid connector in fluid communication with a subcutaneous path in a user, the fluid connector for delivering fluidic media from the interior volume of the reservoir to a user in a case where the fluid connector is engaged with the reservoir and the fluidic media is expelled from the interior volume of the reservoir.

34. The delivery system of claim 33, wherein the first housing portion engageable with a cannula for insertion into the user to provide the subcutaneous path.

35. A method of making a medical device, the method comprising:

adapting a first housing portion to be carried by a user;

configuring a second housing portion to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion, one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion for supporting a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media, the first housing portion and the second housing portion configured to be slidable relative to each other to operatively engage each other; and

supporting a fluid connector by the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion in a position to engage the reservoir in a case where the reservoir is supported by the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion and the first housing portion and the second housing portion are slid relative to each other to operatively engage each other.

36. A medical device for treating a user, the medical device comprising:

a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user;

a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion;

a plurality of electrical contacts provided on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of electrical contacts including a set of main electrical contacts and at least one other electrical contact;

a shorting mechanism provided on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the shorting mechanism for interacting with the set of main electrical contacts; and

circuitry configured to provide a first signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism interacts with the set of main electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts;

the circuitry further configured to provide a second signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism interacts with the at least one other electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts.

37. The medical device of claim 36, wherein the first signal indicates that the first housing portion and the second housing portion have been connected.

38. The medical device of claim 37, wherein the second signal indicates that the first housing portion and the second housing portion have not been connected.

39. The medical device of claim 36,

wherein the set of main electrical contacts interact with the shorting mechanism in a case where the shorting mechanism contacts the set of main electrical contacts;

the circuitry configured to provide the first signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism contacts the set of main electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts;

the circuitry further configured to provide the second signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism contacts the at least one other electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts.

40. The medical device of claim 36,

the shorting mechanism having a plurality of ends, each of the ends for interacting with a respective main electrical contact of the set of main electrical contacts;

the circuitry configured to provide the first signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and each of the ends of the shorting mechanism interacts with the respective main electrical contact of the set of main electrical contacts;

the circuitry further configured to provide the second signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and at least one of the ends of the shorting mechanism interacts with the at least one other electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts.

41. The medical device of claim 40,

the set of main electrical contacts comprising a first main electrical contact and a second main electrical contact;

the plurality of ends of the shorting mechanism including a first end and a second end for interacting with the first main electrical contact and the second main electrical contact;

the circuitry configured to provide the first signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the first end and the second end of the shorting mechanism interacts with the first main electrical contact and the second main electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts;

the circuitry further configured to provide the second signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and at least one of the first end and the second end of the shorting mechanism interacts with the at least one other electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts.

42. The medical device of claim 41, the shorting mechanism having a first end and a second end for interacting only with the first main electrical contact and the second main electrical contact respectively.

43. The medical device of claim 36, wherein at least one of the at least one other electrical contact is arranged between the set of main electrical contacts.

44. The medical device of claim 36, the circuitry further configured to provide a third signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism does not interact with the set of main electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts.

45. The medical device of claim 44, wherein the third signal indicates that the first housing portion and the second housing portion have not been connected.

46. The medical device of claim 44, wherein the second signal and the third signal are a same type of signal.

47. The medical device of claim 36, wherein at least some of the set of main electrical contacts are arranged to be outermost electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts.

48. The medical device of claim 36, wherein all of the at least one other electrical contact is arranged in between the set of main electrical contacts.

49. The medical device of claim 36, wherein the shorting mechanism is configured to establish an electrical connection between the set of main electrical contacts in a case where the shorting mechanism interacts with the set of main electrical contacts.

50. The medical device of claim 49, wherein the shorting mechanism comprises an electrical conductor.

51. The medical device of claim 36,

wherein the set of main electrical contacts is configured to be biased toward a first position and urgeable to a second position from the first position;

and

wherein the set of main electrical contacts is configured to be moved to the second position when the first housing portion is engaged with the second housing portion.

52. The medical device of claim 51, the device further comprising:

a bias member for biasing the set of main electrical contacts toward the first position.

53. The medical device of claim 52, wherein the bias member comprises a spring.

54. The medical device of claim 52, the bias member comprising individual bias members, each of the individual bias members for biasing one of the set of main electrical contacts toward the first position.

55. The medical device of claim 36,

wherein the plurality of the electrical contacts are configured to be biased toward a first position and urgeable to a second position from the first position;

and

wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are moved to the second position when the first housing portion is engaged with the second housing portion.

56. The medical device of claim 36,

wherein the shorting mechanism is configured to be biased toward a first position and urgeable to a second position from the first position;

and

wherein the shorting mechanism is configured to be moved to the second position when the first housing portion is engaged with the second housing portion.

57. The medical device of claim 36, one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion for supporting a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media.

58. The medical device of claim 36, wherein each of the main electrical contacts of the set of main electrical contacts comprise a conductive pad.

59. The medical device of claim 36,

wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are provided in the second housing portion, the second housing portion having a power source for providing power to electronics in the second housing portion;

and

wherein at least some of the plurality of electrical contacts are configured to be engageable with an electrical source for charging the power source in the second housing portion.

60. The medical device of claim 36,

wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are provided in the second housing portion, the second housing portion having programmable circuitry;

and

wherein at least some of the plurality of electrical contacts are configured to be engageable with an input device for programming the programmable circuitry in the second housing portion.

61. The medical device of claim 36, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are provided in the second housing portion, the circuitry configured to determine a type of the second housing portion based on one of the plurality of electrical contacts and the shorting mechanism of the first housing portion.

62. The medical device of claim 36, wherein the shorting mechanism comprises a known resistance.

63. A method of making a medical device, the method comprising:

adapting a first housing portion to be carried by a user;

configuring a second housing portion to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion;

providing a plurality of electrical contacts on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of electrical contacts including a set of main electrical contacts and at least one other electrical contact;

providing a shorting mechanism on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the shorting mechanism for interacting with the set of main electrical contacts;

configuring circuitry to provide a first signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism interacts with the set of main electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts; and

configuring the circuitry to provide a second signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism interacts with the at least one other electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts.

64. A medical device for treating a user, the medical device comprising:

a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user;

a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion;

a magnetic source having at least one of a certain magnetic field and a certain magnetic strength provided on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion;

a sensor for detecting at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength provided on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion; and

circuitry configured to provide a first signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source;

the circuitry further configured to provide a second signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of a magnetic field different from the certain magnetic field and a magnetic strength different from the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source.

65. The medical device of claim 64, the sensor configured to provide a signal for activating control circuitry in a case where the sensor detects a gauss level exceeding a first pre-defined threshold value.

66. The medical device of claim 65, wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic threshold switch.

67. The medical device of claim 65, the device further comprising a second magnetic threshold switch configured to provide a signal for deactivating at least one of the control circuitry and the sensor in a case where the sensor detects a gauss level exceeding a second pre-defined threshold value, wherein the second pre-defined threshold value is greater than the first pre-defined threshold value.

68. The medical device of claim 64,

the magnetic source having a certain magnetic field direction;

the sensor for detecting the certain magnetic field direction;

the circuitry configured to provide the first signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects the certain magnetic field direction.

69. The medical device of claim 68, the circuitry further configured to provide the second signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects a magnetic field direction different from the certain magnetic field direction.

70. The medical device of claim 64, wherein the certain magnetic field includes a direction, the sensor configured for detecting the direction.

71. A method of making a medical device, the method comprising

adapting a first housing portion to be carried by a user;

configuring a second housing portion to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion;

providing a magnetic source having at least one of a certain magnetic field and a certain magnetic strength on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion;

providing a sensor for detecting at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion;

configuring circuitry to provide a first signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source; and

configuring the circuitry to provide a second signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of a magnetic field different from the certain magnetic field and a magnetic strength different from the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source.