RESERVOIR PRESSURE EQUALIZATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20110282282A1
• Filed: 07/27/2011
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: HALILI, Edgardo, LORENZEN, Eric M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,598,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14264 with means for compensating influence from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/267 having a sealing sleeve around a tubular or solid stem portion of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3337 Controlling, regulating pressure or flow by means of a valve by-passing a pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7527 liquophilic, hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 Glucose concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• 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 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/1633 whereby venting occurs by automatic opening of the closure, container or other element
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/02 opening on surplus pressure on one side; closing on insufficient pressure on one side check valves F16K15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0396 Involving pressure control

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to equalizing pressure in a reservoir containing fluidic media, possibly due to imperfect installation of the reservoir or an external influence such as an altitude or a temperature change. In various embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled from the reservoir through a needle and contained in an interior volume of a pierceable member before the needle pierces the pierceable member to establish a flow path to a user. In other embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a port of the reservoir into a chamber or to the outside environment. In further embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a channel in a plunger head and out a passage in the reservoir when the channel and passage are aligned. In other embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a valve, and the valve may be pierceable by a needle to establish a flow path to the user.

Claims

1. A fluid delivery system comprising:

a fluid reservoir having a body section, a neck section protruding from the body section, and a fluid vent formed in the neck section to accommodate expulsion of pressurized fluidic media from the fluid reservoir; and

a base assembly having a sealing receptacle to receive the neck section of the fluid reservoir, the sealing receptacle forming a chamber in fluid communication with the fluid vent when the neck section is inserted into the sealing receptacle.

2. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, the base assembly further comprising a fluid delivery port to fluidly communicate with the chamber when the neck section of the fluid reservoir is inserted into the sealing receptacle, the fluid delivery port accommodating transfer of fluidic media.

3. The fluid delivery system of claim 2, wherein:

the base assembly forms at least a portion of a fluid delivery device for a user; and

the fluid delivery system further comprises an infusion path assembly to establish fluid communication with the fluid delivery port to provide the fluidic media from the fluid delivery port to the user.

4. The fluid delivery system of claim 2, wherein:

the base assembly forms at least a portion of a fluid transfer assembly that facilitates filling of the fluid reservoir with the fluidic media; and

the fluid transfer assembly comprises a filling conduit to establish fluid communication with the fluid delivery port to provide the fluidic media to the fluid reservoir.

5. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, further comprising a sealing arrangement located in the sealing receptacle to form a fluid tight seal with the neck section of the fluid reservoir to define the chamber.

6. The fluid delivery system of claim 5, wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a plurality of seals positioned within the sealable receptacle.

7. A fluid delivery system comprising:

a base assembly to mate with a fluid reservoir having a neck section and a fluid vent formed in the neck section to accommodate expulsion of pressurized fluidic media from the fluid reservoir, the base assembly comprising a receptacle that receives and forms a seal around the neck section; and

a fluid conduit to establish fluid communication with the fluid vent when the neck section is received in the receptacle.

8. The fluid delivery system of claim 7, wherein the fluid conduit is associated with an infusion path assembly for establishing fluid communication between the fluid vent and a user.

9. The fluid delivery system of claim 7, wherein the fluid conduit is associated with a transfer assembly for establishing fluid communication between a source of fluidic media and the fluid reservoir for filling the fluid reservoir with the fluidic media.

10. The fluid delivery system of claim 7, further comprising a sealing arrangement located in the receptacle and configured to form a fluid tight seal with the neck section when the neck section is received in the receptacle.

11. A fluid delivery system comprising:

a fluid reservoir having a neck section and a fluid vent formed in the neck section to accommodate expulsion of pressurized fluidic media from the fluid reservoir; and

a base assembly having a sealing receptacle to receive the neck section, the sealing receptacle comprising;

a fluid delivery port;

a valve to cooperate with the fluid delivery port;

a recess to accommodate the neck section in an inserted state during which the neck section is received in the sealing receptacle, and to accommodate the valve in a released state during which the neck section is removed from the sealing receptacle; and

a sealing arrangement to form a fluid tight seal with the neck section in the inserted state, and to form a fluid tight seal with the valve in the released state;

wherein, in the inserted state, the fluid vent fluidly communicates with the fluid delivery port; and

wherein, in the released state, the valve cooperates with the sealing arrangement to inhibit access to the fluid delivery port.

12. The fluid delivery system of claim 11, wherein:

the neck section terminates at a distal neck end;

the valve terminates at a distal valve end; and

when in the inserted state, the distal neck end engages the distal valve end to maintain the valve in a retracted position.

13. The fluid delivery system of claim 12, wherein, when in the released state, the valve extends such that the distal valve end is exposed to facilitate cleaning or disinfecting of the distal valve end.

14. The fluid delivery system of claim 11, further comprising a biasing element to bias the valve into an extended position corresponding to the released state.

15. The fluid delivery system of claim 11, wherein:

the base assembly further comprises a valve cavity to receive the valve when the valve is in a retracted position corresponding to the inserted state; and

the sealing arrangement comprises at least one seal that forms a fluid tight seal with the valve, when in the inserted state, to fluidly separate the valve cavity from the recess.

16. The fluid delivery system of claim 15, wherein the at least one seal maintains the fluid tight seal with the valve during movement of the valve associated with transition between the released state and the inserted state.

17. The fluid delivery system of claim 11, wherein:

the base assembly forms at least a portion of a fluid delivery device for a user; and

the fluid delivery system further comprises an infusion path assembly to establish fluid communication with the fluid delivery port to provide the fluidic media from the fluid delivery port to the user.

18. The fluid delivery system of claim 11, wherein:

the base assembly forms at least a portion of a fluid transfer assembly that facilitates filling of the fluid reservoir with the fluidic media; and

the fluid transfer assembly comprises a filling conduit for establishing fluid communication with the fluid delivery port to provide the fluidic media to the fluid reservoir.

19. The fluid delivery system of claim 18, wherein the fluid transfer assembly receives a fluidic media source to accommodate transfer of fluidic media from the source to the fluid reservoir.

20. The fluid delivery system of claim 11, wherein the fluid reservoir and the base assembly establish needleless fluid communication between the fluid vent and the fluid delivery port in the inserted state.

21. A base assembly for a fluid delivery system comprising a fluid reservoir having a neck section and a fluid vent formed in the neck section to facilitate expulsion of pressurized fluidic media from the fluid reservoir, the base assembly comprising:

a fluid delivery port to accommodate transfer of fluidic media;

a valve to cooperate with the fluid delivery port;

a recess to accommodate the neck section of the fluid reservoir in a first state of the base assembly, and to accommodate the valve in a second state of the base assembly; and

a sealing arrangement that cooperates with the valve and the neck section of the fluid reservoir;

wherein, in the first state, the sealing arrangement cooperates with the neck section to form a fluid tight chamber in fluid communication with the fluid vent of the fluid reservoir; and

wherein, in the second state, the sealing arrangement cooperates with the valve to inhibit access to the fluid delivery port.

22. The base assembly of claim 21, wherein, in the first state, the sealing arrangement also cooperates with the valve to form the fluid tight chamber.

23. The base assembly of claim 21, wherein:

the neck section terminates at a distal neck end;

the valve terminates at a distal valve end; and

when the base assembly is in the first state, the distal neck end engages the distal valve end to maintain the valve in a retracted position.

24. The base assembly of claim 21, wherein:

the base assembly forms at least a portion of a fluid delivery device for a user; and

the fluid delivery device accommodates an infusion path assembly to establish fluid communication with the fluid delivery port to provide the fluidic media from the fluid delivery port to the user.

25. The base assembly of claim 21, wherein:

the base assembly forms at least a portion of a fluid transfer assembly that facilitates filling of the fluid reservoir with the fluidic media; and

the fluid transfer assembly comprises a filling conduit for establishing fluid communication with the fluid delivery port to provide the fluidic media to the fluid reservoir.