Infusion Reservoir With Push-On Connector Features And/Or Attachments Therefor

• US 20120029431A1
• Filed: 07/25/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Hwang, Charles, Searle, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 9,675,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14573 with a replaceable reservoir for quick connection/disconnection with a driving system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/385 using hydrophobic filters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A reservoir and straight-line, push-on connector assembly is provided for connecting the reservoir and one of a standard Luer line set and a custom Luer line set to any number of infusion pump configurations using a simple straight-line, push-on motion, wherein the push-on connector assembly is provided and configured to secure the line set and reservoir with the infusion pump. One simple straight-line, push-on motion, preferably performed by gripping an expander sleeve, places and secures the reservoir (i.e., locates the reservoir on the x, y, and z axes) in the pump reservoir cavity, and one simple straight-line, pull-off motion releases and removes the reservoir from the pump reservoir cavity. Rotational orientation is not required for connection, pump engagement, or pump function, and any pulling of the tube set will not release the reservoir as the expansion sleeve through which the tube set is routed is not moved from the securing position by tension on the tube set or Luer fitting.

Claims

1. A reservoir and straight-line push connector assembly for use with an infusion pump, comprising:

a reservoir configured to be slidably received within an infusion pump opening, comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal end comprises a deflectable element and at least one detent to orient said reservoir with at least one groove in said infusion pump opening; and

an expander sleeve slidably engaged with said proximal end of said reservoir, configured to slidably move between a first position to deflect said deflectable element of said reservoir against said infusion pump opening to thereby secure said reservoir in said infusion pump opening, and a second position to release said deflection of said deflectable element of said reservoir from said infusion pump opening to thereby release said reservoir from said infusion pump opening.

2. A reservoir and straight-line push connector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said reservoir further comprises a fitting to receive a tube set connector, wherein said tube set connector comprises a hydrophobic membrane.

3. A reservoir and straight-line push connector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said reservoir further comprises:

a fitting to receive an adapter, wherein said adapter is configured to receive a tube set connector, and

wherein at least one of said adapter and said expander sleeve comprises a hydrophobic membrane.

4. A reservoir and straight-line push connector assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein said adapter further comprises a septum, wherein said septum is configured to be opened when coupled with said tube set connector.

5. A reservoir and straight-line push connector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said deflectable element comprises:

an arm secured at one end to said reservoir, said arm comprising an inclined contact surface on a first surface, said inclined surface configured to slidably contact said expander sleeve, and

said arm comprising an engagement surface on a second surface, said engagement surface configured to contact a surface of said infusion pump opening to thereby secure said reservoir in said infusion pump opening.

6. A reservoir and straight-line push connector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said deflectable element comprises:

a piece, captured within an opening in said reservoir and between said reservoir and said expansion sleeve, said piece comprising an inclined contact surface on a first surface, said inclined surface configured to slidably contact said expander sleeve; and

said piece comprising an engagement surface on a second surface, said engagement surface configured to contact a surface of said infusion pump opening to thereby secure said reservoir in said infusion pump opening.

7. A reservoir and straight-line push connector assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein said engagement surface comprises at least one of a bar shaped member, a post shaped member, a dual-post shaped member, and a ramp shaped member.

8. A reservoir and straight-line push connector assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein said engagement surface comprises at least one of a bar shaped member, a post shaped member, a dual-post shaped member, and a ramp shaped member.

9. A reservoir and straight-line push connector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said expander sleeve further comprises a guide, wherein said guide comprises at least one side configured to extend along an outer surface of said infusion pump.

10. A reservoir and straight-line push connector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said expander sleeve comprises an indicator disposed on an outer diameter, wherein said indicator is concealed when said expander sleeve is in said first position, and said indicator is exposed when said expander sleeve is in said second position.

11. A reservoir and straight-line push connector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said reservoir comprises a rigid material; and

an upper sleeve, coupled with said reservoir for receiving said expander sleeve, comprises a flexible material.

12. A reservoir and straight-line push connector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said expander sleeve comprises a seal.

13. An adapter for use with a reservoir, wherein said reservoir comprises a fitting to receive said adapter, comprising:

a proximal end configured to receive a tube set connector and a distal end configured to couple with said reservoir, and

a septum at said proximal end, wherein said septum is configured to be opened when coupled with said tube set connector.

14. A straight-line push connector for use with a reservoir and an infusion pump, comprising:

a connector body, comprising an enlarged proximal end and a deflectable distal end, and an opening between said proximal end and said distal end; and

said enlarged proximal end comprising a gripping surface and said distal end comprising an inclined contact surface,

wherein said distal end is configured to releasably couple with a reservoir, and said proximal end is configured to receive a tube set connector, wherein said tube set connector can couple with said reservoir via said opening between said proximal end and said distal end of said body, and

when said reservoir is positioned within a reservoir opening of said infusion pump, said straight-line push connector is configured to slidably move between a first position to engage said reservoir and deflect said deflectable distal end of said connector body against said infusion pump opening to thereby secure said reservoir in said infusion pump opening, and a second position to disengage said reservoir and release said deflection of said deflectable distal end of said connector body from said infusion pump opening to thereby release said reservoir from said infusion pump opening.

15. A method for releasably securing a reservoir in an infusion pump using a straight-line motion, the method comprising:

slidably inserting a reservoir within an infusion pump opening, comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal end comprises a deflectable element; and

slidably engaging an expander sleeve with said proximal end of said reservoir, between a first position to deflect said deflectable element of said reservoir against said infusion pump opening to thereby secure said reservoir in said infusion pump opening, and a second position to release said deflection of said deflectable element of said reservoir from said infusion pump opening to thereby release said reservoir from said infusion pump opening.

16. A method for releasably securing a reservoir in an infusion pump using a straight-line motion as recited in claim 15, further comprising coupling at least one of:

a tube set connector with said reservoir, wherein said tube set connector comprises a hydrophobic membrane; and

an adapter with said reservoir, wherein said adapter is configured to receive a tube set connector, and wherein at least one of said adapter and said expander sleeve comprises a hydrophobic membrane.

17. A reservoir for use with an infusion pump, comprising:

a reservoir body configured to be slidably received within an infusion pump opening, comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and

an expander sleeve slidably engaged with said proximal end of said reservoir, configured to slidably move between a first position to secure said reservoir in said infusion pump opening, and a second position to release said reservoir from said infusion pump opening,

wherein said expander sleeve comprises a seal to seal said infusion pump opening.

18. A reservoir as recited in claim 17, wherein said reservoir further comprises:

a deflectable element, and

said expander sleeve is configured to slidably move between the first position to deflect said deflectable element of said reservoir against said infusion pump opening to thereby secure said reservoir in said infusion pump opening, and the second position to release said deflection of said deflectable element of said reservoir from said infusion pump opening to thereby release said reservoir from said infusion pump opening.

19. A reservoir as recited in claim 17, wherein said expander sleeve further comprises:

a deflectable element, and

said expander sleeve is configured to slidably move between the first position to deflect said deflectable element of said expander sleeve against said infusion pump opening to thereby secure said reservoir in said infusion pump opening, and the second position to release said deflection of said deflectable element of said expander sleeve from said infusion pump opening to thereby release said reservoir from said infusion pump opening.

20. A reservoir as recited in claim 17, wherein said reservoir further comprises:

a fitting to receive a tube set connector, wherein said tube set connector comprises a hydrophobic membrane.

21. A reservoir as recited in claim 17, wherein said reservoir further comprises:

a fitting to receive an adapter, wherein said adapter is configured to receive a tube set connector, and

wherein at least one of said adapter and said expander sleeve comprises a hydrophobic membrane.

22. A reservoir as recited in claim 18, wherein said deflectable element comprises:

an arm secured at one end to said reservoir, said arm comprising an inclined contact surface on a first surface, said inclined surface configured to slidably contact said expander sleeve in said first position, and

said arm comprising an engagement surface on a second surface, said engagement surface configured to contact a surface of said infusion pump opening to thereby secure said reservoir in said infusion pump opening.

23. A reservoir as recited in claim 19, wherein said deflectable element comprises:

an arm secured at one end to said reservoir, said arm comprising an inclined contact surface on a first surface, said inclined surface configured to slidably contact said expander sleeve in said first position, and

said arm comprising an engagement surface on a second surface, said engagement surface configured to contact a surface of said infusion pump opening to thereby secure said reservoir in said infusion pump opening.

24. A reservoir as recited in claim 18, wherein said deflectable element comprises:

a piece, captured within an opening in said reservoir and between said reservoir and said expansion sleeve, said piece comprising an inclined contact surface on a first surface, said inclined surface configured to slidably contact said expander sleeve; and

said piece comprising an engagement surface on a second surface, said engagement surface configured to contact a surface of said infusion pump opening to thereby secure said reservoir in said infusion pump opening.

25. A reservoir as recited in claim 19, wherein said deflectable element comprises:

a piece, captured within an opening in said reservoir and between said reservoir and said expansion sleeve, said piece comprising an inclined contact surface on a first surface, said inclined surface configured to slidably contact said expander sleeve; and

said piece comprising an engagement surface on a second surface, said engagement surface configured to contact a surface of said infusion pump opening to thereby secure said reservoir in said infusion pump opening.

26. A reservoir as recited in claim 21, wherein said engagement surface is configured to secure at least one of a thread surface and an annular O-ring groove in said infusion pump opening.

27. A reservoir as recited in claim 17, wherein said expander sleeve comprises an indicator disposed on an outer diameter, wherein said indicator is concealed when said expander sleeve is in said first position, and said indicator is exposed when said expander sleeve is in said second position.

28. A reservoir as recited in claim 17, wherein said expander sleeve comprises a contoured outer diameter.

29. A reservoir as recited in claim 17, wherein:

said reservoir comprises one or more of a cyclic olefin polymer (COP), cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) material, and CCP (Crystal Clear Polymer) material; and

an upper sleeve, coupled with said reservoir for receiving said expander sleeve, comprises a flexible polypropylene material.

30. A reservoir as recited in claim 17, wherein said reservoir comprises at least one detent at said proximal end to rotationally orient said reservoir with at least one groove in said infusion pump opening.

31. A reservoir as recited in claim 17, wherein said reservoir and expander sleeve are configured to be coupled with a filling cannula at said proximal end and with a plunger at said distal end for filling of said reservoir.

32. A method for releasably securing a reservoir in an infusion pump using a straight-line motion, the method comprising:

slidably inserting a reservoir within an infusion pump opening, comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and

slidably engaging an expander sleeve with said proximal end of said reservoir, between a first position to secure said reservoir in said infusion pump opening, and a second position to release said reservoir from said infusion pump opening.

33. A method for releasably securing a reservoir in an infusion pump using a straight-line motion, the method comprising:

gripping an expander sleeve of a reservoir and slidably inserting said reservoir in a pump reservoir cavity in a straight-line motion using said expander sleeve until said reservoir is fully within said pump reservoir cavity;

further slidably inserting said expander sleeve into said stationary reservoir in said straight-line motion to secure said reservoir within said pump reservoir cavity; and

complete said insertion of said expander sleeve into said stationary reservoir in said straight-line motion when an indicator denotes complete insertion.

34. A method for releasably securing a reservoir in an infusion pump using a straight-line motion as recited in claim 33, wherein said indicator comprises at least one of a tactile, visual and audible response.