SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND MEDICAL DEVICE INCORPORATING SAME

• US 20120101436A1
• Filed: 10/20/2010
• Published: 04/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: BAZARGAN, Afshin, VAZQUEZ, Pablo, KOW, Hsiao-Yu S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,495,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16863 Occlusion detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/04 by measuring elastic deformation of gauges, e.g. of springs
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/2231 the supports being disc- or ring-shaped, adapted for measuring a force along a single direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/12 for measuring axial thrust in a rotary shaft, e.g. of propulsion plants

Abstract

Apparatus are provided for sensor assemblies and related medical devices. An embodiment of a sensor assembly includes a rigid structure and a beam structure having an outer portion in contact with the rigid structure and an inner portion. The beam structure includes one or more beams extending between the outer portion and the inner portion of the beam structure and a cantilevered portion extending from the inner portion to inhibit displacement of the inner portion toward the rigid structure. Each beam has a sensing element disposed thereon.

Claims

1. A sensor assembly, comprising:

a rigid structure; and

a beam structure having an outer portion in contact with the rigid structure and an inner portion, the beam structure comprising;

one or more beams extending between the outer portion and the inner portion of the beam structure, each beam having a sensing element disposed thereon; and

a cantilevered portion extending from the inner portion and dampening displacement of the inner portion toward the rigid structure.

2. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the cantilevered portion contacts the rigid structure to inhibit displacement of the inner portion when a force applied to the sensor assembly is greater than a threshold value.

3. The sensor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a dampening material affixed to the cantilevered portion, the dampening material contacting the rigid structure to dampen displacement of the inner portion.

4. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein each beam comprises:

an end portion; and

an arm portion between the outer portion and the end portion, the sensing element being disposed on the arm portion.

5. The sensor assembly of claim 4, wherein the end portions of the one or more beams are integral, the end portions forming the inner portion.

6. The sensor assembly of claim 4, wherein the cantilevered portion is disposed between arm portions of adjacent beams.

7. The sensor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a loading element coupled to the inner portion, the loading element to displace the inner portion towards the rigid structure in response to a compressive force applied to the loading element.

8. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein an electrical characteristic of the sensing element is influenced by deflection of the beam.

9. The sensor assembly of claim 8, wherein the sensing element comprises a strain gauge having a glass coating affixing the strain gauge to the beam.

10. A portable medical device, comprising:

a sliding member;

a drive system to displace the sliding member in a first direction; and

a sensor assembly coupled to the drive system to measure force provided by the drive system to displace the sliding member in the first direction, the sensor assembly comprising;

a beam structure having an outer portion and having an inner portion, the beam structure comprising;

a beam extending between the outer portion and the inner portion of the beam structure; and

a cantilever portion extending from the inner portion to dampen force applied to the sensor assembly; and

a sensing element disposed on the beam.

11. The portable medical device of claim 10, wherein:

the sensor assembly includes a back plate;

the outer portion is in contact with the back plate; and

the cantilever portion to dampen displacement of the inner portion toward the back plate when the force applied to the sensor assembly is greater than a threshold value.

12. The portable medical device of claim 11, wherein the cantilever portion contacts the back plate when the force applied to the sensor assembly is greater than the threshold value.

13. The portable medical device of claim 11, wherein the cantilever portion includes a dampening material to contact the back plate when the force applied to the sensor assembly is greater than the threshold value.

14. The portable medical device of claim 11, wherein the sensor assembly includes a loading element coupled to the inner portion, the loading element to displace the inner portion towards the back plate in response to the force applied to the sensor assembly.

15. The portable medical device of claim 14, further comprising a capping member in contact with the loading element to deflect the beam towards the back plate in response to the force provided by the drive system in the first direction.

16. A sensor assembly, comprising:

a back plate structure;

a beam structure comprising;

an outer portion affixed to the back plate structure;

an inner portion;

a plurality of arm portions between the outer portion and the inner portion, each arm portion having a sensing element disposed thereon; and

a plurality of cantilevered portions extending radially outward from the inner portion, the cantilevered portions being freestanding with respect to the outer portion; and

a loading element mechanically coupled to the inner portion, the loading element to displace the inner portion towards the back plate structure with respect to the outer portion in response to a force applied to the sensor assembly, the cantilevered portions impeding displacement of the inner portion when the force applied to the sensor assembly is greater than a threshold value.

17. The sensor assembly of claim 16, wherein one or more cantilevered portions of the plurality of cantilevered portions contacts the back plate structure when the force applied to the sensor assembly is greater than the threshold value.

18. The sensor assembly of claim 16, further comprising a dampening material affixed to each of the cantilevered portions, the dampening material of one or more cantilevered portions of the plurality of cantilevered portions contacting the back plate structure to impede displacement of the inner portion.

19. The sensor assembly of claim 16, wherein each cantilevered portion is located between two adjacent arm portions.

20. The sensor assembly of claim 19, wherein each arm portion is located between two adjacent cantilevered portions.