PRESSURE VENTED FLUID RESERVOIR FOR A FLUID INFUSION DEVICE

• US 20120215177A1
• Filed: 02/17/2012
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Halili, Edgardo C., Lorenzen, Eric M., Yavorsky, Matthew William
• Granted Patent: US 8,900,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/244
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14252 with needle insertion means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1623 Details of air intake
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3123 having air entrapping or venting means, e.g. purging channels in pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0072 Means for increasing tightness of the septum, e.g. compression rings, special materials, special constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0081 Means for facilitating introduction of a needle in the septum, e.g. guides, special construction of septum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1066 having protection means, e.g. sliding sleeve to protect connector itself, shrouds to protect a needle present in the connector, protective housing, isolating sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1072 with a septum present in the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/248 Ball-valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/266 where the valve comprises venting channels, e.g. to insure better connection, to help decreasing the fluid space upon disconnection, or to help the fluid space to remain the same during disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/267 having a sealing sleeve around a tubular or solid stem portion of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0468 non-physiological
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/07 Proteins
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/00 Tubes, tube connectors, tube couplings, valves, access sites or the like, specially adapted for medical use for respiratory devices, e.g. tracheal tubes A61M16/00; artificial heart valves A61F2/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/12 for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/22 Valves or arrangement of valves A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• 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 5/158 : Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/162 : Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube ; Connections between reservoir and tube in jet-action syringes A61M5/30; connectors for tubes having sealed ends and a needle for piercing them A61M39/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 : Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31 : Details

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a fluid infusion device of the type that delivers medication fluid to the body of a patient. The device includes or cooperates with a fluid reservoir, and the device has a sealing assembly to receive and form a fluid seal with the fluid reservoir. A retractable sealing element surrounding a hollow fluid delivery needle may be used to seal a port of the fluid reservoir. The port may include a pressure vent that is sealed by the retractable sealing element. In one variation, the reservoir includes a moving valve sleeve that holds a septum. The septum moves to allow the reservoir to vent, and to form a seal with the port when the needle pierces the septum. In another variation, the device includes a needleless sealing assembly. In yet other variations, the device uses a needled fluid reservoir.

Claims

1. A fluid infusion device that delivers a medication fluid to a body, the fluid infusion device comprising:

a base plate;

a hollow fluid delivery needle coupled to the base plate to provide a fluid flow path for the medication fluid;

a sealing element coupled to the base plate and overlying at least a portion of the hollow fluid delivery needle, the sealing element comprising;

a base section;

a tip section extending from the base section; and

a retractable body section between the base section and the tip section; and

a fluid reservoir comprising;

a fluid chamber;

a fluid delivery port coupled to the fluid chamber; and

at least one vent hole formed in the fluid delivery port, the at least one vent hole providing a venting conduit from inside the fluid chamber to outside the fluid chamber;

wherein the fluid delivery port engages and cooperates with the sealing element and the hollow fluid delivery needle such that the tip section of the sealing element is urged against the fluid delivery port to seal the at least one vent hole.

2. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, wherein:

the sealing element has a nominal state and a retracted state;

when in the nominal state, a tip of the hollow fluid delivery needle is covered by the sealing element; and

when in the retracted state, the tip of the hollow fluid delivery needle extends from the tip section of the sealing element.

3. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, wherein the at least one vent hole comprises a plurality of vent holes arranged around a perimeter of the fluid delivery port.

4. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, wherein the fluid delivery port comprises a funnel element, and the at least one vent hole is formed in the funnel element.

5. The fluid infusion device of claim 4, wherein:

the funnel element comprises a tapered interior surface; and

the tip section of the sealing element comprises a tapered exterior surface to mate with the tapered interior surface of the funnel element.

6. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir further comprises a septum positioned in the fluid delivery port, and the hollow fluid delivery needle pierces the septum to facilitate delivery of the medication fluid from the fluid chamber to the hollow fluid delivery needle.

7. The fluid infusion device of claim 6, wherein, during installation of the fluid reservoir, the tip section of the sealing element seals the at least one vent hole before the hollow fluid delivery needle pierces the septum.

8. A fluid reservoir for a fluid infusion device that delivers a medication fluid to a body, the fluid reservoir comprising:

a main body section that defines a fluid chamber for the medication fluid;

a fluid delivery port coupled to and extending from the main body section, the fluid delivery port comprising a fluid conduit and a pressure vent defined therein; and

a septum located in the fluid delivery port and having a nominal non-pierced state forming a fluid seal within the fluid conduit;

wherein the pressure vent provides a venting conduit from inside the fluid chamber to outside the fluid chamber; and

wherein the pressure vent terminates at an exterior surface of the fluid delivery port, the exterior surface contoured to mate with a resilient sealing element of the fluid infusion device to seal the pressure vent.

9. The fluid reservoir of claim 8, wherein the medication fluid comprises insulin.

10. The fluid reservoir of claim 8, wherein the pressure vent comprises a plurality of vent holes located around an outer perimeter of the septum.

11. The fluid reservoir of claim 8, further comprising a funnel element associated with the fluid delivery port, wherein the pressure vent is formed in the funnel element.

12. The fluid reservoir of claim 11, wherein:

the funnel element comprises a tapered interior surface; and

the sealing element comprises a tapered exterior surface to mate with the tapered interior surface of the funnel element.

13. The fluid reservoir of claim 8, further comprising a filling port in fluid communication with the fluid chamber to accommodate filling of the fluid chamber with the medication fluid.

14. A sealing assembly for a fluid infusion device comprising a hollow fluid delivery needle, a retractable sealing element surrounding the hollow fluid delivery needle, and a fluid reservoir, the sealing assembly comprising:

a fluid delivery port for the fluid reservoir, the fluid delivery port comprising a first sealing surface;

a pressure vent formed in the fluid delivery port to provide a venting conduit for a fluid chamber of the fluid reservoir, the pressure vent terminating at the first sealing surface; and

a tip section for the retractable sealing element, the tip section comprising a second sealing surface to mate with the first sealing surface, wherein the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface are urged together to form a fluid seal for the pressure vent when the fluid reservoir is engaged with the hollow fluid delivery needle and the sealing element.

15. The sealing assembly of claim 14, wherein the pressure vent comprises a plurality of vent holes arranged around a perimeter of the fluid delivery port.

16. The sealing assembly of claim 15, wherein the fluid delivery port comprises a funnel element, and the plurality of vent holes is formed in the funnel element.

17. The sealing assembly of claim 16, further comprising a septum positioned in the funnel element, wherein the hollow fluid delivery needle pierces the septum when the fluid reservoir is engaged with the hollow fluid delivery needle and the sealing element.

18. The sealing assembly of claim 17, wherein the plurality of vent holes is located around an outer perimeter of the septum.