PRESSURE VENTED FLUID RESERVOIR HAVING A MOVABLE SEPTUM

• US 20120215178A1
• 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 8,864,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/247
• 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 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 that communicates with the fluid chamber, and the fluid delivery port terminating at a port opening; and

a septum movably coupled to the fluid delivery port, the septum being movable between a sealed position where the septum forms a circumferential seal around the port opening, and a vented position that permits fluid to flow out of the fluid delivery port via the port opening.

2. The fluid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the medication fluid comprises insulin.

3. The fluid reservoir of claim 1, further comprising a filling port in fluid communication with the fluid chamber to accommodate filling of the fluid chamber with the medication fluid.

4. The fluid reservoir of claim 1, further comprising a valve sleeve movably coupled to the fluid delivery port, wherein the septum is coupled to the valve sleeve in a fixed position relative to the valve sleeve.

5. The fluid reservoir of claim 4, wherein the valve sleeve comprises:

an attachment receptacle that receives the fluid delivery port, the attachment receptacle being sized to accommodate translational movement of the valve sleeve relative to the fluid delivery port; and

a septum receptacle adjacent to the attachment receptacle, wherein the septum receptacle receives and holds the septum in the fixed position.

6. The fluid reservoir of claim 5, wherein the valve sleeve further comprises a sleeve opening adjacent to the septum receptacle, and wherein at least a portion of the septum is accessible via the sleeve opening.

7. The fluid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the septum is urged into the sealed position when the fluid reservoir is engaged with a fluid delivery needle of the fluid infusion device.

8. The fluid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the septum moves into the vented position in response to a pressure differential condition where pressure in the fluid chamber exceeds ambient pressure.

9. 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 that communicates with the fluid chamber, and the fluid delivery port terminating at a port opening;

a valve sleeve movably coupled to the fluid delivery port, wherein the fluid delivery port and the valve sleeve cooperate to accommodate translational movement of the valve sleeve relative to the fluid delivery port; and

a septum located within the valve sleeve and movable in concert with the valve sleeve between a sealed position and a vented position.

10. The fluid reservoir of claim 9, wherein the septum forms a circumferential seal around the port opening when the valve sleeve is in the sealed position.

11. The fluid reservoir of claim 9, wherein the septum permits fluid to flow out of the fluid delivery port via the port opening when the valve sleeve is in the vented position.

12. The fluid reservoir of claim 9, wherein the septum is coupled to the valve sleeve in a fixed position relative to the valve sleeve.

13. The fluid reservoir of claim 9, wherein the valve sleeve is urged into the sealed position when the septum is engaged with a fluid delivery needle of the fluid infusion device.

14. The fluid reservoir of claim 9, wherein the valve sleeve moves into the vented position in response to a pressure differential condition where pressure in the fluid chamber exceeds ambient pressure.

15. 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; and

a 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 that communicates with the fluid chamber, and the fluid delivery port terminating at a port opening; and

a septum coupled to the fluid delivery port to accommodate translational movement of the septum relative to the port opening, the septum being movable between a sealed position where the hollow fluid delivery needle engages the septum and urges the septum against the port opening to form a circumferential seal around the port opening, and a vented position where the hollow fluid delivery needle is disengaged from the septum.

16. The fluid infusion device of claim 15, wherein the fluid reservoir further comprises a valve sleeve movably coupled to the fluid delivery port, and wherein the septum is coupled to the valve sleeve in a fixed position relative to the valve sleeve.

17. The fluid infusion device of claim 15, wherein the septum moves into the vented position in response to a pressure differential condition where pressure in the fluid chamber exceeds ambient pressure.

18. The fluid infusion device of claim 15, wherein the septum permits fluid to flow out of the fluid delivery port via the port opening when the septum is in the vented position.