SEALING ASSEMBLY AND STRUCTURE FOR A FLUID INFUSION DEVICE HAVING A NEEDLED FLUID RESERVOIR

• US 20130046252A1
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Yavorsky, Matthew William, Halili, Edgardo C., Lorenzen, Eric M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,463,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/244
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3103 Leak prevention means for distal end of syringes, i.e. syringe end for mounting a needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3104 Caps for syringes without needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/06 Haemostasis valves, i.e. gaskets sealing around a needle, catheter or the like, closing on removal thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• 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

Abstract

A sealing assembly is utilized for a fluid infusion device that cooperates with a fluid reservoir having a reservoir port and a hollow fluid reservoir needle at least partially located within the reservoir port. The sealing assembly has a reservoir port receptacle with a proximal end, a distal end extending from the proximal end, and a needle opening formed in the distal end to receive the hollow fluid reservoir needle. The sealing assembly also has a fluid chamber located at least partially in the reservoir port receptacle, and a needle sealing element having a self-sealing needle opening formed therein. The needle sealing element is located within the reservoir port receptacle between the distal end and the fluid chamber. The the self-sealing needle opening accommodates the hollow fluid reservoir needle when the reservoir port engages the reservoir port receptacle.

Claims

1. A sealing assembly for a fluid infusion device that cooperates with a fluid reservoir having a reservoir port and a hollow fluid reservoir needle at least partially located within the reservoir port, the sealing assembly comprising:

a reservoir port receptacle to receive the reservoir port, and comprising a proximal end, a distal end extending from the proximal end, and a needle opening formed in the distal end to receive the hollow fluid reservoir needle;

a fluid chamber located at least partially in the reservoir port receptacle; and

a needle sealing element having a self-sealing needle opening formed therein, the needle sealing element located within the reservoir port receptacle between the distal end and the fluid chamber, wherein the self-sealing needle opening accommodates the hollow fluid reservoir needle when the reservoir port engages the reservoir port receptacle.

2. The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein the reservoir port receptacle comprises a retaining structure to maintain the needle sealing element between the distal end and the fluid chamber.

3. The sealing assembly of claim 2, wherein the retaining structure comprises an inwardly protruding collar integrally formed in the distal end of the reservoir port receptacle.

4. The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein the reservoir port receptacle is integrally formed in a base plate of the fluid infusion device.

5. The sealing assembly of claim 1, further comprising an outlet conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and having a second end in fluid communication with a delivery conduit of the fluid infusion device.

6. The sealing assembly of claim 5, wherein the outlet conduit comprises a hollow needle.

7. The sealing assembly of claim 5, further comprising a cap component coupled to the reservoir port receptacle, wherein the outlet conduit is formed in the cap component.

8. The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the hollow fluid reservoir needle terminates at a blunt tip;

the needle sealing element comprises a tapered opening to receive the blunt tip; and

engagement of the reservoir port with the reservoir port receptacle causes the blunt tip to penetrate the self-sealing needle opening to establish fluid communication from the hollow fluid reservoir needle to the fluid chamber.

9. The sealing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cap component coupled to the reservoir port receptacle, wherein the fluid chamber is at least partially defined in the cap component.

10. The sealing assembly of claim 9, wherein:

the cap component terminates at an abutment surface; and

the needle sealing element is located between the distal end of the reservoir port receptacle and the abutment surface.

11. The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein the needle sealing element is retained within the reservoir port receptacle under an amount of compression to inhibit fluid flow between the needle sealing element and an interior surface of the reservoir port receptacle.

12. The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein, when the reservoir port is disengaged from the reservoir port receptacle, the needle sealing element is retained within the reservoir port receptacle under an amount of compression to inhibit fluid flow through the self-sealing needle opening.

13. The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein the needle sealing element is retained within the reservoir port receptacle under an amount of compression to seal the self-sealing needle opening around an exterior surface of the hollow fluid reservoir needle when the reservoir port is engaged with the reservoir port receptacle.

14. A sealing assembly for a fluid infusion device that cooperates with a fluid reservoir having a reservoir port and a hollow fluid reservoir needle at least partially located within the reservoir port, the sealing assembly comprising:

a base plate;

a reservoir port receptacle on the base plate to receive the reservoir port, and the reservoir port receptacle comprising a proximal end, a distal end extending from the proximal end, and a needle opening formed in the distal end to receive the hollow fluid reservoir needle;

an abutment structure located within the reservoir port receptacle between the distal end and the proximal end;

a needle sealing element having a self-sealing needle opening formed therein, the needle sealing element located within the reservoir port receptacle between the distal end and the abutment structure, wherein the self-sealing needle opening receives the hollow fluid reservoir needle when the reservoir port engages the reservoir port receptacle; and

a fluid conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end in fluid communication with a delivery conduit of the fluid infusion device, wherein the inlet end fluidly communicates with the hollow fluid reservoir needle when the reservoir port engages the reservoir port receptacle.

15. The sealing assembly of claim 14, further comprising a fluid chamber located at least partially in the reservoir port receptacle, wherein the needle sealing element is located between the distal end and the fluid chamber.

16. The sealing assembly of claim 14, wherein the needle sealing element is retained within the reservoir port receptacle under an amount of compression to inhibit fluid flow between the needle sealing element and an interior surface of the reservoir port receptacle.

17. The sealing assembly of claim 14, wherein:

when the reservoir port is disengaged from the reservoir port receptacle, the needle sealing element inhibits fluid flow through the self-sealing needle opening; and

when the reservoir port is engaged with the reservoir port receptacle, the needle sealing element seals the self-sealing needle opening around an exterior surface of the hollow fluid reservoir needle.

18. A fluid infusion device to deliver a medication fluid to a user, the fluid infusion device comprising:

a removable fluid reservoir comprising a reservoir port and a hollow fluid reservoir needle;

a base plate comprising a reservoir port receptacle to receive the reservoir port, the reservoir port receptacle comprising a proximal end, a distal end extending from the proximal end, and a needle opening formed in the distal end to receive the hollow fluid reservoir needle;

a fluid chamber located at least partially in the reservoir port receptacle; and

a needle sealing element having a self-sealing needle opening formed therein, the sealing element located within the reservoir port receptacle;

wherein

when the reservoir port is mated with the reservoir port receptacle, at least a portion of the hollow fluid reservoir needle resides within the self-sealing needle opening, and the self-sealing needle opening forms a seal around an exterior surface of the hollow fluid reservoir needle; and

when the reservoir port is disengaged from the reservoir port receptacle, the needle sealing element returns to a nominal state to inhibit fluid flow through the self-sealing needle opening.

19. The fluid infusion device claim 18, wherein the reservoir port receptacle comprises a retaining structure to maintain the needle sealing element between the distal end and the fluid chamber.

20. The fluid infusion device of claim 18, further comprising an outlet conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and having a second end in fluid communication with a delivery conduit of the fluid infusion device.