IMPLANTABLE DRUG PUMPS AND REFILL DEVICES THEREFOR

• US 20130116664A1
• Filed: 10/01/2012
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MiniPumps, LLC
• Original Assignee: MiniPumps, LLC
• Inventors: Tai, Yu-Chong, Shih, Jason, Kavazov, Julian D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,919,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/891.1
• 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 39/0208 Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• 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

Implanted drug pump devices can be refilled via a fill port in the drug reservoir that includes a self-resealable septum.

Claims

1. An implantable, refillable drug pump device comprising:

a drug reservoir having a fill port defining an aperture through a wall of the reservoir; and

a needle-puncturable elastomeric septum extending at least partially through the aperture, the septum having a needle entrance surface and a needle exit surface, at least one of the needle entrance and exit surfaces comprising a protuberance shaped so as to direct pressure exerted thereon toward a needle puncture path.

2. The drug pump device of claim 1, wherein the septum comprises a protuberance on each of the entrance and exit surfaces.

3. The drug pump device of claim 2, wherein the protuberances are aligned with the needle puncture path, the path extending substantially perpendicularly through the septum.

4. The drug pump device of claim 1, wherein the protuberance is substantially semispherical.

5. The drug pump device of claim 1, wherein the septum is made of self-healing silicone.

6. The drug pump device of claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible, non-puncturable layer disposed above the septum and having a hole therethrough that is aligned with the protuberance.

7. The drug pump device of claim 1, further comprising:

a cannula in fluid communication with the drug reservoir for guiding liquid drug from the reservoir to an injection site.

8. The drug pump device of claim 7, further comprising:

a pump chamber in mechanical communication with the drug reservoir for exerting pressure thereon so as to expel liquid drug from the reservoir into the cannula.

9. An implantable, refillable drug pump device comprising:

a drug reservoir; and

connected with the drug reservoir via a fluidic channel, a fill port for insertion of a refill needle therein, the fill port comprising a deformable septum that compresses in response to pressure exerted by the needle during needle insertion,

wherein the septum obstructs a fluid path between a fill port aperture and the fluidic channel when it is in an uncompressed state and opens the fluid path between the fill port aperture and the fluidic channel when it is in a compressed state.

10. The drug pump device of claim 9, wherein the fill port further comprises, above the septum, a second elastomeric septum, having a center hole therethrough, for sealing the port when the needle is inserted.

11. The drug pump device of claim 10, wherein the fill port further comprises a needle-impenetrable plate attached above the deformable septum, the plate transferring pressure exerted by the needle onto the septum so as to compress the septum.

12. The drug pump device of claim 11, further comprising a wall structure accomodating the second elastomeric septum, the plate, and the deformable septum in a cavity formed therein.

13. The drug pump device of claim 9, further comprising a guiding compression disk having a conical aperture for guiding a refill needle into the port.