Pump System and Method

• US 20140025008A1
• Filed: 05/03/2013
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insulet Corporation
• Original Assignee: Asante Solutions, Inc
• Inventors: Sims, Geoffrey C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,517,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/31518 designed to reduce the overall size of an injection device, e.g. using flexible or pivotally connected chain-like rod members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0036 characterised by a septum having particular features, e.g. having venting channels or being made from antimicrobial or self-lubricating elastomer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/205 comprising air venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body

Abstract

Some embodiments of an infusion pump system may be configured to provide air pressure equilibrium between the ambient air pressure external to the infusion pump system and the internal air pressure inside the infusion pump system. In particular embodiments, the infusion pump system can be equipped with an air-transmissible, liquid-tight seal along an interface between a pump body and a cap device configured to attach to the pump body.

Claims

1. A portable infusion pump system, comprising:

a portable housing defining an opening to receive a medicine;

a pump drive system arranged in the portable housing and configured to dispense medicine from the portable housing when the medicine is received in the space;

a cap device configured to engage with the portable housing to enclose the medicine in the portable housing when the medicine is received in the space; and

an air-transmissible gasket positioned at an interface between the portable housing and the cap device and positioned adjacent to the opening when the cap device engages with the portable housing, wherein the gasket is air-transmissible so that air is passable through the interface between the portable housing and the cap device while the gasket resists migration of liquids into the portable housing.

2. The portable infusion pump system of claim 1, wherein the air-transmissible gasket is seated in a groove defined by the cap device.

3. The portable infusion pump system of claim 1, wherein the air-transmissible gasket comprises a hydrophobic material.

4. The portable infusion pump system of claim 1, further comprising a seal abutted with the air-transmissible gasket, wherein the seal comprises an elastomeric material.

5. The portable infusion pump system of claim 4, wherein the air-transmissible gasket comprises a first major surface and a second major surface, and wherein the entire first major surface is positioned in abutment with the elastomeric material of the seal.

6. The portable infusion pump system of claim 5, wherein the seal comprises a generally L-shaped cross-section that defines an inner rim of the seal, the inner rim of the seal being seated within a grove defined by the cap device.

7. The portable infusion pump system of claim 1, wherein the cap device defines a fluid output path for the medicine in the portable housing when the medicine is received in the space.

8. The portable infusion pump system of claim 7, wherein the cap device includes a structure that is irreversibly attachable to the portable housing so as to cover the opening defined by the portable housing.

9. The portable infusion pump system of claim 1, further comprising control circuitry that electrically communicates with the pump drive system to control dispensation of the medicine from the portable housing when the medicine is received in the space.

10. The portable medical infusion pump system of claim 9, wherein the control circuitry is housed in a removable controller device that is removably attachable to the portable housing.

11. A portable infusion pump system, comprising:

a pump device including a pump housing that defines a space to receive a medicine, a drive system positioned in the pump housing to dispense the medicine from the pump device when the medicine is received in the space of the pump housing, a cap device configured to directly attach with the pump housing to enclose the medicine in the pump housing when the medicine is received in the space of the pump housing, and a hydrophobic gasket assembly positioned at an interface between the pump housing and the cap device when the cap device engages with the portable housing, wherein the hydrophobic gasket assembly is configured to permit the passage of air into and out of the pump housing while resisting the passage of liquids into the pump housing; and

a controller device removably attachable to the pump housing so as to electrically connect with the pump device, wherein the controller device houses control circuitry configured to communicate with the drive system positioned in the pump housing to control dispensation of the medicine from the pump device.

12. The portable infusion pump system of claim 11, the hydrophobic gasket assembly comprising a hydrophobic member and an elastomeric member, wherein a first major surface of the hydrophobic member is abutted by the elastomeric member.

13. The portable infusion pump system of claim 12, wherein the elastomeric member comprises a generally L-shaped cross-section that defines an inner rim of the elastomeric member, the inner rim of the elastomeric member being seated within an annular grove defined by the cap device.

14. The portable infusion pump system of claim 12, wherein the hydrophobic member comprises the first major surface, a second major surface, and an inner rim that defines an aperture through the hydrophobic member, the aperture of the hydrophobic member being generally aligned with an opening defined by the pump housing when the cap device engages with the portable housing.

15. The portable infusion pump system of claim 11, wherein an inner rim of the hydrophobic gasket assembly provides an air path for the passage of air into and out of the pump housing.

16. The portable infusion pump system of claim 11, wherein the cap device defines a fluid output path for the medicine in the pump housing when the medicine is received in the space.

17. The portable infusion pump system of claim 16, wherein the cap device includes a structure that is irreversibly attachable to the pump housing so as to cover an opening defined by the pump housing.

18. The portable infusion pump system of claim 11, wherein the controller device comprises a user interface display device.