PUMP ENGINE WITH METERING SYSTEM FOR DISPENSING LIQUID MEDICATION

• US 20140052096A1
• Filed: 08/09/2013
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Searle, Gary, Tunkel, Roman, Focht, Kenneth, Tormey, William III, Leonczyk, Andrew, Pollock, David, Naumann, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 9,867,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16863 Occlusion detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16809 by repeated filling and emptying of an intermediate volume pressure infusion using positive displacement pumps A61M5/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/041 Controlled or regulated

Abstract

An infusion pump system is disclosed for dispensing liquid medication, such as insulin. The infusion pump system includes a first reservoir for storing liquid medication, a first fluid driver for exerting pressure on the first reservoir, a second reservoir for storing liquid medication, and a second fluid driver for exerting pressure on the second reservoir. One or more valves are used to permit flow of liquid medication from the first reservoir to the second reservoir, and to permit flow of liquid medication from the second reservoir to an infusion site. Each of the valves is selectively opened or closed to fill the second reservoir with liquid medication from the first reservoir and to dispense liquid medication from the second reservoir to the infusion site. A controller and one or more sensors are used to monitor and control the system.

Claims

1. An infusion pump system for dispensing liquid medication, comprising:

a first reservoir for storing liquid medication;

a second reservoir for storing liquid medication;

a first valve configured to control the flow of liquid medication from the first reservoir to the second reservoir;

a second valve configured to control the flow of liquid medication from the second reservoir to an infusion site; and

wherein each of the first and second valves is selectively opened or closed to admit liquid medication from the first reservoir to the second reservoir and to dispense liquid medication from the second reservoir to the infusion site.

2. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first valve is a check valve, and the second valve is a directional control valve.

3. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third valve for controlling the flow rate of liquid medication to the infusion site.

4. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first fluid driver for expelling liquid medication from the first reservoir and a second fluid driver for expelling liquid medication from the second reservoir.

5. The infusion pump system, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second reservoir, the second fluid driver, the first valve, the second valve, the third valve and fluid connectors comprise a metering system.

6. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the third valve is an adjustable flow valve comprising an adjustable orifice through which liquid medication flows to the infusion site.

7. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) chip unit comprising the first valve, the second valve and the third valve.

8. The infusion pump system, as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a first sensor for sensing and monitoring fluid line pressure to inform a controller when the second reservoir is filled to an acceptable level, the controller stopping the first fluid driver when the second reservoir reaches the acceptable level.

9. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first sensor is a pressure sensor.

10. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first sensor is configured to:

detect pressure decay;

determine where a leak in the fluidic system exists by opening one or more of the first, the second, and the third the valves individually;

determine the fill state of the first or second reservoirs; and

/or

determine if partial or complete occlusion exists in the system.

11. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a second sensor for informing a controller when the amount of liquid medication in the second reservoir is at a low or acceptable level, the controller activating the first fluid driver to fill the second reservoir when the amount of liquid medication in the second reservoir is at the low level and stopping the first fluid driver when the second reservoir reaches the acceptable level.

12. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second sensor is a position sensor configured to detect the position of a plunger in the second reservoir.

13. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 3, wherein incremental dosing of liquid medication from the second reservoir to the infusion site occurs when the first valve is closed, the second valve is open, and the third valve is controlling the flow rate of the liquid medication to the infusion site.

14. The infusion pump system, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first valve is a flow control valve.

15. The infusion pump system, as claimed in claim 3 further comprising:

one or more sensors for detecting occlusion or back pressure within the infusion pump system;

one or more sensors for detecting presence of bubbles in a delivery line of the infusion pump system;

one or more sensors for detecting a fill status of the secondary reservoir of the infusion pump system;

one or more sensors for detecting leakage in the infusion pump system; and

/or

one or more sensors for measuring a flow rate of liquid medication in the infusion pump system.

16. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first reservoir is a syringe-type reservoir.

17. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid driver comprises a pump engine.

18. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the maximum storage capacity for liquid medication in the second reservoir is a safe or less than harmful dose to a user.

19. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the maximum storage capacity of liquid medication in the first reservoir is greater than that of the second reservoir.

20. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second reservoir, the second fluid driver, the first valve, the second valve, and associated fluid connectors comprise a metering system.

21. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a second sensor for sensing and monitoring fluid line pressure between the first reservoir and the second reservoir and informing a controller when the second reservoir is filled to an acceptable level, the controller stopping the at least one fluid driver from exerting pressure on the first reservoir when the second reservoir reaches the acceptable threshold.

22. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first valve and the second valve each comprise a flow control valve.

23. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a plurality of pressure sensors connected to the second reservoir to provide feedback on the fill status of the second reservoir, to detect occlusion in the infusion pump system, to detect back pressure in the infusion pump system, and/or to detect a flow rate of liquid medication into the infusion site.

35. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) chip comprising said valves.

36. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 35, wherein the MEMS chip further comprises the second reservoir.

37. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 35, further wherein the MEMS chip further comprises the first sensor.

24. An infusion pump system for dispensing liquid medication, comprising:

a first reservoir for storing liquid medication;

a second reservoir for storing liquid medication;

a valve configured in a first position to permit the flow of liquid medication from the first reservoir to the second reservoir, and in a second position to permit the flow of liquid medication from the second reservoir to an infusion site;

wherein said first and second positions of the valve are controlled by applying or not applying an electrical potential to the valve.

25. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a first fluid driver for expelling liquid medication from the first reservoir and a second fluid driver for expelling liquid medication from the second reservoir.

26. An infusion pump system for dispensing liquid medication, comprising:

a first reservoir for storing liquid medication;

a second reservoir for storing liquid medication;

a first valve configured in a first position to permit the flow of liquid medication from the first reservoir to the second reservoir, and in a second position to prevent the flow of liquid medication from the first reservoir to the second reservoir; and

a second valve configured in a first position to permit the flow of liquid medication from the second reservoir to an infusion site, and in a second position to prevent the flow of liquid medication from the second reservoir to the infusion site;

wherein the positions of the first and second valves are controlled by applying or not applying electrical potentials to said first and second valves.

27. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 26, further comprising a first fluid driver for expelling liquid medication from the first reservoir and a second fluid driver for expelling liquid medication from the second reservoir.

28. A method for dispensing liquid medication in an infusion pump system, the method comprising:

storing liquid medication in a first reservoir

transferring liquid medication from the first reservoir to a second reservoir; and

transferring liquid medication from the second reservoir to an infusion site;

29. The method for dispensing liquid medication in an infusion pump system as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

sensing and monitoring fluid line pressure in the infusion pump to determine when the second reservoir is filled to a desired level; and

stopping the filling of the second reservoir when the desired level is reached.

30. The method for dispensing liquid medication in an infusion pump system as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

detecting at least one of pressure decay, lack of pressure decay, pressure stability, stabilization and equilibration;

determining when a leak in the fluidic system exists;

determining a fill state of the first or second reservoir; and

/or

determining if partial or complete occlusion exists in the system.

31. The method for dispensing liquid medication in an infusion pump system as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

informing a controller when the amount of liquid medication in the second reservoir is at a low or acceptable level;

filling the second reservoir whether the amount of liquid medication in the second reservoir is at the low level; and

stopping the filling of the second reservoir when the acceptable level of liquid medication is reached in the second reservoir.

32. The method for dispensing liquid medication in an infusion pump system as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the step of:

controlling the flow rate of the liquid medication to the infusion site.

33. The method for dispensing liquid medication in an infusion pump system as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

detecting occlusion or back pressure within the infusion pump system;

detecting the presence of bubbles in a delivery line of the infusion pump system;

detecting a fill status of the second reservoir of the infusion pump system;

detecting leakage in the infusion pump system; and

/or

measuring a flow rate of liquid medication in the infusion pump system.

34. The method for dispensing liquid medication in an infusion pump system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the maximum storage capacity for liquid medication in the second reservoir is a safe or less than harmful dose to a user.