ARTICULATING POWER SUPPLY FOR MEDICAL INFUSION DEVICE

• US 20140088507A1
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Animas Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Animas Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Matthew, Clemente
• Application Number:
  US14/028,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20140088507A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16863 Occlusion detection
• 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 2005/31588 electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• 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 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1684 by detecting the amount of infusate remaining, e.g. signalling end of infusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54

Abstract

Described is a drive mechanism for a drug infusion pump. In one embodiment, an in-line drive mechanism is provided that includes a motor operatively coupled to a lead screw, which is configured to engage a piston. The piston includes a cavity to receive the motor and the lead screw such that the lead screw and at least a portion of the motor are substantially contained within the piston cavity when the piston is in a retracted position. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the motor is also substantially contained within a cavity of the lead screw regardless of whether the piston is in the retracted or extended position. The configuration of the piston, the lead screw and the motor results in a more compact drug delivery device.

Claims

1. An articulating cavity for powering a medical infusion device, comprising:

a lead screw at least partially having a cavity therein;

internal surface threads disposed on an internal surface of the lead screw;

a plunger having external surface threads on at least a portion of the external surface of the plunger;

a motor having a drive shaft configured to mechanically engage the lead screw;

a socket within the cavity in the lead screw;

a power source disposed within the socket in the cavity in the lead screw;

at least two grooves on an exterior surface of the plunger and at least two corresponding flanges extending from a surface of the lead screw; and

wherein the plunger engages a drug reservoir of a drug delivery device and the motor and lead screw are coaxially aligned with the axis of travel of the plunger, and wherein the at least two flanges and at least two grooves are configured to cooperate to allow articulation of the socket.

2. The drive mechanism of claim 1 wherein at least two flanges comprise two or more cantilevered tabs disposed on the socket and configured to engage the internal surface threads disposed on the internal surface of the lead screw.

3. The drive mechanism of claim 2 comprising one or more linear encoders configured to determine the position of the cantilevered tabs.

4. The drive mechanism of claim 3 wherein the linear encoders are optical.

5. The drive mechanism of claim 3 wherein the linear encoders are mechanical.

6. The drive mechanism of claim 3 wherein the linear encoders are magnetic.

7. The drive mechanism of claim 3 wherein the linear encoders are inductive.

8. The drive mechanism of claim 3 wherein the linear encoders comprise Hall effect sensors.

9. The drive mechanism of claim 1 comprising an anode contact and a cathode contact configured for electrical contact with a power source.

10. The drive mechanism of claim 9 wherein at least one of the anode contact or the cathode contact is a domed contact.

11. The drive mechanism of claim 9 wherein the one or both of the anode contact and the cathode contact are configured to remained biased against the power source during articulation of the power source in socket in the cavity in the lead screw.