Ambulatory Infusion Pumps And Reservoir Assemblies For Use With Same

• US 20160235913A1
• Filed: 02/11/2016
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: PerQFlo, LLC
• Inventors: Rasmussen, Mogens Bach, Smith, Roger E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,737,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14264 with means for compensating influence from the environment
• 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 5/31513 Piston constructions to improve sealing or sliding

Abstract

Ambulatory infusion pumps, medicament reservoirs, and plungers, including both dynamic and static seals, plus related components, as well as component combinations and related methods.

Claims

1. An infusion pump reservoir assembly, comprising:

a medicament reservoir including a reservoir barrel with an inner surface;

a plunger moveable within the medicament reservoir in a dispensing direction from a full position and including a dynamic seal that is in contact with the inner surface of the reservoir barrel; and

a static seal that engages a surface when the plunger is in the full position;

wherein the plunger, dynamic seal and static seal are respectively configured and positioned relative to one another such that the static seal is disengaged from the surface in response to movement of the plunger in the dispensing direction from the full position and the dynamic seal remains in contact with the inner surface of the reservoir barrel as the plunger moves in the dispensing direction.

2. The infusion pump reservoir assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the plunger includes the surface that is engaged by the static seal when the plunger is in the full position.

3. The infusion pump reservoir assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the static seal is a static vapor seal.

4. The infusion pump reservoir assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the static seal is stationary.

5. The infusion pump reservoir assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the static seal is selected from the group consisting of a face seal and a radial seal.

6. The infusion pump reservoir assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the static seal is a face seal.

7. The infusion pump reservoir assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a helper spring.

8. The infusion pump reservoir assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the plunger includes a rigid core and the dynamic seal is carried by the rigid core.

9. The infusion pump reservoir assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein

the dynamic seal comprises at least first and second o-ring seals.

10. The infusion pump reservoir assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the plunger includes a core and the dynamic seal is integral with the core.

11. A method, comprising the step of:

disengaging a static seal from a surface in a medicament reservoir assembly in an infusion pump in response to movement in a dispensing direction of a plunger within a reservoir barrel from a full position while maintaining contact between a dynamic seal associated with the plunger and an inner surface of the reservoir barrel in response to movement in the dispensing direction of the plunger within a reservoir barrel from the full position.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein

the static seal is a vapor seal.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the step of:

driving the plunger with a helper spring as a plunger moves out of the full position.

14. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein

the static seal is disengaged from a surface on the plunger in response to movement in the dispensing direction of the plunger from the full position.

15. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein

wherein the static seal is selected from the group consisting of a face seal and a radial seal.

16. A method, comprising the step of:

reducing the energy required to begin medicament dispensing from an infusion pump that includes a plunger by providing a static seal that automatically disengages from the plunger upon commencement of medicament dispensing.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein

the static seal is a vapor seal.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein

the plunger includes a rigid core and a dynamic seal is carried by the rigid core.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein

the dynamic seal comprises at least first and second o-ring seals.

20. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein

the plunger includes a core and a dynamic seal is integral with the core.

21-24. -24. (canceled)