Medication delivery device and method of construction

• US 5,445,616 A
• Filed: 04/29/1994
• Issued: 08/29/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: McMullen, Raymond F., Kratoska, Paul S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirsch, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US08/235,038
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 604/141, 604/153, 604/891.1, 128/DIG. 12
• US Class Current: 604/141
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation

Abstract

A medication delivery device having a particularly compact size. The compact size is achieved by arranging the components of the device so that the reservoir refill port is positioned laterally adjacent a bellows medication reservoir. Preferably, the medication reservoir is doughnut shaped and the refill port is positioned in a centrally located aperture.

Claims

1. A medication delivery device comprising:

a housing,

a reservoir within said housing,

a reservoir refill port in fluid communication with said reservoir and positioned such that said reservoir refill port is laterally adjacent to said reservoir and substantially surrounded by said reservoir,

an outlet port, and

means connected between said reservoir and said outlet port for dispensing medication from said reservoir through said outlet port.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said dispensing means comprises a flow regulator.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein said reservoir includes an aperture and wherein said refill port is positioned within said aperture.

4. A device as in claim 3 wherein said aperture is approximately concentric with a longitudinal axis of said housing.

5. A medication delivery device comprising:

a housing,

a reservoir within said housing, said reservoir having an aperture approximately concentric with a longitudinal axis of said housing,

a reservoir refill port positioned within said aperture of said reservoir, said refill port being in fluid communication with said reservoir, said reservoir refill port positioned such that said reservoir refill port is laterally adjacent to said reservoir and substantially surrounded by said reservoir,

a flow regulator connected to said reservoir, and

an outlet port connected to said flow regulator.

6. A medication delivery device comprising:

a cover,

a bulkhead connected to said cover, said bulkhead including a base portion and a reservoir refill port extending through said cover,

a reservoir including a top portion, a side portion, an aperture and a bottom portion, said bottom portion being connected to said base portion of said bulkhead such that said reservoir refill port is positioned laterally adjacent to said reservoir and extends through said aperture in said reservoir, said reservoir substantially surrounds said reservoir refill port,

a manifold connected to said base portion of said bulkhead,

means for providing fluid flow from said reservoir refill port to said reservoir,

a flow regulator in fluid communication with said reservoir, and

an outlet port connected to said flow regulator.

7. A medication delivery device as in claim 6 wherein said reservoir refill port includes:

a hollow neck portion having first and second open ends,

a resealable septum within said hollow neck portion near said first end thereof,

a filter within said hollow neck portion near said second end thereof, and

a refill port chamber lying between said septum and said filter.

8. A medication delivery device as in claim 7 wherein said manifold includes an inlet portion for receiving medication passing through said filter, and one or more fluid channels for carrying fluid from said inlet portion, and wherein said bulkhead includes one or more fluid flow paths for providing a fluid path from said one or more fluid channels of said manifold and said reservoir, and wherein said inlet portion and said one or more fluid channels of said manifold together with said one or more fluid flow paths of said bulkhead comprise said means for providing fluid flow.

9. A method of making a medication delivery device comprising:

providing a housing,

mounting a reservoir within said housing,

mounting a reservoir refill port at least partially within said housing, said reservoir refill port being positioned laterally adjacent to said reservoir and substantially surrounded by said reservoir,

providing a fluid path between said reservoir refill port and said reservoir,

providing an outlet port, and

connecting, between said reservoir and said outlet port, a means for dispensing medication from said reservoir to said outlet port.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said dispensing means comprises a flow regulator.

11. The method of claim 9 further including providing said reservoir with an aperture and mounting said reservoir refill port within said aperture.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said aperture provided is approximately concentric with a longitudinal axis of said housing.

13. A method of making a medication delivery device comprising:

providing a housing,

mounting a reservoir within said housing, said reservoir having an aperture approximately concentric with a longitudinal axis of said housing,

mounting a reservoir refill port within said aperture of said reservoir such that said refill port is positioned laterally adjacent said reservoir and is in fluid communication with said reservoir, said reservoir refill port being positioned substantially surrounded by said reservoir,

connecting a flow regulator to said reservoir, and

connecting an outlet port to said flow regulator.

14. A method of making a medication delivery device comprising:

providing a cover,

connecting a bulkhead to said cover, said bulkhead including a base portion and a reservoir refill port extending at least partially through said cover,

mounting a reservoir between said cover and said bulkhead, said reservoir having a top portion, a side portion, an aperture and a bottom portion,

connecting said bottom portion of said reservoir to said base portion of said bulkhead such that said refill port is positioned laterally adjacent to said reservoir and extends through said aperture in said reservoir, said refill port is positioned so that said reservoir substantially surrounds said refill port,

connecting a manifold to said base portion of said bulkhead,

connecting between said reservoir and said refill port a means for providing fluid flow from said refill port to said reservoir,

connecting a flow regulator in fluid communication with said reservoir, and

connecting an outlet port to said flow regulator.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said refill port includes:

a hollow neck portion having first and second open ends,

a resealable septum within said hollow neck portion near said first end thereof,

a filter within said hollow neck portion near said second end thereof, and

a refill port chamber lying between said septum and said filter.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said manifold includes an inlet portion for receiving medication passing through said filter, and one or more fluid channels for carrying fluid from said inlet portion, and wherein said bulkhead includes one or more fluid flow paths for providing a fluid path from said one or more fluid channels of said manifold and said reservoir, and wherein said inlet portion and said one or more fluid channels of said manifold together with said one or more fluid flow paths of said bulkhead comprise said means for providing fluid flow.

17. A medication delivery device comprising:

a cover;

a bulkhead connected to said cover, said bulkhead including a base portion and a reservoir refill port extending through said cover, said bulkhead further including one or more fluid flow paths for providing a fluid path from the one or more fluid channels of said manifold and said reservoir, said refill port including;

a hollow neck portion having first and second open ends,

a resealable septum within said hollow neck portion near said first end thereof,

a filter within said hollow neck portion near said second end thereof, and

a refill port chamber lying between said septum and said filter;

a reservoir including a top portion, a side portion, an aperture and a bottom portion, said bottom portion being connected to said base portion of said bulkhead such that said refill port is positioned laterally adjacent to said reservoir and extends through said aperture in said reservoir;

a manifold connected to said base portion of said bulkhead, said manifold including an inlet portion for receiving medication passing through said filter and one or more fluid channels for carrying fluid from said inlet portion;

wherein said bulkhead includes one or more fluid flow paths for providing a fluid path from said one or more fluid channels of said manifold and said reservoir, and wherein said inlet portion and said one or more fluid channels of said manifold together with said one or more fluid flow paths of said bulkhead comprise said means for providing fluid flow;

means for providing fluid flow from said refill port to said reservoir comprising said inlet portion and said one or more fluid channels of said manifold together with said one or more fluid flow paths of said bulkhead;

a flow regulator in fluid communication with said reservoir; and

an outlet port connected to said flow regulator.

18. A method of making a medication delivery device comprising:

providing a cover;

connecting a bulkhead to said cover, said bulkhead including a base portion and a reservoir refill port extending at least partially through said cover, said refill port including;

a hollow neck portion having first and second open ends,

a resealable septum within said hollow neck portion near said first end thereof,

a filter within said hollow neck portion near said second end thereof, and

a refill port chamber lying between said septum and said filter;

mounting a reservoir between said cover and said bulkhead, said reservoir having a top portion, a side portion, an aperture and a bottom portion;

connecting said bottom portion of said reservoir to said base portion of said bulkhead such that said refill port is positioned laterally adjacent to said reservoir and extends through said aperture in said reservoir;

connecting a manifold to said base portion of said bulkhead, said manifold including an inlet portion for receiving medication passing through said filter and one or more fluid channels for carrying fluid from said inlet portion;

wherein said bulkhead includes one or more fluid flow paths for providing a fluid path from said one or more fluid channels of said manifold and said reservoir;

connecting, between said reservoir and said refill port, a means for providing fluid flow from said refill port to said reservoir, said means for providing fluid flow comprising said inlet portion and said one or more fluid channels of said manifold together with said one or more fluid flow paths of said bulkhead;

connecting a flow regulator in fluid communication with said reservoir; and

connecting an outlet port to said flow regulator.