External gas powered programmable infusion device

• US 6,458,102 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2000
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Renger, H. Lee, Mann, Alfred E., Nason, Clyde, Nezhadian, Hiwa
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAHBOUR, HENRY
• Application Number:
  US09/578,566
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131, 604/132, 604/140, 604/141, 604/143, 604/145, 604/153, 222/105, 222/95, 222/399, 222/386.5, 128/DIG.12
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14204 with gas-producing electrochemical cell
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14593 the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28

Abstract

An external infusion device system for infusing a fluid into a patient, the system including a reusable infusion device housing, a gas power source and disposable reservoir. The disposable reservoir is insertable into the reusable infusion device housing to infuse the fluid into the patient. The gas power source is for generating a gas to expel the fluid from the fluid reservoir. The disposable reservoir includes a reservoir housing, a fluid reservoir, an outlet, a gas power source, an expansion chamber and a regulating valve assembly. The fluid reservoir is within the reservoir housing for containing the fluid to be infused into the patient. The outlet is in the reservoir housing and provides a path through which the fluid is expelled to be infused into the patient. The expansion chamber is disposed between the gas power source and the fluid reservoir to receive the gas from the gas power source. The expansion member expands into the fluid reservoir to expel the fluid from the fluid reservoir. The regulating valve assembly is disposed between the fluid reservoir and the outlet to set a predetermined threshold pressure that must be exceeded to permit fluid to be expelled from the fluid reservoir through the outlet. In preferred embodiments, the fluid to be infused is a medication. Also, the regulating valve assembly sets the predetermined threshold pressure at greater than 1.05 atmospheres.

Claims

1. An external infusion device system for infusing a fluid into a patient, the system comprising:

a reusable infusion device housing;

a gas power source for generating a gas to expel the fluid from a fluid reservoir; and

a disposable reservoir that is insertable into the reusable infusion device housing to infuse the fluid into the patient, wherein the disposable reservoir includes;

a reservoir housing;

a fluid reservoir within the reservoir housing for containing the fluid to be infused into the patient;

an outlet in the reservoir housing through which the fluid is expelled to be infused into the patient;

an expansion chamber disposed between the gas power source and the fluid reservoir to receive the gas from the gas power source and to expand into a part of the space occupied by the fluid reservoir to expel the fluid from the fluid reservoir; and

a regulating valve assembly disposed between the fluid reservoir and the outlet to set a predetermined threshold pressure that must be exceeded to permit fluid to be expelled from the fluid reservoir through the outlet.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the gas power source utilizes electrolysis to generate the gas.

3. The system according to claim 1, further including a pressure sensor coupled to the gas power source to determine an excessive pressure in the expansion chamber to detect an occlusion.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the gas power source utilizes electrolysis to generate the gas, and wherein an electrolysis current is turned off when excessive pressure is detected.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein gas power source includes a housing, and wherein the gas power source uses the housing of the gas power source as an electrode.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the disposable reservoir has a circular cross-section.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the disposable reservoir has an oval cross-section.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the expansion chamber is formed as a sack.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the regulating valve assembly is compressed prior to use to set the predetermined threshold pressure.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the regulating valve assembly sets the predetermined threshold pressure at greater than 1.05 atmospheres.

11. An disposable reservoir for use with an external infusion device system for infusing a fluid into a patient, the system comprising:

a reservoir housing;

a fluid reservoir within the reservoir housing for containing the fluid to be infused into the patient;

an outlet in the reservoir housing through which the fluid is expelled to be infused into the patient;

a gas power source contained within the reservoir housing for generating a gas to expel the fluid from the fluid reservoir;

an expansion chamber in the form of an elastomeric sack disposed between the gas power source and the fluid reservoir to receive the gas from the gas power source and to expand into the fluid reservoir to expel the fluid from the fluid reservoir; and

a regulating valve assembly disposed between the fluid reservoir and the outlet to set a predetermined threshold pressure that must be exceeded to permit fluid to be expelled from the fluid reservoir through the outlet.

12. The disposable reservoir according to claim 11, wherein the gas power source utilizes electrolysis to generate the gas.

13. The disposable reservoir according to claim 11, further including a pressure sensor coupled to the gas power source to determine an excessive pressure in the expansion chamber to detect an occlusion.

14. The disposable reservoir according to claim 11, wherein the gas power source utilizes electrolysis to generate the gas, and wherein an electrolysis current is turned off when excessive pressure is detected.

15. The disposable reservoir according to claim 11, wherein gas power source includes a housing, and wherein the gas power source uses the housing of the gas power source as an electrode.

16. The disposable reservoir according to claim 11, wherein the disposable reservoir has a circular cross-section.

17. The disposable reservoir according to claim 11, wherein the disposable reservoir has an oval cross-section.

18. The disposable reservoir according to claim 11, wherein the disposable reservoir has a rectangular cross-section.

19. The disposable reservoir according to claim 11, wherein the disposable reservoir has a triangular cross-section.

20. The disposable reservoir according to claim 11, wherein the expansion chamber is formed as a sack.

21. The disposable reservoir according to claim 20, wherein the regulating valve assembly is compressed prior to use to set the predetermined threshold pressure.

22. The disposable reservoir according to claim 11, wherein the regulating valve assembly sets the predetermined threshold pressure at greater than 1.05 atmospheres.